Rescued By the Scot

by Laura A. Barnes

  “I apologize madam for laughing at you earlier.”

  “I appear to be the object of your humor on a regular basis.”

  He rubbed the inside of her wrist in small circles, “You’re an object of more than my humor, My Lady.”

  She tried pulling her wrist free, but he only continued his caress.

  “I am not a lady, nor do I want to be an object of anything concerning you.”

  “Don’t you?” he questioned her.

  “No,” she denied.

  “Your body tells me differently, my dear. Your pulse beats faster under my touch. The color of your eyes grows darker with desire. Do you need for me to continue with my observations?”

  He was correct on everything. Her whole body throbbed from his touch. She knew her eyes deceived her, they always did. She was too transparent with her emotions. It remained her greatest downfall. Her mind didn’t want to desire him, but her body did. His fingers drifted along her arm, making her hotter. To be alone with him was her greatest desire. She wanted the touch of his lips on hers again.

  “Now can you send my letter out for me tonight?” he changed the subject on her.

  She was such a fool. He played on his attraction to distract her, and she fell for it. She grabbed the letter from his hand and left to find Gregor. She whispered her instructions to the guard, and he looked up to glare at Maxwell as he left to do her bidding. Oh, they were fooling nobody. He grasped where the letter would land. In the fire pit most likely. But he had an ally in Isobel. She appeared to be the only sensible person in this clan.

  He continued to sit and dine from the table where he wrote his letter hours earlier. There was nothing to do but wait. Wait for when they returned to Edinburgh. In the meantime, he would learn everything he needed to understand on Skye MacKinnon by watching her. It was the only way to understand your nemesis. Only she wasn’t his nemesis, she was a lady in over her head and Maxwell decided he would be her rescuer. She didn’t realize she needed rescued yet, but she would.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Skye went to bed alone. She tried to relax in her bed, thinking of the last week and the changes which occurred in her life. Her emotions laid scattered around her in piles. She needed to pull herself together and decide on a plan. The man down the hall from her wreaked havoc on her. She had two options. She could give into these emotions and spend time with him to remove him from her mind. Or she could avoid him until she returned him to Shears. She wanted to avoid him, but she realized over the last few days she couldn’t. Oh, she could keep herself busy, but he always remained in her thoughts. So, the only choice was to pass the time with him and rid herself of her desires towards him.

  She threw the covers off and strayed to the window to gaze at the stars dancing alongside the moon. Only they weren’t dancing tonight. They were as still as her, deciding if the dance was worth it. To spend time in his company would be the most logical choice. This way she could keep an eye on him and make sure he didn't escape. If she left him to his own devices, he might plan a getaway. Yes, the best thing was to stay near his side. When she looked to the stars again, she saw one wiggle closer to the moon like it was drawn to the mystery.

  As she made her way along the hallway, she realized she was that star. He drew her to him. She opened his door to find him asleep on the bed. The covers were kicked away from his body. He slept naked, bare on the sheets for her to desire. His black hair was mussed and the dark whiskers on his face only made him appear more dangerous. Dangerous to her and all that gazed upon him. He continued to sleep, unaware she watched him. She slid the door closed and moved to the bed. Skye slid off her nightgown, standing naked in the moonlight which glided in through the window. Still no movement from the bed. She stood silent as she stared at his form. The bruises were fading from his body. Throughout his captivity and loss of nutrition, his body stayed hard and sinew. She wanted to run her fingers across the muscles on his chest and lower. Where her eyes devoured, she wanted her fingers to follow. Where her fingers followed, she wanted her lips to savor.

  She didn’t notice when he rolled over and gazed at her. When she noticed his eyes upon her, she waited for a smart quip to pass from his lips, but he surprised her. He held out his hand for her to join him on the bed. She slid her palm inside his. He gently tugged her to him, pulling her alongside him on the mattress. No words needed to be spoken. Their bodies understood what their minds did not. He placed a gentle kiss on the edge of her lips. She sighed. His lips placed light kisses along her jaw, making their way to her neck. Her neck arched for his lips to have better access. He made his way along her neck down to her chest.

