Highland Legends 04 - Captive Highlander Read online

  He reached over and forced her head up so that she looked him in the eye. “Tell me you havena dreamed of our last encounter,” he said. “Tell me it did not excite you, and I will go.”

  Brianna licked her lips. “Milord, I fear neither of us will be able to stop if we tempt fate again. Please allow me to go to our marriage bed as a virgin.” Her eyes rimmed with unshed tears. “This is a gift I would give you on our wedding night.”

  “And so you shall,” he told her. “We will do no more than we did before. This sharing of mutual pleasure will serve to make our future joining more delightful.” He ran his hands over her quaking flesh and felt her tremble beneath the light covering. “If you tell me nay, I will leave.” When she did not answer, he moved back toward the door.

  “Rowan.”

  He turned. “Brianna.”

  “Stay,” she said dropping her thin covering to the floor.

  Chapter 25

  When they reached the mouth of the cave, Katie saw that Ian had brought a beautiful, chestnut mare for her to ride. “How far is it to the MacLean lands?” she asked.

  “It will take a day and half to get there,” he said. “There is a camp we will use to take a rest along the way.”

  “I would ride straight through and get there sooner,” she objected.

  Ian came over and gave her a boost up onto the back of the horse. “I am sure you would, but Jared is busy gathering troops and making a plan. I need to rest if I am to help him in the attack, so we will stop along the way.”

  She nodded. “I’m sorry. It is just that I fear for my family’s safety while we are gone.”

  “They will be fine. Tessa has seen it.” He paused. “What, no rebuttal?”

  “Perchance it will be so. Tessa predicted you still lived and you do.”

  “Good, let’s ride. I am anxious to get to the camp.”

  Riding hard and fast, they made it to Branberry Woods in a few hours. As the sun rose above the towering, gray-green mountains, Ian led her down a path into thick woodland. In the distance, Katie could hear the sounds of rushing water. “Sounds like there is a stream ahead,” she said.

  “More than a stream,” Ian responded. “Listen, can you hear the falls?”

  “There is a falls?”

  “Aye, come this way.” They rounded a bend in the trail and came to a clearing. A sparkling mountain stream rushed through the valley and high above it a towering waterfall dropped glistening torrents over the rocks and into the river below.

  Katie stopped and gazed at the beautiful flowing water. “So lovely,” she murmured.

  “Come,” he said, urging his horse along the streambed. Our camp lies in a cave near the falls.”

  Wide-eyed, she followed him. As they grew closer to the falls, she saw a line of large boulders, which formed a natural wall along the cliff face not far from the rushing water. A narrow trail ran behind the rocks. “In there?”

  “Aye.” Ian led her down the path, through a dense thicket, and into the entry of a cave in the side of the cliff. It wound back beneath the rocky outcropping. Katie felt like the walls were closing in around her until they made their way further inside. The cave opened up and a flash of daylight streaked down through an opening far above them. A fire pit sat just below the hole in the ceiling of the cave and a good supply of wood stood in a stack nearby. Some pallets made of straw and covered with fine wool blankets sat off to the side. “Not a bad spot for a brief rest.”

  “’Tis quite nice,” she agreed.

  Ian dismounted and came over to help her down from her horse. She didn’t need help, but she would accept it. She wanted to feel the warmth of his body as he pulled her off and let her slide slowly over his muscular frame. “Oh, Katie,” Ian breathed, holding her tight to him as he began a string of kisses over her neck. “I thought I might never get to touch you again.”

  She hugged him tight to her. “I feared you were dead,” she whispered. “I need… I need….” She broke off as he set her softly on the ground and stepped away.

  “What do you need, Katie?”

  Her lips pursed into a pout. “I need you not to stop.”

  He laughed and it reverberated off the stone walls echoing through the chamber. “Are you saying you want me, lass?”

  She stomped her foot. After what they had been through this was not the time for him to toy with her. “Why would I want the likes of you?”

  Chuckling Ian turned from her and began building a fire. When he brought the small blaze to life, he looked back at her. “I see to our comfort before I can address your needs.”

