Page 65 of Highlander’s Captive

Craig marveled at Amy’s wet face glistening in the light of the torch, her long eyelashes stuck together from the water, her lips so red and lush he longed to taste them.

“The last thing I want right now is to deal with Owen. I have other things on my mind. Our picnic isna over yet.”

She raised her eyebrows and flashed a small, sweet smile at him, brightening the evening.

“Let’s take the horses to the stables first,” he said.

In the dark stables, the scent of hay and animals enveloped them, something so simple and primal and natural.

“Is this all right?” he asked. “Are ye not bothered being here?”

“No,” she said and smiled. “The exit is right there. And you’re with me.”

His chest warmed as she said that. He watched as Amy brushed the neck of her horse gently, caressing it, murmuring calming words to the animal, as though she’d been doing that for ages. What would it be like, to feel her palm on his body like that? He covered her hand with his, and she stopped, completely still.

She turned to him, her eyes shiny pools in the darkness.

Without a word, he put one hand on her waist and gently brought her closer to him. She put her palm on his chest, under the wet cloak. Her hand was cool and burned him a little.

“I thank ye for today, Amy,” he said. “’Twas a long time since I had a day like that. Everything ye told me—I ken it wasna easy for ye. I shall guard yer trust like a precious gift.”

Her eyes teared up a bit, and she blinked. He brushed her cheek with his thumb.

“I canna stop thinking of ye. What ye did the other day, it hurt me. Will ye hurt me again like ye did when ye tried to find the way out? Will ye betray me?”

She blinked again, her eyelashes trembling. She cupped his jaw, and he turned and quickly kissed the inside of her palm. “I don’t want to think anymore. I don’t want to worry. I want to live. Right here and now. I don’t want to promise, or plan, or remember.”

She reached up to him and planted a gentle kiss on his lips, and even that small gesture brought fire to his veins.

“What I want, is you,” she said.

He studied her eyes, to make sure she was serious, to know she was finally giving him permission.

And what he saw there was dark desire, a longing, and a promise.

“Oh, ye wicked minx,” he growled, then wrapped his arms around her waist, lifted her up, and covered her mouth with his.

She met him with as much passion and need as roared in him. He couldn’t wait another minute to be with her. He had to have her right here and now. Before he spooked her and she changed her mind. The truce between them still felt fragile.

Without breaking the kiss, he undid his cloak, then hers. He hooked his hands under her beautiful arse and pulled her legs to wrap around him. She moaned a little in surprise, but tightened her arms around his neck.

There was a large heap of hay at the corner of the stables, and he carried her there. He sank to his knees and laid her down on the soft hay.

A woman shrieked, and a man cursed, and two people sprang from the heap, holding their clothes to themselves.

“What the devil!” Craig cried, jerking Amy back up and putting her behind himself.

“’Tis me, Lachlan!” the man said, shoving his tunic on.

The woman behind him quickly dressed as well. Craig shook his head as he recognized his distant cousin in the darkness.

“Why didna ye show yerself sooner?” Craig growled.

“I thought ye’d be gone from the stables soon,” the woman said.

“We didna expect ye so early,” Lachlan said. “We thought our guests would be gone by then.”

Craig shook his head with a growl. “Get out of here, man.”