He stood up, leaned down and picked her up, cradling her in his arms as he walked her back to his room. The blaze of the fireplace was just as romantic and Emilia cooed as he laid her gently down on his bed. She watched as he unbuckled his belt and pulled his boots off before dropping his kilt to the ground. Her eyes widened at his massive erection bouncing out from the fabric. He looked down at her with darkened eyes, passion flowing from every pore as he climbed across the bed and sunk down on top of her. This was a man who did nothing without purpose .
Their lips met again, but this time with need and Emilia ran her hands over his chest and down to his manhood. He groaned into her mouth as she clasped her hand around his shaft and slowly began to move it up and down. She found herself already wanting him inside of her .
They kissed passionately as his hands slipped down Emilia’s body and plunged into her. He pulled through her folds and caressed her gently, getting harder as she moaned softly. His fingers moved over her center, circling around it with heated aggression and she could feel an orgasm simmering in her belly. She arched her back and spread her legs wider as he began to breathe heavily, circling his finger around and pushing them deep inside of her. She gripped on tightly to him and stared deep into his wanting eyes .
“I want to feel you inside of me,” she whispered .
He pulled his fingers out and moved overtop of her, allowing her to guide him towards her and push softly into her. She gasped as he filled her up, feeling every inch of him expand her and pulsate inside. He groaned, grasping the sheets as he moved his hips slowly back and forth .
He pulled her hips up to take him further and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He reached down and grabbed her thigh, pulling her body upwards as he thrust. Shadows of their intertwined bodies moved across the ceiling in the light of the fire, and Emilia stifled a deep groan as he pulled her closer and closer to ecstasy .
She began to move her hips against him, pushing forward as he thrust deep. His lust turned to pure need and they both picked up the pace, feeling themselves lost in each other’s touch. The sounds of their skin colliding echoed through the room and Emilia grabbed onto his shoulders as his body moved over her like waves .
Emilia could hear the need in his breath as she began to writhe underneath him, trying to hold her orgasm back just a bit longer. As he reached down and held her hips, however, slapping his body hard against hers, she released her control and erupted into orgasm, pressing her mouth against his and screaming into it in pleasure .
The feeling of her explosion around him pushed him over the edge, and Emilia could feel Dougal’s shoulders tense as he thrust one more time, pushing in deep and groaning loudly as he released his seed. His cock pulsated over and over again inside of Emilia as her own orgasm was heightened by his. Their bodies stilled, arched in ecstasy as they allowed the waves of pleasure to wash over them .
Slowly Emilia could feel his body releasing as he continued to move his hips in short, steady bursts. She collapsed down on the bed, sweaty from the encounter, and breathing heavy with emotion. Dougal leaned down and kissed her lips softly before moving to the side and laying his body next to hers. She smiled as he turned her onto her side and wrapped his large arms around her, pulling her in close. He pulled the soft fur covers over them and laid there silently, revelling in their bond. Emilia closed her eyes, feeling the emotions of the evening almost too much to bear, and listened as his breath slowed until he had fallen into a deep sleep .
Emilia grasped onto his hands, holding back tears, knowing she would have to leave this man tomorrow. She could never stay — could she? Was she even supposed to have come? She wished she could have had more time with Fiona so that she could try to understand what was happening to her. Emilia opened her eyes and stared out the window at the twinkling night sky. Taking in a deep breath, she resolved to enjoy this moment, as she would never again feel Dougal this close to her. Her fingertips moved over the locket still around her neck and she squeezed it, knowing that she would at least be able to take a piece of him with her when she left. Perhaps he would give her a lock of hair to lay beside the rose petals .
Slowly Emilia drifted into a deep sleep, hoping and praying the daylight would bring her some sort of reprieve from this breaking of her heart .
14
Dougal
T he sun peaking over the horizon and through the windows woke Dougal from his deep sleep. He kept his eyes firmly shut, however, not wanting to face the new day. He turned over in the bed and reached forward for Emilia’s soft warm skin, her taste still on his lips. As he reached, his eyes sprung open as he felt nothing but blankets and he looked up to see she was no longer by his side. The room was empty and quiet. Dougal turned onto his back, praying she had arisen early to help the girls and not returned to the portal without a word to him .
He pulled himself from the bed and dressed, still smelling the sweet scent of rose in the air as he tried to ignore the growing knot in the pit of his stomach. He opened the door to nothing but silence, and walked to the kitchen as he continued his search. He found the room empty of both people and any breakfast preparations, so turned and made his way to the great hall. Her dress was no longer on the floor so he knew she had been in here .
Frustration building inside of him at her complete disappearance, he walked to her bedroom and knocked as he opened the door. The room was empty and the bed was still made from the day before. She had not slept there at all during the night, and yet Dougal had not heard her move in the morning .
The knot that was building in his stomach turned to fear surging through his chest, and he began running through the house, checking every room, every corridor, and every closet without luck. How could she just leave after such a night of passion and love? She was scared, he knew that, but to just leave him without a word was incomprehensible .
