She shouldn’t allow him to push her around, only that thought flittered right out of her head under the searing heat of his mouth. Instead, she reached up on her toes, wound her arms around his neck and met him kiss for kiss. Now this kind of delicious kissing she could get used to.
“Excuse me.” Daniel cleared his throat. “We’ve bad dudes to capture and all that.”
Iain growled low in his throat as he lifted his head from hers and eyed Daniel. “In the future, where she goes, I go.”
“Provided you don’t keep her beyond our clan’s reach, I’m good with that.”
“No arguing, boys.” She ducked under Iain’s arm and extended her hand to Finlay and Kirk. “I didn’t mean to be rude. Nice to meet you both.”
“Welcome to the family.” Finlay shook her hand then slid one thumb underneath his sniper rifle’s front slung belt.
“The same welcome goes for me. It’s nice to finally have a sister.” Kirk hugged her then stepped back with a grin. “Very few people can catch my brother out the way you have today, and have for the past five years. I’ve been in awe of your talents for a while.”
“Oh, ah, thank you.” Barely hiding her smile, she gestured toward her partner. “This is Daniel, and please be very careful around him. He holds the skill of telekinesis and likes to pull all sorts of interesting stunts.”
“I’d like to see your skill at work.” Finlay shook Daniel’s hand. “That’s when we’re not chasing two killers. Rogue bears, I’ve been told.”
“They sure are. Owen and Ewan Mathie make up two of the four shifters we’re aware of in their offshoot clan. On the night of the last full moon, they killed two innocent people and now they’ve tasted human blood, there’s no knowing what they’ll do next. We’ve been ordered to capture and contain.” He eyed everyone in turn. “Since we all appear set to go, Finlay, you take the right, Kirk the left. The rest of us will span out through the center. Keep your senses alert. We’re headed toward the shack a mile along the driveway through the corn.”
Finlay trotted into the towering stalks on the right while Kirk disappeared into the field on the left. She jogged in after Daniel and Iain matched her step for step at her side. They ran the mile through the soft dirt, the corn stalks waving in the gentle breeze a good three feet above her head. Then when Daniel raised a hand they slowed and crouched at the periphery of the corn and all huddled next to him.
Two rows of corn remained between them and a wooden-boarded shack. The corn swept in a circle around a dusty front yard bare of even one single tree. In the center of the yard was a mustard-colored Jeep coated in dust, the same one from the inn and standing in front peering inside the raised hood was a middle-aged man in mechanic’s overalls and a cap stuck backwards on his head. He planted one hand on the grill and whipped an oily rag hanging from his back pocket out and unscrewed a cap.
“That’s neither of the Mathie brothers,” she whispered, “although that Jeep is theirs.”
“I’ll take a pic.” With his cell phone in hand, Daniel snapped an image of the mechanic with the shack in the background then sent it through to the chief.
Iain hunkered behind her, slid one arm around her waist and tucked her back into the V of his spread legs, his heat and fresh pine scent surrounding her. “Any idea who that is?” he murmured in her ear.
“No, but I’m going to find out.” She kept her tone low but used her ability to compel to its greatest degree. “Iain, Finlay, and Kirk, you’ll not utter a word in protest about my leaving, or try to restrain me, but you will all cover me.” She winked at Daniel. “I need to get closer so only the mechanic can hear me. You get ready to check out the shack.”
“Will do, and you’re going to be in so much trouble with the big bear after this.” Daniel grinned. “I can’t wait to tell Emma about you and your mate. She’s going to love hearing about what’s gone down.”
“She’s going to hate she missed out on it too.”
“She sure will.” To the others, he said, “Keep an eye on the feisty one for me after I leave. She can be a handful at times. She also takes a bit of work to rope in.”
“Be careful,” Iain warned her, thankfully his words not a protest. No one had cracked her compelling yet, but if anyone could, it might very well be him.
“I will.” She kissed his cheek. “You’ll learn to trust my abilities soon enough then I won’t need to compel you at all.” She slipped out of his grasp and crawled one row closer so she couldn’t be seen but could still easily project her voice.
