Highlander's Heart (Clan Matheson Book 2) (5 page)

“Let me make one thing absolutely clear, Layla.” He couldn’t allow her to harbor any other notion than that which was the truth. “We are mated and there is nothing you can say which will change that fact.”

Through the vent high above, the sun dipped below the horizon and a heavenly glow of golden-red speared through the darkening sky. The moon rose and shimmered, the stars, one by one, glowing and twinkling all around it.

His claws sliced out from his fingers, his bear fairly demanding his release. He’d never shifted in front of her before, always done so in the depths of the forest when he was well and truly alone, but no more. Gently, he gripped her wet knees through her shift. “I need to make the Change and it can’t wait any longer. My bear wishes to meet you.”

“You intend to shift now?”

“Aye, and since I detest shredding my clothes, the pants have to go. Close your eyes if you need to.”

“This is completely inappropriate.”

“If we weren’t mated, I’d agree.”

“How many times must I tell you we arena soul bound?”

“You can tell me as often as you’d like, but deep inside my heart I know the truth, and very soon, so will you.”

She huffed again, shoved her wet hair from her face and glared at him. “You are completely impossible.”

“Aye, but now I’m your impossible. Are you ready?”

“If you truly must shift then do so, just make sure your bear does no’ bite me.”

“My bear could never hurt you, but I will be biting you at some point in time, and likely the first opportunity you allow it.” He backed up a step, unlaced the ties at his waist and shoved his pants off under the water then lobbed them through the air toward his discarded clothes on the sand. The leather hit the beach with a wet thump and he turned back to the only woman he would ever desire, the one and only woman who held the other half of his soul.

It was time. For both of them to accept their destiny, one he couldn’t wait to embrace. She was his mate and now no longer could she hide from him. He’d found her, and he wasn’t letting her go, not to Donnan MacDonald or any other man.

* * * *

Layla should never have allowed Tor to take her from the meadow. Now, she was trapped here in this remote cavern with a determined man and his resolute bear so very close to the surface. She couldn’t be his mate, no matter his desire for her was clear to see and apparently continuing to deepen. “Wait right there, Tor.”

She needed to keep some space between them.

“My bear will want your touch.”

“I mean it.” She did, only as the moon blazed brighter, a heavy orb of golden-yellow, her very soul ached at the thought of keeping him at bay.

“There will be no marriage between you and Donnan MacDonald.” Tor surged forward, grasped her dangling legs. “This is our night, and the sooner you acknowledge it, the better.” Challenge lit his gaze and his luscious lips lifted, not that she should have noticed his lips. Except she always had, wished only to lean forward and lick them.

“What are you doing to me?” He had her thoughts in total disarray.

“It’s our bond taking form, your soul calling to mine and mine to yours.” He rubbed upward, over her knees, his thumbs swirling in a slow circle along the inside of each leg and his golden eyes heating to a smoldering hue. “When one shifts, it causes quite a lightning bright display. Close your eyes or turn away if you need to, but be warned, my other half might get a little possessive over you. He knows you’re ours and that you’re fighting to keep your distance from us. He’s also far more insistent and forceful than I am.”

“I can handle your bear. I’m rather insistent and forceful myself. Shift. Show me your other half.”

“Of course, and by the way”—he winked at her—“demanding I show you my other half is a very mate thing to demand.” He stepped back and shifted, bright lights bursting a myriad of sparks before one very large bear with silky black fur reared up onto its hind legs in the water and roared. He came back down, his paws slapping against the stone ledge either side of her, his teeth sharp and snapping together.

“Calm down.” She wriggled back, her back coming up hard against the slick stone wall and her heartbeat racing. Nowhere else could she move to get away from him.

His bear whined as if he’d not meant to scare her then he slowly closed his eyes, nudged her belly with his muzzle and plopped his head into her lap, made a soft whimpering sound that touched her very heart and pulled it closer toward him.