Determined now, Dougal decided there was no way he could let her simply walk out of his life like that, without a word to him. He ran back to his room and threw on his belt and sashes. He pulled his hair back from his face and took his cloak from the chair. If she was returning to the portal he could hopefully ride hard enough to head her off before she reached it .
He realized now that he had no intention of letting her leave. He could no longer imagine any sort of life without her by his side, and certainly no other woman could ever take her place. He resolutely realized that even if he had to return to her world to look for her, he would find her and convince her to come back with him .
Dougal sheathed his sword and turned to the corner of his room, walking straight past his cousin who was standing in the hall. Dougal didn’t say a word but rushed for the door with meaning. He had to get to that shimmering door. What if it disappeared and he could never see Emilia again? Dougal brushed past his cousin, who was trying to capture his attention. As Diarmid called out his name, he waved him off, not having the time to answer any questions. Dougal reached for the doorknob, and felt his cousin’s hand grab his shoulder. Diarmid should know well enough to leave off when Dougal was in an angry spell, but he spun around to face him, wondering what could be so important .
“Diarmid, I donna have time for this,” he said abruptly, trying to turn toward the door. “I must find Emilia. She has left for her home and I must stop her before I am never able to find her again .”
“Laird Dougal,” Diarmid said desperately. “Emilia hasn’t left for home, she has been taken .”
That stopped Dougal, and he turned back around. “What makes you say that ?”
“I found this pinned to the door with a Buchanan flag,” he said holding up the necklace Dougal had given her just last night. “I can only assume it to be Emilia’s as I’ve never seen one of the other girls wearing it. She had gone out to pick berries for breakfast but never returned. When I came back from the stables I found this in the door .”
Dougal reached over and carefully took the locket, squeezing it in his palm. He closed his eyes and tried to center his
anger, knowing that exploding at that moment wasn’t going to get Emilia back. Alastair had gone too far this time, and he had aggrieved the wrong laird. Dougal shut the front door closed once more and slowly walked into the living area, leaning forward and staring into the fire. He had to get her back before they did so much damage she would never be the same, or worse, before Alastair slit her throat and left her for dead .
“Gather the elders and the others,” he said to his cousin. “We need a plan and we need one quickly .”
“Aye, Dougal,” he said, bowing and running from the room .
Dougal turned and walked toward the window, staring out as Diarmid raced for the stables, jumped on a horse, and sped down the road. The sky was dark and gray and Dougal could feel a storm brewing overhead. From behind him, he could hear the whines and sniffles of his sister and cousins. He regretted they had heard the trouble, but they would have to come to terms with it .
He turned and knelt down, allowing them at least the comfort of his arms. They had fallen in love with Emilia, and this was too much of a resemblance to their own mothers’ deaths. Arabel asked what she could do to stay busy, and Dougal suggested they prepare food for the coming elders and clansmen. After a long, agonizing hour, Diarmid rounded the corner and trooped up the walk, Ivor and the elders in tow. Dougal quickly walked to the door and welcomed them inside before seating them at the hall’s long, narrow table .
Once they were assembled, Dougal began pacing the room, trying to come up with a solution for this dire issue. He couldn’t let anything happen to Emilia, regardless of whether she decided to go back to her time or not. He was the reason she was here, and he had to make sure that she was taken care of, safe, and in the control of his clan .
She was the first woman Dougal had ever truly cared for. Knowing she was in danger, at the hands of the Buchanans no less, made him want to run out the door and jump on his horse to chase after her, as foolish as that may be. The others talked amongst themselves as he imagined Alastair bleeding from the throat after Dougal sliced his knife across his skin. He would pay for what he had done .
“We need to go after her,” Ivor said. “She saved his life and now we repay that .”
“But she is not family,” one of the elders said, speaking up. “Do we risk the safety of our clan for an outsider ?”
“This is not up for debate,” Dougal bellowed walking over to the table and slamming his fists down. “You are no longer in charge of this clan, I am. This woman is in danger and she was taken from our home, as retribution for our clan's actions against them. It is our responsibility to make sure she is found safe and alive. Consider the dishonor he has shown us yet again. Alastair has played around the rules for far too long as we sat back and made choices on a clan basis. He has overstepped his boundaries by coming into my home and taking what is mine. For that, he will pay, and if I find that woman in any other shape than she was last night, his entire clan will pay .”
“Wait a moment, son,” an elder protested. “Starting a clan war is serious and must be determined by all members of the clan .”
“I can speak for my entire family,” Ivor said, standing up. “We stand behind the Laird’s decision. And if ye think the rest would back down, you have severely underestimated the loyalty we have to Dougal MacGavin. I willna allow that girl’s blood to be on our hands .”
Dougal nodded at Ivor, who smiled over at him. The elders looked at one another and then back at Dougal, nodding their heads begrudgingly .
