Page 33 of Highlander’s Burning Touch

A strange feeling jabbed him. He may have found their dance uncomfortable. But the thought of his brother doing it prickled him.

“Alright,” she said, gazing wistfully. They were standing with their backs against the vista of the MacLean lands. Already they were halfway on the track to the Macaulay clans, although they would have to hurry if they wanted to reach it before dark.

Fingal, he would have to deal with some other time. Niven’s eyes roved over the flattened glen, graying with the oncoming night. Somewhere on the horizon, they bobbed around, charging after them.

The rest of their party was still some good way back. Somehow, they had left the crowd, and with a solid hour of fierce riding, had got ahead.

Only now had they paused for a moment in their travails and dismounted. Casting his eyes back at the landscape, with the castle and the crowd, Niven’s senses crowded with emotion. It had all happened so fast. It only felt like moments ago that she had been dancing in his arms, the light sway of her body yielding into his.

Even if he had felt hurt, the sensation of her touch still lingered on his skin. This was crazy. He wanted her so much. Niven felt a faint line of heat unleash in his cheeks. She had the ability to set him on edge in a way that no-one had done before.

“I’ve never been out of the MacLean lands afore,” she mentioned, giving a quick flash with her eyes.

He hesitated, her eyes drawing her in. He didn’t want to, but curiosity got the better of him. “Really?” he said.

“Aye, really,” said Deva, earnestly bringing her lips up close to his face. For several moments they hovered there, together, in the danger zone.

The advancing clouds of night told Niven that no-one would see what they were doing. They were too far away and out of sight from the rest of the crew. All the same, Niven hesitated as she came near.

“When yer a laird’s daughter – to a man like my father – then it is quite different. Niven, I was lucky on the days I was allowed out at all!”

There was a silence as Niven watched her fierce gaze closely. Deva continued. “That’s why I had to pretend. An’ my maid – och, she’s the real Allyth – had to go back to the keep an’ explain where I was. An’ let me tell ye when I did get back, he wasnae happy about it. If it hadn’t been for the tournament, I would be under lock an’ key!”

“I see,” said Niven. His mind was reeling. Suddenly, he felt a little bad for staying mad. “Ye ken, I am grateful for what ye did, looking after me.”

His voice trailed off. He didn’t want to get too close, but his heart was wavering.

“Och, it’s naething,” said Deva, with a smile.

But Niven was serious. “Nae, it is something,” he said, watching her closely. “If ye hadn’t have come along, I’d be dead in that ditch ye found me!”

Deva moved a little closer, thrusting her hair into his face. Brushing it off, the silken sensation burned in his grip. She was soft and sweet. Her flawless face hovered just inches away from his own. Niven didn’t think he could resist much further but had to try.

“An’ ye ken, in case ye didnae, that I am grateful,” he said. She murmured something, but he brushed it aside. “Nae…”

He gazed into her sea-blue eyes, her vision becoming clouded with something. She grew pensive.

“But yer still angered by me nae telling ye who I was?” she asked, an air of hesitancy hovering over her. Her eyes followed him watchfully.

“Ah,” said Niven. A stab of guilt came up inside him. Then he sighed. “Thing is, I was angry, but now since ye’ve told me what sort of a man yer father is, I cannae hold it against ye.”

He had become ensconced in wrapping a thread of her hair around his forefinger as they dallied. “So now--”

“Ye no longer hate me?” she suggested, playfully, the beginnings of a saucy smile wrapped over her lips. Niven wanted nothing more than to kiss it right off her face.

Instantly, he could picture them, her body on his, pressed to the ground. Coloring red in the cheek, Niven tried his hardest to shake free of his thoughts. But it was not easy.

“I dinnae hate ye!” he said stiffly, “But ye cannae blame me for thinking that maybe ye didnae want anything to do wi’ me!”

There was a pause, as Deva conceded he had a point. All the while, Niven felt himself surrendering to her violet-blue gaze.

“An’ anyway, it doesnae matter because I’m only here to take ye to my uncle,” he said solemnly.

Over on the horizon, the oncoming hooves told him that they would not be alone for long. He could see them in the distance, riding crazily into the sunset, which came from the depths of the hills. It looked as if they were trying to outrun the day’s light, which they were.

Niven sighed. He wanted nothing more than to sling her over his horse and speed away, go anywhere, just as long as they were alone together.

Tentatively, his hand hovered over her shoulder, summoning up the strength to touch her. But he could not.