“Well, that is much better. Thank you.” She couldn’t help but lay her hands on his head, pat between his ears, his fur, so silky soft to the touch, tickling her fingers. Gently, she stroked down his neck and under his chin, and a sensuously hungry purr rumbled from deep within his chest. The sound caused a wicked heat to surge through her, not one she wished for but one that came all the same. ’Twas also the kind of heat she’d never experienced before. It settled between her inner thighs and made her gasp.

Tor sniffed and rumbled deeper.

“Ignore that,” she whispered.

He licked her wet shift bunched in her lap then rubbed his cheek across her belly.

“I mean it. Ignore that.” She tried to push his head away but only sank her hands deeper into his silky pelt. Touching him so freely felt so good, like she’d been given a gift she never wished to relinquish.

Rising higher, he sniffed up her torso and around her breasts before sticking his wet nose against her neck. His tongue lolled out, swiped across her chin and ear, then face to face, his golden eyes blazed in the moonlight.

“I wish you could talk to me, tell me what you’re thinking.” She patted down his back and along his sides. The need to keep stroking him comforted her and quite clearly him as well since he arched into her touch and wished only for more of it. Digging her nails in deeper, she gave him the more he seemed to want, scratched harder and when she did, one long rumble vibrated from deep within his chest, his pleasure in her touch clear to see.

Eyes closed, he flopped his head down into her lap again and her need to ensure he always remained so content rose to a fierce level within her. She bent and cuddled into him. There was naught more stunning to see than his bear and as the full moon blazed overhead, her heart and soul lifted. She craved more of this, only—oh dear, what was she thinking? She’d already given her word to wed another man. How could she turn around and go against that vow? And what of her clan if she did?

“We are in a terrible predicament, Tor.” A softly murmured decree in his ear. “How do we move forward from this moment when duty demands I honor my betrothal agreement with Donnan?”

He growled and bright lights blazed as he made the Change then looming over her, his damp locks falling forward rakishly over his brow, he eyed her. “We move forward with care and consideration, never forgetting that it is the two of us who are soul bound. There can be only one, for both of us.”

“That is easy for you to say but an entirely different situation to deal with. The betrothal agreement between Donnan and I is almost as binding as the marriage vows themselves are. There is a signed contract.”

“I wish to have an agreement between us that takes precedence over that one, with a vow I will give to you right now.” He caught one of her hands, lifted it to his cheek and rubbed against her palm, his gaze filled with need and desire. “Layla, from this day forth, whatever path you tread will be the same that I do. You have my full protection, that of my body, my clan, my family, and all that I am. I give myself to you freely. You’re my mate and no other’s. I ask that you accept me, for I will always be here, fighting for you.”

“You’re all I could ever desire in a mate, but...” Tears misted her gaze and trickled free. “I’m not free to speak any vow to you in return.”

“Don’t cry.” He shook his head, pain and sorrow flaring across his face. “Please, whatever you do, don’t cry.”

“You’re a warrior, and warriors live such short lives when they willingly lay down their life for their clan. One day you will go off to war and I’ll be left to await your return, or to await the return of your body should you perish in a battle.”

“I will always return home to you. That is something you should never fear.” He scooped her off the boulder and heaved around the edge of the pool through the water toward the beach.

“You cannae make that kind of promise when—wait. You arena wearing a stitch of clothing.” She shoved her eyes closed as he carried her out of the pool and set her on her feet on the sand. She swayed as he left her, patted the air as she tried to find him. “Are you dressing?”

“I don’t wish to, but aye, I am.” A rustle sounded then he caught her around the waist and touched his lips to her ear. “I have my shirt on and it reaches me mid-thigh. Open your eyes, but just know if you do, I will kiss you.”

“Pardon?”

“You heard me.” Whisper soft words that made her blood heat with a heady rush. “If you open your eyes, Layla, then I’ll kiss you. I need this, to feel your lips on mine.” His arms tightened around her back as he tipped her farther backward and off her feet, his warm mouth trailing along her cheek to the corner of her lips.

“I have no’ opened my eyes.”

“I know, but the question is, do you want to? Or better yet, will you?” He licked along her lower lip and she gasped at the sweetly sensual touch. More heat and her body argued fervently against what was in her head. She wanted to wrap herself around him and never let go.