“Tell me Dougal,” said Leonis. “You call this woman ‘yours.’ Have you made your choice then? Is she to be your wife ?”
Ivor’s head swivelled around to look at his friend .
“I… I suppose,” said Dougal, nodding. “If she’ll have me .”
The elders laughed at that. What girl would not marry the laird of a powerful Highland clan? That Dougal should leave the choice to the woman was beyond them .
Dougal clapped his hands and sat down at the table, ready to make plans with Ivor. As they sat there preparing their attack, the others trickled in, getting appraised of the situation and learning the strategy of the rescue attempt .
Dougal realized at that moment that he had finally come into his own as a leader and his clan was committed to supporting him, regardless of what the elders said. Even his uncle, who had been a bit put off by being relieved of Master of the House, came strolling through the door, ready to offer his advice. He hated Alastair as much as, if not more so, than Dougal did and would like nothing more than to see him dead .
After they determined logistics, the men stood and went their separate ways to gather supplies, ready their horses, and prepare for battle. As Dougal stood at his window staring out at the clan working together for this cause, he could feel both pride and anger laced together in his stomach .
He was proud of his clansmen for thinking beyond their own bloodline. Too many times people’s lives were wasted because clans were so simple minded that they refused to see beyond their own surname. As Dougal stepped forward into his new role, he was making damn sure that the MacGavins would not go down in history as a clan only worried of self-preservation .
As his thoughts turned from his legacy to Emilia, he took in a deep breath. He had to believe that they were not too late, that she would be there waiting for them, willing to become his .
15
Emilia
H er arms were tied behind her back and her mouth was gagged as she sat in a wooden chair in the great room of a castle similar to that of the MacGavins. This, however, was far more elaborate, built to impress more than protect .
Her eyes darted nervously back and forth across the room, landing on Alastair Buchanan laughing maniacally as he talked to his fellow clansman. Emilia didn’t know what he wanted and why he had taken her, but she was terrified. She knew this man had no qualms about killing a prisoner who was no longer of any use to him. She would be no different. She had to determine his purpose with her in order to learn how she could save herself and prevent her death .
When Emilia had woken that morning, she had turned over in bed and ran her hands across Dougal’s chest, feeling his heartbeat under the warmth of his skin. She was completely smitten, having spent the night wrapped in his arms, giving in to the love for him she had tried so hard to avoid .
She had woken early that morning, unable to sleep as her mind contemplated what the future — or past? — had in store for her. When she thought of returning to the 21st century, her heart twisted and she realized how desperately she wanted to stay .
She had spent so many years studying this land and this time that it almost seemed familiar to her. She had always been so lost in the past that now that it was her reality it didn’t seem that strange at all. Of course none of that mattered so much as the man beside her .
When she first met him, he had been so angry, and so rude. While she knew that anger, that history was still a part of him, she also saw so much more than that. She saw a man who loved his family, and would do anything to protect his clan. He was a fierce warrior, a brave leader, and yet had also shown her vulnerability and kindness .
She had snuck out of the bed, trying not to wake Dougal. She wanted to cook him breakfast and bring it back to bed where she could take her time feeding it to him. She thought pancakes might be in order. Hopefully they would have enough in the kitchens she could make them out of something other than potatoes. After checking the stores, she decided to pick berries from the bushes in back of the castle to add in .
Emilia was so used to people coming and going from the farm that she paid no attention to the two men arriving on foot from the back road. She hummed to herself as she picked the berries and piled them into her apron, her mind going back to the night before, and the love she and Dougal had made in the light of the fire .
She knew she had said she was leaving that day but as she piled the berries in her arms she thought about what Fiona had said about following her heart and that if she
truly did so, she would end up exactly where she was supposed to be. Today, her heart was leading her right back into Dougal’s arms. Besides, she figured there was no real harm in staying at least another day until she could figure out if she truly wanted to remain in this century or if it was the residual pleasure from the lovemaking that was leading her decision .
She reached for another berry and paused, feeling a presence behind her. Before she could turn she felt an arm around her waist and a hand press against her mouth, silencing her. Emilia dropped the berries on the ground and flailed wildly, trying to get away from whoever was holding onto her, but the strength in the arms that gripped her was too much to fight .
She was carried down to the edge of the tree line and out to the road, where her hands were tied behind her back and she was dropped in the back of a wagon. She looked around, desperately trying to see the culprits, but they threw a blanket over her head before she could get a good look. She managed to work it off by the time they walked her into the Buchanan estate, as she immediately recognized the flags .
Visions of their soldiers lying dead in the fields surged through her brain. Were they going to kill her? Was she just a pawn in their attempt to get back at the MacGavin Clan? Would Dougal even know she was gone? She remembered feeling someone yank at her locket and she looked down, realizing it had been taken. She now squirmed slightly in her chair and watched as the clansman laughed, speaking in Gaelic about how satisfied their laird would be with their prize .
Someday Her Duke Will Come Page 22
