Page 7 of Dorchad

Friend. She made the picture of wounded dignity, except now and then when her shoes slid on the thick duff covering the ground. Doesnae she see me clearly?

Dorchad dragged a hand through his hair. While the wench couldn’t easily leave the island, she did know how to swim. If he didn’t go and stop her she might try to cross the loch. After but a few moments the frigid waters would steal her heat and cause her to swoon and drown. That might be the best solution to her intrusion, but he had sworn like the rest of his clan to protect mortals, not stand by and watch them go to their deaths.

’Tisnae her doing.

The pang of sympathy he experienced made him resent her presence even more. He didn’t need the added responsibility, but there was nothing he could do about her. Thanks to the cluet, an enchanted cloth that belonged to the dark Fae queen, this Dr. Rebecca McIan had likely been brought to this place and time to fulfill a wish made by a MacRune. Why the stupit treasure chose to do so, he could not fathom. He’d wanted to order the clan to avoid even thinking of making a wish, but the laird had not agreed.

“You ken the moment you tell our brothers to do thus a thousand wishes shall come into their heads,” Tair MacRune told him. “Then the lovers they long for shall rain from the clouds.”

For that reason, Dorchad needed to collect the woman before she spoke with anyone else. Catching up to the red-haired doctor took only a few dozen strides, but as he reached for her she turned and showed him her tear-streaked face. Instead of quiet dignity she now appeared on the verge of hysterics.

“Please,” she begged, holding out her small palms as if to fend him off. “I’m sorry that I said those things, and behaved the way I did. I don’t know what I was thinking. Maybe I’ve gone a little crazy.”

She’d wept over kissing him? Did she blame herself for his lust? With his cock still hard and stiff, and his dark Fae blood pounding in his veins, he couldn’t think with any prudence. At least she had sense enough to finally recognize the threat a man like him could be, he thought as he yanked down a hanging vine and used it to bind her hands.

“What are you doing?” she asked, sounding even more upset.

By the Gods, did her eyes not work? Employing the remaining length as a leash, he pulled her along after him toward the nearest curtain wall gate, expecting her to protest or try to parlay with him along the way. He would scare her the moment she uttered another word, and assure she never again approached him.

Rebecca said nothing, her fingers clutching at the vine as she staggered along after him.

The gate house guards raised the portcullis, and pretended to stand at attention as Dorchad passed them. Only their eyes shifted as they stared at the wench, which made him growl. No one made that mistake at the inner curtain wall gate, and once inside the kitchen gardens he stopped and turned on her.

“Do you ken–” He stopped as Beinn came out of nowhere, his sword brandished as if to attack them. Dorchad swore as he saw her eyes roll up in her head, and lunged forward to catch her as she swooned. “Fack me.”

The guard lowered his blade and looked crestfallen. “Forgive me, Chieftain. Seneschal told me I should frighten any outsiders thus, as my other efforts didnae work so well with Lady Lucy.”

“Stop. Later I shall beat Seneschal to death.” Dorchad swung her up against his chest and carried her into the stronghold, but instead of taking her down to the dungeons he strode through the passage leading to his quarters inside the keepe. When he lay her on his bed the coverlet seemed to swallow her up. The scent of her rose to envelope and shame him. This wee lass belonged to the light. He had no right to cover her in his darkness.

End your dithering and wake her.

“Wench.” She didn’t stir as he leaned over her. “Mistress McIan. Doctor.”

Growling that last word made her stir. Her dark red eyelashes fluttered open, and instead of screaming or pushing him away she shot up and grabbed him.

“Did that big, horrible man hurt you?” she whispered as she clutched him and peered over his shoulder, and then drew back. “We’re inside the castle now?”

Dorchad reined in a particularly vile curse. “Aye. You’ve come to Gealladh, home of the MacRune Clan.” So she thought he’d been attacked? “I’m no’ hurt.”

“The MacRune...you’re the people that evil queen threatened to wipe out.” She swiped away the tears that spilled from her eyes. “Is this really the middle ages? The cluet brought me back seven hundred years into the past?”

That answered his first question.

“Aye, ’tis all you’ve been told.” He tugged her arms from around him and placed her hands in her lap. “Who wished for you, wench?”

Whoever she named would be the first man he pounded into the dirt before he went in search of his eejit twin brother, who needed a long, hard thrashing for sending Beinn to terrify outsiders.

“I don’t know. It didn’t tell me that.” Her dark red brows drew together. “How did you know someone wished for me?”

“Our laird wed a woman who came from your time to satisfy his wish. Lie back now.” Pleased that she instantly obeyed him, Dorchad pulled the coverlet up over her. “I shall summon our lady to speak with you.”

“No, please, don’t leave me,” she begged, snaring his wrist with her delicate fingers. “You’re the only person I know here.”

Her touch made all the dark blood roaring in his veins quiet, and when he looked into her tear-filled gray eyes and again breathed in her sunshine scent, he had the sense of being wrapped in soft warmth. Now his cock swelled again, eager for her as it had never been for any female. Nor had any woman made him so deeply and fiercely protective of her. Was it because she’d offered herself to him so plainly?

She doesnae ken what she invites.

He knew what any other man would do: lay her on her back and fack her senseless. Since she wanted him she would not deny him use of her pretty body. How good would it be, to push himself inside her sweet, delicate softness? With a few carefully chosen words, he might even persuade her to become his bed wench, so he could take her as often as he wished.