Ethan looked at her wearily. “I have beenshovingfor weeks now. What do you suggest?”
Iona leaned in closer, her eyes glowing with mischief. “I have a plan… a wicked plan, but a plan nonetheless.”
Ethan heaved a sigh. “Tell me. I grow very tired of Ceann’s foul moods. I’m not sure I can keep this up much longer without doing murder.”
Chapter 12
Ella looked up to see Ethan peering through the tent flap, a troubled frown on his face.
She bolted upright. “Ethan? What is it?”
“It’s Fiona’s bairn”, he said in an urgent whisper. “She left him asleep on a blanket and he must have woken and wandered off, she can’t find him anywhere. I thought maybe he came here to you.”
Ella gasped, “God, little Ewan? I’ll help look, he can’t have gone far. Fiona must be beside herself with worry!” She scooted to the door of the little tent, glancing back at Mairi. The girl was still sound asleep, and Ella decided not to try to wake her unless the need arose.
“He most likely went that way, since no one seems to have seen him come past here”. Ethan gestured toward the trees at the edge of the meadow, and Ella followed after him. They walked some distance into the woods, calling the child’s name, the moon that had risen overhead giving them plenty of light to see by. She soon lost sight of Ethan, who was moving quickly off to the right. Just as she entered a small clearing, she saw him walking back towards her with a small child in his arms.
“I found the little rascal!” he called. Ella breathed a sigh of relief, just as Ethan broke into a jog, leaving her behind again. “I’d best get him right back to his mother”, he called over his shoulder, “lest she perish with worry!” With that he ran off, leaving her standing alone in the clearing. She looked around, taking in her surroundings for the first time now that the child was safe. It was beautiful here in the soft moonlight. She went a little further and was rewarded with a view of a valley stretched out before her, all softly rolling meadows flanked by mountains rising up in the distance. It did not look real in the ethereal light. The hills looked deceptively close, as if she could reach out and touch them. Beyond the trees, she could still hear the drums still beat,and shouts and laughter rose up now and again, though softer and fewer than earlier in the night, as more and more exhausted revelers found their beds, or slept where they fell. But here, all was peaceful, almost magical. She closed her eyes and lifted her face to the breeze.
Ceann emerged from his tent just in time to see Ethan hurry by with a child in his arms and deposit it into Fiona’s waiting arms. The two exchanged a grin, and Ceann narrowed his eyes, wondering what mischief was afoot. But then as they spoke, Ethan looked worried, and looked around as if searching for someone. Nodding at Fiona, Ethan hurried back to where Ceann still stood, watching the scene unfold.
“Ceann!Have you seen Ella? Fiona said she went off into the woods to look for little Ewan some time ago, and she hasn’t come back.” Ethan tried his best to look duly concerned, but it wasn’t easy, not when he wanted to burst out laughing at his own antics.
Ceann was trying equally hard to look unconcerned, but in truth he wanted nothing more than to dash into the woods after her, and make sure she was safe. He barely managed to keep his voice steady.
“Which way did she go?”
“She went towards the clearing, the one that overlooks the valley. I was with her at first, but we got separated when I found the bairn. But… on second thought, she’s probably fine. Maybe she just stopped to pick flowers or something.”
Ethan walked away, leaving Ceann gaping at him as if he were a madman. Joining a group of men still lagging before the fire, he glanced back in time to see Ceann striding swiftly toward the trees, fists clenched at his sides.Grinning, he watched him go before slipping away again.
Ceann could think of nothing but finding Ella. He cursed Ethan for leaving her on her own like this. Did the man not know what could happen to a lass alone and unprotected? Especially when the night was full of drunken revelers; men who might forget themselves if they came upon a lass far from where someone might hear her screams. And then there was McInnes; the man had no honor. If he came upon Ella alone…The thought spurred him into a run.Damn Ethan! How could he be so careless with the only woman that had ever made him…feel?
