Highland Stone

by Sloan McBride

  "I think I need to lie down."

  He rose and covered the short distance to the bed where he gently sat her on the edge so he could fluff the pillows. She scooted against them and he pulled the small blanket around her waist and tucked it in on both sides. The pale coloring in her face concerned him.

  Iain flashed through the door carrying a tray full of food and wine. "I'm the bearer o' foodstuffs." He looked down at Kara. "How be the lass?"

  Alaxandar frowned. "She willna sit still long enough to heal."

  "Hello, I'm right here in the room, listening to every word you're saying."

  "Hard-headed and foolish." Iain grinned at his brother. "Reminds of me of another."

  "Be gone. Let us eat in peace."

  Iain bowed to Kara and left the room laughing.

  Alaxandar brought the chair and small table by the bed and put the food and wine within reach. "Ye need to eat."

  She fiddled with the food. "I know. I'm really not that hungry."

  He sighed. "Lay back, lass, and rest."

  She eased herself down. "Tell me a story."

  That threw him. He'd never been asked to tell a story before. "What kind o' story?"

  "Something wonderful," she murmured.

  Chuckling, he ran his hand down her cheek. "I be no bard, Kara."

  "It doesn't have to be a grand story, just talk. I love to hear your voice."

  His heart swelled at her words. Never had anyone said these things to him. It stunned him as the words fell carelessly from her lips as though she said them to him every day.

  "Riding the borders of MacLeod lands had been the order o' the day. Many riders swarmed the villages taking in food and drink afore moving on. 'Twas getting late and we could see the keep. Me horse and I be weary and worn from the day. Galloping at full speed to reach Dunvegan I had to pull him in for a small thing threw down in front o' me."

  In a whisper she said, "Was it a deer or a rabbit?" Kara snuggled closer to the pillow.

  "Nay, 'twas a female with short hair, the color of which I had never seen, and big pearl blue eyes."

  One of those very tantalizing eyes opened to look at him. "Did you throw her over your horse and carry her away?"

  Smiling, he shook his head. "Nay, I picked her up in me arms and held her close to me heart."

  Her full bottom lip stretched out. "I'm cold in this big bed all by myself."

  "We canna have that." He returned the table to its normal place and added more logs to the fire then stripped on his way back to bed.

  The soft firelight glowed off the walls and Alaxandar's naked body. His trim waist and lean muscles flexed as he moved. Magnificent. There was no other word to describe him. When he climbed into bed, she rolled to her other side and placed her hand on his chest where she felt comfort in the strong heartbeat. He slid closer so their bodies touched in every possible place. "I can't help but think."

  "Think what?" He rubbed his hand down her side to her hip and back again.

  "If I could have done something to distract that MacKay for a little longer, the fighting would have stopped. He may have lived."

  "Or, he could have fought me clansmen and died just the same." His chin nuzzled her hair. "I couldna find ye. If ye had made it to the tunnel, it could have been a longer time afore we found your body." He kissed her forehead and hugged her closer. "Ye would have been dead."

  "I know."

  Kara's mind played over history she'd learned. For Scotland, the times were brutal and bloody. Robert the Bruce's name had been bandied about when the men were training. She remembered something about him becoming King of Scotland eventually—at least she thought he did. How many of those she'd met here would be killed in the coming years? Would Alaxandar be one of them? She shuddered.

  "Ye shiver."

  "I'm fine," she said then ran her tongue over his nipple.

  He growled.

  She smiled. "Goodnight, Alaxandar.

  "Sleep well, lass."

  Darkness settled around the countryside. Kara's screaming nerves stretched taut from turbulent dreams. Broken bodies, bloody stumps, and severed heads were all that remained of the MacLeods. These visions drifted in and out of the cold gray mist, invading her sleep like phantoms. The heat from Alaxandar's body penetrated her nightmares and brought her to a calm place.

  The surf roared on this warm night. She stepped onto the balcony. The moon shone bright on the water and swells were capped with white foam. The salt air stung her nose.

  He stood on the beach, the open shirt flapping in the breeze. His hair tousled like he'd raked fingers through it and the clenched fists made her wonder what he was thinking.

