HighlandHeat

by Tilly Greene

  Grace was hurt!

  “Aagh!”

  In a flash the horns had fully grown, curling along each side of his head. There was no thought spared to the discomfort or concern he felt at their appearance. All he could think of was rescuing his woman. He leaped forward, took the hand holding the knife and broke it with a quick hard twist. The weapon clattered to the floor as the intruder howled in pain. The man immediately released his hold on Grace and sank to his knees.

  “You hurt me!” He screamed with pain.

  “You hurt her! I’ll kill—” Rage consumed him. Hamish was blind to everything except the need to destroy the man who’d dared harm his woman.

  “A-mis! Ooo!”

  Grace stepped up and put her head against his arm. He could tell she was using it to dislodge the gag, but he couldn’t think beyond obliterating the other man.

  “He scared you, hurt—”

  “Ooo!” She worked harder and freed her mouth. “No, Hamish, don’t! Please, my love, please calm down. Let’s call the police so they can handle it. Listen to me, please! He’s crazy out of his mind. It wasn’t even me he was after. He wanted to disrupt the countess’s appearance today. Please, Hamish. Look at me. It’s okay, I’m all right.”

  He knew she stood beside him, touching him, and yet Hamish still found it hard to focus on what she was saying. This man dared to harm the woman he loved. He would not, could not, stand by and let him live. Then he felt it. Her lips pressed against his arm while she quietly pleaded with him to stop.

  Looking down at her, he knew there was nothing else he could do other than ease her distress. He had to pull himself back together for her.

  “Shhh, it’s all right, Grace, shhh, I won’t hurt him. Now turn around, I want to untie your hands. Then we’ll secure him for the authorities. Okay?”

  She looked up at him closely and, after a long minute, found whatever she’d been looking for, most likely his sanity, before turning her back to him. Once her hands were free, she twisted back to face him and wrapped her arms around him, holding him closer than she ever had before. He closed his eyes and felt her love surround him.

  After a short period of time, Hamish realized he stood before her with his horns fully revealed. He moved his head to look at her closely and saw no signs of horror or disgust with his appearance. After a long minute, he closed his eyes again and real joy sank in, filling him up. The peace he finally found rushed through him, settling in the place where his heart and soul had tensely waited to see if she accepted him and his altered appearance.

  In his mind, there was no question that her heart was bonded to his. Nothing would ever separate them. He understood his life with this woman in his arms was not only possible, but was here, now.

  Eventually she stepped away to tie the other man’s hands together and immediately turned back to him.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked earnestly, stroking his horns once she was back in his arms. He needed her there so he could help alleviate the terror she’d just endured, as well as the one he suffered in seeing it happen. Grace could have been lost to him forever and she never would’ve known how much she meant to him. There were no excuses. He had to be honest and tell her everything without any further delays.

  “Besides coming to share your big day with you, I came here to tell you everything. I had to see if there was a future for us.” He stood there basking in the adoring attention she was paying his boned protrusions. No one had ever touched the most unique part of him with love and lust in their eyes. His cock stretched out for similar attention as his horns were receiving.

  “Stupid man,” she mumbled without truly meaning it or moving away from his embrace.

  “How was I supposed to kno—”

  “Don’t go any further, Hamish Buchanan. You’re on the way to pissing me off even more than you already have. Now, we should call the police. I want this man out of here, then we can get on with our day.”

  This was what he loved about her. She wouldn’t wallow in the horror of what had just happened. Instead she pushed through the bad and stepped back on the road moving forward.

  “Not with these things at full curl. Believe me, I hate to say this because I’m enjoying it very much, but you have to stop stroking them. Baby, your touch on these boned protrusions goes straight to my cock and it’s already hard, eager to come out and impress you with its prowess as well.”

  “Is this why you’ve kept our loving in the dark? Or my hands tied?”

  “Yes, although I think it would be better if we discussed this later when we’re alone.”

  Grace used her grip on his horns to pull his head down and kiss is tempting lips. “Fine, but we aren’t finished talking about this.”

  Neither of them noticed the door being quietly closed or the pleased look on Aimee’s face. She always knew there was something very special about that man and as far as she was concerned, he was perfect for her boss.

  * * * * *

  Later that evening, once all the drama and celebrations were finished, they took time for themselves. After being held hostage at knifepoint, seeing her beau with a full set of ram horns and then receiving a royal warrant with all the pomp and circumstance that goes with it, Grace needed this time for just the two of them.

  They sat on the couch, his arm around her shoulders and her hand resting on his thigh, while they sipped champagne before a fire. Soon they’d retire upstairs to the big, beautiful bed and indulge their passions without secrets, in full light, face-to-face. But right now, it was all about them, two people facing a lifetime together, without any secrets holding their love in jeopardy.

  For a time they sat comfortably in the silence, lost in their own thoughts until Grace quietly opened the one subject that hadn’t been addressed.

  “How did it happen?”

  Hamish knew what she was asking, and for the first time ever, he spoke to someone about his curse.