  “Oh Skye,” he whispered as he took her breasts into his hands. Skye watched him as his fingers played upon her breasts. His long fingers brushing across her nipples, making them tighten into firm buds. It was when he placed his lips upon them, Skye shivered. Shivered from the desire coursing through her body. He slid his tongue in circles around the tight buds, bringing them between his lips lightly sucking.

  Skye arched her breasts into his mouth, running her fingers through his hair. She tugged his head tighter as her body arched into him, wanting him to ease the ache consuming her. He seemed to realize what she needed as his hands found her wetness. When his finger slid inside her, she let out a moan as her body opened for him. Her grip on him tightened as he sucked her harder, as his finger glided in and out of her, building her climax to the heights he desired. Only to pull back as he sensed her near the edge. She moaned her displeasure.

  He rose and kissed her lips. Drinking the sweetness, she showed him her desire. Their kiss became more passionate, building to a higher climax. Only for Zane to pull back again. His fingers trailed over her body, touching, tempting as he saw her need for him build in her eyes. He wanted more from her. She arched and moaned to his touches, yet still it wasn’t enough for him, he wanted more. He needed more. When he saw her draw her lips between her teeth as he slid his fingers inside her and moan. He was done for. It made him harder for her. He wanted to ease the ache, realizing this was much more than passion they were playing with tonight. This was about trust. When she arched her body to his touch moaning, he growled, bending over he lit her body alive with kisses. Zane trailed a path down to his fingers. He wanted to taste her. He needed to taste her.

  His mouth replaced his fingers at her wetness. He felt her body shudder under his kisses. His tongue stroked her core, tasting all that was Skye. Wanting more, he slid his tongue inside her. When she dug her heels in the bed and rose her core to his mouth, he devoured her. His tongue glided in and out drawing out her wetness to his lips. It wasn’t enough, he craved more. His fingers found her clit and stroked faster as his tongue drove her to new heights in pleasure. He brought her to the climax her body begged to release under his attentions.

  He savored her release as her body melted into his kisses. When she sank back onto the mattress, he slid his way up her body. His kisses kept her melting under his touch. He arrived at her lips, to sink into them. Lost in their passion. While she exploded under his lips, she left him shaken to the core. Her passion for him made him lose himself in her. His kisses were soft, sweet, drawing her soul into him. He drank from her lips in long, slow, mind drugging kisses; thirsty for more. She fulfilled his quench of thirst for her with her lips drinking from his. Her little whimpers begging for more.

  Slowly he entered her. She gasped between his lips then sighed as her body molded around him. He gently slid in and out of her, drawing their passion higher. Each moment slower as their emotions became surrounded around each other. Where one of them started, and the other ended, neither of them knew or cared. He slid in deep inside her and pulled back from their kiss. He waited. Waited for her. He pressed in tighter as her center clenched around him. Still, he waited. He gave her the control.

  Her fingers tightened around his hips. He was torturing her. She craved him to slide deeper, but he wouldn’t move. She could see the amount of control he was pressed
to abandon as he waited. Skye arched into him and he moaned but still he didn’t move.

  She wrapped her legs around his hips and arched her body into his. He moaned and grabbed a hold of her legs and rolled them over. She rose above him and he laid there waiting for her.

  She lowered herself down and drew his lips between her own and kissed him deeply as her body moved against him. Her tongue slid across his lips as she rotated her body in small circles. She felt him harden inside her, pulsing from his need for her. Need he gave her control over. Skye understanding what he was giving up for her, empowered her. She set the rhythm of their bodies, moving together. Long slow strokes that were building their passion higher. Skye sensed her body exploding around them as she sunk her body down around him. Zane let out a growl as their bodies became one.