  “I dinna have any needs,” she said, drawing herself up as tall as she could.

  “Really? Ah well, then I can use this time for sleep.”

  Katie sank to the pallet he had pulled close to the fire. “Do you really think we should marry? I canna see how your clan could ever accept me after the massacre.”

  Ian sat beside her and put his arm around her. “I love you. That is enough to ensure you acceptance.” He snorted. “They have been waiting for years for me to take a wife. No one will question my choice.”

  “Your father might.”

  “I dinna think so. He reached into his sporran and drew out a small velvet pouch. “He gave this to Jared to give to me.”

  “What is it?”

  “Open it and see.”

  Katie felt like she had twenty fingers as she opened the pouch and reached inside. She felt a ring, bejeweled if her fingers were right. Removing it from the velvet sack, she gazed at it in awe. A large sapphire formed the center of the heavy gold band with smaller diamonds and sapphires surrounding it. “It is beautiful.”

  “The ring he gave my mother when they wed. He gave it to me to give to you.”

  Katie couldn’t catch her breath as Ian took the ring from her. “Will you marry me Katie Blackburn?” he asked.

  “Aye,” she breathed.

  “With this ring, I thee wed,” he said as he slipped the ring onto her finger.

  It glittered in the firelight. “It is so beautiful and it fits perfectly.”

  “Good,” Ian said with a laugh. “My father gave Jared the message that I couldna take you again until this ring was on your finger.” He grinned at her mischievously. “I dinna think this is exactly what he had in mind.”

  “It is in keeping with his request,” Katie said with a smile. She stood and ever so slowly began undoing the fastenings that held her gown in place. Ian made no move to help her. He just sat there and watched with passion-glazed eyes. Katie found herself enjoying putting on this show for him. She reveled in his heated gaze.

  When the last remnant of her clothing fell to the cave floor, he motioned to the soft pallet that lay beside the fire. “Come and join me, love,” he entreated. “Let me explore your ripe flesh.”

  She slowly sank to the pallet. “I am here.”

  “Lie back,” he said.

  Katie struggled to catch her breath as she eased back on the soft ticking. Ian leaned over her. She could feel his hot breath on her face.

  “Let me do as I wish,” he whispered. “I promise you will find pleasure in it.”

  She nodded her assent and he kissed her mouth long and slow until she thought she might die if he did not touch her. “Ian,” she gasped when he finally stopped.

  “Shhh,” he hushed her. “I am just beginning. Savor every feeling,” he instructed. “You are one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. I want to taste every part of you.” With that, his lips began a slow trail over her exposed flesh, her neck, her shoulders, and then down across her breasts. She let out a low moan when he suckled. Running her fingers through his golden hair, she held him to her. It seemed he spent a lifetime trying to decide which of her breasts her preferred. She began to toss restlessly during his tasting. Katie wanted more. Already she felt a deep desire building in her loins.

  He took his kisses lower, circled her navel with his wet tongue, and started on a lower trail. This trail le
ft her writhing beneath his caress. He did not stop when he reached the core of her womanhood. Ian tasted her, exploring her with his mouth and his tongue until he found the one spot that made her wild beneath him. Katie’s body exploded with wave after wave of uncontained pleasure.

  “Ian… oh, Ian,” she moaned as her body shook in uncontrolled bliss.

  He drew back laughing. “I havena finished,” he told her.

  She grabbed him by the hair and brought his face to hers. “I want to feel you deep inside me. Dinna make me wait.”

  “As you desire.” He rose and dropped his plaid. She saw his manhood standing tall and erect. He dropped back to the pallet beside her. “Taste me first,” he challenged.

  “How?”

  “However you wish,” he said.

  She pushed him on his back and straddled his legs. Ever so slowly, she placed a track of kisses across his chest, not unlike what he had done to her. She felt his hardness between her breasts as she moved lower. Taking him in her hand, she rubbed his member over her nipples. Ian cried out and she felt a shiver rack his body. “You leave little room for control,” he rasped. “If you dinna stop this tender torture, I will come now.”

