The Highlander's Curse (7 page)

And
between Cailen and me.

However
many hours later, I was still in his shirt. It was large enough that I was able
to draw my knees to my chest and cover myself completely from my shoulders
down.

I
thought I’d seen a hint of a smile each time Cailen had seen me sitting that
way.

At the
moment, I couldn’t seem to care how much time had passed today. I was warm, in
dry clothes, had two dogs at my feet that seemed to warm up to me, I was with a
guy who seemed to get more and more attractive by the minute, and my belly was
full from the rich whiskey the Highlander had shared with me. The more whiskey
I drank, the less my foot hurt.

I
reached for the bottle and Cailen tightened his hold, pulling it just out of my
reach.

“Feelin’
better?”

Sweet
Scot
, I thought.
So caring. And so
cute. Have his eyes always been so blue?
“Infinitely.”

“Good.”
He re-sealed his bottle and stood, stuffing it into a small crevice in the tree
trunk he’d gotten it out of earlier.

“Hey. I
wasn’t done with that.”

“Aye,
ye were. We dinna want tae drink it all. No’ when ye might need a nip later for
the pain.” Cailen returned from the tree, sitting a bit closer than he had
previously before eyeing me speculatively. “Can I see yer ‘cell phone’ again?”

I
shrugged and reached for my purse, unzipping it and pulling out my cell. It was
probably a good idea to power it on for a minute anyway, if only to see what
time it was. After I saw that it was 3:48, I handed it to him.

Cailen
carefully swiped his fingers across the screen until he reached the one that
didn’t have any apps on it. “Pure magic, isn’ae’t,” he mused, shaking his head.
“Is this the hour?”

I
nodded.

“And
who is that?”

I didn’t
even need to glance down to know it was the picture of Shannon and me with our
big cheesy grins during the all-night party we’d gone to after graduation. “That’s
Shannon. She’s the reason I’m in Scotland.”

“It’s
an incredible likeness o’ ye. I canna believe the detail.” He inched the phone
closer to his face, his gaze wandering over the screen. “Who painted it, and
how did ye ge’it on this wee thing?”

I
sputtered. “That’s just a picture. Here, let me show you.” I grabbed the phone
and touched the camera icon before pointing it at Cailen. I snapped the picture
and then scowled at the results. Damn cloudy sky. “Hold on.” Turning on the
flash, I took another pic and his eyes bugged at the flashing light. I turned
the screen toward him.

“Remarkable.”
He snatched it from me.

“Swipe
your finger across the screen again like before—yeah, like that.”

The
Highlander saw the other picture of himself and a half-smile formed. “Ye’re
sure it’s no’ magic? I’m startin’ tae believe ye’re o’ the
suire fem
.”

“What
does that mean?”

“Ye may
ken them as fairies.”

I laughed
as he scrolled through more pictures. His eyes studied every detail and,
sometimes, looked up at me to check my features before returning his gaze to
the screen. I couldn’t look away from him, the fascination in his features made
my own heart beat with excitement. He looked so full of wonder and awe. I could
have spent all day watching him like that.

And
then his face reddened.

I
flicked my eyes downward to see what caused that reaction, and my gaze landed
on the picture of me in my hot pink bikini, tanning on a sunny day next to one
of my friends’ pools. Snatching the phone from him, I backed out of the
pictures, and looked up at him. Oh jeez, his eyes were fastened on me.
Probably because I’m such a fat ass.
Why couldn’t I have had one of those
perfect model figures? “That was just, uh…I was tanning. I only took it for my
boyfriend.”

It was
a while before he finally drew his eyes away from me, and I could feel my own
embarrassment skitter through me, the heat of it flushing my face and ears. The
Highlander cleared his throat and stabbed his fingers into his hair. “So ye’re,
uh…” Another small flush spread across his cheeks, barely adding color to his
tan skin. “Ye’re tae be wed then?”

“No.” I
shook my head emphatically. “I’m not engaged. I mean, he was just a boyfriend.
He isn’t anymore.”

“Oh.”
He seemed on edge suddenly, his once calm demeanor turning to what reminded me
of something like a caged animal. “We should check yer dressing, I think. Make
sure yer wound is still clean, aye?” He scooted off the tree trunk and knelt in
front of me as I placed my foot against his leg. With nimble fingers, he untied
the cloth and carefully unwrapped my foot, revealing a whole lot of black and
blue, and a bit of dried blood.

The
Scot produced his flask from his sporran and poured alcohol over my foot before
inspecting my big toe. “It’ isn’ae much tae look at, but I think it’ll heal
fine.”

“Will I
be able to walk on it tomorrow?”

