Page 74 of Highlander’s Burning Touch

Now he had her attention. “What?” she asked, stopping in her tracks.

Her eyes burned into his face, blasting him with their intensity. “What do ye mean?”

“I mean, my uncle has decided he isnae going to marry ye… an’ I suppose he’s going to tell yer father that, too…” he continued, as Deva’s heart began thumping, loudly in her ears.

“Well, it would be nice if he told me first,” she said, with an edge in her voice. Niven looked at her slowly. Although something inside her told her he was serious, she still didn’t see the problem. “So he doesnae want to marry me, well, isn’t that a good thing?”

She stepped closer towards him, bringing her hand to his cheek, and caressing it smoothly. Outside, the snow which had recommenced falling was coming down in droves.

For one stupid moment, Deva felt her heart leaping. This was the best news she had ever had. She simply couldn’t understand why Niven was so gray-faced. Enthused, she turned to him.

“So, he doesnae want to marry me, well, isn’t that a good thing?”

“Nae,” said Niven bluntly. He took her hand off his face and looked at her sadly. “Nae it isnae…”

Incredulity ran through Deva. “But… this is the chance we need, this is it, Niven, dinnae ye see that,” she pulled him back to her, every inch of her aching to touch him and hold him in her arms. “Now we can be together…”

“Nae, we cannae,” said Niven doggedly. “There’s no way we can run away. I cannae leave the clan, betray my uncle. I never could. I dinnae what I was thinking…”

His words were so certain that Deva could hardly believe what she was hearing.

“Niven, nae,” she said in sudden panic. She brought her face close to him. There was no way she was going to let him go.

“Nae, Deva,” said Niven quietly. The edges of his eyes were tinged with pink. It looked as if he was blinking back tears. “It’s the only way. Ye will shortly leave the lands, nae doubt… an’ we will nae see each other again. It’s for the best….”

Deva felt a cold horror run through her heart. “Niven, nae, have ye gone mad? How can ye possibly think this?” she pulled him to her, forcing him to look at her, which he did.

The pain in his eyes told her that he did not believe what he was telling her, but the determination in them shone through.

“We have to,” he said, so tenderly that it made her cry.

Unable to stop herself, Deva felt the tears seep out, wetting her cheeks and running down her face.

“Dinnae cry,” said Niven softly. He tried to stop her tears with his fingers as if he could just push them away. “Ye’ll soon forget me…”

Deva felt her heart explode. She wanted to scream at him and slap him in the same breath. But she did neither, collapsing on his arm in sobs.

Despite his words, Niven did not pull away. He stood there, holding her closely, cradling her in his arms by the fire. She did not remember walking over to the fire, but she must have. Now she was bound up in his arms, feeling as safe and secure as the first night they had spent together.

She could not believe that this was about to end, and everything in her ached miserably.

“Please, Niven,” she begged. She knew she looked a mess; her hair was strewn everywhere, and her face red from crying. She did not know what more she could do.

Dejectedly, she looked at him. He brought his face near, his lips hovering just over hers. The look in his eye told her he was waning.

She opened her mouth to speak, but he stopped her.

“Nae,” he murmured, again, but this time more softly. But his face wasn’t saying no.

Instead, he pressed in deep, bringing his lips ever closer to hers. They brushed against hers with a mad tingle. Then, before she could think, they were locked in a kiss.

All their passions became unleashed. Niven’s eyes were dancing like fury, holding her in his beam as he came up close. His hot body pushed into hers, charged and full of energy.

She could tell at that moment that he wanted her even more badly than before. And she did too.

Suddenly, Deva forgot about everything except the scent of his hair. It hovered in the air above him, luring her in with its smell. The sense of his kiss lingered on her lips. He was not done yet. Passionately, he pushed back, wrenching her yet closer.

Deva felt herself yield to his fiery touch, all her senses tingling.