Highlander's Heart (Clan Matheson Book 2) (4 page)

“When I first learnt you were betrothed to Donnan MacDonald, a huge level of frustration flushed through me.”

“Well, I’ve no idea why that would be.” One serious glare came at him.

“Perhaps I should have paid more attention to that frustration than I did, because right now you seem to be the only woman here who I’m continually drawn to. You and only you.” He plowed on along the scrub-lined trail leading deeper into the woods, the pathway meandering upward into the hills high behind the castle. Overhead, birds twittered in their nests and the canopy thickened, blocking almost any and all trace of the late afternoon sun above. “What I feel for you, it’s growing stronger each and every day, Layla. I can’t seem to stay away from you even though I’m supposed to be at the village where my mate most likely resides.”

“You said you cannae sense her there, and I realize your mate is hiding from you, somehow and some way, but that does no’ mean that she is me.”

“You sound so certain, yet right now I’m wondering if you might just be the very one I’ve been seeking. Perhaps your betrothal to another is how you’ve been hiding from me. Certainly whatever this is between us, I’m going to delve deeper into it and find out exactly what’s going on.”

“This is naught, and one cannae hide behind a betrothal. I have also given Donnan my oath to wed him afore the week’s end, of which I shall.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. “Would you at least allow me to walk while we have this argument? Reason is all you need to see, and I’ll make sure you do.”

“If I put you down, I want your promise that you’ll continue on with me to the waterfall.”

“I promise.” She snorted under her breath. “You are a very vexing man.”

“Thank you.”

“It wasnae a compliment.”

Grinning, he set her feet on the ground, her long blond spiral curls sliding sensuously over his forearms as he did. He adored her fiery nature, her temper which rose quickly to the surface then just as quickly died away. She was like a fierce sunrise and a thundering storm, all beauty and explosion rolled into one, then the ultimate grace as she simmered back down. She was the kind of woman he longed for, with attributes he hoped his chosen one held. The kind of woman he would love to roll around in a meadow with, to claim as his and make her his wife. The kind of woman he could make love to each and every day and still never get enough of. Those thoughts barreled through his mind, gaining with strength and making him want her all the more. Hell, if she wasn’t his mate, it would likely kill him.

With one hand at the small of her back, he guided her along the winding trail leading upward toward the craggy hilltop. As she walked beside him, the skirts of her red velvet gown swished against his legs and her cinched bodice lifted her breasts, the white satin trim along the low-cut neckline brushing the upper swells of her creamy skin.

His mouth watered at the heavenly sight. He might have let her down, but he didn’t think he’d ever be able to let her go, not until they’d talked and he’d discovered exactly what it was about her that had both him and his bear clamoring for more of her. She had to be the one, his mate, and the holder of the other half of his soul.

“Cease looking at me like that, Tor.” She frowned, and so beautifully.

“How exactly am I looking at you?”

“Like you want to eat me.”

“I believe I do.”

“And cease speaking in such a way as well.” She gripped her skirts and stomped ahead. “I’ve witnessed Cherub and Kirk’s mated bond taking form, Tavish and Julia’s too, not to mention the others whom Cherub has brought through from your time. Their love for each other is so precious to behold. We do no’ have such a bond.”

“The mated bond is what my shifter clan live for.” He lifted his nose to the air and drew in the dampness of the forest floor, the clear aroma of pine and the fresh scent of the air, although Layla’s intoxicating cherry scent swirled around and stamped its wild beauty over it all. “I should have remained here these past three days rather than left you all alone. I’ll never leave you again.”

“No more.” She huffed, continued on. “I am no’ your mate.”

“What if you are? You need to at least consider the possibility.”

“I need to consider naught.” Another huff and a vexing stare.

