Questions for a Highlander

by Angeline Fortin

  Richard hooked a finger into the opening, stopping her progress. His blood was roaring in his ears, pounding through his veins. “You should run away, angel.”

  “I am done running, Richard,” she said, boldly meeting his eye.

  Richard felt surrender sweep over him.

  “So be it,” he growled and pulled downward, popping the remainder of the buttons.

  Chapter 28

  You pierce my soul.

  I am half-agony, half hope…

  I have loved none but you.

  - Jane Austen, Persuasion

  Abby gasped, not with fright, but excitement, as Richard ripped her blouse open, baring her to the waist. Here was her wild Scot, bare chested as he was that last summer she had seen him in Deal. This was the lad who had led her all her life from one adventure to the next. This adventure would be the greatest of them all but she had known she would have to be the one to lead him this time, perhaps push him farther than he might choose. And she had. If her father succeeded in delivering upon her blackmail, she would always have this moment to remember.

  A night with the man she loved with all her heart.

  She gasped again when his rough hand reached inside her shirt and cupped her bare breast. “Angel,” he growled low in his throat and Abby looked up at him in wonder. “I went with Oona letting her believe that she was seducing me only so that I might have her alone to give her a piece of my mind for her treatment of you these past years. I feared for my life when she discovered the truth of it but I had my say, for you and for Jack. That was all. No woman can compare to you, my love. No other woman could ever ease this ache, this pain of wanting you as I do. Only you, angel. I want only you.”

  His muted green eyes were as dark as a forest under a smuggler’s moon, his face tense, his brow furrowed. She knew now that it wasn’t a look of anger but desire contained, held back. Tonight Abby wanted to hold nothing back. She wanted to feel the full force of his passion. All of it.

  “Make love to me, Richard,” she whispered, pleadingly. “I ache for you as well.”

  “Then God save us both,” he replied before cupping the back of her head in his large palm and drawing her up to meet his lips as they descended over hers. He lifted her off her feet, pulling her up and against him tightly until Abby could feel his heart pounding against hers. Parting her lips, she invited him to show her more and he did, sweeping his tongue across hers, tickling her lips and leaving an erotic tingle in its wake.

  Instinctively, Abby wrapped first one leg and then the other around him as his hand came up to guide it there. His palm smoothed up her leg under her skirts to cup her bare bottom before a painful groan escaped him. “No stockings? No pantalets, angel?” he breathed heavily into her hair.

  “I wanted to make this easy for you,” she told him. “I was prepared to strip completely if that’s what it took to convince you.”

  Richard froze, his arms like steel bands about her. He drew back until he could see her face and Abby’s heart skipped a beat at the passion burning darkly in his eyes. “Convince me.”

  It skipped another before she loosened her legs and slid to the ground. Locking her gaze with his, Abby unfastened her skirt and let it fall to the ground before shrugging her torn blouse from her shoulders. Her entire body was trembling, though Abby wasn’t certain whether it was fear or excitement that caused it. Richard’s eyes shifted downward then, lingering on her breasts. Her heart was racing like a locomotive, her breath mere pants. Suddenly nervous, Abby ran a shaking palm down her hip, feeling the ridged outline of the scars there as Richard’s eyes continued down her body. “Richard…”

  Falling to his knees before her, his eyes suddenly level with her chest. Richard’s hands came up to cup her breasts before taking one nipple into his mouth. Abby gasped as he circled the tip with his tongue before suckling deeply. Wrapping her arms around his head, she urged him on, her head falling back as fiery heat raced through her. After a moment, his attention shifted to the other breast briefly before his lips moved to the underside of her breast, across her ribs and down her belly.

  Just when Abby was certain that her shaking legs would collapse, Richard wrapped his arms about her hips and stood, lifting her with him. His mouth devoured hers once more as he carried her to his bed, lowering them both slowly downward. His hands roamed urgently over her body as if he wanted to touch every part of her at the same time. Through lowered lashes, Abby snuck a glance at his face. His eyes were closed, his face taunt. He looked more beautiful in that moment than Abby had ever seen him. She ran her hands over his broad shoulder, watching her small white hands skim over his dark skin. She watched his rough, browned hands cup her pale breast, span the width of her belly before disappearing between her legs.

