Clan Ross: His Heart's Desire Part 8

Once changed into her nightclothes, she climbed onto the feather bed, folded her hands on her belly and stared into the darkness. Now what? Her thoughts chased themselves in dizzying circles. So much had happened in so little time.

Her lips still tingled from Braden's kiss. The night before, her sleep had been restless, and she feared the reason for this was due to the fact that Braden was no longer a part of her dream world.

Rolling onto her side, she listened for the sounds of the surf crashing below on the jagged rocks of the cliff. The repet.i.tive sound slowly eased her into sleep.

Catrona sat on the bed and gazed around her tower room. 'Twas just like something out of a fairytale. Her knight had rescued her from her family. How sad that a stranger was a more welcome sight than her own blood. She wasn't going to miss her cousin's cruel treatment and her uncle's indifference. Things had only gotten worse after her dear aunty had pa.s.sed the winter before.

With a curious excitement, she stood and went to the window. The window wasn't terribly large, but any light was a welcome treat. Braden and his cousin, Alec, stood below in the bailey. Her heart trilled in her chest. She was finally going to marry him.

After years of waiting and longing for her happy ending, it was finally going to be a reality. Catrona rested her chin in her hand and watched as both men moved skillfully and gracefully in a circle, parrying and thrusting in mock combat. One would never guess that the swords they wielded with such ease were so heavy. The men made it look effortless.

Several other la.s.ses stood about watching them spar, sighing and cheering for Alec. Catrona smiled. Oh, he was a bonny one, but he didn't come close to outshining her Braden. She'd always found him handsome, but now, now she was eight and ten and saw him as a woman sees a man. A woman grown with a woman's longing. Sweat glistened on Braden's back and Catrona wanted to rush down and touch his flesh. She knew his skin would be slick and warm.

Braden called a halt to their practice and brushed his forearm across his brow. When he tipped his head back, Catrona sighed at his masculine beauty. His dark hair was tied back, and his face was covered with a half day's growth of beard. This only accentuated his chiseled features, making him more rugged and appealing.

He opened his eyes and their gazes met. Catrona fancied she could feel the touch of his look on her overheated skin. Her nipples pebbled, and her b.r.e.a.s.t.s began to ache. Then he winked at her. The rogue was well versed on women, but she knew in her heart he'd never shared a look as they just did with any another woman.

Her gaze continued to track down his incredible body, past his muscles, to his lean and powerful hips. She'd heard talk when some of the maids didn't think she was listening. Catrona never really gave much thought to what they whispered and giggled about with feminine abandon, until now. What would it be like to be held and kissed by such a strong and virile man?

Braden was sparring with his cousin once again and cheers rang out. She didn't understand much of what the onlookers said, since they spoke the Gaelic. When she'd first moved to the Highlands to live with her aunt and uncle, her family had little use for her, their half Sa.s.senach relation. Catrona's own cousins had ignored her, when they weren't busy playing cruel pranks on her.

Instead, Catrona spent much of her time in the kitchens. Here she found peace and friendship with Morag, a kindly old woman who took Catrona under her care, teaching her the ancient language and giving her affection. Catrona planned on surprising Braden by speaking her vows to him in his native tongue. Whenever he spoke with her, it was always in English. She wanted to make him proud.

She smiled, knowing that the fates had indeed favored her by giving her such a wonderful and strong man. Even more amazing was the fact that they cared for each other. Braden had told her the night before that he was honored to be matched with her and knew she was going to be the perfect mate for him. They were friends and one day soon they'd be lovers.

Cat woke with a start and pushed her hair out of her face. Candles still flickered in their holders, doing little to dispel the darkness. She sat up, wondering what had pulled her from her sleep. Getting out of bed, she moved to the window, needing a little fresh air.

