Catrìona smiled up at him. “You are so handsome.” She brushed his long hair behind his ears and pulled him back down for another long and lingering kiss.
They were both covered with a light sheen of sweat, and the ceiling fan was slowly cooling them with the light breeze. Still connected, Braden pulled up the sheet before rolling onto his side, pulling Cat with him. He kissed her on the forehead and gently held her to him. Wrapped in the protective cocoon of his arms, Cat relaxed. Slowly Braden ran light fingers up and down her back.
“Um, that feels so good. Don’t stop,” Catrìona muttered in sleepy response.
Braden smiled. “So demanding.” He couldn’t stop himself. He kissed the top of her head. She felt perfect wrapped in his arms. He closed his eyes.
“Welcome to New Orleans, Braden.”
He chuckled and hugged her close. “Now that’s a welcome I could get used to.” He smoothed her hair. Contentment crashed over him.
Looking up into his beautiful dark eyes, she whispered, “I love you.”
Braden stilled. “I love you, too.” And he did. But would their love be enough to breach the chasm of differences between them?
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Braden woke in the middle of the night desiring the beauty he held in his arms. Unable to help himself, he began worshiping her body with his mouth. Now and then he came to a section that he felt he must linger over, if only to do her justice.
His lips awakened as he lingered at her navel. He felt Catrìona awaken and he smiled at her moans of appreciation to her wake-up call. He moved his lips over the smooth skin of her stomach toward her straining nipples, loving the way her breasts filled his hands, and how responsive they were to his touch. He loved the way she smelled of sin and tasted sweet like warm summer strawberries. After he drove her crazy by loving her breasts, he applied himself to other areas he wanted to explore. He took considerable time working his way down to her feminine center.
Slowly he parted her nether lips and gently blew on the exposed flesh, eliciting a soft moan from her as she arched into his touch.
Braden lowered his mouth and loved her until she came to a screaming climax. Before her shudders subsided, Braden entered with one deep thrust. Catrìona wrapped her legs around his hips and he thrust in, rocking her to another powerful orgasm and joined her in the exploding ecstasy.
Both of them lay motionless and Braden listened as Cat’s heavy breathing slowed in time with his own. This thing happening to them was not only happening fast, but was more than a quick tumble.
Braden felt Catrìona slip back into sleep. He stared at the shadows dancing across the ceiling and walls. He vowed to do all he could to make sure that this time she was not taken from him, and that they would grow old together. His time in the fade had taught him a great deal and one thing he had learned was to value what you had; fate was a fickle mistress. He must not let his pride get bruised by having his lass take care of him. For now he’d enjoy the moment. A perfect moment with his love in his arms.
* * *
Dawn arrived too early, silently heralding a new day. A day Braden knew would be filled with challenges and questions. Always more questions. He rolled over and stared at the beauty lying beside him. The night before had been incredible. They had made love twice more through the night; each time better than the last. He was waxing poetic and it was pitiful. Him. A Highland warrior overcome with emotion.
Coming into this time period was proving to be more emotional than he planned. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed her.
But in the bright light of morning he allowed himself to dwell on the things that had bedeviled him for the past few days. What was he going to do in this new country, in this new time? He knew there was no call for a Highland warrior. The world had changed while he lived in his misty realm.
Until he had boarded the plane, it really hadn’t sunk in just how much. Oh, he’d been aware of the changes the world had undergone, but hearing about airline travel and experiencing it were two very different things. Internet, SUVs, cell phones. This was all so much to absorb.
He was letting pride get in the way. Vain and stupid pride, but it was all he had in many ways. In the parameters of his mind, he admitted to his fear. Fear of not fitting in, fear of letting his lass down.
And there was more. This place was haunted; he felt the souls that had long departed this plane for the next. He also felt unsettled. One thing he always knew was you couldn’t outrun your past and the future was always uncertain.
Stifling a yawn, Catrìona snuggled up to Braden. “I love that you are here with me.” She placed nibbling kisses along his chest.
Braden chuckled and pulled her closer. “I love being here too, darlin’.”
Catrìona draped her arm over his stomach and kissed his shoulder. “Did you sleep well?”
“Aye. Like a babe.” Braden ran his fingers through her soft hair.
“Did you hear Alec come home last night?”
“No. But don’t worry about him. I’m sure he’s fine. He’s a grown man, lass.”
He watched as she wrinkled her sweet little nose. “I know, but I still feel responsible for him.”
“Why?” Braden sat up against the headboard and held her close.
“I don’t know. There’s something about him that makes me feel maternal.”
“Aye, he does act like a lad at times. But I’m sure your friends will take care of him.”
His words caused her to laugh. “That is true.”
Catrìona stretched like a lazy cat and moaned in pleasure. “I’m hungry.”
Braden felt his stomach rumble. “Me, too.”
“Since I don’t have anything to eat here at the house right now, do you want to get a shower and go to Café du Monde? They have the greatest beignets.”
“What is a beignet?”
“Only the most delicious doughnuts in the world.”