He
prodded at the wound gently and I flinched. “I dinna ken. I’m no’ so sure the
bruises will’nae spread farther. That splinter went in fair deep. I’m nae
doctor, but I fear it’ll get worse wi’out proper care.” He lowered my foot
until it was on his leg once more and his hand rested on my shin.

My
heart leapt at the feel of his warm hands on my chilled skin, and I drew my
gaze upward, meeting his. I’d never had anyone put so much care into my comfort
before, and not for the first time, I regretted the way I’d treated him up
until now. Yesterday, Cailen had protected me from two other men who could have
done so much more than just kidnap me. He’d built a fire to keep me warm, he’d
cooked meat for me to keep me fed. Sure, he’d refused to leave me alone, but
now that I thought about it, he’d meant to protect me then as well. And with my
foot, he’d taken great care in trying not to hurt me even as he pulled out what
had to have been the biggest splinter in history.

“Why do
you carry around a lacy handkerchief anyway?” I asked, pointing to the shredded
cloth he’d just removed from my foot.

“‘Tis
ma mither’s. I like tae keep it wi’me.”

“And
you put it on my foot? You ripped it up?” He’d lived out here on his own for
two years and had torn up the only thing he had of his mom’s?

“It’s
naethin’. Here, I think ye might need a wee bit more.” He offered me his flask,
and I gratefully took a swig, savoring the feel and taste of the Highlander’s
whiskey rush down my throat as I thought of how hard that must have been for
him. I know I couldn’t give up anything of my mom’s, and it had been a little
over two years since I’d seen her last as well.

My
opinion of the man skyrocketed.

I
searched his face, feeling only the sensation of his touch on my skin and the
thumping beat of my heart. “Thank you, Cailen.”

“What
happened tae callin’ me ‘barbarian’?”

I bent
slowly, offering him a smile as I held his gaze. “You’re not so barbaric right
now.” Closing the distance between us, I kissed him.

CHAPTER FOUR

I rolled over, drawing my
legs and feet back up into Cailen’s shirt. My back had warmed up a lot from the
fire, but my entire front side felt like it’d turn to ice if I didn’t do
something to warm myself. The Highlander had stoked the fire again just before
he’d lain down for bed, and it still burned brilliantly as I lay there. It was
bright enough that I could see his sleeping form through the flames.

Oh, he
wasn’t asleep. Our eyes met and I saw that look of realization in his gaze as
well.

“Canna
sleep, lass?”

I shook
my head.

“What’s
troublin’ ye?”

I let
my legs fall out of the comfort of his shirt and sat up, inching closer to the
fire.

“Och,
ye’re cold then?” He moved to stand.

“Don’t
get up,” I said, stopping him. “The fire’s fine. I think I’m just chilled to
the bone.” Something that didn’t seem to bother my Scottish companion in the
slightest. He seemed perfectly comfortable in nothing but his kilt. He still
hadn’t donned a shirt—which made sense since I was currently occupying it—and
the bit of plaid thrown over his shoulder seemed to be keeping him warm enough.

Cailen’s
head whipped to the right, and he lifted a hand, halting me from saying
anything else. Extracting a black knife out from underneath the plaid that was
thrown over his shoulder, he tossed it to my feet. “Take ma sghian dubh, and
get doon. Use it only if ye must.”

“
What?
What’s going on?”

“Just
dae it
. Make yerself as small as ye can.” The Highlander stood up,
gripping a dagger in one hand as he held his sword in another. His gaze danced
all around us, but kept landing on a certain location, eyes narrowing as he
stared into the trees.

I was freakin’ terrified. The
look on his face, and the way he crouched—well, everything about him at the
moment—made me feel like we were in serious danger. Even the dogs were shifting
nervously, growling in the same direction Cailen was focused on. It wasn’t only
Broch and Duff growling though, there was definitely something else out there
that was making even more noise than the two dogs combined.

“What is that?” I asked as I
picked up the knife and laid parallel to the fallen tree.

“Boar.”

A massive form launched itself
into our camp. The Highlander dodged out of its way, narrowly missing getting
stuck by one of its tusks. I’m pretty sure I was already screaming because I
realized after just a few seconds that I’d drained myself of breath. Inhaling,
I scrambled to my feet as the boar turned and rushed toward Cailen again.

“Get behind the tree and stay
doon,” he barked, slashing at the beast’s side as he avoided getting stuck yet
again.

The boar squealed a bone-chilling
screech and let out another ferocious growl. I backed my way on top of the tree
trunk, freezing as the creature focused on me.

