Page 18 of Highlander’s Burning Touch

Niven was thoughtful. This was why his uncle had sent him here in the first place. The never-ending bloody conflict between the local clans needed resolution.

And the oncoming hooves reminded him that this was still bandit country. And although he couldn’t see them yet, Niven couldn’t afford to take chances. Pulling her behind the tree, Niven shielded them from view.

Allyth looked confused. Realizing she wouldn’t understand, Niven smiled and reached over to her again.

“I mean, ye need to take care, so what say ye let me take ye back to the keep?” he said, holding her hand and bringing her near.

He sensed a hesitation in her eyes, but then she nodded a little stiffly. Her face hovered over his lips, inquisitively. Niven felt himself stir inside. It had been hard pulling away the first time. Now temptation stood in front of him once more.

She pressed her lips to his, piquing his curiosity. There was no way for him to resist. Within seconds, he had her rammed against the tree, tasting her slowly and then going in deep.

They were kissing. He had been kidding himself if he thought he could stop. Her aroma flying in the air above, Niven’s fingers pressed into her flesh and dug deep.

He couldn’t even remember putting his hands on her, but he must have done because the next thing he knew, he was touching her bosoms. Again. Forgetting himself totally, Niven kissed her back, harder and harder.

Lord. Her pert cleavage almost made him come there and then. He had never seen such a perfect pair before, much less felt them. Niven ran his hands over her, marveling at their sheen.

And her sly eyes told him she was asking for more, anytime he wanted it. And Niven wanted it.

Badly.

But he also remembered his mission. He’d been gone a week, and his uncle would be combing the land in search of him. So, leaning in and kissing her lips gently, Niven retreated, bringing his hands away from her magnificent chest and on top of her shoulders.

And there, they stopped, mid-embrace, every fiber of Niven’s being aching intensely. He wanted nothing more than to dive into her sumptuous flesh, like taking the bite of a sweet cherry. But not like this.

“Later,” he said, fondly, stroking her chin, as Allyth nodded. He loved the look of her there, her violet eyes piercing the leaden skies and her wild red hair billowing everywhere.

The wind whistled around the glen, so loudly it erased all the other sounds. Neither of them heard the footsteps approaching.

* * *

“Ye must leave right now!”

The voice from behind her gave her a jump. Neither of them had heard the horsewoman coming. Jumping down from her dappled horse, Allyth stood in front of them.

Deva made angry eyes at her maid. “Ye scared me!” she said, “Ye might have warned me ye were there, nae just sneak up on us!”

It wasn’t like Deva to react so, but she was more embarrassed than anything else. Quickly, she disengaged from Niven’s arm and moved away.

“I’m sorry, m…” Allyth stopped herself, in time, from saying miss. Deva frowned, still unamused. Allyth continued as Deva stared daggers.

“I, um, bring a message from the laird—ye’re wanted back at the castle, the master says to look sharp!”

Allyth’s eyes raised dramatically, making it clear what she meant. Deva tried not to snort in derision. Master just about summed up her father.

“I will take my leave in good time,” said Deva, her eyes flashing at Allyth to make herself scarce. Irritation stirred within her. How dare Allyth just blunder in between them like this!

But Allyth wasn’t having any of it. Instead of leaving, she stayed where she was, her black shawl rippling into the air like wings.

“He was most insistent,” Allyth nagged her. By now, Deva was in something like rage.

“Och, he can wait,” she hissed, not wanting Niven to hear. It wouldn’t do to look so keen, but all the same, the sudden appearance of her maid had irked her.

Then she dropped her voice so only Allyth could hear. “Didn’t ye tell him I was with Lady Catherine?”

Allyth nodded. “I did. Unfortunately, she came visiting the keep just today…”

Her voice trailed off nervously as Deva’s face turned from flushed to white.