The Brightest Star in the Highlands: Jennie and Aedan (Clan Grant Series Book 7) (8 page)

And Jennie gasped in awe. From their vantage point, the entire sky was full of the sparkling lights. There were thousands, not hundreds, of twinkling stars.

“Look down low,” he pointed. “I think that group is a snake. And that one over there? It looks like a bear to me. What do you see?”

Totally caught up in his excitement, she stared at the shapes, pointing in an area overhead. “That looks like a cup with a long handle on it.”

He leaned toward her, his breath warming her ear. “Aye, that one is there almost all the time. And there’s a smaller one over there. And I think of that one over there as the warrior.”

“Warrior? Hmmm… I don’t see it.”

He moved his head so it lay right next to hers. “Look again. I think he’s kneeling and his sword is in front of him.”

“I guess I can see what you mean now.”

For the longest time, he pointed out the different shapes he saw, and she showed him what stood out to her. They laughed and giggled like a young lad and lassie who had no other worries in the world. Jennie loved this part of him, which had taken her away from the awful tragedies of the world and into the land of hope and excitement.

“Jennie,” he leaned up on his elbow to stare down at her. “I want to kiss you again. Was I too forward before?”

“Nay. Kiss me. I liked it.”

His mouth melded with hers and she wrapped her arms around him again, but this time her hand ran through his hair, caressing his skin. He rested part of his weight on top of her, and she was pinned beneath him, but she couldn’t think of anywhere she would rather be.

Chapter Eight

Aedan thought he’d died and gone to heaven. His leg pained him a bit, but as soon as he felt how passionate Jennie Grant was in his arms, the pain faded away. He wanted to devour her, quite simply, but he knew it was wrong. The look on her face, the way she had shared his excitement and not laughed at him, had made him so hungry for her.

Mine. That’s what he wanted. He wanted Jennie Grant, but would the mighty Laird Alexander Grant consider him a suitable husband for his sister? All clear thoughts left him as he fell into the chasm that was him and Jennie, lost to the rest of the world, existing only to each other.

He lifted his lips from hers and kissed her neck while he ran his hands down her hips. He wanted her and he wanted her now. His erection threatened to burst out of his breeches, but he reminded himself of who she was, and even more so, that he was behind Lochluin Abbey with his guards nearby, though they did not have a direct line of sight to the top of the hill.

A soft mewling sound from her caught him just right, and all conscious thought was gone. His hands moved from her hips up to her full breasts, cupping them over the thin fabric of her gown. He kissed the tops of the soft mounds and loosened her ties to free one up. Gazing at the ripe globe, he whispered, “Perfection. You are sheer perfection, Jennie Grant.”

She gasped and wrapped her hand around his neck, tugging him to her nipple. He groaned as her scent and her fervor enveloped him, begging him to continue. Taking the sweet bud into his mouth, he suckled her until she cried out, then laved a path down into the valley between her breasts, inhaling her scent with a yearning the likes of which he had never felt.

He brought his mouth back to hers and tugged on her bottom lip, her panting almost enough to push him over the edge. He kissed her deeply, her luscious lips making his hard length pulse with desire. Wanting to feel her heat, to see if she was hot and slick for him, he reached for her skirts and rucked them up. As soon as his hand slid up the soft skin of her leg, the only thing that could have broken through his haze of desire happened.

A bolt of lightning shot through the sky at the exact moment a clap of thunder echoed across the land, almost as if they had been struck directly. His gaze caught hers and he jumped up, tugging her with him until they were both seated on the ground. She stared at him transfixed, in a state of sexual arousal that he hated to break, but the Gods had just spoken to him, telling him to stop taking advantage of the beautiful woman in his arms.

“Jennie, I’m sorry,” he said as he tugged at the ties on her dress, hiding her sweet flesh from his view.

She reached up and played with the hair on his collar. “I’m not,” she whispered.

“We were almost struck down and ‘tis my fault.” Once he had her clothing back in place, he grabbed her hand and helped her to her feet before leading her back toward the abbey. The sky lit up again as streaks of bright lights shot across the heavens, leading the way for them.

She pulled on his hand to stop him. “Wait, please.” Gazing up at the stars, she rested her head on his shoulder and whispered, “‘Tis so beautiful, Aedan. Please don’t end this yet.”