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go.” Braden flipped back the covers and smacked Catrìona on her sweet backside. “Get a move on, woman.”
She laughed. “Well, I didn’t expect that modern phrase to come out of your old world mouth.” She leaned in. “That’s going to cost you.”
* * *
Cat wrapped her fingers around Braden’s as they walked around the Vieux Carre on their way toward Jackson Square.
Café Du Monde was a tradition in the French Quarter for tourists and locals alike. Normally the locals would stop by on their way home after a long night at the bars. Tourists came in droves to experience the world-famous, puffy, squared, powdered sugar-covered doughnuts and the delicious café au lait.
Cat and Braden purchased their beignets and coffee before sitting on the terrace to people-watch while they enjoyed their sugary treats.
Oh, how she’d missed these while in Scotland. She sank her teeth into the warm sugary pastry. Powdered sugar covered her lips and fingers, but she didn’t care.
Braden sat back and watched her consume two in short order. Laughing, he reached over and kissed the sugar off of her lips. “I love to see a woman enjoy her food.” Cat swallowed and then stuck her tongue out at him, pitching a wadded-up napkin at him. He laughed and ducked the flimsy missile.
Sitting back and licking his own lips in appreciation, he smiled at her and took a bite of his own beignet. Soon he managed to polish off six and was finally content.
“What would you like to do today?” Cat picked up another beignet and took a delicate bite.
“I dinnae ken. What do you suggest?”
Cat knew they needed to talk about the future, what they planned on doing, and to introduce Braden to his new home, but the coward in her wanted to put this off for as long as possible. “Why don’t we take a walk around and maybe take a carriage tour?”
Braden took a sip of the hot chicory-laced coffee. “This beverage is delicious.”
“Don’t sound so surprised, big guy. I think you’ll find the food here is going to give y
our Scottish cuisine a run for its money.”
“I’m not familiar with that turn of phrase, but I’ll trust your opinion.”
“Good man.” She winked at him and he was stunned anew by how much this Catrìona was so different from the woman he’d known all those centuries past. But, it was different in a good way. She was self-assured and not timid. He hoped her childhood had been a good one. He knew the parts when she’d come to visit her grandma. What was a mystery was the time she had spent away from the kindly old woman. One day he’d ask her about that time.
* * *
Cat loved to sit still and let the world pass her by. It was fun to listen to all the different languages one could hear if they were listening closely.
New Orleans was really an incredible place. There was so much history regarding the river city and so many different ethnic backgrounds. French, Spanish, Cajun, Creole and so many more had made their home in her wonderful city.
It was also a city that had much to offer like jazz and Dixieland music, the arts, historic landmarks, restaurants with a whole range of options from barbeque to French cuisine and everything in between. There was also something for people that believed in things like voodoo and love potions. Many of the visitors were the fans of Ann Rice. She alone had managed to create a whole new society and tourist draw. The vampire tours and costume balls were large crowd pleasers.
The stores that lined the famous streets were as eclectic as the wares that were offered within. One could find anything they wanted on the old streets of the French Quarter. Sex shops, high-end boutiques and tourist shops could all be found right next door to each other. It was definitely a city that could accommodate any type of person or taste.
It was probably due to all of these things and more that Cat loved her city. That and the fact her family had been living there for generations.
She and Braden enjoyed a bit of walking and window-shopping for a while before they decided to head over to the Riverwalk, a long tunnel-like marketplace housing hundreds of specialty shops right along the river. They stopped for something to eat at the food court then headed back outside to the bandstand to enjoy the local jazz band.
Cat’s cell phone rang and she checked the caller id, before flipping it open.
“Hey, Meags, what’s up?”
“Hey, sorry to interrupt.”
“You’re not interrupting anything.”
“Okay. Well, don’t be upset, but Alec stayed over here last night.”
“Why would I be mad? I’m not his keeper.”
“Oh, good. Anyhow, he’s the most delicious thing I’ve ever seen.”
Cat laughed. “That’s what you said about the football player before I went to Scotland.”
“Yeah, but that guy didn’t make my toes curl in my Docs. Oh, and the man can kiss like a . . . there are no words.”
“I know what you mean. Glad you’re enjoying your time with Alec.”
“Do you care if he stays here? He’s not really up to sharing quarters with you two.”
“What? This coming from a woman who said she didn’t really care for the whole Scottish guy thing? Remember he’s not an elf or a naughty bad pirate.”
“Very funny. I know what I said, but Alec is not like anyone I’ve ever known.”
Cat didn’t want to admit it, but she liked the idea of having Braden all to herself. Now they could get to know each other properly. Not that she didn’t enjoy Alec; she did. But she and Braden had a past they needed to sort out and a future that was too uncertain for words.
“I think that would be a great. Let me check with Braden.”
Cat covered her phone. “Do you care if Alec stays with my friend, Meagan?”
“Not at all. Now I’ll have you all to myself.”
She loved the way that man thought. “It’s fine, Meagan. Take care of him for us.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.” Meagan screeched and then giggled. “Talk to you later, Cat.”