She put her hand to her heart as her dream began to replay itself in her mind. The antic.i.p.ation and excitement she experienced still lingered; a tangible thing in the dark room. It was a room that had changed little in all this time. This was the chamber she'd dreamed of. These stones and mortar were centuries old and had withstood the test of time and of elements. She ran her hands over the carved headboard. Even in the flickering shadows of the candlelight, the craftsmanship dazzled her.

How was it possible that she had experienced these emotions? If her friend Meagan were here, she'd no doubt tell Cat it was residual cosmic energy. She had apparently brought to life her own memories centuries later. This shouldn't freak her out, but it did. Never in a million years would she have thought she'd have any kind of power like this. The realization was awesome but terrifying all at once.

Meagan ran a haunted carriage tour back in New Orleans and loved all things that had to do with ghosts. She'd been one of the few friends who knew of Catrona's feelings for Braden. She thought it was perfectly normal to fall in love with a spirit. Cat knew Meagan would be having a field day if she were here.

This begged the question: Did Cat believe in past lives and soul mates?

The answer was, yes. Yes, she did; but where did that leave her? Braden? Did he really love her, or did he just think he did? Or worse yet, was she projecting her own wants and desires onto him? She never wanted to do that. And really, what did she know of him? For all she knew, he could very well be some macho jerk with an Alpha male complex. She so didn't need that kind of machismo in her life . . . or did she?

And then there was the whole age thing. He was centuries old. Would his age finally catch up with him and would he awaken an old, wizened man the next day? Or would he be able to age naturally and live a full life in this century? Or worse yet, would he be immortal like Duncan McLeod, of the Clan McLeod? Okay, that was television, but given the situation, it was not outside the realms of possibility. And how did she feel about growing old while he retained his handsome good looks? Granted, she wasn't vain, but no one wanted to be next to someone so handsome while they slowly but surely went to pot. Her deepest fear was that he would be taken from her or, worse yet, she would awaken to find this was nothing but a dream.

A noise on the other side of the door jerked her from the dizzying thoughts clouding her head. The door opened slowly and there stood Braden, dressed only in his blue jeans. Shadows played hide and seek with his handsome visage. He left her breathless. Her eyes hungrily took him in, from the top of his head down to his s.e.xy bare feet.

"I couldn't sleep for thoughts of you." Braden moved a step closer.

Cat knew that the next few moments were going to dictate the future. She'd lived her life wishing he were real, longing to feel his body against hers. In her heart she knew that there was no one else for her but him. She'd been waiting for this moment her whole life. And if, on the off chance, fate decided to take him away from her again, she was going to have this one memory for her own.

"Come to me." She held out her hand and waited.

Braden quietly closed the door and moved to her side. Without a word he swept her up into his arms. Cat buried her head, where his shoulders met his neck. She inhaled deeply, pulling the seductive scent of him into her lungs. Unable to help herself, she licked the column of his throat. His taste, more potent than the finest wines, went straight to her head.

Cat wound her hand into the long dark strands of his hair, partly as a way to anchor herself and in part as a way to hold him still for her kisses. She nibbled a path from his neck to his ear. A gruff moan escaped Braden and this emboldened her. She wanted to consume him and glut herself on the taste and feel of him against her.

The cold of the room and the worries that plagued her drifted away as Braden moved to the bed and tenderly lowered her onto the feather mattress. Without breaking eye contact, he put his hands on the waistband of her sweats. "If you want to say nae, do so now, Catrona."

In answer she lifted her hips to help him remove her sweats. She watched his face as he bared her to his gaze.

"Beautiful. You are so d.a.m.n beautiful!"

Cat sat up and quickly divested herself of her t-shirt. Then she placed her hands on Braden's chest, curling her fingers against his warm flesh. "Touch me, Braden. Please."

Braden smiled. "Oh, I plan on touching you all over." He stood and put his hands on the tab of the zipper of his jeans. "I plan on touching, kissing and worshipping every luscious inch of your body." His words, combined with the promise in his eyes, made her womb spasm. Delicious heat filled her. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s grew heavy, and her nipples ached in antic.i.p.ation.