  “The night my mum was attacked in a field is always described to me as horrific. To this day, anyone who saw her after the flock had assaulted her still finds it difficult to look me in the eye. They say she’d fallen forward with her arms wrapped around her belly, trying to protect me while the animals kicked and stomped on her. They’ve never determined exactly what happened, but something did, and during the attack some of the ram’s blood found its way into hers and then mine.”

  Hamish took a sip from his glass and looked down at Grace. He was surprised he was able to talk so easily about what happened that night to his mum. The subject was rarely discussed by him without immense sorrow for what he lost engulfing him. Being able to do this proved this woman was his other half and belonged with him. She gave him a sense of peace like none other. He wanted to share himself with her.

  “The machines keeping my mum alive long enough to better the odds of my survival. In the end, they sealed my fate by searing the genes of the ram in with my own. From birth it was there. As a baby, I’d cry or laugh and little horns would burst through. Inevitably, as I grew older, I was better able to control my emotions and their appearances. However, they still come out whenever I experience the intense emotions. If seriously angered or, um, really turned on, there’s little I can do to keep them locked inside. I had some control over their appearance, then you came along and thirty years of having power over them was gone. I swear they come out to impress you.”

  Looking down at her hand on his lap, he felt warm contentment and had to smile. There was no big upheaval running through him right now. The horns were out because she was there and he wanted her fiercely. Finally, he no longer had to fight their natural inclination to be free, especially in her presence.

  “It’s amazing the medical staff never said a thing.”

  “In the beginning I’m sure it was because they didn’t think I’d survive and didn’t want to cause the family more distress. Then, when I began to thrive, I think they were simply too shocked by my horns to do or say anything. I’ve been told the group
who were with my mum and me from the start were very protective of us by the end, and then me as I grew. They are a part of my family now.”

  “How many people know?”

  “All the Buchanans, the medical personnel who took care of us and you.”

  “It’s so amazing the press doesn’t know about this and reported on it. You’re big news.”

  “I can’t say it wouldn’t bother me if it did. As long as you’re with me, I think I could handle anything.”

  “Well, I’m not going anywhere, so no need to think about it. What about your father and his family? You haven’t mentioned him at all. Do they know?”

  “Irving Cunningham, a handsome lad who hadn’t been able to find his maturity before becoming a father. Apparently he couldn’t handle his guilt in not leaving the pub with my mum that Valentine’s night. Maisie said he was eaten up with it before I was even born. Despite their being engaged to be married, he deferred to her in all the important decisions to be made regarding Catriona’s and my health. Once she died, he was inconsolable and when it was decided I could leave, I went home with Gran. It was almost four months before he made an effort to come over to see me. Unfortunately, what he found was a monster for a child rather than merely a reminder of his beloved fiancée.”

  “Don’t ever use that term or any other derogatory name to describe yourself. Honestly, Hamish, you don’t want to make me angry.”

  “I see, lass, and I’ll not speak poorly of my horns again.”

  “Good, now go on telling me about your dad.”

  “Not a dad, Grace, a father. After he saw me for the first time, he took a pistol, went out to the field where Catriona was attacked and killed himself.” It was never easy to talk about his mum and how much he lost by not having her in his life, but he didn’t feel any connection with his father other than the most basic. As far as he was concerned, Irving had chosen his own fate.

  Grace looked up at him with tears in her eyes. If it were possible, his heart opened even wider and Hamish gladly welcomed her inside for infinity and beyond.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Shhh, baby, it’s all right. I’m healthy and loved, mentally sane, or at least I was until I saw you. All my control fled forever the moment you turned around and asked me to act like I was interested in you.”

  He was thrilled to see the small smile trying to make its way across her lips. The need to hold her close overwhelmed him. Taking her glass and his, Hamish set them on the table behind the couch and pulled her onto his lap, bringing them even closer together.

  “Do they hurt?” She whispered, pulling on the horns to bring him close, until their lips pressed softly against each other.

  “No more than a brief headache, gone and forgotten the minute they’re out. It’s been harder to keep them in when I’ve been with you.” Swapping their positions left her lying on her back on the sofa. He was stretched out atop her and loved being able to look at her while his body made it clear how much he wanted her.

  “You know, they’re very sexy,” Grace said while lightly stroking his horns. She snagged his lower lip between her teeth, giving it a good tug before letting go.

  “Really?” he queried on a deep aroused growl. Feeling her hands holding and touching his horns, using them to pull him to her, was very erotic.

  “Oh yes, very sexy,” she told him, bringing her legs up to wrap around his hips. “No more hiding in the dark, lover, I want to see you as you love me.” Arching her back a small bit brought her breasts up against his chest. Her hard nipples stabbed into his chest, tempting him. “Do you want to play with me, horny man?”

  Chapter Ten

  “Horny Man?” Hamish snorted with humor and answered by pressing his lips more firmly against hers. His cock was hard, and with each second that ticked by, each stroke her hands made over his horns, it grew thicker, longer and hungrier for her. This much happiness, love and passion far surpassed anything he’d dreamed of and it was all because of a beautiful impassioned lass named Grace Strachan.

