–Broderick–
IHAD NEVER enjoyed an evening with a woman as much as I did this one. Where Storm had been a dear friend, and we enjoyed many good times together over the years, spending time with Aspen felt so much more memorable. Interesting. Amusing. Worth cherishing and revisiting in my memories always.
I appreciated her wit and intelligence and, again, her straightforward manner. Interestingly, I especially enjoyed her bold, adventurous spirit. Where I usually wasn’t the risk-taker she was—could not be given my role and obligation to my people—I was eager to take her on many adventures and be there when she shifted and flew for the first time. Desperate for it, even, just like I was desperate for every last part of her now I could see clearly.
So when she stayed true to her bold nature and ended up on my lap, kissing me for the first time, it was no surprise I grew intensely aroused. How could I not when our kisses grew hungry?When I grew so hard, it hurt? When she groaned in need, and her tight, round backside squirmed on my lap because she was aware of how ready I was for her?
In fact, I was so ready I was moments away from carrying her to my bed, which was far closer than she realized, where I'd spread her shapely thighs and finally sink deep inside the woman Ishouldhave been fantasizing about all these years. I fully intended to show her how good I wanted to make her feel for the rest of her life and all to follow if we hadn’t been interrupted by a light knock on the door.
“What is it?” I snapped, so consumed by Aspen that, shockingly enough, I hadn’t sensed who approached until my mother spoke from the other side.
“’Tis trouble, son,” she replied. “Meet us in the war chamber.”
“At this hour?” I muttered, both frustrated and alarmed. Frustrated because Aspen and I had to stop what we were doing and alarmed because I had been so consumed by her that I hadn’t sensed danger. Something my inner beast should have picked up on right away. The very moment a threat stepped foot on my land.
“Should I go back to my room?” Aspen wondered as I couldn’t help but brush my lips across hers one last time, cherishing her taste, before I stood and set her down.
“Nay, I would prefer you remain by my side.” I cupped her soft cheek and ensured she saw in my gaze how much I meant it. “Just as I would when you become my wife, as we will be equal in all things.”
“You meanifI become your wife,” she corrected, but I swore I detected a teasing tone. “And, of course, I’ll stay with you. I’d like nothing more.”
Of that, I had no doubt, given her personality, so I slid my hand into hers and headed back downstairswhen I had hoped to be heading someplace else if she’d allowed it. It might seem like we only just came together, but deep down, I had a feeling that wasn’t true. While I had no memory of her ever being here, that didn’t mean it hadn’t somehow occurred in our dreams. Stranger things had happened to time travelers and fated mates over the centuries.
After all, modern-day women had been traveling back for over one hundred and seventy-five years now. At least as time went by here, in what they would call medieval Scotland. They had helped so much over the years, even coming to the aid of King Robert the Bruce and the great William Wallace himself.
When we entered the war chamber, I was surprised to find not just my parents with Kenneth and Lucas but one of the king’s messengers.
“I was told to deliver this to ye myself, m’laird.” As the messenger handed me a missive with the king’s seal, his gaze understandably flickered over Aspen before snapping back to me. What man’s gaze would not? If she weren’t already stunning enough, there was a new glow about her now born of our kisses and arousal she had felt just as strongly as I. Born of an incredible need to come together as we should have long ago.
“Many thanks.” I nodded at the man who still dripped from the torrential rain and gestured at the door, dismissing him. “I insist ye stay at MacLeod Castle for the eve and enjoy a good meal and a warm, dry night’s rest.”
“Many thanks, m’laird.” The man nodded in return and strode from the chamber.
I frowned at my mother, who sat near the fire with my father. “I thought you said ‘twas trouble?”
“’Tis,” she said softly. Knowingly. “I just cannae see what that trouble is yet.” Her gaze fell to the missive. “Though I suspect that might garnish some insight.”
When I broke the seal and read what the king had written, it did indeed.
“Bloody hell,” I cursed under my breath, hardly believing it, so I read it again.
“What does it say, cousin?” Lucas prompted me when I scowled and shook my head.
When I glanced from Aspen to the letter, hesitating, she echoed my cousin’s words. “I agree. What does it say?”
“That the king will be arriving sometime on the morrow with a small retinue of men.” I remained calm for Aspen’s sake when I felt anything but. “It seems the Sutherlands claim we have something that belongs to them, and it has drawn the king’s attention enough he feels it needs to be addressed straight away.”
“Or more succinctly said,” Aspen said softly, the knowing tone of her voice telling me she sensed what I wasn’t saying, “they claimsomeonebelongs to them.”
“Youcannaebe serious?” Lucas exclaimed, confused. “How do the Sutherlands even know Aspen’s here? And bloodyhellis right. Why would theyeverthink she belonged to them?”
When my father sighed and met my mother’s eyes, I realized they knew something I didn’t. “What is it?” I looked back and forth between them. “What do you know that we dinnae?”
“There is a legend handed down over the generations,” my mother began gravely. “’Tis known by some and spoken by even fewer that at the birth of Clan MacLeod before we were allies with the MacLomains and dragon blood made its way into our clan, the Sutherlands were our closest allies. We were so close we agreed to marry four of our witches to four of their most powerful warriors of dragon blood, ensuring not just an untouchable pact between two strong clans but an even stronger generation of dragons born of both bloodlines.”
Mother hesitated as if gathering herself to deliver truly dire news. “Unfortunately, one of the women destined for a Sutherland fell in love with another and refused to see the pact through.” Her gaze drifted to me and Aspen. “It seems she fell in love with the MacLeod laird. The very man who had agreed to the pact in the first place.”
“Surely not.” A strange sensation rolled through me I couldn’t quite pinpoint. “Why would he risk such if it would gain his clan so much power and prestige?”