Cat watched as Braden slowly lowered his zipper, licking her lips as inch by teasing inch was revealed to her hungry stare.

"These garments are terribly difficult to get out of." Braden parted the jeans and palmed his erection as it broke free of its denim confines. Without breaking eye contact, he pumped himself in his hands. "I'm burning for you. I'm so hard I hurt."

With wanton pleasure she pushed his hands out of the way, marveling at the velvet encased steel of his erection. She traced the veins from root to tip, spreading the clear drop of fluid that leaked from its tip around the engorged head of his erection. Another moan escaped Braden, causing her to look up for a brief moment before she bent her head and took him into her mouth for a sensual kiss.

"Ah, la.s.s." He gripped her hair and gently pulled away from her mouth. "Stop, I don't want to spend in your mouth the first time we're together." He cupped the back of her head. "Lay back, la.s.s, let me look at what I've waited a lifetime to see."

Cat was helpless to deny him anything. She pushed back and rested against the feather pillows, wanting to please him in every way. "Make love to me, Braden. Make me yours."

Braden made short work of stepping out of his jeans and tossing them into the shadows.

He climbed onto the bed and pressed his body against hers. Bending near, he whispered, "I'm going to kiss you all over, starting with your sweet lips."

His lips took possession of hers. He ate at her lips, thrusting his tongue deep, teasing and pulling her own against his. The kiss was raw and deeply erotic and reached her soul. Trailing his mouth down her jawline to her neck, he bit and sucked until he made his way to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Cat arched into his touch, the rough feel of his tongue against her straining nipple forced a whimper of pure l.u.s.t to escape her.

She fisted her hands into his hair, holding him to her, wanting more, relishing the heat of his mouth against her tender skin. Braden moved to the other breast, laving the straining peak of her nipple with his tongue. Cat felt the pull all the way down to her c.l.i.t, and she moaned in appreciation. Never before had she responded to such love play with her other lovers. Then again, they were never Braden.

With diligent care and attention, Braden kissed his way down her abdomen placing wet, open-mouthed kisses on her navel before moving to the curly thatch that covered her mound. With care, he gently parted the curls, revealing her feminine flesh to his gaze. "Oh, you are so very bonny." He nuzzled her before he ran his tongue over her heated flesh. His tongue did wonderful and naughty things for the next few moments. Her body sought his sensual touch, grinding herself against his talented mouth, wanting, needing more, but Braden held back.

The sensations that crashed over Cat's body were too many to focus on and release was just within her grasp. Her swollen and achy tissue spasmed with each teasing kiss.

"Braden, oh G.o.d!" she moaned helplessly.

"You like this?" He looked up at her with what she could only call a devilish glint before he placed another searing kiss on her flesh. He explored more intimately, making her burn hotter than she already was, yearning for something only Braden could give her.

"Come here." Cat pulled on his hair, trying to get him to return to her mouth.

He winked at her and blew softly on her aching c.l.i.t before sucking it gently into his mouth for a final toe-curling touch.

Braden slowly crawled up her body. As he leaned over her, his hair drifted forward, tickling her cheek. The look in his eyes caused her heart to turn over in her chest. His heart and feelings were bared to her by the expressions on his face. She traced a finger across his lower lip. "You're so beautiful, Braden." She leaned up and captured his mouth with her own in a soul-stealing kiss. Tears burned the back of her eyelids.

Braden's body pressed down on hers, and she reveled in the hardness and weight of him against her sensitized flesh. She wrapped her arms around his waist and palmed his backside, wanting him closer, needing him to move on her. Slowly he thrust against her belly as they continued to kiss. She was so close to o.r.g.a.s.m, and he wasn't even inside her yet.

"Braden," she moaned.

"Aye, love?" He kissed her neck and reached down and pulled her left leg up, high against his waist.

"You feel so good," Cat whispered against his mouth.