Iain crawled in over top of her, shielding her completely with his body then flattened her to the ground. “Just covering you, as requested. Two can play at your game, little bear.”
“I might be little, but I have sharp claws. Lift up a touch.” He did and she smirked. “There’s no taming a compeller.”
On one side of them, Kirk moved into position and on the other, Finlay eased lower onto his belly, his sniper’s rifle propped on top of the dirt and his eye to the sight.
Daniel swept out a few rows, moving closer toward the shack then gave her a nod. They worked well in tandem and he’d wait for her okay to go in.
“We’re ready.” Iain trained his weapon on the mechanic.
“Mechanic man, here my voice and don’t acknowledge it. Nothing is out of the ordinary, but you’re going to wander closer toward me in the corn field then act as if your boot lace is untied. I want you to kneel and tie it back up. Don’t draw any unnecessary attention to yourself while you do so.”
The man swaggered their way, a peek of scraggly brown hair showing from under his cap. He lowered to one knee and grasped his boot lace.
“Who’s with you, and why are you here?” she demanded. “Answer me in a quiet voice.”
“No one’s with me, and I’m fixing my cousin’s Jeep.”
“Who’s your cousin?”
“Owen Mathie.”
“Whose place is this? Give me as much information as you can.”
“Grandpa Mathie-Bourner’s, but he passed away over a month ago. No one lives here anymore. We need to sell the place, just waiting on the lawyers, the will being read and all.”
“Where are Owen and Ewan?”
“They took off for the bunker in my truck. Said they’d leave the truck somewhere for me to pick up once they were done with it. They’ll call. They always do when they need a hand.”
Iain growled in her ear. “The Mathies are cunning.”
“And now they know we’re chasing them.” She lifted a hand toward Daniel. “You catch all that?”
“Sure did. I’ll go check out the shack.”
“Be careful.” She returned her gaze to the mechanic. “Mechanic man, I want you to keep your focus on my voice. You won’t see anyone moving about. What’s your name and where’s the bunker?”
“Name’s Gerry Mathie-Bourner, and I’m named after my gramps. No idea where the bunker is. My cousins are into some weird stuff that I’ve got nothing to do with it, but they’re kin, so I’ve gotta help where I can.”
“Can you shift?”
“Nah, only the two of them and their sisters can, and only on the night of the full moon. Rest of the time their ability to shift won’t rise. Blood’s too weak.” A confirmation of what they’d already known. He snorted then frowned as he worked his boot lace. “Stupid thing won’t do up right.”
Daniel snuck out of the corn field, crept onto the verandah then opened the creaky front door and whipped inside. Three magpies soared in a circle overhead.
“Gerry, give me your address and your phone number.”
He spoke it and she wriggled her cell phone from her pocket and sent the information to Daniel and Dad. “Gerry, how often do your cousins come out here?”
“Three or four times a year, just when they’re swinging by.”
“When they call you, I want you to call the number I give you and tell the man you speak to all the details your cousins pass on to you. You’ll remember this number w
ith ease when it’s needed, although you won’t remember why you must do as I’ve asked, nor shall you remember speaking to me or anyone else about this.” She recited the chief’s direct cell phone number.
“Right. I can do that.”
“Very good, Gerry.”
Daniel snuck out of the shack and dove back into the corn field. He shuffled toward her and said, “It’s all clear in there. Two tiny back rooms along with a kitchen and living area, although there’s nothing but dust coating moth-eaten furniture. The electricity’s on but nothing’s running off it. I got your cell phone message.”
“Gerry’s going to call the chief when his cousins get in touch with him.”
“Good job. Send the mechanic on his way.”
“Gerry, go back to what you were doing. You’re all alone at your grandpa’s shack.”
Gerry stood, rubbed the dirt from his knee and strode back to the Jeep.
Iain scooped her off the ground, set her on her feet and steered her back the way they’d come, his brothers and Daniel walking along the corn rows either side of them. All kept a watchful eye on their surroundings.
