by Donna Grant
Jamie woke and began to cry. Moira reached for him. When her hand made contact with Dartayous’ chest her skin tingled at the contact with his bare skin. Her eyes jerked to his but he stared at Jamie. Apparently he hadn’t felt the sizzle that had sliced through her.
Dartayous nearly groaned aloud when Moira’s hand touched him. The fact that he wanted to grab her hand and have her touch him again did little to ease his mind.
He had to keep his distance. He couldn’t allow himself to get close to her. She was the only person who had affected him so. It was the very reason he went out of his way to keep her angry with him.
An angry woman didn’t try to get close. An angry woman didn’t want him near. An angry woman was just how Moira had to stay.
He felt her eyes on him after her hand brushed him, and he made an effort not to look at her. But the urge had almost been too much to bear.
Had she felt the fission of...something as he had? Were her lips parted, waiting for his touch? Did her breathing quicken and her body ache to feel more of him?
He squeezed his eyes shut to stop the images. Moira would be the death of him yet.
The jab of a tiny fist let him know Jamie was still in his arms. He quickly handed the infant to Moira since the feel of her soft skin next to him again would be his undoing.
* * * *
“How many days are we to ride in that?”
Dartayous had been listening to the many sounds of the fishing village when he heard the anxiety in Moira’s voice. Was she afraid of the water? That was absurd. “Two days.”
“Two days. Do we have enough milk for Jamie?” Ah, so that was her concern, he thought inwardly. “We have more than enough. There’s no need to worry.”
He found himself watching her as they waited on the shore for the boat. Flaxen hair that had escaped the tie at her neck blew in the sea wind like a beacon. Her pale green gown molded around her legs with the gusts of wind.
Her eyes searched the waters as if looking for something. He was about to ask what when he heard the call to board the boat.
He turned and looked at Raven who stood watching him. He had told the horse to return to the Druid’s Glen, and he had no doubt the horse would obey. If everything went according to plan there would be no need to take the same road back to the Glen.
“Come,” he said and held out his hand for Moira. “It's time.”
It wasn’t long before the boat drifted out to sea. Moira continued to pace the small cabin he had procured for her. He would sleep outside her door to make sure she wasn’t disturbed. It's how it had always been between them, always near, but never close.
He could hear her footfalls even through the wind and water howled around him as the boat raced toward their destination. If luck was on their side the wind would hold. If not, then Moira could help out with that, he thought with a smile.
After he made sure there was no threat on the boat, he made his way back to the cabin. He opened the door to find her still pacing.
“What is worrying you?”
“The key.”
He was sure that was part of her worry, but there was something else. He would bet his favorite dagger on it. “Have you thought of anything?”
She shook her head. When she got even with him, he reached out and took hold of her arms. “You will wear the boards out with your pacing.”
She waved aside his words and sat beside Jamie who was lying on the small cot. “The crone said we already have the key.”
“Aye,” Dartayous answered and leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.
“What have we got that could be the key?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “If we have anything Frang would have told us.”
“Maybe Frang didn’t know.”
“Then we go through our possessions.”
She sprang up and went to the bag she had brought. After digging in it for a moment she looked and shook her head. “All I have is clothing.”
Dartayous turned to look in his belongs when Moira said, “Wait.”
He swiveled his head and found her struggling with the laces on the front of her gown. For a moment he forgot everything as his mouth went dry at the thought of seeing her creamy skin.
As if through a dream, he took a step toward her. His body instantly came to life at the thought of holding her in his arms, of tasting her lush pink lips, of sinking into her tight body.
“What about this?”
He stopped and forced his eyes down to her hand. She held out a silver cross for his inspection, but he didn’t trust himself to get any closer to her.
“Here,” she said and took the necklace off to hand to him. “I think that may be it. There is writing on the back.”
Dartayous took the necklace and ran his thumb over the smooth cross. He turned it over and found the ancient markings of the Druids. “Who gave this to you?”
“My mother on my fifth year.”
“Do you know what it says?”
She shook her head sadly. “Even Frang cannot read it. He says ‘tis ancient.”
“It's a prayer of protection.”
Long lashes fell over her green eyes. “What? You can read it?”
He nodded and handed it back to her. “It asks that the wearer be protected from harm and kept safe.”
“How do you know how to read it?”
He had been afraid of that question. He said the only thing that was the truth. “There are many things you don’t know about me.” He turned toward the door. It was time to leave the cabin.
“Then tell me.”
Her words stopped him for a heartbeat. Then two. “You don’t want to know,” he said and hurried from the cabin.
Chapter Four
Moira almost called out to Dartayous before the door closed behind him, but she had a feeling he didn’t wish to speak further of it. Thousands of questions swirled in her mind, yet no answers would be forthcoming now. The matter was closed.
“For now,” she whispered.
If it took her the rest of the journey, she would get it out of him how he knew the symbols. He spoke the truth. There were many things she didn’t know about him. Like where he came from, why he dedicated his life to the Druid Warriors and why he had chosen the Celtic bird for a tattoo.