  Running down the stairs and across the sand, she stopped just behind him. "Are you coming inside soon?" She snuggled against his back and slid her hands into his pockets. Every muscle in his body tightened.

  He faced her. "What's so important that I should leave this great view?" The corners of his mouth lifted.

  "I'm sorry." She pouted. "I didn't mean to disturb you." Heading toward the house, she threw a seductive glance over her shoulder letting the sheer robe fall to reveal her naked back.

  He groaned and began pursuit. She laughed and tried to run but he caught her quickly. They fell onto the sand with their mouths fused together. She caught his lower lip in her teeth and sucked. Her hands explored his body. One landed atop his erection and massaged it vigorously. Her entire body was on fire but burned most at her side.

  Kara's eyes popped open. Her hand was wrapped around Alaxandar's penis. He had a wide smile and his smoky eyes watched her. She drew her hand back.

  With a husky voice he said, "Dunna stop, Kara. I like your hands on me."

  There was no denying his aroused state and the drops of sweat on his brow were clear evidence that he'd been holding tight rein on his urges.

  "I'm sorry. I had a bad dream."

  His brow hiked. "Dinna seem to be a bad dream." His fingers joined hers and he wrapped them around his erection.

  The right side of her mouth curved. "Well, there was this one part that wasn't so bad."

  "Aye."

  When she shifted, she hissed, taking her hand to her side.

  Alaxandar gently rolled her. "You're bleeding." He shot to his feet and marched to the doors. "I shall summon more bandages.

  "Alaxandar," she cried. "Put clothes on first."

  He gave her a funny look as if the statement had been absurd. Nevertheless, he grabbed the plaid and wrapped it around his body before throwing open the door and bellowing.

  Kara collapsed on the bed and chuckled. "Men."

  Alaxandar bounced around the room, restless with energy while the older woman checked her stitches and re-bandaged her side. When the poor thing left, Alaxandar stalked to the bed and glared at her. "Ye will stay in bed till ye be healed. Ye'll do as your told or I be tying ye to the bed."

  "Hmm, tying me to the bed sounds interesting, but you'll have to wait until I'm better to make it more fun." She winked at him.

  He stepped back as if she'd socked him. "Ye be a strange piece, Kara Malone. Ye say things I dunna understand." Stepping out of his kilt, he crawled into bed.

  "I—"

  He laid fingers against her lips. "Sleep, lass. We have a lifetime to learn each other."

  Kara lay awake for a while after Alaxandar drifted to sleep.

  A lifetime he'd said.

  Had she made that decision?

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  She'd had enough. After several days of bed rest and Alaxandar hovering like the Grim Reaper, Kara couldn't take it any longer. She got out of bed, dressed and started for the door when she ran into Alaxandar carrying a tray of food. The wooden carrier fell to the floor.

  He scowled. "Kara—"

  She threw her hand up to stop his tirade. "I don't want to hear it. You're smothering me. I need to get up and move around, get the circulation going to my limbs. If I stay in that bed any longer, I'm going to lose my sanity."
>
  The slow sexy smile that always melted her eased its way across his face. "I guess ye be feeling better."

  "Much," she huffed. "I'm a grown woman."

  "Ye be that." His eyes made a slow roam over her body.

  Her insides clenched. Images came rushing back, him on top of her, between her legs, under the waterfall, in the hay. His desire made her wobble. One hand tangled in her hair and Alaxandar pulled her toward him. The kiss was explosive, tense and a promise of things to come.

  She tingled from head to toe. Over the last couple of days, he'd barely touched her. The slight caresses aroused her senses to the point of exploding. He came to bed every night and circled strong arms around her, but never took it any further.

  Alaxandar picked up the tray, and a young girl came along to clean the mess. "Do ye feel up to going to the hall for a meal?"

  "Yes."

  He missed the hazy looks and her sweet taste. He longed to see fire dance in her eyes, the clench of her jaw as his caress sent her to the edge.