  “Ian, you bid me taste you,” she said softly. With that, she leaned low and took him in her mouth feeling his pulsing member as she ran her tongue over the tip. Leaving off her tasting, Katie scooted upward and guided him inside her. He came solidly into her. She felt a ripple of delight from head to toe.

  His hands grabbed her hips, guiding her to ride him, and shoving her to meet his steel thrusts. They both gasped with every invasion. Her body contracted hard around him each time he drove deeper. Their rhythm became a frenzy of pulsating passion. He drove her faster and faster. She spiraled out of control. Frantic to find her release, she felt something deep inside her erupt.

  “Ian—Ian, now please….” Katie howled. He released his seed in a hot spurt. Her body welcomed his planting with quick ecstatic spasms, closing around him repeatedly as they found the paradise of fulfilled desire. Ian moaned and she collapsed on top of him. They lay entwined for a long time.

  Ian stroked her back and her buttocks. “You are mine,” he whispered. “Never deny it.”

  Katie pushed herself up so she could look into his face. “I wilna deny you.”

  He let out a contented sigh and ran his hands through her red-gold hair. “I didna finish my task,” he said softly.

  She rolled off of him slowly disengaging their bodies and giving him a satisfied smile when he groaned in protest. Katie propped up on one elbow and watched the firelight play over his magnificent body. “It doesna feel as if you left anything undone,” she said pursing her lips into a pout.

  He ran a finger down across her full breasts. “I wanted to kiss all of you and I only sampled a small portion before your heated response called me to other duties.”

  “I am not averse to more sampling,” she whispered. “Perchance we could enjoy a light meal before we continue.”

  “You’re hungry?” He laughed. “First for me, and now for food.”

  “At least you were first, Milord.” She rose leisurely, enjoying the feel of his eyes scorching across her well-used flesh. “Did you bring supplies? I will fix us a plate.”

  “There is some wine, cheese, and bread in my saddle bag.” His smile turned to a smirk as he watched her walk to his horse. “You would serve me naked?”

  She shrugged. “If you wish me to dress, I can accommodate that as well.”

  “Dinna spoil the beauty of my view with clothes,” he said. “I revel in your loveliness.”

  When Katie sat down beside him, Ian pulled into a sitting position next to her as she laid out their repast. “We shall have to share the wineskin. I dinna see any cups.”

  Taking it from her, Ian drank deep and handed back. She took a few swallows and felt the heady wine bring even more fire to her depths. A cascade of wine drizzled down her chin and chest as she handed it back to him. Ian set the wineskin aside and kissed away the aromatic liquid. Katie let her head fall back as he moved lower. “You are sweeter than any wine, love,” he whispered. Straightening he looked her in the eye. “But I digress. Let us eat.” He took up a piece of bread, placed a slice of cheese on it, and handed it to her.

  Katie took his offering and rolled the creamy cheese around in her mouth. “’Tis quite good,” she said.

  “And even better when enjoyed with my wife,” Ian added as he tried his.

  “We havena spoken the vows in front of the priest,” she objected.

  “A minor detail,” he said. “Would you deny it?”

  “Nay, Milord. I am your wife in every other sense of the word.”

  Ian grinned. “Hurry and finish that,” he directed. “I find I am anxious to continue my mission.”

  When they finally set the food aside, he gently pushed her back on the straw ticking and guided her to roll onto her stomach. “Ian, what are you going to do?” she asked. Katie let out a contented sigh as he began a light massage followed by a trail of wet kisses across her back and shoulders.

  “I am going to give you pleasure again,” he promised.

  Chapter 26

  Sorcha made her way to the tower, her mind still on the young lover who gave her more pleasure than she ever imagined possible. Jamie Blackburn would please a lot of women in his time. He was tall for a fledgling laird, lean and muscular. In a way, it made her forget his age. She felt honored to be his teacher. To impart the secrets that would flavor his live forever.

