The Highlander’s Witch (41 page)
Read The Highlander’s Witch Online
Authors: Jennifer France
Skye chuckled softly. There was so much to tell them.
“I think my aunt will be thrilled. I can’t wait for tomorrow!”
* * *
Everything worked out perfectly and now they stood in front of the roaring fire in Aiden’s den chatting excitedly as they opened their gifts, unconcerned over the warmth the fire brought on such a warm day.
Skye had to keep herself from going crazy as they spent so much time over the wrapping paper before she forced them to open the gifts.
They placed the wrapping paper aside, stating they wouldn’t burn it until they could look more closely at in the light of day.
Aiden was shocked at the response her family had over the pennies and frowned.
“Now, now, Doug.” Skye admonished. “You let them cash those pennies. I know how difficult times are with the baby and Sarah having to work part time. And I want this to be a yearly thing, so let it be.”
“But—”
Before Doug could complain further, she held up a hand. “And, if you look into that little bag to your right you will see that I thought of you too.”
Beaming, she watched as Doug’s face lit up as coins came tumbling out onto his palm.
“There are different kinds of groats, and riders, and farthings and whatever else they are called. I don’t have them all straight yet.”
Gladys cleared her throat. “There’s a cottage about six miles from the castle up for sale. I will be buying that with my penny.”
“Buyin a cottage for a penny?”
Grinning, Skye nodded to Collin, who finally took his eyes off the Bowie knife he was given.
“I told you all, but do you ever listen? Noooooo.” She smirked.
Anna was shown how to use the baby bottles as Skye placed the binky in little Dougal’s mouth, but it was the snaps on the baby clothes that had Anna in wonder, causing Elizabeth to take her attention from the warmth of the matching cashmere sweater and mittens.
Aiden’s silence caught her attention as he looked through a notebook given to him by Doug.
“What is it, my love?”
Aiden looked up in wonder then over to the flames.
“I want the best for my sister-in-law, as well as for my ancestry.” Doug said. “It was a long hard decision to make since I don’t believe that changing the future is a good thing but I learned yesterday that I can leave it in your very capable hands.”
Skye frowned in confusion and looked over Aiden’s shoulder at the book.
“Doug!”
There, in Aiden’s hands, was page after page of Scotland’s history.
Wars and their outcome, commerce, free trade, plagues, crops, and everything else that occurred over the next six hundred years.
Doug smiled and made himself comfortable in a way that told Skye they were in for a good story.
“I wasn’t sure if I should do it but when I went to a local tavern yesterday and they learned my name, a man came over, about my age.
“He sat down and we talked. His name is Edward and he said he had been coming to this tavern for a long time waiting for me. He completely stuns me when he says that he is your direct descendant!”
Before anyone could digest the news, Doug continued. “He told me of a manual that was handed down to every generation of castle owners. He also said there had been a seer somewhere in their family that had written of future events ending with my coming to Scotland.”
We are going to the castle to meet him and his family tomorrow night.”
“Isn’t this fabulous?” Skye clapped. “You need to tell us everything!”
“If all goes well maybe we can all chat?” Sarah asked.
“I would like that.” Elizabeth smiled.
“Aye.” Aiden agreed.
When the evening ended, Aiden took his wife’s hand and led her from the room.
“What do ye have there? My birthday present?”
“Nope, that is something I am going to wait until we get into our room to give you, this is your Christmas present.”
“I couldna open it with the others?”
“Ummmm, no. Not a good idea.”
“Keir!” Skye called out when she saw the man walking from the kitchens. “I have something for you.”
Keir approached and smiled. “What be that, lass?”
She handed over a handle and placed it properly in his hands. “Hold it like this and when you press this thing here don’t let go and don’t move.”
“Mayhap I shouldna press that ‘thing’?”
“Oh, but you have to, it’s the best part.” Skye looked at him with wide innocent eyes.
When Keir hesitantly nodded, she made sure Aiden stood off to the side.
As soon as he pushed the button, a blade shot out and Skye clapped her hands.
“It’s called a stiletto. Isn’t it the absolute coolest thing ever?”
Both Aiden and Keir stood in shock. Then they were both taking turns trying it out.
“Why did ye no get me one of those?” Aiden groused when Skye pulled him away.
Stopping on one of the steps, she smiled back at him. “Because I happen to think what I got you is better.”
Quirking a brow she waited.
Grinning, Aiden lifted her up, swung her over his shoulder, and bounded up the stairs to their room, Skye protesting with laughter the entire time.
When he set her down her body slowly drifted over his until her feet hung just above the floor.
He kissed her hard, his tongue pushing past her lips to swirl with hers.
“Aiden.” She gasped. “The gifts.”
“They can wait.”
“No, I want to give them now. I-I have to.” She panted.
Groaning, he eased her to the floor and let go.
“You open this while I take care of something.”
“Where be ye goin?”
“Just in the other chamber for a moment. Go ahead, open that and I will return with your birthday gift.”
Skye slipped over to the alcove and opened the package she had her sister buy for her and slipped into the bright pink lingerie set with matching fluffy heels and sheer robe.
She stepped out and positioned herself, waiting for Aiden to look up from the book in his hands.
“Look at the paper.” He said in awe as he gingerly ran his hands over the pages while sitting on the edge of the bed.
“It’s the
Kama
sutra
.”
Skye had asked Sarah to find her one that was a G-rated as possible, since she wasn’t sure how well he would take explicit pictures and here he was amazed over the print of it.
“Have ye ever felt the texture of these pages? The brightness of the pictures? Why there be nothin but a flat surface, as if—” He looked up and his jaw dropped.
Skye blushed and her smile deepened. “You likee?”
His mouth moved but nothing came out.
She slowly lowered her hand from above her and took slow, sensual steps toward him, her face pure seduction.
“This be me birthday gift?” He rasped out as he laid the book down beside him.
Pushing him teasingly back, Skye straddled his waist as she climbed on top of him.
“Mmmm, yes.” She kissed his neck, laving with her tongue. “Do you like?”
“I like Christmas in July.”
Kissing his stubbled jaw, Skye smiled wickedly. “But I already have your Christmas gift for December, so we definitely can’t skip that.”
His hands circled her waist and over her rump, feeling the satin of the cloth covering her. “Be that so?”
“Aye.” She smiled, rubbing her nose over his using her best Scottish brogue. “An I will be a good wife an let ye pick out the name.”
Aiden licked her chin before stilling as her words sunk in. His fingers eased from their firm grip and he pressed his head further into the mattress to peer at her.
“Ye be with bairn?”
Knowing he needed her being serious, she sat up on his lap and nodded down at him. “I am three months pregnant.”
“Ah, lass.” He sighed, drawing her down and rolling her gently to her back.
He then proceeded to show her how even gentleness could bring her to wonderful peaks of passion.
Then he showed her again.
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