Lainie racked her brain, which was still like jelly from his touch. She remembered sipping her wine and then opening the box. “I was cleaning your brooch. Then I must have dropped it. I was looking for it… and then you were there.”
“My brooch? Perhaps it is the brooch ye must tap thrice.”
Lainie’s stomach turned into a knot of fire. She wasn’t ready for him to leave. She wasn’t ready for their tryst to end. At some point, it would have to, but she wasn’t ready yet. She’d built her life on control, on never needing anyone. But how could she call this weakness when her heart had never felt stronger?
Her eyes brimmed with tears. “Donell, I don’t want this to end.”
“Och, my love, I know.” He tugged her to him, laying her head upon his chest and stroking her hair. “But if I stay longer, I fear the box will never call me home again.”
“Then let it stay silent,” she said fiercely. “Let it forget you.”
Donell’s eyes softened. “We canna change what Fate has in store for us.” He turned toward the window where lightning flickered across the glen. “The nights there are blacker than ink,” he told her quietly. “When the stars come, they blaze like they mean to set the glens alight. And while all the world is quiet, there’s a quiet whisper in the mist, as if the gods themselves would call ye home.”
His voice was filled with an ache for home. She realized then that he wasn’t just speaking of his home—he was mourning it. Afraid he wouldn’t be able to return.
This couldn’t last forever. Lainie had a life in this time, and he had a life in the past. She would also be leaving Scotland in a week. Donell was a laird. He needed to look after his people. Hundreds of people looked to him for guidance, protection.
“I must return, Lainie.” He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering tenderly. “But ‘tis possible we could meet again.”
She leaned back from him, taking in his expression. Meet again?
“What do you mean?”
“If ye could call me forth once, couldna ye do it again?”
Lainie’s eyes widened. His words lured a memory from deep within her mind… more strange words from the woman in the shop.
“The shopkeeper did say what was in the box, I could take out for my pleasure whenever I desired,” her voice trailed off. Could it really be true? Her heart quickened just thinking about being able to bring Donell back again and again. To make love to him whenever she wanted. This was more like a dream than reality.
“Ah, and do ye desire me?” His hand slid from around her back, over her stomach, and then lower, as he cupped her sex. She wished she were naked, so he could slip his fingers inside.
“Yes,” she moaned, moving her hips against his hand.
“Then we shall be able to live in passionate harmony for as long as we like.” He flicked open the button on her pants. “Ye in your time and I in mine.”
Slowly, he unzipped her jeans. “We shall meet again, to remember this fire between us.” His fingers slipped inside, into her panties, and then were on her, stroking fire.
“And meet often, I hope.” His lips captured hers, his tongue thrusting inside as his fingers moved inside her, drawing out sounds she didn’t know she could make.
She arched against him, moaning as the sweet pleasure built within her.
“Mmm…”
Her warrior in a box. Pleasures would abound for years to come.
9
December, Present Day
Maryland
The box had been silent for weeks. Sometimes Lainie swore she could still hear the echo of his laugh in the firelight. Could still feel his heartbeat inside her chest. Love wasn’t supposed to cross centuries, yet somehow it had found a way. When snow began to fall that December morning, she knew she couldn’t wait any longer.
Large white clumps drifted down from the clouds, covering the trees and ground surrounding Lainie’s house. A month had gone by since she’d sent Donell back to his time. She’d thrown herself into her work, but now she was on her Christmas vacation. She was starting to feel lonely.
The time he’d been gone certainly flew by. Time always did when she was busy. Her hectic schedule was part of the reason why she couldn’t focus on a relationship. But then again, she’d never met a man like Donell. For him, she would make the time. She wanted someone other than her family and friends to be proud of her. She wanted a man. She wanted Donell.
Even though her article on Inverness, Scotland, had only been published a couple of weeks ago, she’d gotten rave reviews and several new jobs from it. She’d even been nominated for an award. The report was her best piece of writing yet, and she owed it all to Donell. He inspired her, elicited a more creative side she hadn’t known she possessed. People commented about how magical she’d made Scotland appear. She was excited for the new year, which so far looked as if she would be traveling the world more often than she would be at home. Still, somehow, with all the excitement of her career blooming, she felt empty inside.
