Page 61 of Highlander’s Burning Touch

Without waiting for another word, Rory turned around to the lanky blond servant who stood silently behind him. “Ye, lad, get a fire lit here, afore we all die of cold!”

Fingal just had time to catch the look on Sachairi’s face as he turned to go. The slack-jawed knave gawped at him as he prepared to fight through the deepening snow to the lodge.

But inside, Fingal’s mind was racing. Yes, his fingers ached with the cold, and he longed to be in the warmth. But this seemed the only way of warding his uncle off from going to the lodge.

He wasn’t ready for his uncle to meet with his brother just yet. He wanted time to think over what he had said, possibly work on him a little. With the right tack, he might even get Rory to reconsider offering Deva to Niven. Fingal was nothing if not an optimist.

Besides, it looked as if Deva might already be there. Her presence would make it hard for them to discuss anything. But he wasn’t ready to let his uncle in on his suspicions just yet.

Pulling his hood up over his head, he bid them goodbye, at least for now, and slowly trudged up alone, in the hillside.

He needed to see for himself just what was happening in that lodge.

Chapter Twenty

“What is that?” Deva leaped up from her position on the bed.

Somehow, she had dozed off. She couldn’t even remember falling asleep or even coming to bed in the first place – but she must have.

Now, she had awoken to Niven sitting bolt upright, beside her, looking out.

“I thought I heard something,” said Niven, also sitting up. In a trice, he was on his feet, leaping down from the box bed they were seated in and dashing up to the window-pane.

Dragging a blanket around her, Deva hurried over, trying to make sure she was completely covered before getting to the window frame. As she did so, she chastised herself sternly. She should never have left the window un-shuttered. Anyone could see in, and she was beginning to worry that they had.

“Anything?” she inquired nervously, peering around the window frame.

Together, the pair of them stared out, gazing over the dark hills and falling snow. Deva shivered. It was freezing out there, and she had barely got anything on.

Self-consciously, she wrapped the blanket tighter around her shoulders. Now her heart was banging in her chest. At any moment, anyone could come in. This lodge was owned by the laird. What on earth was she doing taking a chance like this?

Cagily, Deva crouched below the window, shielding herself from both the icy gusts and potential eyes outside.

“Well?” she said, after furiously wrapping the blanket about herself. No matter what she did, it would not stay in place. It would have been easier to get properly dressed. But for now, Deva did not dare to, watching by the opened window, breathlessly.

Niven paused for a moment, watching.

“I cannae see,” he said, eventually, pulling the shutter back and blocking out both winds and prying eyes.

Deva gave a sigh of relief. She hadn’t realized how close they had come. “Och, ye sure?” she said.

Now that the shutters were closed, Deva set about dressing at speed. Off came the blanket draped around her shoulders, momentarily exposing her pale cleavage to Niven’s curious gaze.

But the clothing that she sought eluded her. Glancing around the cottage room, she looked for her clothes. Blindly, she looked at Niven. She had no idea where her things were.

Smiling, Niven came over to her, handing her stays with a curious smirk. “Looking for this?”

He grinned as she snatched the stays greedily and immediately set about lacing them at speed. As her fingers worked, Niven hovered behind, tracing the outlines of her shoulders with his index finger.

“Nae,” she chided as his soft touch came upon her. But as she said it, she felt a thrill, and a deep quiver shot down her spine. His touch was like velvet. Still fastening, her fingers paused as he explored the sheen of her skin further.

“We shouldnae,” she said, but before she could even finish, they were kissing, furious and deeply on the bed.

His face pressed into hers, enquiringly. He seemed to be wearing a mocking expression as if he were daring her to do something.

“Says who?” said Niven, his eyebrows tilting upwards. Deva loved it when he did that and almost leaped upon him.

Slowly, deeply, they kissed. This time, Niven’s hands reached across her chest, teasing her with his caress.