“I’ve got a call coming in.” Daniel holstered his weapon and answered it on speaker. “Hey, Chief. Isla and I picked up an additional team of men. Iain and his brothers, Finlay and Kirk.”
“I just had a vision of them. I’m not surprised about the addition to your team. I’ve got Nathan checking into this so-called bunker, and I’m running a check on Gerry’s truck.”
“Dad.” She edged closer to Daniel so her father could hear her. “Gerry said his cousins visit him three or four times a year, just when they’re swinging by. He’s got your number and I requested he call you if they visit. I added the usual demands, no recall and all.”
“Good work, although since we’re now stuck in a waiting game, there’s nothing more any of us can do until we catch a break somewhere or the Mathies surface again.” He cleared his throat. “If you wish, spend some time with Iain then return when you’re ready. In the meantime, Daniel can team up with Nathan.”
“Are you sure?” She’d love the time off to get to know her mate, but if her father needed her, she’d return.
“I’m positive, honey.”
“Who’s going to keep you on your toes while I’m gone?” She strode through the weedy dirt, the prophecy on her mind. Gilleoin’s sons will separate when they come of age and rule their own clans, yet there will come a time far in the future when a mated bond forms between the two clans. Only then must Gilleoin’s descendants once again merge, and the ‘power of three’ be unveiled. Aye, a mated bond had formed and it was time to embrace her changing future.
“You’re never far from me, Isla, no matter the distance separating us.”
“Then I’ll call you tomorrow, let you know how things are going.”
Daniel lifted the phone closer to his mouth. “Chief, I’d like to meet Isla’s new kinfolk before I head back. I’ll drive to Ivanson Castle first then return. I should be back by nightfall.”
“Travel safely.” Dad didn’t question Daniel’s need and neither did she. Both of them always had her back.
Daniel hung up while beside her, Iain walked with purpose.
Finlay cast her a look. “It must be interesting having a seer in the family.”
“It’s both interesting and frustrating. One can get into a whole lot of trouble, and that’s without even stepping one foot out of line. Dad has visions of things that can happen well before their time.”
“That’s unfair for you.” Kirk chuckled, a cheeky look on his face. “My parents would have loved to have had forewarning of all the mayhem we got up to as kids.”
“It’s just as well they didn’t.” Iain moved ahead and lifted some fallen stalks barring her way.
She ducked under his arm, her gaze on his as she skipped backward. “What kind of mayhem did you three cause? Spill some dirt.”
“Since I’m already aware of all the dirt, I’ll scout ahead and make sure everything’s clear.” Kirk nodded at Iain and disappeared.
“There’s no one around. I can’t scent anyone, can you?” She pressed one hand against Iain’s chest and stopped him in his tracks. Standing in front of him, she tipped her head to the side. “Come on. Share some of the good stuff with me.”
Daniel and Finlay kept walking and she waited, holding her place, not giving in.
Iain narrowed his gaze, those golden eyes of his focused fully on her. “There’s a lifetime of good stuff to share, and I intend to tell you every juicy detail of our shenanigans, but not right now.” He glanced over her head, his gaze drilling into Daniel’s back. “You two are closer than I’d imagined and it raises the hairs on my neck.”
“Daniel is devoted to Emma and their baby boy.”
“Yet you and he are partners.”
“We grew up together and our skills, once combined, work seamlessly as one.” She stroked his chest through his shirt. “I realize our relationship as partners is tighter than most, but we’ve been through so much together. Daniel’s the closest I’ll ever get to having an overbearing older brother.”
“I like that you said ‘overbearing’ and ‘brother.’” He covered her hand with his, twined their fingers together. “I’ll be less on edge once we’ve completed our bond. I apologize now for any difficult moments ahead. I’m sure there will be many.”
“I’ll forgive you, provided you give me one juicy detail, enough to keep me happy.”
“There was this one time”—he kissed the tip of her nose—“when the three of us decided it was time to up the ante on our sword training. We all swapped out our childhood wooden swords for the real deal, and after we did, we snuck outside in the dark of the night and battled each other in the training yard.”