He was a mystery. Maybe that was why she had always been drawn to him. It was her lot in life to want a man who didn’t want her.
True she wasn’t a petite beauty like Glenna, or an outspoken vixen like Fiona, but she wasn’t homely either. She had even tried to find herself attracted to other men to no avail. Her eyes only sought Dartayous.
“I suppose ‘tis just you and me now,” she said to Jamie as she looked around the cabin. “But there will come a time when you will leave me, too.”
A knock on the door startled her. She opened it to find Dartayous. There was something in his eyes that stopped her from finishing their earlier conversation. She stepped back and held the door open for him and spotted a woman behind him.
“Moira this is Rebecca.”
Moira turned to the woman and smiled. “Hello.”
“Hello, m’lady,” Rebecca said. “He told me of the babe.”
Moira’s eyes widened as she looked from the buxom blonde to the bed. “Aye,” she said. “What about him.”
Dartayous stepped toward her. “She was Lady MacDonald’s wet nurse.”
“M’lady had a hard labor and wasn’t able to feed her babe,” Rebecca said.
Moira’s heart thudded in her chest. Dartayous wanted her to give Jamie to this woman. She took a step away from them and closer to the bed and Jamie.
“I would be honored to nurse the babe,” Rebecca continued, not realizing what was going through Moira’s head.
Moira darted a glance at Jamie. Even if she did reach him before Dartayous, she had no where to go except over the side of the boat.
“Moira?”
She looked at Dartayous. His blue eyes were narrowed in worry
at her. “He’s mine,” she said.
“Rebecca is just going to nurse him,” he said after a moment. “Jamie needs the milk.”
“Aye, m’lady, it will do the wee lad good to have my milk,” Rebecca agreed. “I’ve got a pack of young one’s meself.”
“Where are your children?” Moira asked after a moment of silence. She regarded the portly woman, but didn’t feel any negative energy in her.
“At me cottage on the Isle. I had to travel to the MacLeod’s to help a friend. ‘Twas her first bairn, and she had a hard time of it.”
Rebecca’s constant chatter soothed Moira. Maybe Dartayous was just trying to help. Still, the fierce possessiveness she held for Jamie frightened her.
“Moira?”
She raised her eyes to Dartayous. He was waiting for her approval. She was a fool to think he had been trying to take Jamie from her.
With a nod, she gave Dartayous the answer he wanted. She watched as he gathered Jamie in his arms and handed him to Rebecca.
“You look exhausted, m’lady. Do you wish for me to keep him overnight so you can sleep?” Rebecca asked.
Moira wanted to say nay, but she knew her mind needed to be clear for her mission ahead. “That would be nice,” she finally answered.
Once Rebecca left the cabin, she turned to Dartayous. “I thought you were trying to take him from me.”
“I know,” he answered and even though he kept his face impassive she heard the note of sorrow in his voice.
“I should have known better. Will you forgive me?”
His head swiveled toward her. He took a step toward her, then stopped. “There’s nothing to forgive.”
“You were helping me.”
He nodded and continued to gaze at her.
She found herself held by his gaze. He filled the cabin with his presence. She breathed in deeply and smelled the scent that was pure Dartayous.
Danger, mystery, sandalwood and power.
He was all those things and more. She watched his eyes roam over her face and body. After all these years, had he finally found her somewhat attractive? Would now be the time that he didn’t turn away from her?
And could her heart handle another rejection by him?
Before she could say anything, he turned on his heel and left the cabin.
“Alone again,” she said.
She wasn’t long in giving his departure much thought as the boat tilted sharply to the left.
“By the saints,” she whispered as her worst fear was about to come true.
* * * *
Dartayous breathed in the sea air. He had barely escaped before he had made a fool of himself. After all this time, suddenly he found himself wanting to touch Moira, hold her...kiss her.
If he wasn’t on a mission he would leave immediately, but he’d sworn to protect her. He wouldn’t forsake that vow.
With a curse he grabbed a hold of the side of the boat as it pitched to the left. A glance at the sky told him that they were in for a storm.
Like it or not, he had to return to Moira to make sure she was all right. He turned and opened the cabin door to see her sitting beside the cot on the floor with her arms wrapped around her legs.
“Moira?”
“I knew I shouldn’t have gotten on the boat.”
He closed the door behind him and walked to her. When he held out his hand to help her up and she didn’t take it, he went down on his haunches in front of her.
“’Tis just a small storm. Nothing more.”
“It will be our death.”
Her wild green eyes bespoke her fear, and he knew he had to calm her soon or she would never board another boat. “It will take a stronger storm than this to sink us. Even then I will get you to shore.”
“I cannot die now. I have so much to do,” she went on as if he hadn’t spoken.
Dartayous tried another tactic. “What are you afraid of?”
Her eyes focused on him as her face scrunched in amazement. “Don’t you know the stories?”
“What stories?”
“There are monsters that live in the sea. Huge monsters that kill people.”
