The Accidental Highland Hero (40 page)

Then she toddled off to bed, and Dougald winked at Eilis. “She will spoil your brother and your bairn terribly. Not like with us, eh, James?”

“Aye.” James lifted Eilis back into his arms and headed into the chamber, while Dougald reached for the door.

“Malcolm ordered a bath made to accommodate two. Mayhap you wish to also?”

Eilis’s mouth dropped, and James quirked a brow at his brother.

Dougald saluted them with his hand. “See you on the morrow.” Then he shut the door with a clunk.

James set Eilis down next to the bath and touched her face with a tender caress. “You are well?  No one harmed you when you were hiding at Dunbarton’s castle?”

“Nay, James. I was fine. Scared a little, but I am fine.” She reached down to slip off her shoes.

But James was quicker, and after he removed his weapons, he reached down to untie her shoes then slipped his hands up her legs and unfastened the garters.

She closed her eyes and rested her hands on his head, loving how kind and giving he could be when he should have been angry with her for leaving the safety of Craigly to venture to Dunbarton’s domain.

“You have no regrets that you took me to wife instead of Catriona?”

He snorted. “I have always desired to find my treasure from the sea, sweet Eilis. ‘Tis no other like you.”

He rose his hands up her thighs then released her and pulled her gown over her head. “None other can ever compare.” Through her thin chemise, he caressed her breasts and leaned over to kiss her lips.

Her body reacted to his persuasive touches, the ache growing between her legs, the tips of her breasts tightening, peaking, wanting more.

“Hmm, sweeting, in the bath with you, and after we have bathed…”  He lifted his head. “You are not too sore, are you?”

“To make love again?  Nay.”

James quickly dispensed with her shift and lifted her into the bath then removed his own clothes. “What say you about a bath built for two?”

She splashed her hand in the water and reached for the soap. “The servants will not like it.”

James leaned over the bath, naked, his chest beautiful, bronzed, kissable. He relieved her of the soap and began to run it over her breasts, her neck, down her stomach, between her legs. She squealed. He chuckled.

“The servants will not mind as long as I am pleased and show them my gratitude.”

“May…may Fia stay here?”

“Aye, as your lady-in-waiting. And to help raise your wee brother. Aye.”

“Can you join me in the bath?” she asked, curious whether it would work.

“Nay, we would get stuck, and Nesta would love to tell the tale.”

But it didn’t take much coaxing, and Eilis crouched between James’s legs while she soaped his chest and arms. He closed his eyes, and she feared he was falling asleep, but when she touched the rigid staff between his legs, his eyes shot open. “’Tis a willful water sprite who has snagged me.”

He grinned and hauled her out of the tub, both dripping wet. Briskly, he dried her off and then himself, and before she could utter a word, he swept her through the bed hangings and joined her in the bed.

“I was about to give up my title and lands to Dougald to avoid marrying a woman I wished not, but, my sweet lassie from the sea came home. And rescued me.”

Ha!  He had done all the rescuing to her way of thinking.

She kissed his upturned lips, saw his eyes drowning with want. Aye, she was home at long last—with the hero of her dreams.

Acknowledgements

I wish to acknowledge my critique partner, Nicole North, who as always, has the most insightful advice as we’re creating our stories; my editor, Dawn, who makes sure the book is the best it can be; and my family, who loved the cover of The Accidental Highland Hero and are proud to share that their mom is an author (even if she does write romances!)

About the Author

Terry Spear is an award-winning author of urban fantasy and medieval historical romantic suspense. Her book,
Heart of the Wolf
was named one of
Publishers Weekly's
BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR
as well as
the
NOR Reader Choice for BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE.
 

Terry also writes true stories for adult and young adult audiences. She’s a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and has an MBA from Monmouth University and a Bachelors in Business and Distinguished Military Graduate of West Texas A & M. She also creates award-winning teddy bears, Wilde & Woolly Bears, which also include personalized bears designed to commemorate authors’ books. When she’s not writing or making bears, she’s teaching online writing courses.

Originally from California, she’s lived in eight states and now resides in the heart of Texas. She is the author of
Heart of the Wolf, Destiny of the Wolf, To Tempt the Wolf, Legend of the White Wolf, Winning the Highlander’s Heart, Deadly Liaisons, The Vampire…In My Dreams (young adult), Deidre's Secret (young adult),  two more upcoming wolf tales from Sourcebooks,
 and numerous articles and short stories for magazines
.

Readers may find more about Terry by visiting her website at
www.terryspear.com
.

Also by Terry Spear—the story of James’s brother, Malcom, and his Lady Anice.

Winning the Highlander’s Heart

Highlander Romance

Vintage Romance Publishing

ISBN: 0-9785368-3-5

Countess Anice vows to flee the amorous advances of King Henry I and return to her home in the Highlands, where she hopes to find a laird to wed.

Highlander Laird Malcolm MacNeill, seeking an English bride, becomes entangled with the Scottish lass while trying to find out why her staff has vanished.

Soon, murder and mayhem followed.

Find out why reviewers are calling Winning the Highlander’s Heart “a huge winner”!

Available now from online retailers and your favorite bookstore!