  Not able to wait any longer before he had her, he stood up with her arms wrapped around his neck and started to make their way to his bedroom. His hands cupped her delectable ass as he carried her up the staircase to the top floor. He wanted to do what he’d never done before, take his mate in the light.

  Walking into the room, he used his elbow to flick the main switch, bringing all the lights on full. He made it to the center of the room before he released his hold on her backside. It took some coaxing, but once her legs let go of his hips and she stood on her own, he stepped back to lean against the wall and watch her. Folding his arms over his chest, he patiently waited to see if she remembered anything of their time spent up here over the past months together.

  Of course, he wasn’t disappointed. Before he’d had a chance to do more than sweep her body with his gaze, Grace had already started working on the buttons lining the front of her blouse. He was in heaven because he’d found such bliss in her presence. It was possible some people would think he didn’t deserve her. He did though and that was all that mattered. No, what really mattered was that he was going to make them both happy and keep her.

  A slow seductive striptease wasn’t in the cards for her tonight and he was pleased. As far as he was concerned, the sooner she was naked, the better life would be for them both. Under his unblinking gaze, she quickly dispensed with her top and skirt. All that remained was an enticing picture of her in a red lace, demi-cup bra and matching g-string, sheer black stockings and black patent leather Mary Jane shoes with naughty four-inch heels.

  “Sweetheart, those shoes and stockings stay on. I can’t believe you had all this on under your clothes today. You look very erotic, total temptation. If I’d known about this, we may have had a longer delay calling the police than it took for my horns to go down.” Unable to stop himself, he started unbuttoning his own dress shirt, beginning with the cuffs. There was no way he could remain still with her looking lush and sexy before him.

  “I’m glad you like them. This morning I saw the lingerie in a shop window. Without thinking twice, I walked in and bought them, knowing you’d enjoy seeing them later, especially with the shoes.” Reaching back, she unhooked her bra and released her large breasts. His eyes caught on the mounds jiggling with freedom. He heard her giggle.

  “And I see I was right.” There was no doubt what she did to him. He was as hard as a rock and eager to start with his plans for their first time loving in full light. What he’d thought about most often was watching her come as his mouth worked over her clit and pussy. Yes, that was at the top of his long list of wants with and from her.

  Grace stood before him in all her glory. Except for the stockings and shoes, she was naked. This drew his attention straight to her plump, bare pussy and his cock pulsed for immediate entrance into the heated channel. She folded her hands behind her back just the way he liked. It was simple, he enjoyed this position because it thrust her breasts even further forward. Her pretty pink nipples were hard, tight points. His tongue swiped across his lips, ready to taste them, feel the tender pebbles trapped between his lips while he suckled. He looked back down at her pussy as his hand drifted over the bulge in his pants.

  Oh yes, to finally slip down between her thighs and not have to worry about his horns touching her tender flesh, all so he could eat up the honey collecting in her sweet slit. That was going to be the perfect place to start this next stage in their life together.

  Barefoot and still wearing his fine suit trousers and partially unbuttoned shirt, he stepped forward and rested his chest against her softer one. He wrapped his arms around her and linked his hands with hers, bringing them down to rest at her side.

  “I love you, Grace, very much,” he whispered against her lips, looking into her lovely gray eyes.

  “I love you, Hamish Buchanan, everything about you,” she told him while holding his golden gaze, full of fire and joy.

  With lustful purpose clearly evident, he walked
them over to the corner of the room where the swing dangled decadently from the ceiling. Reaching out, he plucked at her nipples, simply because he couldn’t deny himself any longer.

  “Oh Hamish, harder.”

  “Like this?” Hamish stepped in until his hard-on nudged her pussy. Putting one arm behind her back, he bent over and took one tip between his teeth, then gently ground the stiff point. After a moment of tender torment, he started to suck, soothing the tortured nipple only to return and softly chew the flesh again. The other breast wasn’t ignored as he strummed his thumb over the excited tip. He pinched it hard, pulled, twisted and rolled until she moaned, and wrapped a leg up high on his hip to help bring him even closer to her.

  “Yes! Yes, harder! Uhhh, oh yes!” She thrust her chest out even further by bending her back and giving him more breast to toy with, thereby receiving even more from him. Instead of feasting on the mound of flesh, he pulled her back up straight and flicked at her nipples with his fingers, teasing them endlessly.

  Eventually he helped settle her beautiful form into the swing with the strips of leather positioned to resemble a chair. Next, he secured her arms up along two straps, giving her something to hold on to. He was being methodical, taking the time to bring his urges back under control for when he finally had her pussy dancing before his mouth. The last step was to hook the heels of her shoes on the stirrups and secure her ankles to the straps before stepping back in order to see all of her. Her legs were spread open and tempted him to come forward and feast on her bald pussy.

  Before he could dabble there at the fount of her cunt as he wanted, he stepped over to the wall and used the lever to raise her form. When she was suspended at the height necessary for what he planned to do, Hamish carefully secured the swing and walked back to stand between her legs. Now his mouth was level with her slit and his eyes traveled up her body to meet hers.