“If I give you an inch, you’ll clearly take a mile. That is easy to see.”

“Aye, it appears you already know me quite well.” He sucked her lower lip into his mouth and she cried out at the exquisiteness of it.

“Give me mercy,” she whispered raggedly and dug her hands into his hair. She held on as if her very life depended on it. “Please, you must halt and release me.”

“Open your eyes.” His breath fluttered warmly over her wet lower lip. “I want you to see me, who I am, and how much I desire you.”

Layla already knew who Tor was and how much he desired her, but as yet, she couldn’t return his affections, not when she’d promised herself to another. She opened her eyes, snuck her hands between them, allowed her ‘power of thought’ to rise and pushed him back with her skill before he could claim a kiss then ducked out of his arms and backed up. “Two can play at your game, Tor Matheson.”

“Escaping me now will be impossible.” Prowling in a circle around her, he snorted under his breath. “I wouldn’t even try it if I were you.”

“I never said I wanted to escape you, just for you to give me some mercy. Some time too would be rather helpful. I need to consider all that has happened and what I must now do going forward.” She turned around as she followed his very predatory move, each of his circles drawing inward and bringing him closer to her. Her mate was well over six feet in height, all sleek, hard muscle, his white tunic gaping at the V neckline and his hem dangling mid-thigh and displaying his long, muscled legs. His wide shoulders and gorgeous shifter eyes half-lowered in an incredibly sensual way, took her breath away. He was beautiful, his bristles shadowing his firm jaw with black stubble and his lips well-defined. She wanted to kiss him, just as much as she
didn’t
want to kiss him. Drat these conflicting emotions.

“Tell me what’s going on in your mind.” He continued to circle her.

“While I’m betrothed to another, naught can happen between us. I willnae be disloyal to the man I’ve agreed to wed.”

“I applaud your loyalty, only you’re giving it to the wrong man. Yours is a betrothal that needs to end, my challenging mate, and soon. I certainly won’t walk away from you simply because you’re not willing to take a risk and accept the mated bond.”

“This has all happened so suddenly, and I have Donnan to consider, as well as you, and my entire clan.”

“You will decline the betrothal agreement with Donnan MacDonald, because I’ll never sit idly by knowing you’re about to wed another man.”

“I’m supposed to speak vows with Donnan afore the week’s end.” Stupid full moon. How she wished she could go back into hiding from him so she needn’t be forced to bring such dishonor to her clan by breaking her oath. “You’re asking me to choose you and forsake my duty.”

“What of your duty to me?” Hands on his hips, he halted and eyed her.

“I didnae have a duty to you until that silly moon rose this night.” Huffing, she brushed past him and paced the beach.

“That I can agree with, but now you do.” He caught her hand as she made her next pass and brought her fingers to his lips, nibbled on the tips.

“It willnae be easy for me to break the betrothal, Tor.”

“I’ll make it easier by speaking to Donnan on your behalf.” He leaned in, his nose a mere inch from hers and his wet hair curling damply around his shoulders. “Don’t cast me aside.”

Cast aside?

Dinnae cast aside that which is freely given, for your happiness is all I seek.

Nessa’s words reverberated through her mind and she gasped, clutched a hand to her mouth.

“What is it?” Tor demanded.

“’Tis a firm answer to a question from my godmother’s prophecy.” The bond was freely given and Nessa had told her not to cast it aside. So too she’d said,
Always look to your heart, and trust only the man to whom you truly desire.

Who did she truly desire? Donnan was a man who could never steal her heart, nor bring her a lifetime of pain should she ever lose him in a battle. Losing Tor would cripple her. He held the other half of her soul, just as she now held the other half of his. Desire him, she already did, had for some weeks, not that she’d allowed herself to acknowledge it until this moment. She’d pushed those feelings deep down, told herself she found him intriguing and naught else. What a lie. Every time he’d been near, it had been impossible not to touch him in some way, and so too he’d been as free with his affections as she had been with hers. Little touches here and there. Whispered conversations during the evening meal in the great hall. Walks in the forest or along the shoreline once the sun had set and the moon had risen. She’d missed him these past three days, wished only for him to return from the village. In a way, it had hurt that he’d even left. Stupid, dratted bond. ’Twas an impossible thing, only she’d been overlooking what was right before her eyes and now she no longer could.