Damn, she had the most beautiful eyes, the dark brown so rich in color and swirling with a multitude of emotions. Well, it seemed he had a very feisty woman on his hands, and possibly a mate, of which he’d know with absolute certainty the moment the full moon rose. Tonight was the one night of the month when his chosen one would never be able to hide from him. He’d sense the exact direction he needed to take in order to track her down, although all his senses roared that he was already in full pursuit, the woman before him the very one who held the other half of his soul. Hell, whenever he was around her, all he wanted to do was touch her in some way, keep her close, learn all he could about her. She intrigued him as no other could.

“Layla, wait a moment. Let me clear the way so you don’t catch your skirts on the scrub.” Thick brush partially clogged the last portion of the pathway and he swung his sword free and slashed the scrub away then gestured for her to go first.

“Oh my.” She stepped through and gasped. “’Tis so stunning.”

She was the stunning one. He joined her where the forest fell away and the roaring waterfall pummeled down. Water rushed over the topmost edge of the waterfall a good ten to fifteen feet above their heads. It sleeted past a stone ledge hidden underneath the fall of it and crashed into a pool thirty feet below, before streaming around thick boulders and flowing downhill toward the inner channel of Loch Alsh.

“’Tis been such an age since I last tramped up here. I’d clear forgotten how incredibly beautiful this place is.”

“I’m glad you agreed to come with me.”

“Agreed?” Hands on her hips, she arched a brow at him. “So, now we are here Mr. Come-swimming-with-me, tell me exactly where this hidden pool is.”

“It’s best I show you rather than tell you. Nice new title you’ve given me there, Miss I-want-to-eat-you.” He tapped her nose, nabbed the basket of cherries from the air which she still had bobbing beside them and set it safely on the ground next to the partially hidden ledge. “Are you willing to follow where I lead?”

“I have thus far, and you arena
eating me
, no’ even a bite. Make sure your bear understands that as well.”

“All he understands is that you nipped my ear first. That I consider a bite.” He caught her up in his arms, his hold around her firm and leapt onto the ledge. Swiftly, he set her down on her feet, pressed her back against the slick rock wall behind her and ensured they both remained steady on their feet. “I thought it best to just jump rather than warn you. Are you all right?”

“Of course, and this place is truly a haven of beauty.” She grinned at him then swayed forward and glanced at the sheer drop downward. The crashing spray drifted upward and coated her skin, wetting the luscious swell of her breasts and the long column of her neck.

His mouth watered for a taste of her, to lick her flesh and nibble away. Instead, he motioned toward the cherries. “Bring your delicious haul here.”

“One moment.” She lifted one hand and with her skill sent the basket up and sailing across to them.

“I’ll take them.” He swung the basket out of midair, caught her hand with his free one and shuffled sideways under the cascading fall of water toward the slim and almost unnoticeable entrance to a tunnel he’d found at the end. “Take care with your step, my sweet.”

“I shall, and I am no’ your sweet.”

“We’re almost there.” Between two cracks in the rock wall slick with the water’s spray, he squeezed through and tugged his sweet yet feisty woman in after him.

“Never would I have known this was here.” She scampered around to his other side and stared down the darkened passageway carved of black stone. “I wonder if any of my clansmen have found this tunnel afore. Certainly none have ever spoken of it if they have.”

“There’s no sign of any disturbance deeper within. Come. You need to see the pool I found.” He led the way down the tunnel and at the end, jumped onto the grainy white sand a good six feet below.

Overhead, the craggy ceiling of the cavern rose to a high peak with a three-foot wide hole at the top where a wispy trail of steam from the hot water vented out. It had been that trace of steam he’d first noticed from outside that had sent him on a mission to find its source. As the steam disappeared on the breeze, what remained of the late afternoon sunshine streamed in and glimmered across the glassy surface of the pool and the slick rock walls surrounding them.

“This is such an enchanting place.”

The woman before him was far more enchanting. Aye, he could barely take his gaze from her, and bringing her here to this sacred place filled him with such a sense of rightness. No one else did he wish to be with right now, other than her. He set the basket on the golden-white sand beside the wall, returned to her and held out his hands. “Jump, Layla. I’ll catch you.”