  He pulled her to him for a soul-searching kiss as their bodies joined and melted together. He drew back breathing heavily. Zane guided her to his chest and held her as their passion subsided. He didn’t understand why she came to him this evening and he didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was the barrier she let down between them. He felt the trust build from their lovemaking. He only hoped he wasn’t wrong for allowing her past his own barriers.

  Skye glanced outside to witness the stars dancing around the moon. They twinkled down around them. When she gazed into Zane’s eyes, she realized it wasn’t only the stars twinkling but his eyes too. Like the stars she succumbed to the mystery of Zane Maxwell.

  Chapter Eight

  FOR TWO WEEKS SKYE watched Maxwell work his charms amongst her clan. He worked alongside the men during the days. While they were weary and on guard around him, she noted the respect growing in their eyes. The women were swept away by him, there wasn’t a woman young or old he didn’t charm. He helped them with small chores always smiling at them and treating them as if they were grand ladies.

  They were not the only ones charmed by him. Herself included, against her resistance. Each night they came together to explore the passion which continued to build every day. She would fight against it, but when the moon rose, and the stars begged to dance she found herself in his arms. Her mind consumed by him. While she should make sure everything was going as smooth as planned, she found herself making googly eyes at him and daydreaming of when they could be together again.

  Maxwell didn't even discuss his return to Shears. He acted as if he trusted her to do the right thing. Would she? She still had no clue. Her emotions towards him only grew stronger the more time she spent with him. She thought their desire would wane out by now. Skye needed to focus; she had to quit mooning over him and work on bringing Logan home. Her brother needed to be her main agenda.

  She caught his eye from across the room as he was helping Aggie to the table for dinner. He paused in helping the woman into a chair, smiling at Skye with his undeniable charm. Zane winked at her as he spoke to the healer without taking his eyes away from her. After he had the old woman settled, he made his way towards her.

  This had to stop, one glance from him and I want to throw myself at him. Then have him kiss me in front of the entire clan. As he advanced towards her, Skye rose from the table and turned to make her way outside the castle. She had to put distance between them; she was becoming too attached.

  Zane saw the longing in Skye’s eyes from across the hall. He knew she felt as strongly regarding him as he did her. She uttered no words to tell him of her emotions during the time they spent together. However, Zane perceived by the expression in her eyes to the touch of her hands what she felt. When he caught her regarding him from afar, he sensed it before he glanced her way. Her eyes held the look of passion and longing. As he strolled over to her, he saw her eyes shutter. When he almost reached her, she turned and strode away. Zane recognized her look and action well. How many times had he done the same action to a lady, to distance himself from their fluffy thoughts they wanted to share with him? Was he as obvious with her?

  He followed her from a distance, giving her the space she needed. He couldn’t leave her alone. He was hungry just to spend time in her company. He would take anything she would offer to him. How pathetic had he become?

  She wandered to the stables, dismissing the grooms to eat dinner. He trailed quietly behind her as she made her way to her horse where she brushed Lady’s long mane. He eavesdropped on her whispering tenderly to the animal. Her hands brushed the horse with long slow strokes. Maxwell’s heart twisted with jealousy towards the attention she paid to a damn animal and not to him.

  Maxwell leaned his arms over the stall. He noticed her body tensed at his nearness. Neither one of them spoke. Maxwell opened the stall door and entered behind her. He settled his hand over hers as she brushed the horse. Their long strokes comforted the animal. He brought her body up tight against his, molding her backside to him. Her buttocks settled into his hardened cock. He slid his lips to her neck brushing soft kisses along the length of her exposed skin. He listened to her moan as her body melted into his; she didn’t even try to fight the attraction.

  Zane removed his hands from the brush and slid them up inside her shirt. He cupped her breasts as he continued the assault on her senses. His fingers found her tight nipples and squeezed them gently. He heard the brush hit the ground and the snicker of the horse at the invasion in her home.

  He turned Skye in his arms to devour her lips. Zane drank from her lips like a man starved for her taste alone. Lifting her in his arms, he wrapped her legs around his hips and backed her against the wall of the stall. Their kiss turning hungrily into the passion pouring from their souls.

