He handed her the chemise from the floor then grabbed a plaid from the bed and wrapped it about his waist. Damn. He looked good dressed like a Highlander—as if he’d jumped off the cover of a romance novel. Calves firm. Long hair draping drool-worthy muscles covering his broad chest and strong arms.
Lowering her gaze before he caught her ogling his assets, she slipped on the chemise and donned the skirt and tunic Isobell had so thoughtfully provided.
Tee teehee hee.
“Shite! Those blasted pixies are back,” Gregor barked.
Emily joined him at the table. Sure enough, the lavender-winged pixie perched on the rim of a tall cup. Two others flitted about, darting to and fro over the platters of food.
Gregor picked up the mug and held it in front of his face. “What do you want, wee lass?”
The pixie withdrew a fist from behind her back and tossed a white powder into his face. He coughed and dropped the cup to the table. He swiped at his eyes.
The pixie had fallen into the mug. She grasped the edgeand shimmied over the side.
“Begone.” Gregor shooed her away with an abrupt wave of his arm.
Tee teehee hee. Tee teehee hee.The other pixies tittered.
The green pixie flew at Emily, hovering inches from her face, peridot wings vigorously fluttering like those of a hummingbird. She held her diminutive hand to her mouth and, palm open, spewed the same fine powder on a wisp of released breath into Emily’s face.
Emily blinked. “Why do they keep doing that?”
The three pixies darted out of the window.
Gregor dropped to the bench and laughed. “To retain their reputation for being pesky.”
Emily joined him in his mirth, laughing until her sides ached.
“Shall we have something to eat?” She sat beside him and wiped tears from her eyes.
“Aye. I find I am quite hungry, wife. You ken I had a busy night.”
She felt a blush stain her cheeks, but didn’t linger on the embarrassment. She’d enjoyed every moment of their busy night.
They shared heather ale and bannocks splattered with honey.
“I thought to go hunting for a wee and set a few snares within the wood. Perhaps we will have rabbit stew for our eve’n meal.
She’d never eaten rabbit, but she was game. “Okay.” she said. “One of these platters is full of vegetables.”
“Isobell foresaw our every need.” He changed into his leathers, strapped a knife to his calf, two others disappeared up his sleeves.
So that is what I’m supposed to do with the knives Isobell forced on me.
Gregor dropped a quick kiss on her forehead and grabbed his bow and arrows. “I will return shortly.”
* **
Several hours later, Emily paced the small space from the table to the bed, her cheeks hot with thoughts of what they had done on that mattress throughout the night. Gregor turned out to be an amazing lover as she’d suspected after their first kiss. She sighed.
Then her memory flicked to another time, to another lover. Laughing black eyes. Jet black hair. She rubbed suddenly aching temples.
What had she been thinking?
Emily tramped back to the table, confusion wrinkling her forehead. She looked out the unshuttered window, unseeing. A roll of the neck did little to ease the building anxiety. The walls seemed to crowd in on her.
She rushed to the door and stepped outside. Golden sunshine hit her face, chasing away some of the mind-numbing angst. Emily inhaled the sharp pitch of sun-warmed evergreens. Took note of the dark green fir trees contrasting beautifully with the pure blue of the sky. She shook her head, feeling foolish. Her unease was nothing more than being left alone in an unfamiliar place. She missed Gregor. What should she do until he returned?