  When she entered, she did not see the guard. “Gareth,” she called searching the tower for some sign of him. Her attention went to the door to Katie’s prison. Sorcha walked over and tested the lock, still secure. A low moan emanated from inside the chamber. She unlocked the door. Gareth lay gagged and bound on the floor. Katie had vanished. Sorcha swore under her breath as she bent down and jerked the gag off the guard. Blood seeped from a wound on this head. The man seemed barely conscious. She grabbed him by the hair and pulled his face up to hers. “What happened? Where is Katie?”

  “I dunno,” he mumbled. “Someone hit me.” His eyes glazed over and he collapsed back on the floor.

  With a snort, Sorcha kicked his limp body. Rannoch would be furious and possibly blame her even though he sent her back to Jamie. This could well be the end of her if she did not have a care. Did Jamie keep her busy all night so someone could free his sister? Gathering her wits, she decided on a plan. She cast one more glance about the chamber then left, hurrying down the hallway.

  Jamie looked startled when he opened his door to find her once again within his reach. “Something has happened,” Sorcha said pushing past him into the room. “Close the door.”

  He shut and bolted the door then turned to face her. “What is it? Is Katie all right?” He took hold of her shoulders and shook her. “Speak. Is Katie alright?”

  “Was that not your plan? You kept me occupied while someone freed your sister from my tower,” she accused stepping beyond his reach.

  “I what?” Running his hands through his tangled hair, Jamie shook his head and stared at her. “Katie is gone?”

  “Gareth guarded her while I came to you. I returned to find him imprisoned and Katie gone. Did you ken someone plotted to free her?” She pounded his chest with her fists. “Did you keep me in your bed all night so your sister could be rescued?”

  He grabbed her and drew a ragged breath. “I had nothing to do with it. Who could have done this?”

  “A question Rannoch will ask and if we dinna come up with an answer, he may well turn on both of us.” She spun away from him and began pacing.

  “Sorcha, clearly we were otherwise occupied. How can he blame us?”

  “He will,” she said with surety. “Unless we can figure out who helped Katie.”

  “Whoever did it ambushed Gareth and took her.” Jamie let out a sigh of resignation.

  Sorcha came close. “What are thinking?”

  “There is
only one man who could have done it.”

  “Ian Innes is dead.”

  “Aye. So who else would do this for Katie?”

  “Your father, but he is….”

  “Unable given his current state,” Jamie finished her thought.

  “Then who?” she asked.

  “Keith,” Jamie said. “I ken he didna think Katie safe under Rannoch’s protection. Keith would have freed her.”

  She studied her young lover. “I need to tell Rannoch what has occurred before he discovers it himself. Would you have me blame Keith?”

  Jamie came closer and drew her into his arms. “I would have you tell him whatever will keep you safe from his wrath,” he whispered, kissing her forehead. “You must save yourself, even if you have to sacrifice Keith to do it.”

  Sorcha could barely breathe. Jamie chose her over his father’s closest friend and clansman. “Are you sure?”

  “It could be no one else. I am sure Rannoch would suspect me were we not together last night.”

  She nodded. “It makes sense. If he presses me, I will suggest it.” Stretching up, she sealed the plan with a kiss.

  A short time later, Sorcha found Rannoch with Draco in the great hall. They both stared at her when she entered.

  Rannoch smiled. “So… you are finished with the man-child.”

  “Aye, though it took all night to satisfy him. But I am here on a more urgent matter.”

  “What is it, Sorcha?” Rannoch asked. “I ken that look.”

  “Katie escaped.”

  “God’s teeth! I told you it would be your head.” He grabbed her roughly and glared at her. “What happened?”

  “After my night with the young laird, I returned to find the tower empty. I thought Gareth wandered off to relieve himself. When I unlocked the door to Katie’s chamber, I found Katie gone and Gareth tied and gagged. He had been hit over the head.”

  “Did he tell you what occurred?”

  “Nay, Milord, he passed out, but his head wound told the story. He mumbled about being hit before he passed out.”