Page 23 of Highlander’s Claim

Both Bhatair and Aulay had told her not to. Bhatair had never heard of the potion and didn’t want to put her in danger. Aulay just didn’t trust the man. And she’d told them she wouldn’t take it. But the potion had disappeared. And then she got worse. And then the babe didn’t even make it out during the labor. And Aulay had almost hunted down and killed the charlatan.

Bhatair told him that had she not taken that potion, maybe she and the baby could have been saved.

So, if Jenny was one of those charlatans who got rich on empty promises and lies—

The feel of his wife’s dead body, still warm, on his lap… The belly that was round but as still as she. The babe that didn’t move inside her anymore… She’d been buried still pregnant, his dead lad or lass still inside of her.

Fury slapped him in an icy-cold shock.

God forgive him, he’d rather die than let another charlatan harm any of his people. While Bhatair led Ailis and Una away for the bloodletting, Aulay grabbed Jennifer by her elbow and dragged her out of the crowd. He saw red, darkness mixed with fury, that made the world around him sharp and bright.

“What are you doing!” she yelled, trying to free herself. “Let me go!”

He turned the corner of the stables, away from the gazes of the crowd, and cornered her. She was pressed against the wall, he a step away.

“Tell me once and for all, lass, do ye take me for a fool?”

“What?”

“Ye are nae a physician. Just confess.”

“I am a physician!”

He shook his head. “Ye are nae. All that nonsense ye told. I ken yer sort. Empty words. Empty promises. What is it to ye if one more fool dies, deceived by yer lies?”

A tremor went through her like wind over still water. “I am a doctor! I took an oath to do no harm. How dare you? I have helped thousands of children in my lifetime.”

God, the way her eyes shone as she said that…like a knight on a horse, waving the banner, calling for the troops to charge. His blood answered the call, heat washing through him like an army. “Aye, ye ‘helped,’ did ye? And did ye defy yer husband like this, too?”

“Defied? Of course I defied him. Who was he to tell me what to do, and who are you?”

He took a moment to look her over. Her dress was torn at the edges and dirty in places, but still the bright-green color shone like sunlight through the first spring leaves. Her breasts rose and fell quickly, luscious and heaving. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes bright and glistening with her own fury and fire. Her lips… Good God, her lips were like cherries he’d once tried in the south…

“Do ye ken,” he said slowly, “what is done to women who keep behaving like ye do?”

“I didn’t do anything wrong, you giant oaf.”

One step closer, and he was pinning her to the wall, his chest to hers, her cherry lips just an inch away. Her sweet breath reached him, and he craved to kiss her. “Women are their husbands’ property,” he said slowly, marveling at how smooth her skin was. “To discipline and to put in their place.”

She raised her chin high. “I’m not anyone’s property. You think you can intimidate me? Well, you can’t. All you are is an arrogant, self-righteous man who thinks he can do anything just because he was born male.” The feel of her soft breasts moving as she breathed against his rib cage was like warm uisge, making him dizzy, weak, and hot from desire. “Who gave you the right to manhandle me and kidnap me? If it weren’t for you, I’d be back in my time now.”

Mesmerized by the movement of her lips, he didn’t understand what “back in my time” meant, didn’t even think it mattered. Just more of her odd words and notions.

“Who gave me the right to touch ye?” he growled. “Nae one, lass. The laird doesna need permission to do as he likes. If I want to, ye’ll be mine by right.”

God’s bones, he’d never met anyone so strange and defiant and so beautiful. And suddenly the thought of her being his felt like the only right thing there was.

And so, it seemed, did it for her. Because there was that glint in her eyes.

And they came together, her cherry lips finally on him.

CHAPTER 9

His lips demanded. Claimed. Ravished. The glide of his mouth against hers was a revelation.

It was the heat of the sun and the downpour of rain. His tongue possessed her. Devoured her.

His scent was like a drug. She was helpless. Shameless.