“Oh, Jesus Christ,” I breathed.
Pure murderous intent seeped from the creature, and right now, I was its
target. Blood dripped down the side of its face as it snarled and charged. I
screamed, barely hearing as Cailen ordered me once more to get down. My ass hit
the ground as the boar charged over the trunk, its enormous hooves pounding
into the ground inches from me. I pulled my legs in and gaped up at the big-ass
pig as it stopped, searching for…well, me I guessed.

I was about to bolt over to the
other side of the tree when the beast whirled around, huffing out a big breath
of air. Snot and blood flew from its nose in spurts, and I gasped. It was so
close, there wasn’t time to hide. It growled again as dug its hooves into the
ground, its nose flaring and its eyes burning with malice. I cowered, holding
the only weapon I had at my disposal toward it. If it was going to charge me,
then I would die, I knew that, but at least the creature from the depths of
hell might get injured in the process. Or who knew, maybe I’d get lucky and
stick it right in its black heart.

It launched itself at me and I
screamed, holding the knife’s hilt with both of my hands and making myself as small
as possible behind it. There was a crunch next to my ear as the log teetered,
and Cailen leapt over my head, landing on the massive pig. It shrieked as his
sword dug into its back, and it bucked and whirled, trying to throw the Scot
free. He held tight though, and had somehow even managed to jab his dagger into
it as well. The boar freaked, and the Highlander lost his hold with one of his
hands. His body went flying before the other hand’s grip whipped him back down
to the creature’s thrashing body, as blood gushed down his arm. He latched onto
the beast once more though, and continued to fight it. Cailen was growling, the
boar was growling, even Broch and Duff were growling and barking as they nipped
at the boar’s legs, and I…wasn’t moving from my spot. The only thing I could
even think to do was to maybe throw my knife at the demon pig, but decided that
would help absolutely no one so I held onto it instead.

Cailen
wrenched his dagger free of the pig’s hide and stuck it in once more, near the
beast’s neck. The boar took off like a bat out of hell, hauling the Highlander
and his two dogs away. I stood up as they disappeared from my sight. What
should I do? Should I follow? Should I stay? If I followed it and it came
charging, I wouldn’t have my log to hide behind. But what if Cailen needed my
help?

Another
shriek echoed through the trees and I gripped the knife harder.
Holy freakin’
crap, holy freakin’ crap…Breathe, just breathe. It’s probably fine. Yeah, the
Scot will be back any second. He—

He did
come back, with Broch and Duff trailing right behind.

“Oh my
God.” I ran to him and hugged him as tightly as I could. The man was sweaty,
but that didn’t bother me in the slightest. He’d just fought a boar and
survived. One of his arms wrapped around me as well, just before I pulled away.
“Are you okay? Oh my God, your arm. Sit down.”

I had
to do something, he’d just saved my life. Gripping the whiskey bottle in hand,
I poured it over his arm, tuning out the grunt of pain coming from the
Highlander. I ripped the bottom of his shirt and used half of the strip to wipe
his gash before dousing it once more with whiskey.

“Och,
woman. Can ye no’ be more gentle?”

“I’m
trying to hurry.” Yes, I was panicking. Blood continued to seep from the cut
that was at least four inches long, and was probably even deeper than I
thought. I still had a clean strip of cloth in my hand and briskly wrapped his
arm as tight as I could. “That’ll have to do. It’s all we’ve got for now.”

“Lass,
I’m fine,” the Scot replied, his voice calm as he stepped away from me. “It isn’ae
as though I’ve ne’er had tae dae that before.”

“You’ve
fought a boar before?”

“Aye.”
He shrugged. “It happens from time tae time. They’re no’ so easy tae kill,
mind, no’ wi’their thick skins. Ye must ken just how tae kill’em tae make it
quick.” He studied my makeshift bandage, turning his arm to get as many angles
as possible. “A fine job ye did. Thank ye.”

Chills
worked through me as I fought the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes.
I’d never, in all my life, been as terrified as I’d just been, and the
Highlander was acting like it was no big deal. “So it’s like…dead?”

“Aye.”
Cailen’s gaze wandered over me, and his gaze narrowed. “Och, ye must be chilled.”
He threw more logs onto the fire, stoking it by blowing on the embers. “Come,
get close. Wi’out a cloak tae keep ye warm, ye’re bound tae freeze.”

I did
get closer to the fire, numbly making my way to it and sitting down. I stared
into the flames, feeling myself get almost mesmerized. It was probably far
better to get lost in thought as I gazed into the fire than by ogling the way
the flickering light played off Cailen’s magnificent body. I picked up the
black knife he’d given to me, and studied the design. It was actually
beautiful, with swirling patterns that seemed to all connect to one another.
This was more than a just a dagger, someone had gone through great lengths to
carve the handle into a work of art.

