Untamed Highlander

THIRTY-THREE

Isla wanted Hayden beside her. She wanted to feel his touch, his warmth. As if he had heard her silent plea, he loomed beside the bed staring down her.

“What can I do?” he asked.

“Hold me.”

His brow puckered. “I doona want to hurt you.”

“Your touch soothes, Hayden. I need you.”

She didn’t have to tell him twice. He kicked off his boots before he gently removed her shoes. He walked around the bed and crawled in behind her.

Isla sighed contentedly when he molded his body to hers. His warm breath fanned her neck, and he laid his arm next to hers as it draped her stomach.

“Is it Deirdre?” he asked.

“I’m not sure.” And she didn’t lie. “Before, when Deirdre would take over, the pain was blinding, but it never lasted long.”

His fingers intertwined with hers. “So this is different. A result of Deirdre’s loss of magic?”

“She didn’t lose all her magic. You need to remember that. But, aye, it could be.”

“Your shield? Would that hinder her?”

“If her magic was weak it could distort it.”

He sighed and tightened his arm around her. “I want to help.”

“You are. More than you know.” She thought of Grania, of how her niece had died, and she found she wanted to tell Hayden. “I’ve something to tell you.” “What?”

“You know the little girl Fallon found in Cairn Toul?”

She felt his head nod. “Aye. That was Grania.”

“It was. While Deirdre was occupied fighting you, I went to Grania. I had already seen Lavena and knew nothing could help her, but I thought I could take Grania away.” His hand smoothed the hair away from the side of her face. “What happened?”

“She fought me. She had a dagger and tried to use it. She called Deirdre her mother.”

“Deirdre corrupted her,” Hayden murmured.

“Aye. I knew it then, but I couldn’t give up. I tried to take the dagger away from her, but we slipped. Somehow, she fell on the weapon. She was dead by the time I realized what had happened.” His fingers with hers and gave her a slight squeeze. “It was an accident.”

“I still killed her.”

“And she’s better off where she is. Deirdre no longer has control of her.”

Isla knew he was right. She was glad he had listened to her. “I want to try what Marcail suggested. Sonya and Cara were able to lessen the pain.” “But it still hurts,” he finished for her. “I can see it in your eyes and the way you hold your body. I would see it gone, Isla. Just tell me what you need.” He’d given her more than she could have ever thought to want, and now he was offering her even more. “Don’t leave me until I’m finished.” “I willna leave. As long as you need or want me, I’ll be here for you.”

The way he said it, with such conviction, Isla had no choice but to believe him. Finally he was giving her the words she needed, now, when it was most likely too late. “Thank you.” He kissed her neck. “Come. Let loose your magic so you can rid yourself of this pain.”

Isla settled more comfortably against him and let out a deep breath. She found herself more relaxed with Hayden next to her, and that gave her the courage she needed to turn to her magic.

She then focused on her magic, channeling all that she was, all that she yearned for toward building her magic. It was difficult to push past the throbbing of her head. At times she lost her grip on her magic, but she continued to concentrate.

Once she had a firm grasp on her magic, she easily centered it and brought it around her. She could feel the pulse of her magic and hear the call of the ancient Druids, the ones who first settled Scotland so many centuries ago.

The pounding of her head grew more intense the further Isla called to her magic. She refused to give up, though. She thought of her mother, how she had smiled and told Isla her magic could do anything.

Isla hadn’t believed her, had never believed. But now, she was determined to make it so.

Dimly, Isla could hear what sounded like drums beating a steady, seductive beat. It calmed her breathing, slowed her heart … and fed her magic.

Her magic engulfed her like a warm blanket. It held her, but she didn’t feel trapped. It eased her, comforted her. It was like a cloud she floated upon with nothing anchoring her to the ground.

It was then Isla realized the pain had receded to a muted ache. She became aware of how Hayden’s fingers caressed her arm and the feel of his arousal pressed against her back. She heard his shallow breaths and felt the heat of his skin.

“Your magic does this to me,” he whispered. “It pulls me, lures me to you. I want more of it, and more of you. It makes me wild, makes me want to claim you fiercely and repeatedly.” She didn’t know what to say. She had never heard of magic affecting anyone like it did Hayden. Knowing she affected him so sent a thrill of anticipation and desire racing along her skin.

Isla carefully turned in his arms until she faced him. His black eyes were drowsy with desire, but they watched her closely while cocooned in his arms.

“Did it work?” he asked. “Your eyes are brighter, and your skin almost glows.”

“The ache isn’t gone, but it is lessened enough that I can tolerate the hurt.”

He ran the back of his fingers across her jaw as his brow furrowed. “I doona ever want to see you in such agony again.”

As much as she didn’t want to talk about it, Isla knew she had to prepare Hayden. “There is a very good chance it was Deirdre. If it was, it means it’s only a matter of time before she takes control.” “You can fight her.”

He said it with such authority that for a moment Isla almost believed him. But she knew the truth, and he needed to know it as well. “I’ve tried in the past.” “You were alone then. Here you have friends who will help you, Druids who can add their magic to yours. You have me. I don’t want to kill you, Isla.” She briefly closed her eyes and prayed it wouldn’t come to that. “You took care of me today when I needed someone. I want to thank you.” Without giving him time to reply, Isla reached under his kilt and took his hard shaft in her hands. His length and thickness always took her breath away. Every time he entered her she was stretched and filled to aching awareness, and she could never get enough of him.

Isla pushed Hayden to his back and leaned forward to take him in her mouth. She wrapped her lips around his tip and slowly eased her mouth around his thickness. His moan, low and tortured, caused her to smile.

When she could get no more of him in her mouth, she wrapped her hands at the base of him and began to move her head up and down his rod. She loved the taste of him, salty and all male.