  After they ate, he took Kara for a stroll around Strathnaver. They discussed the rebuilding. He was careful to keep his future plans to himself for now. There would be time enough to find her clan and get word to them that she was staying.

  She was his.

  "So Cuilén and Ramsey are back at Dunvegan with your father?"

  "Aye. Iain be helping Carrick with the rebuilding."

  "And what about Eleyne?"

  He chuckled. "She be waiting."

  Kara shook her head. "I somehow don't see her waiting for long. I'm surprised she's not right there in the middle of all of it, putting in her two cents."

  There it was again, that strange way of talking she did sometimes. He didn't know what to make of it. "Aye, she be in the middle but Carrick 'tis handling her."

  "Humph. Handling her?"

  That stubbornness kicked in and she narrowed those eyes. The first sign she was gearing for a fight. He loved the fights and what came after. Now that Kara was on the mend, it took great will not to bury his cock deep inside her.

  Eleyne breezed in when they returned to Kara's room.

  "I will leave ye to talk with Eleyne whilst I go find Iain and Carrick."

  "So," Kara said after Alaxandar left. "How's it going with Carrick?"

  Eleyne snorted. "I be the chatelaine and should be worrying over directing the meals and goings-on in the keep, leaving the clan business to him."

  "He's in for a rude awakening." Kara smiled.

  "Aye." Her co-conspirator smiled back. "I have learned a lot in me own way about clan business."

  "I know you have. I'm sure it will take you far in your new life."

  Eleyne sat down in the chair by the window with a pout on her face. "Me new life. 'Tis scary."

  Kara placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know, but with your brains and spunk, you'll have no problems."

  "Truly?"

  "Yes." She dropped into the other chair. "Besides, you have Carrick wrapped around your finger. Anyone can see that. He'll be putty in your hands."

  "Putty?"

  Kara waved her off. "I mean, he'll do anything for you."

  That seemed to cheer Eleyne up again. "Will ye be well on your own?"

  "Of course."

  "I need to help with preparations."

  "I will be fine. I'll rest."

  Eleyne smiled. "I shall see ye on the morrow."

  "Okay, bye."

  A rush of excitement broke through Kara. Alaxandar would be gone for who knew how long and she felt much better. This gave her a chance to scout around for the stone. She dashed to the door and peeked out. No one in the corridors and she didn't hear anyone moving about. Calling on her memory of the day of the battle, she headed through the hallway and to the stairs that she and Eleyne had taken that morning. She tip-toed down the stairs. At the bottom, she peered around the wall to see a couple MacKay women in the buttery. They were putting things in storage. Kara couldn't tell how many were there. She hoped they wouldn't take too long.

  Thankfully, the two women left a few minutes later. Kara darted across the small ingress and into the tiny room. Smells of churned cream and milk on the verge of turning made her nauseous. She hurried to the tapestry where the door was hidden, got down on her hands and knees and searched the grainy floor. She couldn't see in the corners or behind containers so she reached in, hoping nothing crawled up and bit her.

  Chills chased along her skin.

  She swept every inch of the floor but found nothing. Thinking perhaps the stone fell out when she gained partial entrance into the tunnel, she opened the door. A torch hung on the wall so she grabbed it and inched into the passageway. She kicked the dirt around with her foot looking for anything shiny and smooth.

  Nothing.

  Disappointment was mild in comparison to the way she felt.

  Replacing the torch, Kara left the buttery in a huff. In her mind, she recalled everything that had happened since the last time she'd held the stone. So occupied were those thoughts, she didn't notice the dark figure skulking in the stairway.

  A large calloused hand clamped her throat. Huge biceps flexed when the attacker threw her against the wall.

  "Hello, Jamie," she managed to say. It was obvious that she was too weak to fight him. His grip closed the airway. He very well could end her problems here and now. The fury in his slate black eyes only upped her fear. Seizing what little energy she had left, Kara kneed him in the groin. He grunted and released his hold long enough for her to shove him down the remaining stairs. She followed as he rolled and when he landed hard on his back, she pressed her knee on his trachea.

  Jamie's eyes widened.

