Page 49 of Highlander’s Quest of Desire

“Then we fail.” Elspeth smiled. “But we donnae give up. The Honors were a gift from God, but the spirit and valor of the Scots existed before they were presented to us. We can still unite the clans. All they need is a reminder of their past glory. And Bruce, I ken ye can do this without the aid of Honors.”

She saw the anxiousness melt from his eyes, giving her a sense of power in knowing that she was responsible for his ease. Smiling, she tried to pull her hand away, but Bruce engulfed it within his own.

“Ye cannae ken what yer words mean to me. I have agonized over this for weeks. Dunnottar’s responsibilities have weighed on me, and I abandoned them when I left for Orkney. What does that say about me as a Laird?”

“And what does that say for all the others who will nae risk their lands and castles for the greater cause? Ye are willing to be a fugitive from yer lands and castle to attain freedom for all of Scotland. It is what yer willing to sacrifice that makes ye a great Laird anyone would want to stand behind.”

Taking his hands within her own, she moved closer to him, the blanket falling from her shoulders, but she didn’t care. She was unaware of everything in her earnestness to communicate to Bruce how worthy he was.

“Yer nae on a fool’s errand. Yer endeavor is for Scotland; it is for all of us who suffer under the yolk of the English. It is a noble pursuit. Ye cannae doubt yer worth or ability. Stand fast, and God willing we will see Scotland free in our lifetime.”

“So, ye see no trouble from the other clans?” he asked.

Elspeth bit her lip, and her eyes widened. She was hoping he wouldn’t bring it up, but now that he had, she couldn’t lie to him. “There will be trouble. The rivalries between the clans were the cracks in our unity that the English have used as footholds to oppress and rule us. Ye will meet objection, and there might be rivals who come for more than the Honors. Ye will be fighting two enemies, the English and the Scottish Lairds who covet what ye have. Ye must prepare to fight both.”

“And ye?” he asked, lifting his hand to caress her cheek. “Will ye be with me when that happens?” His dark eyes captured the gold of the flames, and Elspeth was mesmerized by them. He was so close she could see the stubble on his chin. Her heart skipped a beat, and for a moment she forgot to breathe.

“I will follow ye to the ends of the earth,” she said.

Like a moth with singed wings that had gone too close to the flames, been burnt, but unable to break the cycle of its destiny, so was Elspeth presenting her heart to Bruce for him to break again. She prepared herself for him to shrink away from her, but he leaned in closer instead, his fingers sneaking into her hair and pulling her closer.

Their lips met, and every thought in Elspeth’s mind ceased to exist. All that remained were her lips and her beating heart. Then Bruce’s fingers traced the line of her jaw into existence, then her neck, and her shoulders, and slowly she became aware of more of her body.

His lips parted, captured her lower lip, and tugged. She sighed, her hands moving up to lose themselves in the folds of Bruce’s shirt. She was utterly unprepared for what came next. His tongue caressed her lower lip, seeking an invitation. Her lips parted of their own accord and gave him access. His tongue explored her gently, coaxing her tongue to participate in a dance that wreaked havoc on her senses.

“Bruce,” she whispered.

“I have wanted ye for so long,” he moaned in her ear. “Elspeth.”

A thrill shot through her at the sound of her name on his tongue. It was breathy, low, almost a growl. The scent of his hair overpowered her as Bruce dipped his mouth down to trail kisses along her neck.

“I cannae pretend any longer,” he said. “Ye drive me insane. I must have ye for mine. The thought of ye with anyone else is a physical blow to me.”

“Oh, Bruce!” Tears of joy pricked Elspeth’s eyes, and she abandoned all inhibitions and let her hands explore him just as freely as he was exploring her.

His deft fingers loosened her bodice. Warm, generous breasts spilled out of their confines. Elspeth made to cover her nakedness, but Bruce took her delicate wrists in his hands and held them apart, his dark eyes feasting on her flesh. The look drove Elspeth mad with desire. She wanted him to do more than look at her. She desired his hands on her breasts, his mouth, everything!

“Yer a gorgeous woman, Elspeth. I dreamt of ye, like this.”

“That night at the inn? Ye dreamt of me?”

“Aye,” he said, a naughty smile spreading across his lips. “Would ye like to ken what happened in the dream?”

Elspeth swallowed, her breasts quivering at the suggestive nature of his smile. “Aye,” she said, throwing caution to the wind.

“Let me show you.”

Elspeth gasped as Bruce lifted her clean off the saddle blanket and placed her in his lap. Through the fabric of her skirts, she felt the hardening bulge between his legs. It pushed up against her thigh, but she had little time to wonder at it because Bruce pushed the small of her back, making her arch her spine, and took one of her breasts in his mouth.

“Oh!” Elspeth held on to his shoulders like a drowning man would hold a wrecked wooden plank.

Wave upon wave of pleasure buffeted through her as Bruce’s tongue and thumb rolled around her hard nipples. A wetness gushed between her legs. She feared she had relieved herself, but it was not like that. Slowly, Bruce slipped her dress off her shoulders, his hands running up and down her sides, tickling and teasing her until she was in such a frenzy that she wanted to beg him to stop, but her body wanted more. It ached for something Elspeth had no words for.

Bruce took some of the strawberries, crushed them in his palm and smeared the juice on her body. He licked the juices off, the scent of strawberries filling the air.

“Bruce,” she begged. “Please!”

Bruce stopped paying ministrations to her breasts and stood her up. She felt disappointed and missed his mouth on her. His hooded eyes smoldered with secrets and promises.