Before she had a chance to understand what he was about to do, Braden thrust into her body. For the first time in her life, she felt complete. She'd never experienced the full scope of being loved by him in her dreams. There'd always been a slight buffer between them, keeping her from the sensory experience of the man in her arms.

Both were breathing hard as Braden braced himself on his arms. Their bodies were joined in the most intimate of ways, and she watched a drop of perspiration track down his chest. She licked her lips and sighed.

Neither said a word as he slowly moved inside her. Her overly sensitized flesh grasped his erection, and she relished every moment. She ground herself against him. She couldn't get him deep enough and her body felt as though it was on fire.

Braden rotated his lean hips and sent Cat cresting over the edge of release. She arched into his body, holding him deep inside her as she rode the waves of her o.r.g.a.s.m. Seconds later he ground hard against her and groaned. She felt each throb and spasm of his release and relished knowing she had brought him to this point.

After the sensual storm, Braden rolled to the side and cradled her against him. The musky scent of their lovemaking hung in the air, and she rested against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. Now that she'd experienced what making love could be like with a man who owned her heart, she couldn't help but wonder what their future held. Would this be the only time they'd make love? Her uncertainty over their future kept her from fully enjoying the moment and allowing her to fall asleep. She feared that if she let her guard down and fell asleep, she'd wake to find this had all been a dream. That possibility would completely destroy her.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

Cat stretched with languid abandon, and she felt the delicious pull and extension of muscles and tendons. Sensations washed over her as each muscle relaxed. Once she'd fallen asleep, her rest had been uninterrupted. Scotland definitely agreed with her. This land called to her in ways she'd never imagined. The myths, legends, stories and Banbury tales, so much a part of the culture, charmed her.

Braden's lovemaking also agreed with her. His touch was addictive and, for the moment, managed to banish all her insecurities and worries. This was a welcome respite to Cat who, as her friend Meagan liked to point out, loved to worry on a regular basis.

Braden rested on a pillow beside her and she took time to look at him. The sun shone through the mullion-paned window, highlighting the almost blue streaks in his hair. Her heart seized at his beauty. Granted that was not a masculine description her Highland warrior would embrace, but it was an apt one nonetheless.

The night before had been amazing; better than any dream she could have had. Braden had made love to her twice more; each time sweeter than the last. If she hadn't already been in love with him, she was now. His gentleness and giving touched her heart and her soul. Fatigue pulled at her and she allowed sleep to once again work its magic. The combination of emotional stress, jet lag, and her rather active evening, finally caught up with her.

When she woke again it was to sun streaming in through the open window, and the sounds of the ocean drifting on the wind. She noted Braden was gone, and she missed the intimacy of waking next to him. Tossing the bedclothes back, she stood and made her way over to her suitcase and pulled out a robe. She looked around and realized there was not a bathroom attached to her room. She hadn't noticed that the night before.

A second later, Cat peered out of her bedroom door and looked first right and then left. No one was in the hall, so she wandered to the only other door in the tower and prayed she'd find a bathroom. The idea of going outside, or having to ask directions to the loo, was not something she relished.

Thankfully the open door did reveal a bathroom of sorts. There was an old toilet, a pedestal sink, and a claw-footed tub. The idea of a warm soak was too tempting, so she quickly ran water for the tub before she ran back to her room to gather her toiletries and a change of clothes. Although the sun was out, the air was still very cool. She settled on a pair of jeans and a twinset in periwinkle blue.

Cat relaxed in the steamy water and thought back over the previous night. They'd had unprotected s.e.x but, instead of this thought scaring her, she realized there were worse things in life than having Braden's baby. Of course, this was jumping the gun just a bit, but still . . . Once the water began to cool, she got out and dressed. It was time to go and see if she could find Braden or his cousin.

Downstairs Cat found the table set for breakfast for one. Disappointment curled in her belly when she looked for Braden but didn't find him.

"Oh, there you are, la.s.s."