His hands fisted in the sheets as his hips rose to meet her each time her head came down. Isla glanced at him to find his neck stiff with tension, his lips parted as his harsh breathing filled the tower.

“Isla,” he moaned. “You’re killing me.”

Just what she wanted to hear. She was about to settle more comfortably when his hands closed around her arms and jerked her up and over him.

“Nay,” he said and nipped at her lips. “I want to be inside you when I come. I want to feel your walls clenching around me, milking me of my seed.” He pulled her head down for a kiss, a slow kiss filled with passion and promise. Yearning and need. Excitement and hope.

Hayden bunched her skirts in his hands. He wanted to rip the gown from her body so he could feast his gaze upon her luscious curves and silken skin. Instead he broke the kiss long enough to pull her gown and chemise from her to toss it to the floor.

He leaned up on his elbows after Isla had unfastened the pin of his kilt. Together they got his shirt and tartan removed and piled next to her clothes.

Hayden reached for her, but before he could, she once more had her mouth on his cock. He groaned in ecstasy, surrendered to the pleasure.

He grabbed Isla’s legs and turned her so that she was lying on his chest, her legs on either side of his head. Her sex was bared for him in all its glistening beauty.

While her hot mouth continued to pleasure him, Hayden buried a finger deep inside her as his tongue swirled around her clitoris. Isla’s moan, deep and long, only served to push his desire higher, only fueled the deep raging need he had for her.

Every time he touched Isla, every time the desire took him, the connection between them strengthened, intensified. He had been a fool to not see it sooner, but his eyes were opened now. And he was going to prove to Isla he could be the man she needed.

He could feel her body tightening, her moans coming quicker. Hayden had much more planned for them. He didn’t want her peaking too soon.

Hayden shifted them so he was on top, and then turned so he could kiss her. He gave in when Isla pushed on his chest and she rolled him onto his back.

The sensual, loving smile she gave him as she bent to lick his stomach made Hayden’s heart skip a beat. Up his chest she kissed and licked until he thought he would burst from need.

Hayden, at the point of no return, situated Isla so that she straddled him. He grabbed her by the waist and tilted her forward so that her breasts were even with his mouth. He flicked out his tongue and let it move back and forth over the tiny nub until it strained toward him, glistening and pebble hard.

He shifted to her other breast and repeated his teasing until her breaths came in short gasps and small cries of desire fell from her lips.

Isla’s hips ground into him, her sweet sex, already wet and ready, grazed his aching cock repeatedly, sending him further and further toward the ecstasy that awaited him.

When he could take no more of the exquisite torture, he reached down and guided himself into her. She gasped, her eyes rolling back in her head with a pleasure-filled moan. Hayden, with his hands still locked on her hips, pushed her down on his length as he slanted his hips to thrust inside her.

Once he was sheathed to the hilt, he removed the binding of her braid. He worked his hands through her long, thick locks and let them slide over his arms.

He found her watching him, a warm smile on her face. He would thank Marcail later for her idea. Right now, he was just happy to see the pain erased from Isla’s face.

To his surprise Isla sat up and braced her hands on his chest. She rotated her hips, sending bolts of desire straight to his shaft and through his body. He cupped her breasts, rolling her taut nipples in his fingers.

She cried out, her hips bucking faster. With her head dropped back and her hair grazing his legs, Isla was the most beautiful sight Hayden had ever seen, or ever would see.

He’d been a fool to think he could ignore her or his need for her. Her passion, allure, and magic stirred something deep and primitive inside him. And he found he quite liked it.

Hayden smiled as he thought about how lovely she looked when she peaked. Her face and body flushed with fulfillment. It was a heady sight, one he needed to see. Now.

He put his thumb in his mouth to wet it, then placed it on her sex with his fingers splayed over her stomach. Her nails dug into his chest at the first contact of his finger on her clitoris.

Her head lifted and her ice-blue eyes locked with his. He held her gaze as he ran his thumb around her with just enough pressure.

Isla’s lips parted, her breathing hitched and her hips rocked back and forth, enticing him to his own climax. But Hayden wasn’t about to go. Not yet.

She jerked and he felt her sex squeezing his cock as she peaked, her lips parted and rapture covering her face. Hayden kept teasing her clitoris to prolong her pleasure.

He smiled when she screamed his name and her nails drew blood. It was all he needed. His hand fit on her hips again as he lifted her so he could thrust hard and fast inside her.

His orgasm came quickly, engulfing him in the abyss of pleasure. He gave another plunge and felt his seed pour hot and quick inside her.

Isla fell forward on his chest, her face turned to the side. A fine sheen of sweat covered them both, and the only sound was their ragged breaths filling the chamber.

Hayden caressed down her hair and over her back. He was tired of running from Isla and this thing between them. It might never work, but how would he know if he didn’t try?

For himself and Isla, he had to try. He just hoped she was receptive to the idea. After everything he had done to her, he deserved for Isla to tell him to go away. And he would if that was her wish.

Hayden looked up at the window and saw light coming from the sides of the blanket. It was still daylight, but Isla needed rest. He also wanted to make sure the ache was gone from her head for good.

He couldn’t stop the niggling worry that it was Deirdre. Isla had said it was different than usual, but he had seen the fear in her eyes. He had once vowed to protect her, and he would do just that.

Whatever happened to Isla, he would make sure he was with her from now on. She wouldn’t have to face Deirdre alone. He would help her fight the evil, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.

“Sleep,” he whispered. “I’ll be here when you wake.”

She murmured something he didn’t understand. Hayden smiled. She’d already been half asleep.

And for the first time in years, Hayden let himself slip into a deep, dreamless slumber.