  Unaware their desire had company, they were so caught up in each other; they didn’t hear the throat clearing behind them. Although, they did hear the slamming of the stall door being swung open. Skye immediately dropped her legs from around Maxwell’s waist, straightening her shirt. Maxwell pulled Skye behind him, blocking her from prying eyes. Gregor stood at the stall door with the rage of thunder upon his face. His face was beet red, with veins popping out of his neck. His fingers rolled into tight fists, ready to pull Maxwell from the stall to pound him to a bloody pulp.

  Maxwell gulped and realized he crossed a line where Skye was concerned. He wouldn’t blame the guard for taking out his anger on him. He let his desire and need for Skye overrule his rational thinking. When he looked behind his shoulder, he noticed Skye had pulled her clothes back into place. Maxwell held up his hands as he stepped away from her, showing the bodyguard she was fine.

  “Ye wull mak’ right by th’ lass Maxwell,” Gregor growled.

  “Yes, I will.”

  “Whin Logan returns, ye wull ask fur her hand in marriage, since ye have ruined her fur any other man.”

  “You are correct, I erred in my treatment of the lady and I shall not dishonor her or her family.”

  “Ah gave her brother mah vow on protecting her in his leave ‘n’ ah hae failed.”

  Skye let out a humph. Men. Did she have no rights? Did they really think she would marry herself to this excuse of a reprobate? She had a say whether they realized it. She grasped if Gregor told Logan of this scene, her brother would either kill Maxwell or make them speak the vows at once.

  “There will be no wedding. You owe me Gregor and you won’t breathe a word of this to Logan. How many maidens have you dishonored in your life and I see no parson’s noose around your neck.”

  She made the big brute blush, but Maxwell knew there was no amount of embarrassment to make him dishonor his vow to the MacKinnon. Zane stayed silent while she spoke her words with the man. In time she would understand the reason for their union. If not, he knew her brother would demand marriage of her and him for that matter.

  While at one time he cringed of ever walking down the aisle, the last two weeks with Skye made him change his mind. What man wouldn't desire to have earth shattering sex every evening with a sexual goddess? His nights would be filled with passion while during the days he shall continue his life as normal. He would even allow her to
follow her desires during the day, whatever they may be. Just so long as her nights were devoted to him. He smiled at his plans for their future.

  Skye glanced over at Maxwell, wondering what the fool smiled about. Didn’t he understand what could happen to them? They would be stuck with one another forever. Wouldn’t she put a crimp in his bachelor’s lifestyle? He appeared awfully content about Gregor’s threats. Was he contemplating them getting married? Fool. Well those thoughts were for another time. There must be a reason for Gregor to seek her out. He must have word on Logan. She needed to get rid of Maxwell.

  “Maxwell if you would excuse me, my man and I have a few details we need to discuss.”

  “Well if those details include me, then I’m not going anywhere,” he said as he leaned back against the stall, crossing his legs in front of him.

  “Maxwell, you seem to keep forgetting you are the prisoner,” explained Skye.

  “Well, my dear, I forget because you keep giving me mixed signals on my status during my stay at your fine castle.”

  She growled at his words. All he did was provide Gregor with more information to pass along to Logan.

  “If ah believe yer saying whit ah think yer saying, ah wull fetch the preacher now.”

  “No that wasn’t what he was saying, was it Maxwell?” she stressed.

  “Well…”

  She was cornered, if she didn’t let him remain, he would spill to Gregor of their time spent together. If she let him stay, he would learn of their plans for Shears. Then he would become angry at her for going back on her word to him. She promised him she wouldn’t return him to Shears, but she had to, it was the only way to insure the return of Logan. Skye must sacrifice one for the other. She couldn’t have both of them. Skye sent a quick look to Gregor to not disclose the details of their plan. He sent her a nod so small there was no way Maxwell could have seen.