  Abby’s eyes fluttered closed once more as his fingers found her core. She could feel the wetness there and flushed with embarrassment but Richard groaned deeply, a purely animalistic growl of pleasure. A shudder racked his body even as he plunged his finger into her body. His finger curled within her and Abby clenched her thighs about his hand as rapture streaked through her. She had always known that it would be like this with Richard. Soaring. Seeking. Still it was so much more as well, so much more than she had ever imagined it might be. Her hands tightened on his shoulders, massaging them in wordless encouragement as she whimpered helplessly.

  “Yer so ready for me, angel,” he said huskily, pressing a hot kiss to her belly. “I want ye so.”

  Wordlessly, Abby pulled on his shoulders in assent and Richard lifted himself briefly, shedding his trousers, before moving on top of her. He settled between her thighs and looked down at her, brushing her hair from her face. His hand trailed lightly over her shoulder and down to her hip where he traced the ridged lines of her scars. Abby couldn’t help but tense, catching his hand.

  “Don’t,” he whispered gruffly. “Never hide. Yer so bonny, my angel. Every inch of ye is glorious.”

  “Richard,” she pleaded.

  Abby felt him press against her and wrapped her thighs around his hips once more. “My God, angel,” he panted in her ear, shaking his head. “I’ve never… ah, God!” He came inside her slowly with a groan that vibrated through his body. Abby felt him slide deeply, felt him fill her, stretch her. Her heart pounding in time with his, she tensed against a moment’s pain and then it was gone. All that was left was Richard possessing her.

  Abby sighed with contentment. Though her entire body thrummed with expectation, it was done. He was hers and she was finally his.

  Then Richard moved.

  Crying out in surprise, Abby clung to Richard as he began to move steadily within her. Magic sang through her body. Her cries became moans, her breathing hastened until she was gasping for air. Her heart was no longer pounding but racing as her body tensed, pleasure radiating through her belly and down her thighs. Richard ran a rough hand up her thigh and under her bottom, tilting her against him and lifting her leg even higher. He kissed her neck, licked and nipped at the tender skin there. Breathing heavily in her ear, he whispered huskily in a thick brogue, words of worship and encouragement, urging her to come with him.

  “Richard!” Abby cried out again as his pace increased. She felt lifted to highest heavens, facing the unknown but with no trepidation. Only expectation. Thrilling anticipation. Time suspended for a brief moment as she hugged Richard desperately against her. Her body exploded almost painfully, contracting around him and his cry of release echoed hers as they flew together. She pulsed and throbbed as Richard pushed roughly into her once more. He stayed there, his body tense as if he never wanted to part from her.

  Then he relaxed, wrapping his arms under and around her. He pulled her close, pressing tender kisses on her lips that Abby lazily returned. Running her fingers through his hair, Abby sighed deeply, thinking that a woman’s imagination was simply no substitute for the real thing. Never had she imagined anything so physically exhilarating or powerful, but it was only the pleasure he’d given her bo
dy that had surprised her so. Her heart had always known it would be like this. Her mind and soul seemed somehow fulfilled. Content.

  Richard lifted his head, releasing a deep breath over her head and Abby stared up at his neck, watching the muscles working there. She’d never felt so much happiness or such a sense of completion. Straining upward, Abby ran her tongue up the length of his throat tasting the saltiness of his skin.

  Richard’s breath hitched and he looked down at Abby in surprise only to find her smiling at him seductively. He’d never seen his prickly angel looking more lovely, so soft and warm. His member twitched in arousal still deep within her and Abby’s expression changed to one of surprise. “Did ye think that having ye just once would be enough to satisfy me?” he murmured softly.

