Struggling for the control he knew he had tocommand, he lifted his head and eyed the moon’s position in the sky. “The hour is late. I’d best get ye back to yer room. Back to yer bed.”
Her eyes half closed, she leaned into him. “I am definitely ready for bed.” The passion in her throaty tone nearly undid him.
Ronan gifted her with a wistful smile, then tenderly kissed her forehead. “I will be leaving ye to yer room by yerself, lass.”
“By myself?”
“Aye, love. By yourself.”
She scowled at him like a petulant child.“Why won’t you stay?”
With a firm tuck of her hand into the crook of his arm, he drew in a deep breath and snorted it out. “I willna lay with ye until I have had more time to gain yer trust. ’Tis only proper that I do so.”
“Here I am—finally ready to divest myself of my virginity, and you decide to turn all noble on me?” She glared at him and jerked on his arm. “Is something wrong with me, or is this just payback for the times I’ve left you high and dry?” She pulled free and blocked the path so he couldn’t pass until he answered.
Ronan threw back his head and laughed. “Trust me, lass, the only thing wrong with ye is that I’ll not be able to sleep until I’ve had a long swim in the icy waters of the sea.” Unable to resist teasing her, he caught her up in his arms, lifted her off the ground, and slowly spun her around. “And maybe ’tis a wee bit ofpayback,as ye put it, for the times ye’ve—what did ye say? Left me high and dry?”
With mischief and a tad bit of wickedness in her eyes, she nibbled a slow series of kisses across his mouth, making him hold his breath to keep from groaning. “While you’re swimming, would you do something for me?”
“Anything, lass. Name it.”
“Find me some sea sponges. A lot.” Then she wriggled down out of his arms and bolted away, her laughter trailing behind her.
Ronan kept his gaze locked on her fine backside, regretting his decision to begallant.He would get the lass her sea sponges. Enough so they could lock themselves away and lose themselves in each other’s arms till well after Hogmanay.
CHAPTER 15
Perched on an outcropping of stones, Aveline stared at the endless stretch of sparkling blue water that almost seemed to mock her.She hated the sea. Always had. If not for its hold on Ronan, she never would’ve ended up in this mess. If not for the seductive call of those waters, he would’ve stayed at the castle like a good brother should. Then she would’ve never searched through the ripples of time to find a woman capable of keeping him at home.
With the ever-increasing glumness foisted upon her by the wait for her punishment, she glanced up at the gathering clouds and pulled her plaid tighter around her. It had been almost two months since Harley hadarrived,and Ronan still hadn’t forgiven her for so unceremoniously yanking Harley back to the past. Her parents were still angry as well and concerned about what repercussions the MacKay clan could expect from her unorthodox actions. With every act involving the tapestry of time, the rules were set in stone. Unfortunately, she had tossed caution to the wind when she’d manipulated Harley’s life.
Aveline stared down at the shore, surprised that the waves had risen so much higher. It wasn’t time for high tide. Each wave crashed to new heights, slowly and methodically pulling toward her. Sprayshot up and doused her before taking the form of a voluptuous woman who shimmered like the pearlescent inside of a rare and perfect shell.
“Goddess Clíodhna!” Aveline bowed her head and kept her gaze lowered.
“I have watched ye, child,” the goddess said, “and seen the plan ye set in motion has not brought ye the results ye wished.” The immortal stood at the edge of the sand, the sea foam swirling about her feet.
Aveline wrung her hands together and risked a glance at the goddess. “No one understands I was just trying to help. They’re all accusing me of being a selfish meddler.”
Clíodhna’s laughter bubbled like the waves at her feet. “I understand, child. Immortals frequently face the same accusation.”
With her plaid clutched close, Aveline carefully climbed down from her perch and hesitantly approached the goddess. “What can I do to get them to forgive me? Ronan is still so angry, he rarely speaks to me.”
Gliding along the water’s edge, Clíodhna bent and picked up a tangled rope of seaweed. She idly trailed it through her glistening fingers as she gave Aveline a calculating smile. “Perhaps ye should return the lass to her time? Maybe that would set things right.”
“But ye refused to allow that in our pact.” Aveline shrugged. “And even if, in yer benevolence, ye changed yer mind and allowed it, I am barred from entering Emrys’s library, forbidden to use the Mirrors of Time, and Mama says no more magic until we see what punishment I’m meted from the Fates.”
“But if ye put things back as they were before, would that not be making everything right? Perhaps, even make yer punishment less?”
Goddess Clíodhna's lilting certainty gave Aveline the hope she so badly needed. She quickly nodded in agreement. “That would have to make things right. But I dinna ken how I can manage it without the Mirrors of Time. Emrys would surely catch me if I tried to use them.”
The goddess gave her a reassuring smile. “The autumnal equinox will be upon us soon. Ye know the veils of time are easily folded then.Since ye are such an innocent and loyal child, I shall be happy to help ye power yer spell.”
A brightness and joy she hadn’t felt since Harley’s arrival filled Aveline. “Ye would do that for me? I would be ever so grateful. Maybe then Ronan could find it in his heart to forgive me.”
Clíodhna nodded her silvery head as she extended her shimmering hand. “Aye, child. I shall help ye reverse this transgression. And in return, should I call upon ye in my time of need, ye will assist me. Do we have an accord?”
Aveline quickly took the Goddess Clíodhna's hand and bobbed her head. “Oh, aye! I will assist ye in whatever ye shall need. I shall ever be yer faithful servant.”
