Page 18 of A Little Highland Magic

“Was that a smile?” His eyes sparkled in the moonlight. “I do not believe I have ever seen such happiness on your face before.” His merriment brought out a dimple in his right cheek that she had not seen before.

This time she did not fight the smile that came to her lips or pull away when Graeme slipped his arm around her waist. His nearness should have made her feel weak and vulnerable. Instead, she felt strangely safe. “Until tonight, I never allowed myself to feel this kind of ease with anyone since I was a child. I have always played the role of a warrior from that time forward. I was never really given a choice to be anything but Alastair’s captain of the guard.”

He paused, staring off into the distance before bringing his gaze back to hers. His humour was gone, and seriousness reflected in his eyes. “I am sorry Oberon took advantage of your emotions tonight and hurt you, but I am glad to have had these quiet moments with you—to get to know the woman behind the weapons.”

Heat came to her cheeks at his words. “There is more to both of us than warring.” Aria lowered her gaze to the water, cupping the liquid in her hand. She lifted her hand, then let the water fall through her fingers, back into the stream. “At least Oberon has not taken my powers from me. I can use them to protect myself, and hopefully the MacLeods as well.”

“Do you think the fairy king will try to find another way to harm you again?”

“Without a doubt. Tonight’s antics were simply a warning to let me know neither I nor the MacLeods are beyond his reach.”

“Then we had best devise a plan to invade Fairyland sooner rather than later to keep you safe.” Graeme tightened his arms around her.

Aria did not move away from the intimate touch even though she knew she should. Just because Oberon could not punish her any longer for experiencing intense emotions, as long as the water remained about her person, did not mean she should allow this moment to happen. She placed her cold, wet hand on Graeme’s muscular chest, intending to push him away, but she found she could not when the thunderous beat of his heart pounded beneath her palm. She brought her gaze to his lips, suddenly wanting more.

He read the unspoken signal and leaned forward, bringing his lips to hers, soft and quick at first, merely a brush of his lips against her own. A flare of warmth coiled in her stomach, so very different from the torture of Oberon’s wrath, spreading through her limbs. When she leaned forward into Graeme’s arms, he kissed her again. This time his lips were far from teasing. His mouth closed over hers with an intense sweetness, a tenderness, that was devastating. Aria gasped at the sharp pulse of longing that coiled tighter and tighter inside her. Graeme caught the sound with his mouth, muffling it with a groan of his own as he continued his sensual assault.

When their lips finally parted, Aria looked past Graeme to see the water of the stream had risen around them, forming a protective bubble under which they sat.

Graeme’s eyes widened. “Is this your powers?” His words held a sense of awe.

“It must be. What other reason could there be?” She returned her attention to the man before her. Their ragged breaths echoed in the enclosed space.

“Does the water respond to your emotions?”

“This has never happened before, but in this moment, I believe it does.”

His mouth sought hers, claiming her in a kiss that was both urgent and gentle. The water rose higher, shimmering beneath the moonlight. He pulled back with a smile. “That theory has been confirmed.”

Warmth crept up Aria’s throat and across her breasts as something inside her began to tighten and ache. “We should return to the castle.”

Graeme nodded. “I am not certain anyone saw us leave so hurriedly, but they might have noticed our absence by now.”

“I am not quite sure how to make the water release us from this safe haven,” Aria admitted. In Fairyland she had been able to control a waterway’s flow, the direction of the eddies, and could make spikes of water rise as she lifted her hands. But never had the water there created a dome of protection. She reached out and put her hand through the flow with ease, then pulled it back.

Graeme did the same, then smiled, revealing the dimple in his cheek again. Despite their situation, he looked more at ease than she had ever seen him. “The water does not appear to be holding us back. Let us try standing and see what happens.” He held on to her as they both stood. The water rose with them, then opened to let silvered moonlight caress them before lowering back into the stream as though nothing unusual had happened.

Graeme helped Aria out of the water, then opened his sporran and dipped it in the depths, gathering a measure of water inside. “I will find something more suitable to store the water once we are back inside the castle.”

“My thanks,” she said, heading along the shoreline to the sea gate. Once they were through, Graeme stopped to secure the gate before continuing inside and up the stairs. Music filled the air, giving evidence that the festivities were still underway. Leaving drops of water behind them, they climbed the stairs leading to the family bedchambers.

When they came to a stop at Aria’s bedchamber, Graeme pushed the latch down and opened the door. “You will have to wait to change out of your clothing until I can find a way to contain this water.”

In her chamber, she was safe if some part of her clothing or her hair retained water from the stream. “I shall be fine. There is a fire in the brazier. I will sit before it until you return.” He left the chamber, closing the door behind him.

Aria made her way towards the fire and sank to her knees before the brazier, allowing the warmth to caress her chilled skin. She drew a breath and allowed the heat of the flames to seep inside her, calming the turmoil of Graeme’s kisses. She brought her hand to her lips and pressed them together, trying to recall the feelings his touch had evoked. The sensations were all so new to her, bringing forth both lightness and confusion.

At the memory of their shared kisses, heat flooded her cheeks. She put her chilled hands against her face, dampening the uncharacteristic response of her body. She had to stop allowing these positive sensations to affect her emotions. The stronger they were, the more likely Oberon would find her and draw her back to the fairy realm. If he did, would she mourn the stolen moments she had just shared with Graeme for the rest of her life? Should she put a stop to what was happening between them before it built into anything more? Or should she open herself to the possibilities and cling to even more memories of their time together should Oberon capture her?

How would she know the right course of action? Aria released a sigh, the sound as torn as she felt. And behind that sound came another as the door of her chamber opened and Graeme stepped inside.

He had changed into a simple muslin shirt that laced up the front of his broad chest. Fawn-coloured trews encased his legs, displaying his muscular thighs. His dark hair was still damp, revealing his haste to return to her. In his hands he held a tiny glass vial with a fine gold chain attached. The vial was filled with water and corked at the top. “For you.” He held the unusual necklace out to her.

“Where did you find that so quickly?”

“Our healer, Lottie, happened to have the very thing you needed.” He smiled as he knelt beside her and placed the chain over her head, settling the vial between her breasts. “This should keep you from harm, until we can find a more permanent solution.” His voice was low and warm.

She glanced at his lips, and the memory of his mouth pressed against hers played across her mind.