Highland Nights

by Donna Grant

  His small smile sent a buzz of excitement through her. That thrill heated when his finger grazed the most sensitive part of her. Her hips jerked toward his hand, silently begging for more of his touch.

  He didn't disappoint her. His finger slipped inside her as this thumb began to circle around a part of her she didn't know could feel such intense enjoyment. Before she knew it, she felt herself building toward something.

  Then, Gregor's hand left her. She reached out for him only to feel him lie on top of her.

  "You are killing me with each moan that leaves those delightful lips," he whispered before his mouth claimed hers in a kiss.

  His tongue slid into her mouth and around her tongue while his hips rocked against hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck at the same time he began to suck on her tongue.

  The bliss left her dazed and wanting, needing more. She couldn't get enough of him. The more he touched and kissed her the more she wanted of him.

  Her heart told her to stop him before 'twas too late, but her body refused to listen. It was past the point of caring for anything other than the feelings that coursed through her.

  She didn't question him when he rolled her onto her stomach and began placing kisses along her back and neck. He raised her up on her knees and pulled her back against his chest as his hands cupped her breasts.

  Her body concentrated on his hands so she didn't feel his knee part her legs until his member grazed her throbbing center. His lips kissed her ear while one hand pulled her hips hard against him.

  "This is your last chance to change your mind," he whispered. "Tell me to stop."

  She took his hand and placed it in the juncture of her thighs. "I don't want you to."

  He groaned and slid a finger inside of her as his other hand pinched her nipples. Her body was in a fever pitch of delight and she didn't think it could get any better than this.

  "So hot and wet," Gregor said in between the kisses he placed on her neck.

  Her breathing was shallow and heavy as the feeling built inside of her. His hands grasped her hips and she couldn't hold herself upright. She feel forward onto her hands and heard him growl behind her.

  Gregor thought he would explode. She was everything he had hoped for and more. He had told her if she wanted him to stop he would walk away. He didn't know how he would do it, but he would have if that was what she wanted. To his great relief she had wanted him to stay.

  Now she waited for him. She wouldn't know what was to come next, but her body did. He guided the tip of his member against her. Her moan and the push of her hips against him nearly had him spilling his seed.

  He slid more of himself into her until he reached her maidenhead. This was the part he hated, the reason why he shied away from innocents.

  "Fiona," he began, but she stopped him.

  "I know what's to come. Please, don't make me wait. I need you."

  Her words brought out the beast in him. He took hold of her hips to keep her still and thrust into her and past her maidenhead.

  A small gasp escaped her at his intrusion. He wanted to give her body time to adjust to him, but her hips began to move against him. He was powerless to do anything other than move to her rhythm.

  He closed his eyes as he thrust harder and harder into her. He was so close to the edge he didn't think he could wait for her, but he refused to allow himself the pleasure without taking her with him.

  He leaned over her and found her pleasure nub. She began to moan as his fingers circled around her nub. Before he knew it she was clenching around him. He let himself go then and plunged deep within her.

  And for the first time in his life his body perceived something more than just physical release. His response to Fiona left him with an emotion his heart hadn't experienced in years.

  Warmth.

  With his emotions in a whirlwind he couldn't utter a word. Thankfully, she didn't require any. She turned over and brought him down beside her. He pulled her close against him and thought about what he had just experienced.

  "It was just like I imagined it would be," she mumbled against his shoulder.

  Gregor blinked up at the stars overhead and wondered if she realized this changed things between them.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Gregor's eyes jerked open at the scream. It took him a moment to realize it came from beside him. He rolled over and looked down to see Fiona in the grips of another nightmare as tears rolled down her face.

  Fear unfurled its talons in his belly as he came up on his knees over her. "Fiona," he said and gently shook her.

  "Nay," she cried out and pushed his hands away.

  "Fiona, wake up."

  She didn't respond to him so he sat her up and pulled her into his lap. Her tears wet his chest as he rocked.

  "Please, wake up," he whispered and wiped her tears away. As he ran his hands over her eyes she opened them. "Fiona?"

  "I want them to stop," she said and buried her head in his shoulder.

  He wrapped his arms around her and held on tight. If it was in his power he would take those dreams unto himself, but he didn't have any power.

  "Same dream?" he asked.

  She nodded her head. "I saw more this time."

  "How much more?"

  She raised her face to his. "I saw MacNeil plunge his sword into that man on the castle steps. MacNeil laughed while he did, and it was as if he was looking at someone or something, but I couldn't see who."

  "Is that all you saw?" If he was able to help her piece these dreams together then maybe they would stop.

  "The man on the steps was trying to show me something."

  "You never saw it?"

  She climbed off his lap and stood. "Nay. It seems important, though."

  He rose to stand beside her. "Fiona-"

  "I know what you would say," she interrupted him, "but I've no wish to discuss what happened last night."

  "But it changes everything."

  She whirled around to face him. "It changes nothing. Absolutely nothing."

  Gregor couldn't believe the coldness that came from her beautiful green eyes. No emotion lay there and it scared him. She had been nothing but emotional since their first meeting. Could the dreams be doing this to her?