Aedan grinned at the look on her face and placed a kiss on her cheek. “I used to love to watch the thunderstorms outside, but my sire always yelled at me to get into the keep. He was afraid I would be struck down. But the only way to truly appreciate the power of the storm is to watch it outside. If we do not hasten, lass, we’ll be drenched once the rain starts.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.

“But this is us.” She gazed into the heavens with a smug expression, her head still leaning against his shoulder.

Unsure of her meaning, he said, “I don’t understand.”

“Us.” She lifted her head to gaze into his eyes. “The storm is like us. You and I are powerful together, and we are different from everyone else. Do you not think so?”

He cupped her face and kissed her delicious lips. “Aye, I like that. Different but powerful.”

“The strangeness of it is that I never feel different
with
you, Aedan. I feel complete and at peace.”

He nodded and ran his thumb across her bottom lip, unable to disagree with her. That was exactly how he felt, complete. He hadn’t thought he would ever feel at peace again after being forced to be the leader of the clan, but here it was, just as he had always wanted, but in a different form. Jennie Grant completed him in some odd way. She understood the workings of his mind, understood his duty to his clan but his need to follow his heart and his quest for knowledge. Jennie understood because she shared a similar quest, and he respected that.

Different but powerful.

***

The next day, Aedan forced himself to return to the abbey, guilt clawing at him over how he’d treated Alex Grant’s sister behind the abbey. Still, no matter how many times he ran through what had happened, he came to the same conclusion. He did not regret a thing about his night with Jennie Grant.

Holding her in his arms had been amazing. He hoped she felt the same way, but he had decided to attempt to uncover her feelings by offering her an apology.

As he dismounted, he caught sight of a figure alone in the garden. His heartbeat sped up when he realized it was Jennie. She stood and removed her gloves, then tried—in vain—to straighten her hair. It mattered naught to him. She was beautiful.

He strode over and gave a short bow. “My lady.”

“Aedan,” she panted from strenuous labor, though the tantalizing sound set off other thoughts in his mind. “I’m a mess. No need to address me so formally.”

He chuckled and reached over to remove a smudge of dirt from her cheek. “You are a lass of many talents, I see. Do you often do hard labor?”

“I’m helping the nuns. They have been so kind to me, I thought the least I could do was assist in the garden.”

His grin grew wider. Hell, she was not only beautiful but endearing, too.

“What? Is aught wrong?” She dropped her tool and her gloves on the ground, brushing a hand across her face and her hair.

“Nay. Naught is wrong. You are lovely, even all tousled.” He reached for her hand. “I’ve come to apologize. ‘Twas wrong of me to take advantage of you on the hill.”

She quirked her brow at him. “I told you last night that I was not sorry.”

“That pleases me. May I ask a rude question?” He wanted to ask, but was afraid to hear the answer.

“Go ahead. I’ll answer if I deem it appropriate.”

He nodded. “Fair enough. Why are you not married?”

She huffed and crossed her arms in front of her. “I’m not married because my brother is content to have me at his side. Other than traveling to visit with my sister in Lothian, I have been well protected at our keep. In fact, most lads fear to look at me because of my brothers.”

He tipped his head to the side. “Does that mean you’ve never been kissed?”

“I have been now.” She lifted her chin, as if she dared him to challenge her.

He decided to take that challenge. Hell, but he loved her sass, her confidence. Grabbing her hand, he gazed around the area to make certain they were alone. His guards were still on horseback, so he tugged her behind the abbey until he found a secluded spot. Maneuvering her against a tree, he said, “I think you need another lesson.”

She trembled against him as his lips covered hers. Weaving his hands through her hair, he assaulted her mouth, teasing her with his tongue until she moaned in response. The blood roared through him at the taste of her, but he knew a mere taste would never be enough. He could feel the passion in her, sense the shudders as they coursed through her body in response to him.
To him
. Naught could be more exciting to him than to feel her return everything he gave her with a fury he had never encountered in a woman before.

But she was an innocent, so he pulled away, not wanting a repeat of last night. The lass made him lose all his senses. Saints above, they would be great together. Lacing their fingers together, he kissed the end of her nose and stepped back.

“I have a question for you. What kind of training do the Grants do in your lists? I have heard many tales of the rigor of their work. Do you ever walk nearby to see their strategy?”

