Page 25 of Highlander’s Evil Twin

The morning dawned and when Heather woke up, Hiram had already left. The bed felt empty without him and so she walked over to the window. It was still early; the sky was streaked with yellow and red with a pale tinge of blue. Clouds scurried low over the hills and she wondered if rain would confine her to the house. That was the last thing she wanted. She wasn’t sure what to do in Hiram’s absence. He had probably ridden over to see some of the tenants but now that she knew she was pregnant, she didn’t want to go out riding. She’d realized how easy it would be to come off the horse, but she didn’t want to tell people why she had stopped her riding sessions. It wouldn’t take people long to work out why she was being careful. The servants gossiped; they were probably waiting to hear the news of her pregnancy, looking out for the signs. Some women became pregnant on their wedding night but she was glad that she had not. It had been pure luck of course but now it was much more precious because this child was born of love.

13

The grounds were unusually quiet. Usually, there was the sound of horses being ridden to and from the stables, or the sound of laughter as servants gossiped as they did their chores. But today, it was all quiet and just a sultry awareness hovered over her. The pale yellow and red streaks had dissipated in the sky but the hint of blue that foretold of a nice day had also vanished, leaving behind moody streaks that hung ominously overhead. The wind was shrill, and she wrapped her cloak around her shoulders. She had time for a walk, feeling the need to get out of the castle grounds. With its foreboding turrets and grey stone, it had a menacing feel and she was beginning to find it oppressive. That might be due to Hiram’s nightmare, where it had unsettled her, but she felt the need for the fresh air to whip away her fears and to relish in the beauty of this untamed landscape.

As Heather hurried to the outer walls, which were flanked by stone, she was less buffeted by the winds that swept across the moors. Her aim had been to walk around the grounds towards one of the boundary walls and then back. The chill breeze caught in her throat and whipped her voice away, and all the while, it reached beneath the inadequate clothes, making her shiver, although she welcomed the bracing conditions. With head down, she strode on determinedly. This was what she needed—to move, to stretch her legs, to increase her heart rate. She had to look after herself, keep her body strong. She also needed to connect to this land, to make it her own. She was the Laird’s wife and needed to know every nook and cranny and to feel a deep, abiding passion for the place. As of yet, it was not hers. She still felt an intruder here.

She picked up the pace, leaving the castle behind and heading for the outer perimeter, the storm clouds rolling endlessly overhead. A glimpse of sunlight, which was quickly quelled by the foreboding clouds, and the wind buffeted her clothes and she held on desperately to her cloak. Dark, sinister clouds circled above, their presence tying into Hiram’s premonition. It wasn’t real, but she was still affected by this obvious inner fear. She wondered if these fears were genuine in that he refused to give into them when he was awake but at night, they tormented him. Shaking her mind free from the thoughts, she cast a glance back up at the angry sky. The clouds threatened to release their cargo, but still she continued, fighting stubbornly against the elements, teetering on the edge of the old moat, partially filled in. It was too far from the castle surely to have been the moat and she wondered if originally the castle had been further over.

From the gloom, she caught sight of a horse galloping across the fields, both rider and horse in perfect unison, matching movements. For a second, her heart skipped a beat. Hiram? She was about to wave but as the horse galloped closer she saw that it was not her husband, but Connor. Heather gasped, fear settling into the pit of her stomach. She took a step back and turned away, walking back towards the castle walls, the wind whipping at her clothes, making it difficult to walk. The skies opened and rain poured down in torrents as the clouds released their yield and within seconds, she was drenched to the skin.

“My Lady.” Connor was by her side. “This is not a day for a walk. Let me take you back.” He turned her until she was facing him. “You can’t stay out in this.” He reached out a hand to pull her up on the horse, but she refused.

“I will walk. Thank you.”

His eyes were dark pools of malice, she realized. She wanted to be anywhere but here. He dismounted and moved towards her. His intent was clear. He pulled her frame to him all while the rain poured down around them. Heather struggled against him, but he held her firm and he assessed her as the rain molded clothes to her willowy frame, and she saw the light of passion ignite.

“No, Connor.”

She struggled but he gripped tighter.

“One kiss. That’s all I ask. To taste your lips, to feel your tongue…”

“Stop!” She struggled against him, feeling his hard frame against the softness of her breasts and her stomach against his. “Don’t...please.” She was begging him now and tried to move her hips away from him, but he clutched her tightly.

“How many times have I thought of this? Your scent, your lips.” He breathed in her essence. “You smell like vanilla.” He groaned in his throat. All his passion of the moment evident. He kissed her lips lightly, holding her head still. Then forcibly, slid his tongue inside her mouth. In a second, he had pulled her hips towards him hard and she gasped, wrenching her head away.

“I wish you were mine, Heather. I would make you mine in an instant.”

“I am married to your brother!” she protested.

“You know if I take you now he won’t want you again? We’ve discussed it. Soiled goods, he said. He wouldn’t want anything I have touched. So, maybe I will start with these.” He released one hip to touch her breasts, running his fingers across them, then squeezed hard. “Finally, I get to feel what all the fuss is about!” He laughed eerily as the rain soaked them both and he lowered his head to kiss her skin. She struggled but he was strong, his fingers like a vice, and she felt his hardness against her. His passion very clear.

“Struggle for me. I bet you want it rough,” he commanded.

She gasped. “Of course I will struggle but not in passion. Connor you are sick!” She tried to wriggle free from him, but he clamped his arms around her so that she was pinned against his groin.

“Can you feel me? I will make it so good for you. Just give into this Heather, it is going to happen.” He nibbled her neck, drinking in her scent.

“And if I don’t?” She turned her head away from him.

“It won’t be good…for you at least, but it will happen.”

He pulled at her top as the wind grabbed at her shawl, sending it up into the air where it fluttered about. He had torn the delicate fabric, revealing her cleavage, and he sighed in appreciation. “Beautiful. Quite beautiful.” He licked his lips at the prospect.

Heather tried to run but he caught her in an instant and, turning her to face him, grinned at her. “I like a chase my dear, but I have been patient and it is about time you were mine. Time for me to taste you. He bent his head and licked the semi-exposed breasts and groaned. Impatient, he pulled her at her top so he could bury his head in them.

“Noooooo!” she cried, but the wind whipped away her voice. She was alone with this mad man and no one was around to save her.

He lowered his hand, trying to peel away the layers of clothes so he could explore her depths. She struggled but the more she did so, the more he hurt her.

“Please, please don’t do this...you can’t...you are hurting me and...I can’t be touched now...Connor...please.” Heather was crying as he nipped at her breast and squeezed it hard.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t take you right here and have you cry out my name? I am better in bed than him. Did you know that I took many of his ex-girlfriends? They all told me that I was the one they had wanted. Not boring Hiram.”

“You forced them, you mean,” she said accusingly, trying to hide her breasts

“They loved it. Like you will. Oh, Heather you will never want that idiot brother of mine again. Not after this. I will make it good for you at first, but then, cross me and I may have to punish you a little...or a lot.” He laughed.