Page 36 of Highlander’s Dangerous Gambler

But not quite. He made sure of that. All her senses were on fire.

She could look but not touch.

And that was the thing she wanted most of all.

The sensation of her kiss was imprinted on his lips. And he could still taste it as he slept...

Then, in a hail of sweat, Scott awoke.

It had all been a dream. But damn, it felt real. Too real. His heart was racing, and his clothes were drenched. To begin with, he had thought it was raining, but when he looked, it was him that was wet. Squinting into the morning sunlight, he came to, slowly.

The kiss, their heat. It was intense. Her skin brushing his. Just the thoughts made him hot and tense. Scott stiffened. If he wanted to, he could touch her. She was close enough. And still asleep.

Of course, he didn't, but it took effort. Massive effort.

Because the early morning light seemed determined to show him just how bonny she was. To look at her, he would never think she had just slept under the stars. The warm rosebud pink of her lips enticed him in. Those lips cried out to be kissed. And Scott could just picture caressing them with his own, locking on top of them and delivering the kiss to end all kisses to them.

Nay!Scott's sweat turned cold. He shook himself.

Grimly, he told himself he had a mission to complete—and complete it he must. That did not include getting bodily with the maiden he was sent to deliver!

Bitter thoughts rankled through him. That she was getting wed was one thing.

Why did it have to be him?

Trying to hide his dismay, Scott forced himself to stop thinking. Instead, he smiled as Aileen blinked awake.

At least they had one more day together.

"Ye’re on!"

Scott yelled wildly after Aileen, gazing wistfully at her long dark hair as it thrashed in the wind. She was already atop White Star, something she had wasted little time doing. Watching her, Scott marveled at the energy of the woman.

Barely a week before, she had been unable to move, and now she was riding as if nothing had happened. Or, at least, almost nothing.

Despite her protestations, Scott could still see that Aileen was hurting. There was a certain stiffness in her movements and the occasional yelp that she could not help emitting.

In fact, he was pretty sure that she was still suffering from her fall. But to look at her go, he would not have thought so.

Scott watched Aileen as she swirled about on horseback, laughing. It was early morning. Already the tent had been packed away, and the pair were set for the day of riding. But it seemed that this was not enough for Aileen.

Full of jaunty fun, she smiled flirtatiously. "First one to the copse over there!"

Scott did not wait about. Mounting his black horse, he charged into motion. A challenge like this was something he took seriously, even though it was only for fun.

Part of him thought he shouldn't. Really, Aileen needed rest, not extra hard riding—but she was so full of zest that he couldn't stop her.

Glowing, Aileen took the reins and proceeded to thunder across the glen. Watching her get a head start, Scott knuckled down and flew across the sunny hillside.

The day was bright and strange. Although it was light, Scott predicted rain for later on.

Narrowing his eyes against the light, Scott carried on, feverishly thundering behind her. Aileen was fast, he would give her that. Even in such a poor state, she was a rider who knew how to win.

Pressing down and chasing after her, Scott thought back to that first race, the one where he had bet against her. She had had such a good chance of winning, but her confidence had sapped. And that had been all it had taken.

This morning, however, Aileen's confidence was back in full. Despite her injury, the glint in her eyes said it all. Tossing her head back, Aileen taunted him.

"Catching up?" she teased.