Page 24 of Highlander’s Claim

Her back ground against the hard rock wall of the stables, and she didn’t care. Let it. All she wanted was him—closer, closer…so close there wouldn’t be any distinction between where he ended and she began.

Then his hands massaged her ass, and her leg was hooked around his hip, and her hands were in his hair. They were one aching, needing ball of tangled limbs, unable to let go.

Never had she feel anything like this. Not with Tom. Not with the couple of boyfriends she’d gone out with before Tom.

She throbbed, aching and wet, and she felt him, long and hard, as she melted against him. He growled like a bear, and when he began thrusting, pleasure spilled through her from the sweet friction. She wanted him inside her, here and now. Against the wall. Part of her thought distantly that this was what Amanda must have been talking about when she’d recommended sex with a Highlander…

“Lass, I want ye…” he growled. “Tell me ye want to be mine.”

Yes, her body wanted to say. It was the only thing it could say.

But someone cleared their throat loudly, and they both froze and slowly looked in the direction of the cough. It was that tall, handsome man. Colum. With his arms crossed over his chest and a puzzled frown on his face.

Several things became clear to Jenny at once. One, her dress was pretty much up to her waist, so Colum was staring at her bare leg hooked around his uncle’s hip. Two, Aulay’s hips were firmly pressed against her very aroused sex. Both Aulay and she were panting. And she was high above the ground, pinned to the wall by Aulay. Three, even though they were both clothed, it must have looked to Colum as though he’d interrupted them while they were having sex.

Four, behind Colum, several of the locals peered around the corner, faces astonished and disapproving.

Oh, God, no. Now they would all be sure she was a whore, wouldn’t they?

Slowly, Aulay set her on the ground and, thankfully, her dress slid down. She straightened her clothes, still hot and aroused, still unable to shake the incredible high of being in this man’s arms.

“What is the matter?” said Aulay. “What couldna wait?”

“The bairn… Una…” said one of the women behind Colum. “She got worse.”

“What?” Jenny stepped forward. “But he just gave her the potion.”

Another woman pinned her angry eyes on Jenny. “Aye, he did. But ye touched Una before, didna ye?”

Silence fell as Jenny realized they were all staring at her accusatorily.

“I just examined her,” said Jenny, feeling their aggression and fear pulsating like an engorged vein.

“But Ailis,” said a man, “said she got worse because ye’re a witch. And ye did something to hurt Una when ye touched her.”

Jenny gasped. Helplessness and anger churned within her like a sickening mixture. “What? That’s ridiculous… Let me see…”

Without giving anyone another glance, she marched from behind the stables towards where Bhatair had just led Ailis and Una. With much hubbub, the crowd followed her.

“Jennifer!” cried Aulay as he drew level with her. “Dinna ye think ye’ve done enough?”

“Apparently not. If the baby got worse, it wasn’t because of my touch. It was because she wasn’t treated properly!”

Or because it may be too late for her to recover…

The door of a house opened and Bhatair stepped out. His face was somber, but when he saw her, his nostrils flared.

“Ye,” he growled.

“What is going on with Una?” she asked. “Let me pass.”

He stood in front of the door, and when she stepped forward to enter, he blocked her way. “Ye did this. Ye are a witch and a charlatan. Ye made Una worse when ye examined her with yer strange ways and strange speeches. Mayhap ye called upon the faeries or cursed the bairn. Who kens what ye’re capable of when ye’re dressed like that and speak lies about being a physician?”

“And she’s seducing the laird!” called one of the women behind them.

“Aye!” cried another. “She poisoned his mind! He doesna see her clearly for what she is. A curse to all of us.”

Jenny looked over her shoulder. The gathering consisted of about twenty people, and all of them were in an uproar. Shaking their fists in the air. Faces furious and mean under their coifs and veils.