Page 45 of Highlander’s Burning Touch

“Well?” said Rory, as if he had addressed him. He turned and fixed Niven with his yard stare. “Ye hardly said a word last night,” he said reproachfully. “But nae mind, because I have a job for ye, it involves the lass….”

Niven’s heart gave a little jump. “Uncle?” he questioned. He hadn’t been expecting that his uncle would do this. A heat burned in Niven’s cheeks that he could not control.

Just the thought of being with Deva was doing things to him. But he didn’t get the chance to interrupt.

Someone else was already doing that.

The door slid open, bringing in a drafty gust. And without warning, there she was.

Deva.

* * *

“So, where are ye taking me?”

Her voice was so thin, flying against the cool glen air, that Niven paused and turned around.

“My uncle said to take ye to the Macaulay lodge, about ten miles from here,” he said. He was trying not to look, not to get involved, but already he was unable to stop glimpses of her platinum hair and heaving bosom from getting into his mind.

“Macaulay lodge, whatever for,” she said. She turned her violet eyes towards him, gazing hard.

“Well, to go hunting, o’ course,” said Niven, looking at her unsurely.

“Hunting? Where’s the laird?” she asked, point-blank.

“He cannae come,” growled Niven. This was something he wasn’t happy about.

And by the look of her, Deva wasn’t too pleased either. Her look of hurt convinced him that she did not want to be with him.

“I thought we were going to the town,” said Deva, her eyes flashing indignantly. “To meet folks…I’m nae dressed for it!” she added.

Now Niven had to look. She certainly was not dressed for the occasion. In fact, she looked positively regal in a flowing white gown, edged with the Macaulay plaid. And on her head, some kind of elaborate hood; all gold and jeweled. It was so spectacular Niven couldn’t do anything but stare.

“Why did he go?” she asked. Niven huffed.

“I dinnae ken,” he said abruptly. “But he said it was important. He wanted me to show ye the hunt… but o’ course, if ye’d rather not…?”

Every instinct in Niven’s body screamed at him to stay. All he wanted to do was to touch her, bring his hand to her silken face.

Last night they had so nearly got there. And yesterday, it had seemed like nothing could stop them. Yet now, here they were, together unable to do anything but look.

“I didnae say that,” said Deva, a little coolly. All the same, Niven noticed she was quick to mount her horse and follow him.

They trotted along for a few moments as they reached the gatepost of the Macaulay keep. Niven cast his eyes out to the horizon. It was shaping up to be a glacial afternoon, with a dull snow cloud filling the sky. Morosely, Niven wondered how much hunting they could get done at all, but he didn’t say anything.

Instead, he tapped sharply on the horse’s reins, and they made their way to the Macaulay lodge. But every step of the way, Niven’s heartbeat raced out of control.

Only once into the rhythm of their journey did he start to relax. The hypnotic sway of her hips as she rode across the glen seduced him. Her fulsome curves pulling into view teased him with their perfection.

Niven pulled on the reins and steeled himself. His uncle had entrusted him, and he could not let her down.

All the same, the sight of her ample hips juddering against the mare almost sent him into apoplexy. His heart rushing, he was forced to slow down and fan himself, despite the cold temperatures.

And this was just the start.

He had no idea how he was going to get through this.

With a deep sigh, he turned towards her. On the horizon, the snow was falling plentifully. And he could already see her elderly mare having trouble with the trip ahead. They had only been riding a short while, but she was making lots of stops, suddenly stalling and whinnying for no reason.