  He didn't stop her as she turned toward the small fire that had gone out. The first rays of sunlight peaked over the mountains, and it was then he realized he had slept most of the night.

  * * * *

  Fiona would just ignore him. At least that's what she told herself she would do, but Gregor was hard to ignore. Every time she looked at him, she could feel his hard body beneath her hands and see his black eyes glaze over with desire.

  He hadn't brought up their night of passion since that morning, and she was quite happy with that. Though she wanted to let her mind linger on the amazing pleasure Gregor had given her, she couldn't. Not with the dreams harassing her. She didn't see the passing landscape as she focused her mind on her dreams.

  This recent one had been the worst so far. If only she had seen what the man had been trying to show her. She wanted to talk to Aimery, but she didn't know how to call a Faerie to her, and it was unlikely that Gregor did either.

  She would just have to endure the dreams until she reached the Druid's Glen, then maybe there she could learn to determine what the dreams were trying to show her.

  "Do you plan to ignore me all day?"

  Gregor's voice intruded on her thoughts. She raised her eyes to find him twisted in the saddle as he watched at her. "I'm not ignoring you."

  "I have asked you twice if you needed to rest."

  She bit her lip as he pulled up on the reins. She didn't wish to hurt Gregor, but there was just so much going on right now. "I was thinking."

  "About the dreams?" he asked. His eyes softened.

  She nodded and pulled her mare to halt when she reached him. The kindness in his eyes unsettled her. He wasn't supposed to act like this. He was supposed to go about his business as if nothing
ever happened.

  Why was he being so kind?

  It didn't help that she yearned to pull his head down for a kiss, or feel his strong arms enfold her against him. He was offering to be her strength, but she couldn't allow that.

  Her eyes blurred with unshed tears at her dilemma, but she saw his hand reach for her face. She jerked away from him and wanted to cry out when she saw the shock that briefly flared in his eyes.

  Once again, his eyes went back to the way they were the first time she saw him. Dead. No emotion resided in him now, and she was the cause of it.

  She wanted to call him back and explain, but she knew it wouldn't do any good. The damage was done.

  For the rest of the day, he didn't spare her a glance as he rode hard and fast across the countryside. She wanted him to ignore her, and she was certainly getting her wish.

  * * * *

  Aimery ran a hand down his face. Things weren't turning out as they should, and all because of Fiona and her fear of being left alone.

  "What is it?" asked a female voice.

  He opened his eyes to see Moira standing beside him. Before he could answer Glenna strode up.

  "Aimery?" Glenna asked. "Is something amiss? Fiona isn't hurt is she?"

  He shook his head and raised a hand when he saw more questions coming. "Fiona and Gregor are just fine. For the moment."

  "Is there anything we can do to keep them safe?" Moira asked.

  "They must do this on their own," he explained. "The evil that is out there is gaining strength."

  Glenna began to pace. "I cannot stand this. Why can't you help?"

  "For the same reason I didn't help you and Conall." He stood and put his hands on Glenna's shoulders to halt her. "You and Conall needed to work things out on your own or you wouldn't be here now."

  "But if Fiona is in danger?"

  He sighed. "The three of you will continue to be in danger until the time of the prophecy. There's nothing I can do about that, but that is why we gave you your powers."

  "You might not be able to help Fiona, but why can't we?" Moira asked.

  "There are many things that haunt her, Moira," Aimery said. "She and Gregor have a long journey to make, but if they make it here then things will turn out all right."

  "What do you mean if they make it here?" Glenna asked. "If something happens to Fiona then the prophecy won't come to pass."

  Aimery smiled. "They'll make it here. This I promise you. I won't let MacNeil or the Evil One harm either her or Gregor."

  "Gregor is her mate, isn't he?" Moira asked.

  Aimery nodded. "Now let us turn our thoughts to the battle that will take place with MacNeil once Fiona reaches us. We have much to prepare for. Where has Fang hid himself?"

  * * * *

  Fiona wanted to wrap her hands around Gregor's throat and squeeze. Hard. The beast hadn't even stopped for a rest that afternoon, and she was so exhausted she could barely stand.

  Storm clouds had gathered all day and they fit her mood perfectly. They had just discovered a cave when thunder rumbled loudly in the distance. She took care of her mare, and dug out some oatcakes in her bag to munch on.

  She wasn't about to ask Gregor for food. He didn't acknowledge she was even with him as he started a fire then went to his horse.

  It had been a draining day emotionally and physically, and all she wanted to do was sleep. After she stuffed the last of the oatcake in her mouth she laid on her side using her arm as a pillow. She tried to stay awake to see what Gregor was about, but her eyes grew too heavy.

  * * * *

  Gregor took the saddle off Morgane and turned to find Fiona asleep. It was just as well. He found it increasingly hard to keep his hands and eyes off her. She drove him crazy, but she had wormed her way inside of him and touched places that hadn't been touched since Anne's death.

  A glance from the cave showed the gathering storm. If he was lucky he could find a small hare or two before the rain came. After he retrieved his bow and arrows he took one more look at Fiona. He hated to wake her just to let her know he was gone hunting.