Shoulders slumped, she gave into the truth, squeezed her eyes shut and bowed her head. “I’m sorry, Tor. I’ve been ignoring what was right before my eyes and shouldnae have.”

“You’re not the only one. So have I.” He leaned in, touched his forehead to hers. “I’ve been driven toward you time and time again since my arrival but because of your betrothal, I’ve kept myself from accepting what was right before my eyes. Now I no longer can. The full moon doesn’t lie, and neither does the truth I see so glaringly well now. You are my chosen one. Allow me to court you, Layla, to show you the truth within my heart. There is no woman I would rather have at my side than you. I’d also like to ask that you spend this night with me, right here in this cavern, just the two of us. We need the time together. Only us.”

Could she? Should she? The answer came to her lips before she could hold it back. “Aye, but no kissing.”

“You strike a hard bargain, but I agree, although if you change your mind on that count, then tell me. Immediately.” He stepped away from her, collected his pants, flapped the sand from the leather, shoved his long muscled legs into each pant leg and fastened the ties at his waist.

“Are you going somewhere?” He couldn’t leave now, not after all they’d discovered.

“Only to hunt our evening meal. I promise I won’t be long.” He swept up his sword belt, nabbed a cherry from the basket which he pocketed and strode past her barefoot. As he reached the entrance to the tunnel, with her mind alone she rolled one of the larger rocks from near it underneath the high lip and he bounded onto the rock, jumped into the passageway and over his shoulder, smiled at her. “Thank you, and stay here. Don’t move an inch.”

“I’ll be waiting.” She rested back against the rock wall at her back and softly sighed.

Time is of the essence.

Aye, in five days’ time she was due to speak vows with Donnan before a clergyman, vows her heart revolted at now having to utter. Her soul bound mate had finally come for her, and now she only hoped he hadn’t arrived too late.

* * * *

Tor strode down the tunnel, the pounding fall of the waterfall ahead echoing toward him. He’d been given so little time to woo his mate. Certainly losing her to another man wasn’t an option. He’d never be able to let her go, would steal her away before Donnan MacDonald ever could.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the tunnel and into the clear night air, the waterfall a rippling sheet of water that arched from over his head and down into the steep ravine below. He walked to the end of the ledge and leapt onto the scrub-lined trail. Overhead, the night sky glittered with an array of stars, the full moon a bright and beautiful orb of gold rising higher with each minute that passed. The full moon had always offered his shifter kind the promise of finding their chosen one, a journey they all undertook under its heavenly glow when the time to find their mate had arisen.

Tonight, he’d be with the one woman who was always meant to be his, or at least he would as soon as he’d caught them some dinner. He set out along the trail, rummaged and found a ropy tree root hanging loose along the side of the cliff then chose the perfect sapling when he came across it, one that would whip up nice and fast when attached to a noose snare. He fashioned the noose from the ropy tree root then with twigs hammered into the ground, draped the noose over the trap. A toss of dry leaves to hide the trap, the cherry he’d pocketed on his way out in place on the top as bait, and he was done.

While he waited for the trap to catch their meal, he trod down the trail, reached the ravine at the bottom of the waterfall and swung his skin free of his belt, dipped the pouch in the stream and filled it up. Layla had asked for some time and he’d give it to her but while he did, he’d court her, exactly as she deserved and exactly as his heart and soul demanded he do. Showing her exactly who he was and how much he desired her would drive him over the days ahead. Five days in total. That’s all he had.

Needing to ensure she was all right and not still fretting over the discovery of their soul bond, he headed back along the trail, collected twigs and the odd log along the way and returned to her.

He bounded into the cavern, found her dipping and diving and exploring the cavern’s pool just as he’d done the first time he’d found this sacred place. He waved out and she swam toward him, emerged from the water, her golden tresses slick down her back and her beautiful brown gaze moving over him. “Are you enjoying your swim, Layla?”

