Page 36 of A Dangerous Highland Affair

No knowledge o’ where her home should be,

An’ t’ moon, he kent nae what might were his,

An’ the stars kent not where yonder stations were.”

Neacal’s voice drifted across the dark night as he lay on the ground, with his arms outstretched. By his side, Teasag had drifted off to sleep.

“Lassie?” he said softly, with a shy little nudge.

Immediately, Teasag’s eyes opened wildly, and looked at him. She seemed more than a little startled to be staring deep into his eyes.

“Listen, lass, yer in the land o’ nod,” Neacal said warmly. He brought his hand gently to her cheek and stroked it. As he did, hot passion ran through him like a current.

Holding her tenderly, he watched out across the landscape.

Cast in darkness, the day’s colors had been all but washed away by the pale stars which shone overhead.

It was still, intermittently, raining, and Neacal tried his best to shelter them from the raging wind, which blew all around. Keeping the fire going in the middle of a storm had been tough, but he just about managed it.

Now, the embers died a little, amidst the wind and rain. Everything was dampened down, except their spirits.

Neacal gazed fondly at the beautiful woman lying in his opened arms and marveled. That they were here like this, so far out into bandit country in the exposed fields, seemed like madness.

And although they seemed safe for the time being, Neacal knew deep in his heart that it would not be long before someone would chance upon their path.

Mentally, he prepared for them to be up and ready before dawn, to make sure they covered enough ground to reach Blackness before the route ahead became busy.

Teasag sighed, her soft pale head rising in his arms. Just for now, she seemed content, her initial panic at camping out wearing away. All the same, Neacal was insistent that she rouse from her slumber.

He smiled, drawing his fingers back from her satin-like hair, which fell snugly over her shoulders and cheeks.

Neacal couldn’t resist the temptation to stroke it, his index finger caressing her back and forth with passion. He loved the sheen of her hair on his skin, sending a thrill through him and making him ignite down below.

“My version’s better,” protested Teasag, remembering the Neacal’s story while trying to wake herself from the sleep in his arms.

“Nae,” laughed Neacal. “Ye remembered it wrong…”

He brought her back into his arms, patting her shoulder in a way that indicated he was getting up.

Walking over to the spit where the rabbits were roasting, he closely examined the animals with his knife, sticking it deep into the center of the meat, to check it was done. It was.

Carefully, he carved a piece off and, wrapping it in a spare handkerchief, handed it to her.

“Dinner is served,” he said, in mock tones. Teasag rallied and brought her head to look at the cooked rabbit.

“Nae bad,” she said, tasting the joint slowly. “But I’d ha’ put a sprig o’ thyme in there too…” Teasag licked her lips. “If I’d had kent to bring it, a wee pot for a stew…”

“Well, aye, if any o’ us had kent that we’d been here, I’m sure ye’d ha’ laid on a feast for us…,” said Neacal, watching, captivated as she ate.

In the glow of the orange light from the fire, he gazed as Teasag devoured the rabbit, stopping only to dab daintily with a muslin handkerchief at the corners of her mouth. She ate like a lady despite being in a field with a rug around her shoulders.

All Neacal wanted was to sit close to her, even nearer than he was at that moment, and envelop Teasag in his arms.

A warmth spread its way all across his body, rendering his limbs comfortably tingly and relaxed. They had both eaten their fill and were now lain, side by side, near enough to be entwined, under the intermittent starlight.

But he was still too far away, and, infuriatingly, as soon as he grew nearer, Teasag moved immediately in the opposite direction.

None of this helped with poor Neacal’s anxious flashes. He couldn’t help imagining the worst scenario in his head. Did she really mean to bring herself so close to him before, when they had brushed against each other? Or was she now regretting the intimacy they’d shared?