  A myriad of emotions crossed her face but in the end, Abby just shrugged with a siren’s smile. “Actually, yes, I suppose I did.”

  “Well, ye were verra wrong, angel.”

  Capturing her lips in a passionate kiss, Richard began to slowly move within her again, driving her to rapture once more.

  Chapter 29

  He’s more myself than I am.

  Whatever our souls are made of,

  His and mine are the same.

  - Emily Bronte

  Abby sighed blissfully as Richard held her in the circle of his arms. She had always known it would be wonderful and it was, even more so the second time than the first. Richard had been so passionate, ravenous for her body. He had touched, kissed and even licked her in places she’d never thought would be so enjoyable… once her embarrassment had abated. In turn, she had wanted to do all those things to him as well. She wanted to give him the same joy as he had given her. In the past several hours, Abby felt that she had thoroughly explored every part of his body but it would never be enough. Now that she had him, she wanted him forever.

  Idly caressing his chest, Abby imagined Richard’s body next to hers each night. To feel that passion again and again, would make for a most fulfilling life. She couldn’t imagine anything more wonderful, more right.

  “Ohh, God,” Richard moaned, his voice filled with a misery that was at odds with the bliss she was feeling. “This is so wrong.”

  Abby’s hand stilled with surprise, feeling the joy seep away. “W-w-what?”

  Richard shook his head, rubbing a hand over his face before he turned to face her. “I didn’t mean to say that aloud. I’m sorry. It’s not you, angel. It’s not even this. It’s me. I’ve felt like this since I returned. “

  Pushing her hurt aside, Abby focused on what he was saying. The emotion on his voice was thick and much had been troubling him of late. More than just the nagging pain of his injury. She knew that. “What is it?”

  “I’m so wrapped up in you that I cannot focus on the one thing I need to do!” Richard ground out, curling his fist into his hair in frustration. “It’s not right that I am here in your arms while my brother, my friends, languish in prison. I should be spending each moment finding a way to save Vin. I should be on my knees begging someone to help him!”

  “Instead, you are here with me.” Abby stared at Richard, feeling his pain as if it were own. It tore at her soul more gravely than those horseshoes had ever torn at her skin.

  Richard turned on his side to face her, brushing her hair away from her face tenderly. “Don’t. Don’t even think it. I am pleased to have this with you, angel. You have given me more peace these past days than I have felt in a month. But you have also taken the urgency of it all away and that’s my fault,” he berated himself. “I’ve let myself be distracted to the point that I am almost glad that I haven’t yet found help. That I haven’t found a reason to leave.”

  “That’s not true,” Abby told him with utter certainty. “If I have given you a moment’s peace, I am glad for it, Richard, but I know where your focus truly lies, where it has lain since your return to London. This is just your worry speaking, your frustration that you haven’t yet been successful. Don’t lose faith, Richard. I know in my heart you will see your brother again.”

  “I don’t deserve this,” he murmured, burying his face in her hair. “This happiness, when they have none. I’ll never forgive myself for leaving them. God, but I miss them.”

  If it caused her so much pain to witness it, she could only imagine how Richard felt. The loss, the pain… the uncertainty of the fate of his friends was probably more agonizing than if they had died in battle. Wrapping her arms around him, Abby drew him close, pressing soft kisses to his temple. Her heart ached for him knowing that it would never end for him until he knew for certain. “Richard…”

  “I’m so lost, angel.” His arms tightened around her almost desperately. “These past few weeks since I’ve been back have been some of the worst of my life. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  “I didn’t do anything,” she denied. “We’ve only seen one another a handful of times.”

  “Is that all?” he said with some surprise. “You have been in my mind so thoroughly that it seems like so much more than that. I feel as if I’ve been tossed about by a storm that is tearing me apart. You are the calm at the center of that storm, my angel. My salvation.”