“Nay, I can manage the distance on my own. Never forget my skill, Tor.” She brushed a stringy cobweb aside and leapt from the edge and gently glided down and landed with a soft swish on the sand before him.

Slippers kicked off and her shawl tossed near the wall, she twirled around, her arms outstretched and her deep red skirts flaring, her abundance of glorious spiral tresses whispering through the air, a wavy, golden ripple that completely enticed him, just as the rest of her did, both inside and out. He caught her around the waist, ran his hands over the velvet of her gown and caressed her hips, although not for long. She snuck out of his hold, dashed toward the gently lapping water and skirts bunched in her hands, tickled her toes in it. “’Tis terrible that this is the first time I’ve ever been here.”

“This cavern is well protected from both sight and the elements.” He removed his sword belt, propped it against the rock wall and divested himself of his wrist dagger and boots. His need to touch her again raged through him. Hell, the signs that he’d finally found his chosen one were adding up, one after the other, and in an insurmountable mountain. “Are you coming in for a swim?”

“I have naught to swim in, other than my shift underneath.” She walked out of the water and stopped in front of him.

“You keep your shift on and I’ll keep my pants on.” He pulled his shirt from his leather pants, hauled the white linen over his head and tossed it on top of his weapons.

“Do you swim with the lasses often?” She swayed closer, her gaze on his chest and her warm breath fluttering over his skin.

“You shall be the first, unless you count my mother and the odd cousin.” He picked up the laces at the front of her bodice and tugged the bow free, all while wishing he could tug all her clothes from her, to be able to touch her skin without any barrier, to rub his body against hers. Damn, he had it bad. “Where’s your favorite swimming spot?”

“I dinnae have a favorite, although following this swim, it might very well be here.” She took the loosened ties from him, shrugged her arms out of the long draping sleeves and wriggled the velvet down and past her hips until it fell into a pool of shimmery red at her feet.

He crouched, picked it up after she stepped clear of it, folded the velvet and set it next to the rest of their belongings against the wall.

“Thank you.” She waded into the water, went deeper, until her shift swished about her legs then she dove and disappeared underneath the surface. Water rippled across the glassy top as she swam through the darker depths below.

His chest tightened and his fingers itched. He didn’t care to have her moving so far from him, wanted only to grab ahold of her and return her to his side. He prowled the sandy edge of the pool, welcoming the fierce emotions that arose. Aye, Layla was his mate, his bear too demanding it was so. She was the one he’d been searching for all this time and eluding him as well. He wouldn’t allow her to elude him any longer.

In a spray of water, she shot to the surface, waved out to him. “Are you coming in?”

“I’ll be right there.” He had to try and curtail some of this desperate need for her, otherwise he’d frighten her with how strong his desire for her pulsed within him. He bounded in, dove and kicked under the water and emerged before her, grasped her around the waist and treaded water for the both of them. “I want no secrets between us. Do you understand that?”

“I’m not keeping any secrets from you, that I’m aware of.”

“Then tell me how you feel right now.”

“Wet.” An impish smile lifted her lips.

“Do you love Donnan?” He gave her hips a squeeze, hoped like hell she harbored not one single feeling for the man.

“Donnan and I have spent time together whenever he’s visited, and he seems considerate, but I’m also well aware he’s a hardened warrior, blood-thirsty and very determined. He wouldnae be the son of a great chief otherwise. The chiefs of clan MacDonald hold the title of Lords of the Isles, and they do so for a reason. They are a force to be reckoned with, which includes Donnan.”

“What happens if I asked you not to see him again?”

“I would say you had no right to request such a thing.”

“I also wish to ask for a kiss.”

“Nay, Tor. We arena mated and you must cease thinking so.” She pushed him away, dove under the water and kicked toward the overhanging ledge at the side of the pool. She emerged, clambered up onto the slick black rock, water sluicing to her feet as they dangled in the water.