He stopped short at that thought, startled by the realization that had only now come into focus.He had come to a clearing, and looking up, he saw Ella standing there on the other side, gazing down at the moonlit valley below. His relief at seeing her safe was so great that he almost rushed toward her. Without a doubt, his need to touch her, to hold her, was an almost palpable thing. He felt his heart speed up as he watched her, and his breath came short, though not from the running. She was all he had ever wanted, yet she was not his to take. Still, his desire for her was something he couldn’t deny; in fact it had become almost more than he could bear. If only he could quench it, just once, he was sure he would be alright again. Aye, perhaps if he took her, got it out of his system, then he could go on with his life as if nothing had changed. What harm could it do, to take her just once? He could hardly breathe now, with the thought of it. He watched her like a predator from the shadows, his desire as elemental as the very earth beneath his feet. A man stalking his mate.
Ella had never felt more alive. Here in the forest in the moonlight, everything: every breath, every sound, felt more intense. Even the trees seemed to be watching… listening. She had a peculiar sense of rightness; that she was supposed to be here in this place, at this time. She smiled to herself and breathed deeply, taking in the piney, musky scent of the forest, then reached up to take the tie from her hair, loosening it to drift around her face in the breeze. She heard a sound behind her, and turned to see Ceann watching her from several yards away. His eyes looked dark, dangerous, and she knew instantly that he was thinking, because she was having the same thoughts.
“Ethan believed you may have gotten lost”, he said softly, his voice hoarse, as if he found it difficult to speak. He took a few steps closer. The drums still thrummed on the breeze, adding to the rhythm of her rapidly beating heart.
“No, not lost” she answered. “Just… taking a moment alone.” She looked up into his eyes, drawn by a force that seemed so much a part ofthis night that she did not question it. The tension crackled between them, thick in the air, pulling, compelling in the dim light. Her already racing heart sped up, her throat felt tight, and her stomach fluttered. She felt as if her whole life had led up to this moment, and now she stood teetering on the edge of decision. Only there was really no decision left to make.
She leaned just a little nearer to the man who held her so captivated.She wanted nothing more than to melt into him, so that nothing could tear them apart. He sucked in his breath, and she could feel the power she held over him. The power of a woman over a man. Reaching up, she drew her fingers softly down his cheek, trailing them lower, across his chest. She felt the muscles flex in response through the thin fabric of his shirt. He trembled, and she knew he held himself back, but just barely. She flattened her palm against the hard planes of his chest, and felt his heart pounding as urgently as her own. Was it true that she could affect him so, this powerful and fearless warrior? It felt so right, being here with him. She felt as wild and free as the night around her, and still the drums sounded in the distance, with the rhythm of a swiftly beating heart. Would he turn and leave her? Run from her again?
“Ceann”, she breathed, her fingers tightening against his chest in a silent plea to stay.
He growled low and threw his head back, looking askance at the moon, trying to hold onto his last vestige of self control. But then it slipped away on the breeze, and at last he let it go. He swore softly as he fell upon her, taking her mouth.Just one kiss, one more moment to feel complete.But it could never be enough. The moment their lips touched he was consumed by an intense heat, and a need so great that it could not be contained. He deepened the kiss, fisting his hands in her hair to hold her at the mercy of his hunger. He kissed her so deeply that his teeth clashed against hers; and it was still not enough.In the back of his mind he thought he must be frightening her, should doubtless stop, should pull away… but then her hands came up around his neck to bring him even closer. He groaned low in his throat as her body pressed against him. He was burning out of control, about to go beyond conscious thought; he wanted only to relieve the terrible ache, to bringher closer still, to be one. His hands slid over her body, touching the curve of her breast, cupping her bottom as his hips thrust against her, helpless to stop himself. His hands moved to pull at the laces of her gown. He needed to see her, all of her, kiss her creamy skin, hold her body against his.Then he would stop.He wouldbe satisfied with touching her, holding her.But he knew that now for the lie it was. At last the gown fell away, leaving her in just a thin white shift.
***
Two figures watched from some distance away, safely concealed by the forest. Iona placed a hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “Come, leave them be now. This night will see your friend and brother free at last.”
Ethan could not look away, captivated by the sight of the two lovers. “Are you certain?”
She smiled coyly. “Aye. ‘Tis certain he will take her this night, and once he mates with the woman born only for him, he will want no other.”
Ethan grinned. “Chained to one woman for life, the poor bastard.” He looked back and caught a glance of Ella’s form, barely visible in the moonlight. “But… I suppose there could be worse things.”
Iona cuffed him playfully and then dragged him away by the ear. “I think, Ethan, that a nice swim in the cold loch would do you good.”