  "I'm not a cowering wimp and I don't go down without a fight." Her throat hurt with every breath. "Now, let's have a talk."

  He raised his hand trying to push her off. She lowered her weight on his throat. He stopped moving.

  "I don't know what happened to make you not like me and I don't care. I want to make a deal with you." She glared down at him. "Are you listening? Blink once for yes and twice for no."

  He blinked once.

  "Good." She stopped to swallow, the inside lining of her throat burned with the effort. "I know you know I'm different. I know you know I'm not from here." Kara sighed and rubbed her temples. "I lost something the day of the battle. If I can find it, I will return home and you will be rid of me." She glanced at his face, which had turned sheet white and his lips were bluish. "Are you with me so far?"

  He blinked once.

  "My deal is this. You help me find what I'm looking for and I will be out of your life." And Alaxandar's. "I won't tell anyone about this encounter. Everybody wins."

  Jamie's arms grew limp. Kara knew if she didn't let him get air soon he would pass out, but she took no chances with this one. "If I raise my knee so we can talk are you going to attack me again?"

  Jamie blinked twice.

  "All right then." Slowly, Kara lifted her knee from his throat and scooted back, holding her side.

  He coughed and breathed erratically for a few seconds. Finally, he shifted to his back and glared at her.

  In a hoarse voice, he said, "What 'tis the object we seek?"

  She smiled. "A small stone. It is about this wide," she held her fingers out about four-inches, "and is bone with green cracks in it."

  "A talisman?"

  "Yes, you could say that. It is precious to my clan. I cannot go without it."

  His eyes narrowed on her. "Ye will go?"

  Laying her head against the wall, Kara closed her eyes. I should go. I will go, won't I? Was she making a deal with the devil? Perhaps, but she needed someone who could move about the castle without much notice. Alaxandar kept too close an eye on her.

  "I didn't come here to cause trouble. I got here by accident and the rest is a mistake."

  "What about Alaxandar?" He spit on the floor.

  "I cannot stay here. It is not my place."

  Jamie's glare so
ftened. "He willna let ye go."

  "He cannot keep me here if I don't want to stay."

  He snickered at that. "Ye dunna know a MacLeod Highlander."

  "Perhaps." She glanced at him. "Will you help?"

  "Aye."

  Kara stayed there for several moments catching her breath and thinking about the pact she'd just made. Another wrinkle in my already screwed-up plans.

  * * * *

  Kara was not in bed when Alaxandar came back to the chamber. He growled with frustration, something he seemed to be doing a lot since Kara Malone showed up.

  The hunt began.

  He had not seen her in the corridor he came up, so he went the other way. Trotting down the stairs at the south end of the castle, he heard voices—a female, Kara and another. As he got closer, Kara's voice became more distinct. It sounded as though she was threatening someone. Slowly, Alaxandar moved down the steps until two bodies were in sight. It shocked him to see his cousin on the ground and Kara kneeling on Jamie's throat.

  He loved her.

  Everything about this woman called to him. She was strong, capable, a warrior in her own right. She would make a good wife and mother to his bairns.

  The thread of conversation caught his attention. Kara had lost an item the day the MacLeods took Strathnaver and she wanted Jamie to help find it. The words he heard next broke him.

  She would leave if she found what she'd lost.

  Kara bargained with a man who'd attacked her. She promised to go away, never to return.

  Pain pierced his heart.

  They were a mistake?

  She would leave him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  When Kara returned to the room, Alaxandar had his back to the door and was staring out the small window.

  She stopped.

  His broad shoulders were bare and the expanse rippled with muscles from hard work and wielding a sword. He had all the power of a jungle cat and tensed as if ready to pounce.

  Something was wrong.

  Alaxandar spun around. His usually dreamy eyes were now dark, and not with passion. Anger brewed there.

  Needing some time to prepare for whatever lay ahead, Kara moved to the hearth and stoked the dying fire.

  Alaxandar grabbed her upper arms and shook until her head bobbed backwards and forwards on her neck. "Stay away from Jamie, Kara. I have spoken with the chief, and Jamie will be banished for what he did to ye."