Cat looked up and saw Elspeth. "Good morning, Elspeth." She smiled as she took a sip of orange juice.

"I see you've found your breakfast. Braden and his cousin are currently meeting with the Trust." She sat and helped herself to some juice. "I imagine they're almost done."

Swallowing, Cat put her gla.s.s down and helped herself to scrambled eggs. "I'd forgotten about that. Do you think they're both ready to do that? I mean, they're new to this time period."

Elspeth gave her a smile. "Och, la.s.s, all will be well. Have no fear. Your Braden has always been a master tactician. Fear not, he won't give himself away."

Cat gave her a dubious look. Sure he'd been able to watch the world change while trapped wherever it was he'd been, but that didn't mean he could just step into this time and blend, could he?

"Let me explain a little about myself. I am fey." She paused and when Cat didn't say anything to that announcement, she continued, "I have been waiting, actually the entire clan has been awaiting, the return of our laird. Certain, er, stepsif you wouldhave been taken in order to make sure Braden and Alec did not have any problems acclimating themselves to whatever time they were brought forward to."

Cat sat quietly absorbing this bit of information. Somehow she wasn't surprised. Elspeth was fey. "Are you also immortal."

"No, dearie, I am not immortal like a vampire. I age just as you do, only very slowly. Extremely slowly, as a matter of fact."

"How slow is slow? If you don't mind my asking, how old are you?"

"Not a bit of it; at last celebration, I pa.s.sed my four hundredth summer."

"Four hundred?" Cat choked on her juice.

"Aye, I took over from my mother when she pa.s.sed."

"Will you start to age now that Braden is here?"

"I really don't ken. Mayhap." She took a bite of her breakfast and looked up. "Oh, here they come now."

Cat watched as Alec and Braden wandered into the great hall. Her heart pounded in excitement each time she saw him. Braden was so handsome in his Levis and polo shirt. d.a.m.n, but it should be against the law for anyone to look that good.

When Braden caught her gaze, he winked and smiled, sending flashes of heat coursing through her body. Oh, yeah, she was in trouble.

The two men joined the ladies at the table, and Braden gave Cat a sweet kiss on the lips before resting his hands on her shoulder. She loved how he liked to touch her. The need for human contact had never really dawned on Cat until this moment. It took all her self-control not to curl into his hold and purr like a kitten.

"The meeting went well, and I'm now in charge of my holdings. Thank you once again, Elspeth, for taking such good care to make sure that I would be accepted by those who would judge me wanting."

Elspeth clapped her hands with excitement. "That's wonderful, Braden." She turned to Cat. "See, I told you all would be well."

"You doubted me, la.s.s?"

Cat resisted the urge to squirm in her seat. All three of them were looking at her with mixed expressions, ranging from humor to surprise. "No, I didn't doubt you; I was worried that perhaps you wouldn't understand what was going on . . . you know, the legal jargon and what have you."

"Aye, the la.s.s doubted you, Braden." Alec winked at her. "But then again, so do I on numerous occasions."

This time Cat did squirm. "I didn't doubt him. I trust him totally."

"I know you do, la.s.s. Ignore the git behind me. 'Tis not easy, I ken, but try."

"Who are you calling?"

"So what are your plans for the keep now, Braden?" Elspeth shook her head at Alec. "Why do you insist on provoking him?"

"'Tis fun."

"'Tis annoying, is what it is." Braden sat beside Cat and took her hand. "I have a great deal planned. For now, the castle is closed to tourists. We'll be undergoing a great deal of renovation, such as electrical wiring, plumbing, and so on."

Cat had a bad feeling about this. Her stomach dropped to her feet. If she didn't know better, it sounded as if he was getting ready to make this his home. Of course, that was his right; she didn't blame him for wanting to stay here. The castle and estate was beautiful and filled with his family's history. But that also meant she would be leaving him behind. She couldn't live here in Scotland. Her home was in Louisiana.