  He walked from the cave and never saw Morgane follow.

  * * * *

  Alone. She was alone again, and it terrified Fiona. What had she done to Moira to make her abandon her?

  Once again, Moira promised to return, and like before, Fiona stood anxiously awaiting her sister's return. Yet, Moira never came back.

  Fiona raced to the castle, determined to find Moira herself. She wandered the castle alone, calling out to anyone who might hear her. But no matter how loud she called or how far she followed her, Moira never appeared.

  She was alone.

  Then she spotted Moira's blonde head running up the stairs toward their parent's chamber. Fiona ran as fast as her five-year-old legs could go. She reached her parent's chamber to find the door open.

  The fear dissipated as she walked toward the door. Until she looked into the empty chamber. No one was there. They had all abandoned her.

  Moira's laughter echoed around the now empty castle.

  Fiona woke with a start. It had been years since that dream had visited her. She wiped the sweat from her brow and wondered why that dream had plagued her once again. Could it be because she was about to come face to face with Moira after all these years?

  The need to feel Gregor's arms surround her had her searching the cave. He was nowhere to be found. She pushed aside her panic when she realized he must be hunting for food.

  She laughed at herself and walked to the entrance of the cave. The rain had finally come. She couldn't tell how long she had slept because the storm clouds made it difficult to judge the time of day.

  Her mare nickered at her. Fiona turned and spotted the mare standing about ten feet from her. She walked to the horse and patted her neck.

  "I'm sorry I don't pay you as much attention as Gregor does his mare, but I do have reasons," she told the beast.

  The horse nudged her with its nose. Fiona smiled and petted the animal again. It wasn't until then that she noticed Morgane was gone.

  Gregor had left her.

  Terror wrapped its steely shackles around her. Once again she had been abandoned, just as she always feared. It was no wonder she kept everyone and everything at arm's length.

  Without thought, she plunged into the drenching rain and ran in search of Gregor. She refused to be left again. If anyone was to leave it would be her.

  * * * *

  Gregor cursed. Between the blinding rain and Morgane following him, it hadn't been a successful hunt. Thankfully, he had discovered Morgane behind him before he had ventured too far from the cave. After he tied her to a tree, the sky had opened up and let the rain out.

  He was about to return to the cave when he spotted the boar. It was only a few feet from him and he blamed the rain from him hearing the animal.

  He would be lucky if he made it out of here alive now. After a hasty look around, he spotted a low hanging branch. If he timed it just right, he could make into the tree before the boar charged him. If the branch held him, that is.

  A look back at the animal proved his worst fear. The boar had spotted him and was about to charge. He didn't have time to wonder if the branch would hold him. He jumped and grabbed hold of the branch as the boar let out a high pitched squeal. He barely got his feet up by the time the boar reached him.

  Once he was safely in the tree, he laughed down at the boar. Until he spotted something running toward him.

  "It cannot be," he mumbled.

  But it was. Fiona ran through the rain, and she was headed straight toward the boar.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Gregor cursed again, this time much louder.

  What in the name of the saints is she doing out here?

  He would make sure to ask her that after he saved her from the boar. Too bad he didn't have a spear, he thought.

  It wasn't until the boar turned toward Fiona that he realized just how close to the edge of the mountain she was. If th
e boar charged her they would both go over the side.

  He had to get her attention. He called out to her, but she couldn't hear him over the roar of the rain. A look down confirmed that the boar has seen her and was now hunting her.

  Gregor threw a leg over the branch and jumped to the ground. If he was lucky enough, he might be able to get close to catch Fiona's attention.

  But there were a lot of 'ifs' involved.

  As he ran toward her, he notched his bow with an arrow and prayed his aim was true. Just as pulled his bow back to fire he heard Fiona scream as the boar ran in front of her.

  "Stay still," he whispered as he set the boar in his sights.

  He released the arrow as the boar squealed his attack. Gregor breathed a sigh of relief as the animal fell to its side. He raced toward Fiona and the boar, but when he reached the spot where Fiona had stood, she was gone.

  The rain slacked off enough that he spotted her running away from him. Without another look at the boar he raced after her. He deserved an explanation and by God she was going to give it to him.

  He was surprised at the speed in which she ran. His anger at her near death spurred him faster.

  "Fiona," he called, but she continued as if she hadn't heard him.

  Twice more he shouted at her, but her pace was unrelenting. With his longer legs, it didn't take him long to catch up with her. He wrapped his arms around her and turned so he would take the brunt of the fall as he brought her to the ground.

  To his utter amazement, she began to scream and hit him. He grabbed her arms wrestled her until she was on her back and he straddled her. Still she screamed and tried to kick him.

  "Enough," he roared. "Have you gone daft?"

  "You won't leave me," she ground out between clenched teeth.

  "Leave you?" Then he realized what she thought. With Morgane gone she assumed he had left her.

  He let go of her wrists and rolled off her. Even though she continued to pound her fists against his chest he pulled her into his arms. He knew how fear could overrule good judgment, and her panic proved how her fear ruled her life.

  "I didn't leave you, Fiona. I would never leave you." And to his astonishment, he realized that last part was true.