Cat stared down at her phone. “Alec’s wasted no time.” She laughed.
“He never did.” He took her hand. “Come on, lass. I have a powerful hunger.”
“You just ate piglet.” She laughed.
“I’m not hungry for food.” The dark promise in his eyes made her weak in the knees.
“Now, why didn’t you just say so?” she teased.
“Sassy wench. That’s going to cost you.” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down.
“Promises, promises.”
“Aye, lass. ‘Tis a promise I plan on keeping.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Braden had kept his promise. The promise to pleasure Cat had been an easy one to keep.
As much as he wanted to keep her in bed and hide away from the world, he knew that wasn’t possible. They had a great deal to address. The problem with this was, he knew Catrìona had questions, and he didn’t have the answers. He hated the not knowing.
One thing he did know was he loved Catrìona and would do anything for her.
“Hey, handsome.” Cat kissed his cheek.
He rolled over and brushed a curl off her forehead. “Hello, beautiful.” He loved how her face colored. His Catrìona was not used to receiving compliments.
“I don’t know about you, but I could spend the rest of my life right here in your arms.”
Braden stiffened at her words.
“What’s wrong, Braden?” Catrìona propped herself up on her elbow.
“Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.”
“Don’t lie to me. I felt your response to my words. You’re not sure about our future together or what will become of us, are you?”
The questions and doubt in her voice were too much. Braden tossed back the covers and stalked to the French doors, throwing them open. The cool breeze drifted over his nude body. Panic and frustration were a potent combination that sent adrenaline pumping through his veins. He wanted to spend the rest of his life by her side but there was a hitch. How long was that going to be? And, although things were perfect in the privacy of their bed, he knew they couldn’t spend all their time ensconced in their private world. Life never worked that way.
“Braden, why won’t you look at me? Why won’t you just tell me what’s going on?”
Each of her words cut like a sharp knife. “Because I don’t have the answers you’re looking for. Why do you have to ask so many bloody questions? Why can’t you simply accept things as they are?”
He regretted the words the moment they passed his lips. He was acting like the perfect arse. Her worries were understandable. Braden cringed inwardly at hearing the anger in his voice directed at Catrìona. “I’m sorry.”
He turned and faced her. She was sitting up, her glorious dark hair falling down around her in waves. Her fist clenched the sheet up to her throat, and the wounded look in her eyes almost brought him to his knees. “Catrìona . . .”
“Don’t. Don’t say anything else.” She wrapped the sheeting around herself and escaped to the bathroom.
The slamming of the bathroom door echoed in the stillness.
Braden looked back out over the street and wondered if he’d just thrown away the only happiness he’d ever known. Had he just blown the one thing he’d waited centuries to have?
* * *
Cat sat on the edge of the bathtub and wondered how their perfect afternoon in bed had turned into such a mess. She’d always had a talent for pushing when she should sit back and wait. Did this qualify as their first fight?
The question of why she’d kept pushing bothered her. Truth was . . . she didn’t want to hear the answer. Not really. Her intuition was telling her she wouldn’t like it by half.
So what should she do now? Should she walk out of the bathroom and pretend nothing had happened? Was she a talented enough actress to pull that off? Cat highly doubted it. She’d never been one for the stage and in order to be convincing she’d have to deliver an Oscar-worthy performance. Admittedly, she didn’t know Braden. Not really.
She knew what it felt like to have him deep inside her body. But what about the silly little things? What was his favorite color? What was his childhood like? Oh, he’d shared a little bit with her when they were still in Scotland. But she didn’t know if he was a serious little boy, mischievous, or thoughtful.
What was more incredible than anything was the fact they’d shared a past. A past she didn’t remember. A huge part of her worried that he was still in love with the old Catrìona. Maybe the person she was now would not hold him in thrall. Another worry to add to a very long list.
Wiping away the tears that slipped down her cheeks, she stood and dropped the sheet. Before she did anything else, she’d take a shower. There were things to do like going and getting food, and checking on Meagan and Alec. When backed into a corner she’d do what she did best—find other things to focus on.
* * *
Braden heard the shower start and contemplated going to her and picking up where they’d left off . . . minus the argument.
He was in the process of doing just that when the phone rang. “Hello.”
“Braden, it’s me, Alec.”
Braden pinched the bridge of his nose. This was not what he needed to deal with now. His silver-tongued cousin wouldn’t have made a mess of this situation. No, he’d have seduced the lass into forgetting what she’d been talking about. “What do you want, Alec?”
“Meagan and I were thinking you probably hadn’t filled the larder.” There was whispering in the background. “I mean the kitchen, and would want to grab a bite to eat.”
“Ah. Aye, we haven’t any food in the place. We’ve been busy.”
“Me too, cousin. I must say, I love the hospitality of this place.” Alec chuckled.
“Alec,” Braden warned.
“What is your problem? You sound grumpy.”
“I’m not grumpy.”
“Right. You always sound like you’re chewing on nails. What did you do now?”
“What makes you think I’ve done something wrong?”
Alec laughed. “Ah, let’s see. You lack any tact, and I know you.”
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