“Did any of you get hurt?”
“We could barely raise those massive steel swords. We must have been all but six at the time.” A smile lit his eyes. “I almost cut my toe off when I dropped the blade and Finlay stuck the end of his into Kirk’s butt when he tried to swing it. Kirk couldn’t sit for a week and Finlay and I couldn’t stop laughing.”
“That’s priceless.” She chuckled, imagining all he’d said. “Do you still train together?”
“Our clan adheres to the old ways. We train daily just in order to expend our excess energy.”
“So do all within my clan.” She rubbed her cheek against his chest, drawing his scent to her skin. As she did, he straightened the collar of her shirt, his fingers sliding over her nape and tangling in her hair.
In her ear, he whispered, so sensually, “I intend for us to build a lifetime of memories together, ones we’ll cherish forever. Would you like that?’
“It sounds divine.”
“Then we’ll begin by indulging in an escape, one you’ll require some essentials for.”
“Essentials? You mean like clothing and such?”
“Aye, that’s exactly what I mean.” Holding her hand, he led her back along the track and into the small clearing where they’d parked. He opened the rear door of his SUV and she hopped inside and shuffled along while he called out to Daniel, “Pull over at the village’s department store on your way through. My mate’s riding with me.”
“Sure thing.” Daniel drove out first.
Kirk took the wheel and Finlay sat beside him while Iain buckled her in and spread his arm along the top of the backseat. He played with her hair, his fingers sliding through her long locks as they crossed the bridge and turned onto the main road. She lowered her window and sighed as the fresh country breeze chased across her heated flesh. His touch warmed her as nothing else could.
Leaning closer, he nipped her ear. “No more running. I want your agreement on that.”
“No more running.” She looked into his eyes, the promise of her words in her own. “Right now, I want some time alone with you, as promised. Although I won’t allow the Mathies to get away and neither will Daniel. That case takes precedence over all else.�
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“I agree. The innocent must be protected but from now on, we’ll work the same cases, whether that’s alongside Daniel and your kin, or with my brothers and my clan. I won’t take you away from your family, but so too I won’t leave my own.”
“One of my greatest fears in finding you has always been what I might lose in the process.” She rested her cheek against his shoulder. “I need my father and he needs me.”
“You won’t lose him. I’ll make sure of it.”
Her mind stretched and battered against his, trying to force its way in. A pathway would remain elusive until they’d completed the bond. She squeezed her eyes shut, the pressure intensifying tenfold.
“Are you all right?” He rubbed one thumb over her scrunched forehead.
“My mind demands the link too, just as yours did last night.”
“Then we’ll need to do something about it. I found touch helps.” He caught her hand, brought her palm to his lips and kissed her. He was right. A little of the pressure eased in her mind from his touch, although she needed far more touch than what he’d so far offered.
She claimed his mouth and he opened his lips under hers and kissed her in return, a heady merging of mouths that left her breathless and dizzy for more.
More she couldn’t also wait to claim.
Regardless of her running, her mate was all she’d ever secretly hoped he’d be.
Chapter 4
The ancient House of Clan Matheson, 1210.
Kenneth’s course was set. He strode along the stone sea-gate landing, released his skiff’s mooring rope, coiled and stored it under the center seat and with the oars in hand, rowed beyond the breakers. As the wind picked up, he tucked the oars away, seized the ropes and raised the sail. The wind filled it with a hearty slap and with his feet braced wide along the side, he steered his boat as it shot off like an arrow.
Along the loch, the village lay and the lass who would soon be his. All his senses honed in on her. Hell, all of his life, he’d known she would be close and a week past when he’d visited the village to aid his mother and grandmother’s fae people in the search for a lost child, he’d been entranced by Elizabeth, the elder sister of the lost lad. ’Twas as if his soul had already recognized their mated bond. Her anguish had gripped him and wouldn’t let go.
Highlander's Desire (The Matheson Brothers Book 1) Page 6
