“My daughter?” he echoed.
40
LACHLAN
Scotland
How had I fallen asleep?Och. Natasha. Lying with her wasn’t the usual struggle where I denied myself the cravings I’d grown accustomed to with her. Fearing Borya’s intentions, I had rested my cheek on her chest, and she held me until the dark, twisted thoughts transformed to sleep.
Too soon, we arrived at the castle, which overlooked Loch Ness, reconstructed with my first-year earnings and my clan’s usual dealings. Now, I awoke again to stone walls and Natasha dressed in my white shirt as she glanced out the iron-framed window. I blinked, allowing my eyes to adjust to the gray morning and follow the path of her curvy legs. The hem of the shirt stopped just beneath ample hips.
I sat up, wearing the same jeans as when I carried her from The Red Door.
“You okay?” Natasha turned around and pulled the phone from her ear.
“Did you get through to them?”
“Just tried again for the gazillionth time.”
“Ugh.” Rubbing my eyes, I looked at her again. Nae. Still dreaming. Instead of creamy brown thighs tempting me, she had paired the undershirt with sweats.
She tugged the shirt’s hem. “Sorry. I didn’t have clothes, so I …”
“You’re cold?”
“A little.” Her attention returned to the window. “Those gray skies, though? Charming.”
“It’s July, beautiful. It’ll warm up.”
She arched a brow.
“Seventy degrees.” Give or take—aye—takeat least five degrees. Her face said that seventy lacked appeal.
“In summer,” she whimpered, climbing into the bed.
“Aye.” I swooped my arms around her, bringing her beneath the blanket. “Welcome toDùnMhicCoinnich.”
“That stands for?”
“Fort of the son of MhicCoinnich—MacKenzie. Or you can call this placeDùnlochMacKenzie.Dùn—fort. Loch?—”
“Fort Lake MacKenzie. Do our children need to learn …”
My palm cupped her soft cheek, cradling her face. “Speak your peace, woman.”
But she didn’t.
“I want children. Lots of them. Or two. Depends on you, Tash.”
Natasha huffed, but the smile on her face? Not to standard.
Was she considering the assault?
Her pearly teeth cut into her plush, pink lip. “While you slept on the plane, I watched Jordyn with Cam and Willow’s baby. At departure, Camdyn tried to place the little girl in a car seat …”
“She struggled to let go.”Ah. I breathed a sigh of relief. Not for my brother and Jordyn’s situation. But for me and Natasha. Of course I cared. He hadn’t said much. Between awakening long enough to get myself off the plane, I’d noticed him place acomforting hand on the small of Jordyn’s back as she returned the cooing baby bundle to Willow’s arms.
I ran my hand over my woman’s thigh, wishing my palm brushed over her warm silk skin instead of cotton. Felt good. Not good enough. “You’re too beautiful.”