“Very. How’s your hunt faring?”

“The trap is set. I’ll light a fire with this wood I’ve brought.” Arms full, he knelt at the rear of the cavern and tucked the wood into a pile beside him. He dug a small pit in the sand and set to work building the fire as she plopped down next to him. He pulled the stringy bark off a log, struck flint with his dirk and coaxed the sparks into life. After building the fire into a crackling blaze with the twigs and wood, he held out his pouch to her. “Would you like some fresh water?”

“Very much.” She popped the plug and brought the mouthpiece to her lips. How he wanted to bring her lips to his, to kiss her and—damn it. He needed to leave before he toppled her onto her back and took her right here and now.

“I’ll be back soon.” He jogged out of the cavern, back into the crisp night air, the rush of the waterfall and the peace and solitude of this sacred place settling over him and calming his fierce need at least a little. Being able to touch their chosen ones was vitality important to his shifter kind. Would be a difficult need to tamp down while she insisted he must.

A soft snap dinged from the direction of his snare and he let out a heartfelt sigh. Thank heavens. Dinner was caught. While he tended to that, he’d be able to honor his word and keep his hands and lips off her.

He tramped down the trail, removed the rabbit, took it down to the ravine’s stream and skinned and cleaned it. Done, he returned to the cavern and found his woman sitting cross-legged before the fire, her shift now drying and fluffed around her, her hands raised to the flames and a sweetly intriguing look on her face. “Are you warm enough?” he asked her.

“Aye, I’m quite warm.” Smoke wafted from the fire and swirled with the steam rising from the pool. “I have questions, Tor, about you and your time. Do you mind if I ask you one or two of them?”

“Ask however many you like.” He chose some of the sturdy sticks he’d brought in earlier and created a spit for the rabbit.

“How careful are you when you fight for your clan?”

“We fight in a slightly different way as to how wars are fought in this time.” He threaded the rabbit into place and set it to cook over the fire then eased in beside her, his legs extended and crossed at the ankle as he rested his back against the wall. “We join together in teams in order to work high-level government cases. Those cases ensure our country’s villains and criminals get locked away.” He removed his sword-belt, propped it against the wall within arm’s reach then unsheathed his dirk and whittled away at a small chunk of wood. That’d help him keep his hands busy for certain, and off her.

“Then would you say you’re a…
fierce steward
for your clan and country, a keeper and a guardian?” The firelight flickered over her creamy skin, lit her drying hair with a golden halo.

“Aye, a fierce steward is a good term. At times I oversee these high-level teams as we work together to ensure our mission’s success, missions that sometimes lead us farther afield than Scotland.”

“You mean to say you, ah,
sail from sea to sea
? To other places?”

“Aye, that is exactly what I’m saying.” Two slightly strange questions, or at least the way she’d worded them they had been.
Fierce steward. Sail from sea to sea.
Was there possibility another meaning behind her questions?

“Will your team be missing you right now?”

“Whenever one of our clan is away from Ivanson Castle, they are missed. Is it not the same here for you? I’m sure should you be away for some reason then your kin would miss you.” He carved the piece he whittled into the rough shape of a bear then worked on shaving it into even more intricate detail. The muzzle took form, the ears alert and standing up, just as his bear’s did.

“Aye, my father already grieves for my leaving, but the Isle of Skye is where Donnan lives and thankfully ’tis no’ too far away.” She dipped her head, plucked at her shift’s skirts. “At least Father can visit me on Skye, whereas should I accept our bond, I would be over eight-hundred years distant from him.”

“I’d never allow your father to lose you, and Cherub gladly transports Tavish and Julia back and forth, Finlay and Arabel too. I have no doubt Cherub would do the same for you.”

“You’re right. Cherub is devoted to her kin, no matter where they live.” She lifted her gaze to his, tears suddenly welling within.

“What’s wrong?” Hell, if he’d upset her again by one of his comments then he’d need to take his own blade to himself. “Your protection, your needs, and your heart’s desire will always come first with me. You are the missing part of me that I’ve been searching for. I need you to know that.”