  “I would do anything for you, Richard. For so long, I have…” Abby stopped, swallowing back the lump that was forming in her throat. She couldn’t say the words she longed to, knowing that she might soon be separated from him forever. “There is nothing wrong in taking a moment’s pleasure where you can find it. No one would ever censure you for that. Come, my love, let me help drive your troubles away.”

  Abby brushed her lips across his stubbled chin, across his lips. Her hands caressed and massaged his chest and shoulders as she continued to kiss him, humming soothingly until Richard gathered her in his arms and rolled onto his back. He wound her hair around his fist and drew her to him, his lips ravenously taking hers. His body was strung as tight as a bow, but Abby could feel his arousal growing beneath her and wiggled her bottom, undulating slowly until he was moaning passionately against her mouth. He grasped her hips and arched beneath her, grinding against her until Abby understood what he wanted her to do.

  Sitting up, Abby lifted herself and eased down taking his length inside of her. He felt larger this way, filling her almost painfully. Arching her back, she adjusted to the feel of him. Then Richard lifted her as he withdrew and brought her down to meet his upward thrust. Abby cried out, not in pain, but in ecstasy. He was with her then, a part of her. She could feel his desperation, perhaps more mental than physical, but the urgency of his body demanded that she match his fervor and Abby could not deny him.

  “Richard!” Abby cried out, her head flung back. Her hair tickling his thighs. Richard watched her in wonder as she rode him, drawing away the demons that chased him. Never had he imagined that such passion was possible, not only in a woman but also in himself.

  Abby looked down at him, her hair a tangled halo around her head. Her eyes, bright and clear as they met his, and for a moment, his heart felt ready to burst. He saw the words in her eyes before they reached her lips. Felt them touch his heart before they touched his ears.

  “I love you, Richard. Always. Forever,” she whispered and Richard stopped moving.

  The moment suspended.

  Looping an arm around her waist, Richard lifted Abby, turning until she was on her back beneath him. He stared down at her in wonder, his throat working but no words emerged. His chest ached and though his heart called for him to rub the pain away, Richard’s hand came up only to tenderly brush the hair away from Abby’s face. “Abby, I…”

  “Shhh,” she whispered, caressing his cheek. “It’s all right.” She pulled him down for a gentle kiss, then another before she rocked her hips against his. Richard withdrew before plunging slowly back into her.

  Running his fingers into her hair, he pulled her head back and held her gaze as he worked within her at an agonizingly pace. His heart bolted ahead of him to the finish line but he held back, p
lunging into her welcoming depths again and again. Still he watched her eyes and saw it finally, seeing what had always been there. Recognizing it for what it was and feeling an answering ache in his heart.

  Finally he could hold back no longer and neither could Abby. She urged him to go faster, her body wrapped about his, embracing her to him until she exploded around him. His release came on its heels and he felt the scalding heat pour out of him and into her welcoming body.

  Heat and so much more.

  Abby felt Richard’s chest rise and fall again beneath her cheek for what seemed to be the hundredth time. He slept. She watched though she was exhausted by their love play. Exhausted by not only the physical but also the emotional toll the night had taken on her.

  Still, she hadn’t been able to sleep, not a bit through the night and now the sound of birds tweeting outside her window told her that dawn was imminent.

  Turning her head, she looked up at Richard’s face. Asleep, the tension, the worry, the hardships he had suffered were all erased. He looked younger, more like his score and six years. More like the lad she had always known. More like the Richard she had fallen in love with all those years ago.

  She loved him still, and now there was so much more of him to love. Abby had always known that Richard cared for others more than himself. He had proven just how much this past week, a week that had seemed more like months, or as if they had never been apart these last six years, but instead had spent them learning about one another. Knowing each other.

  She understood him better than ever… even after she thought there was nothing more to learn.

  We all have our scars, angel, some more visible than others.

  She had taken the words at face value that day, not understanding what he had meant but she did now. This was what scarred Richard the most. It wasn’t a saber wound or a bullet. It was guilt. Guilt that he’d left his brother, his comrades in peril. It would eat at him if he didn’t do something about it.