“Here.”
I handed him the knife and gestured to his arm with my chin. “Does it hurt?”

“Naethin’
a dram or two willn’ae fix.” He was still breathing heavily and wiping at the
sweat that slicked his skin. “Would ye mind terribly if I sit next tae ye? Tae
keep ye warm, ye ken.”

“No. I
uh…I wouldn’t mind.”

Cailen
stood and walked around the fire so he could sit by my side. I didn’t dare
watch him stride toward me, afraid that the sight of him would make my heart
beat even faster. My thoughts were already wandering into dangerous territory
as it was, and I didn’t know where my imagination would take me when I felt him
against me. Likely the same place I’d been when I’d felt him lying on top of
me, pinning me to the ground. When had he become so damned alluring? What if he
tried something once he was over here?

Would I
stop him?

He sat
next to me and we gave each other hurried, uncomfortable grins.

I had
to think of something to say, this silence was too much, especially after what
the two of us had just been through. “So, shouldn’t the fire have scared off
that boar?”

“Sometimes.
Ye ne’er ken what lengths they’ll go tae when they’re enraged like that. But
under normal circumstances, aye, they’d stay awa from the fire.” He stretched
out his legs, and leaned against the trunk before he opened the part of his
kilt that was wrapping his torso and shoulders. “Here, there should be enough
for the two o’ us, aye?”

I
glanced at his bared skin, getting my first real look at him without the plaid
hindering my view. My breath left me at my first peek. The sudden loss was
attributed to the bitter cold outside though, and because I was still affected
by that boar. Not because of the very male, very enticing Highlander.

He must
have misunderstood whatever expression on my face, because he said, “Dinna
fash. It’s safe now. I’ll no’ let anythin’ harm ye.”

I
couldn’t manage to say anything as I scooted toward him, a sigh escaping me as
his body heat reached my skin through the fabric of the shirt. I drew my knees
in and pulled his shirt down around them as Cailen wrapped the two of us in his
plaid.

He was
so warm that I dropped my head against his chest, humming in contentment as my
cheek began to warm. He chuckled, but I was too tired to look up at him.

“What’s
so funny?”

“Ye,”
he answered. “I think ye were only minutes from freezin’ solid.”

I
smiled, staring out into the dark forest beyond the fire. “How do you keep so
warm?”

“I’m
used tae the cold. I’ve lived out here for two years, mind.”

Yeah,
who could forget something like that? I laid against him, closing my eyes as I
ran through everything I’d learned of the Highlander: He talked funny, saying
ken instead of know and mind instead of remember…I mean, who did that? He also
slummed it out in the middle of nowhere with just knives and swords to keep
himself alive, he was good at capturing and killing animals, and he battled
boars to the death. Oh, and his lips were soft and warm, surprisingly perfect
despite the scratchy stubble along his jawline and chin that sort of tickled—

I
bolted upward, gaping at him. “Oh my God, I
kissed
you!”

“Ye
did. Did ye no’ mind that ‘til now?”

“No I didn’t.
I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I did—”

“Elizabeth,
it’s naethin’. Dinna fash yerself.”

“Are
you sure?”

He
nodded and pulled me down so I laid against him again. We both laid there,
silently listening to the forest, and to Broch and Duff snoring away.

“I’m
still sorry. I don’t normally go around kissing complete strangers.”

He
chuckled. “Ye prob’ly dinna usually drink like ye did earlier either. Whisky
can make the most respectable person turn verra…friendly.”

Ha.
Friendly. That’d been me alright. That had to have been the first time I’d
gotten drunk enough to not even realize what I was doing. Usually it was the
other way around: Guys at a party getting a little too frisky after downing a
drink or two. Who knows what I would have done in that condition if the Scot
had come on to me. “You know, I’m actually surprised you haven’t tried to get
me out of this shirt yet.”

Cailen
tensed and sat straight up, accidentally making the plaid fall. “Och, I’m
sorry.” He quickly grabbed the cloth and worked on re-wrapping us in it,
shifting as he did. He laid down more this time, pulling me in so that I could
lay closer to him as well. “I dinna ken what kind o’ man ye’re accustomed tae,
but I wouldn’ae e’er suggest that ye—that a
lady—
should bare herself tae
me.”

I lifted
my head so that I could look at him. “Are you telling me you’ve never tried to
feel a girl up?” Yeah, right.

“Well,”
he said with a shrug. “I’m no’ so sure what that means, but I gather from the
way ye said it that it means tae umm…well, tae lie wi’a woman.”