For a moment, he nearly laughed until he realized just how serious she was. Monsters? In the sea? Who had told her such absurd stories?
“It is true we don’t know just what’s below the water, but no monster will get you.”
She surged to her feet and looked wildly about as the boat pitched once again. “I must get off this boat.”
Dartayous caught her as she tried to rush past him. She fought him like a wild woman. “Moira,” he called out to her to no avail. “I’m trying to help you.”
“Then let me go.”
With a quickness that he was known for, he had her arms pinned to her side. “Look at me,” he ordered.
He was frightened now. Frightened at Moira’s reaction to the storm, but more frightened that he wouldn’t be able to calm her.
Just when he thought he could loosen his hold a little, the little boat began to dip and sway with the coming storm. Moira screamed and got one arm loose. Her efforts to get away doubled.
With a curse, he flung her onto the narrow cot and followed to land on top of her, pinning her with his weight. “Listen to me,” he shouted over the howling wind.
“I don’t want to die,” she whispered.
He was stunned at her whispered words. “I’m not going to let you die,” he said as he gazed into her green eyes.
Her eyes lost some of their wildness. He became aware of the soft body he was on. Every instinct told him to leave now, but he found it impossible.
The boat jerked with another wave that pounded the side. When Moira once again became wild with fear, he could think of only one way to calm her.
A kiss.
He lowered his head and placed his mouth on hers. What began as a way to divert her attention became much more. His body roared to life when their lips met. Hers were warm and soft, inviting. He was mildly surprised that she didn’t pull away, but he didn’t think on it long.
With a moan he couldn’t keep inside, he ran his tongue over her lips and felt her jerk. He started to raise his head when her tongue hesitantly touched him.
His control snapped. He claimed her lips and coaxed them open by nibbling on her lower lip until he was able to sweep his tongue inside of her mouth. But one taste wasn’t enough. He had to have more.
Desire flared hot and instant through his body when she cautiously returned his kiss. He tried to slow the kiss so as not to overwhelm her, but with each touch of her tongue all he could think about was claiming her.
He moved his hands from around her arms to her neck where he plunged his hands in the silken strands of her flaxen mane. A groan escaped him when her arms encircled his neck and held him tighter against her. It was everything he had ever wanted and more. Much more.
Just when the kiss deepened, the boat rocked so hard that they fell from the cot to the floor. Dartayous rolled to make sure he landed first to take the brunt of the fall. But the spell that had held them was broken.
“You kissed me.”
The accusation in Moira’s voice was like a knife in his gut. He gently set her away from him and rose to his feet. “I had to do something to take your mind off the storm.”
“You kissed me.”
He looked at his boots before returning his gaze to her standing next to him. “You kissed me back.”
She opened her mouth, but before anything came out a wave slammed into the boat sending her into Dartayous’ arms. He set her as far away from him as his arms would allow.
“Are you calm now?”
She shrugged and wrung her hands.
“Calm the wind,” he said. “We will be blown off course if you don’t.”
Without a word, she opened the door and was immediately drenched in the rain. He grabbed her waist to keep her upright. Her arms raised above her head, palms outward. After a moment, she opened her arms downward and the clouds scattered
.
She turned around to face him. “Please check on Jamie while I change.”
He hurried to do as she asked before he bent down and took her lips in his again. No matter how long he walked this earth, he would never forget the sweet, exotic taste of her kiss.
His steps slowed and stopped as he stared out over the dark waters that Moira had calmed. He clenched his teeth tightly together until his jaw ached. There had been a time during his five hundred years of existence that he had cut himself just to make sure he would bleed, to know that he was alive. He had gone through stages of feeling nothing...to feeling everything. It had been the purest form of Hell.
Now, he would do almost anything to take back the memory of Moira’s kiss. He would be better served not knowing, yet he knew from experience that if he really wanted to forget something it stayed with him forever.
His world had changed in the space of a heartbeat, and all because he hadn’t been able to stay clear of her tempting lips. He was cursed.
“But I would sure as hell like to know why,” he mumbled.
Chapter Five
Moira stared out at the calm blue waters of Loch Snizort. Nothing had been said of their kiss the day before, but it hadn’t been far from her thoughts.
It was the kiss that she had dreamed of when she had shyly given him a kiss when she was but ten and three. Eleven years ago, yet she vividly remembered that day as if was yesterday.
Even now, she knew where he was at all times. Her body was linked to his somehow, and no matter what she did she couldn’t break that link.
The smell of sandalwood and man assaulted her. Dartayous. He stood just behind her to the left. Her guardian.
“What is the name of the village we are headed to?”
As silent as a cat, he moved to stand beside her. “Loch Snizort will take us to Loch Eyre and the small village of Kensaleyre.”
“Is that were the doorway is?”
She felt more than saw the shrug of his massive shoulders. “’Tis the village Frang was told of long ago.”
“I pray he’s right.”
She turned her head and found his ice blue eyes staring at her. She blinked and tried to look away, but he held her.