Still in a fog, she mumbled, “Nay, I pay little attention.”

“I wondered if your brothers would consider doing some training with me at your keep.”

She emerged from her haze. “For you? But why?”

“Because I need it.” He leaned against a different tree. “If I wish to do my job as chieftain, I must improve my skills as a swordsman. I also need to improve the skills of my guards. If Neil and I were to both train with your brother’s men, we could learn new skills and bring them here to Cameron land, help make us better prepared for these new attacks. Who better to help me than the man who has the reputation as one of the best swordsmen in the Highlands? Do you think he would be willing?”

“Aye, of course he would.” She leaned into him, fitting her body against his.

At the feel of her soft breasts pressed against his chest, he turned hard instantly. He couldn’t quell his reaction, but this time he would maintain control. He kissed her tenderly, then said, “Much as I would love to continue this, I came here with the intent of apologizing for losing control last night. ‘Twould not be proper for me to do the same today.”

Jennie gave him an innocent smile, but she continued to move her body against him in a slow rhythm.

“I must take my leave, sweet one.” Placing a chaste kiss on her lips, he took her hand and led her back to the front of the abbey. “I’m expected at a meeting, and you have delayed me enough.”

Her response to his comment was to lick her lips. Hell, but he had chosen a wise woman. She had already learned how to taunt him.

***

Jennie continued to relive her encounters with Aedan, trying to comprehend all that took place between a man and a woman. The only conclusion she had been able to draw was that her brothers had kept her too well protected. Now she wanted more, and she wanted it with Aedan Cameron.

A couple of days later, word reached her in the afternoon that a large group of guards had arrived at the Cameron keep. Jennie mounted her horse at the stables near the abbey and waited for the two guards to follow her to the castle. She hadn’t heard anything from Alex since she had arrived at the abbey—could they be Grant warriors? Her fear was they had returned for her.

She was not ready to leave Aedan.

She hadn’t seen him since his short visit two days earlier. Twice now, Aedan had set her skin on fire, and naught would wash away her lustful need. Though the power of her reaction startled and puzzled her, the spark she felt with Aedan gave her a clue as to how all her brothers had been brought to their knees by wee lassies. Previously, the only real knowledge she’d had about procreation was from the mating of animals and what little she knew from delivering bairns.

She wanted more. Somehow, she knew they had not reached the desired pinnacle together, and there was nothing she wanted more. Jennie had a stubborn streak similar to her brother, Alex, so she knew she would get what she wanted.

Once she arrived, the portcullis raised for her entrance and she headed directly to the stables, only to see her brother’s horse, Midnight, being carefully tended to by the stable lads. That meant the Grants
were
here. She hurried up to the keep, praying that Alex had not come to notify her of any tragedies in their clan.

As soon as she climbed the steps in the great hall, all the conversations inside came to an abrupt halt. Jennie glanced up at Alex, Brodie, and Nicol.

“What goes?” she asked as she hurried up to the table where they sat. Why wouldn’t Aedan look at her?

The men all stood as soon as she arrived. “We’re here to fetch you home, lass,” Brodie said, wrapping his arms around her.

“Why? I am not ready to come home. I like it at the abbey. I…” she struggled to come up with a reason for staying—one other than the fact that she was falling in love with the chieftain of the Camerons.

Alex interrupted her. “Does not matter, Jennie. Word is out that Cameron’s lands will soon be the target of all the marauders. We’re here to bring you home. I cannot allow you to stay somewhere that will soon be under attack.”

She looked at Aedan for confirmation, but his gaze gave nothing away. “Aedan, why did you not tell me of this problem? Does he speak the truth? How long have you known? Why would they target you?”

Aedan’s hand came up to stop her. “Och, one question at a time, lass. A sennight ago, I met with the neighboring lairds and word reached me then of an attack planned in a moon. But we didn’t know it was true. I sent word to your brother advising him of the potential for another skirmish, so this is his response.”

She stared at Alex with wide eyes. “So you are here to retrieve me, and you will leave this clan without helping them?”

“Nay.” Alex glared at her.

She knew he did not like to be questioned in front of others, but she did not care. More important matters were at stake.

“Careful, lass.” Brodie rubbed her shoulder to remind her of her duty, but she shrugged him off.