Claiming the Highlander

by Kinley MacGregor

  He smelled of sweet, decadent elderberries and tasted of ale and honey. Of raw, earthly desires, and in that instant she understood why the women had complained so mightily at being deprived of their husbands.

  Who would want to give this up for even an instant? She wished she could die right now. Right in this moment of pure heavenly bliss. If she lived to be a thousand years old, she’d never forget the taste of his mouth, the feeling of his arms holding her tight as her senses whirled from the earthy scent of his body.

  For this one tiny moment, he was hers. And she reveled in it.

  Braden’s head swam at the sensation of her lips beneath his. Her breath mingled with his as her tongue gently explored his mouth. He could tell by her hesitation that he was the first ever to lay claim to her lips, and that knowledge only added to his pleasure.

  Aye, she was a spirited and bold lass, one who beguiled him in ways he’d never known.

  “Maggie,” Braden whispered against her lips, savoring the feel of those two syllables against his tongue while he longed to savor even more intimate parts of her body. Slowly. Leisurely.

  Aye, he wanted to lay her down and make love to her for the rest of the night.

  And right now he could kill the MacDouglas for the absence of her hair. How he wished he had known in time to stop her. Never had a woman done such for him, and all because she didn’t want to betray him.

  It was much more of a sacrifice than a scoundrel like him deserved.

  Braden trailed his lips from her mouth to her jaw, then down to her neck. He inhaled the sweet fragrance of her skin and drank the moonlight and warmth from her flesh.

  She ran her hands over his back, wrenching a groan from him as he lifted the hem of her plaid from behind and found out just what she wore beneath it.

  Nothing.

  The thought drove him close to madness.

  Aye, he would have her.

  Now. This instant.

  He fisted his hand in the plaid as he licked the gentle hollow of her throat. He both felt and heard her moan as she tilted her head back and gasped for more.

  “Am I intruding?” Sin’s voice sliced through Braden’s pleasure, almost instantaneously stifling it.

  Damn the man’s presence!

  Reluctantly, Braden lifted his head to see Sin standing in the shadows. Braden narrowed his gaze on his brother, wishing the man had learned a little better timing in his years of warfare.

  Unperturbed, Sin met his gaze with just a hint of a smile. “If you want, I could take a quick walk about the church and come right back. That should be enough time to finish the deed, should it not?”

  Releasing the plaid to fall back around her hips, Braden gave Sin a droll stare at the insult to his stamina. “For you, perhaps. I, on the other hand, prefer to satisfy my women.”

  Braden felt Maggie stiffen in his arms an instant before she pulled away. “It’s dark now. We’d best be going.”

  Braden clenched his teeth, but as Sin stepped out of the shadows and into the bright circle of moonlight, he forgot his anger in another wave of laughter.

  Maggie looked at him with a frown.

  Braden couldn’t speak; all he could do was motion to Sin’s legs, which were almost gleaming white beneath his plaid.

  “Do you want to die?” Sin asked nonchalantly.

  “Nay,” Braden choked. “But have you seen your legs, man?”

  Sin growled low in his throat as he shifted the pack over his shoulder. “Aye, and I know they’re whiter than a dove’s tail. With any luck the sun should blister them up fairly well on the morrow and by the time we reach anyone who might care, they should be a half-normal color.”

  Sin inclined his head to Maggie. “Given how hers look, I doubt anyone will ever notice mine anyway.”

  The thought sobered Braden instantly. “Aye, I thought of that myself. We’ll have to be finding her a larger pair of boots, I’m thinking, and some padding for them.”

  Sin tossed a brown pair of boots to him along with two worn plaids. “I always plan ahead.”

  “Good lad,” Braden said as he handed the boots and cloth over to Maggie. “You must come in handy on all those sieges the English love so well.”

  “I hold my own.” Sin looked about the small courtyard. “So, where are our horses?”

  “We’ll be walking,” Maggie told him as she sat down on the ground and exchanged the new boots for her old worn pair. “We’ll draw less notice that way.”

  The stunned, horrified look on Sin’s face was comical.

  “Walking?” Sin choked. “Och, now, lass, are ya tryin’ tae kill me?”

  Braden laughed at Sin’s brogue. “Do yourself a favor, brother, if we come across anyone we don’t know, don’t open your mouth. Your brogue is more likely to give you away than your legs.”

  Sin glowered at Braden. “I don’t want to hear another word from you about my legs. I’m sure by the end of tomorrow they’ll be acceptable even to you.”

  “Let us hope so. For as it stands now, it’ll be a race to see which of you gets us hanged first.”

  Sin cast an interested stare at Maggie’s legs. “Aye, but between the two, I must say I prefer hers.”

  Braden smiled lecherously as he ran his gaze over them as well and wondered how long he’d have to wait before he got a full taste of them. “As do I.”

  Rising to her feet, Maggie flushed. “Would you two stop? Is there ever a minute in the day when a man doesn’t have wenching on his mind?”

  “Aye,” Braden said with a smile. “But it usually involves the minute and a half that we’re eating.”

  She shook her head. “And Lochlan wondered why I chose the method of reaching his warriors that I did.”

  Before Braden could retort, a door opened from the dormitory across the yard.

  Maggie gasped as she dodged into the shadows. The men quickly followed suit.

  Pegeen paid them no heed as she crossed the yard to the chapel, then vanished inside.

  “That was close,” Maggie whispered. “We’d best be leaving before someone sees us.”

  Braden nodded solemnly before leading the way out the small postern gate that Fergus had used earlier that day.

  They moved quickly through the heather-covered moor behind the kirk and into the thick woods that separated the MacAllister and the MacDouglas lands. None of them spoke as they put as much distance as they could between themselves and anyone who might want to stop them.

  It was nearly two hours later, and long after the dense, dark trees shielded them, that Maggie dared to speak. “Do you think we stand a chance of changing Robby MacDouglas’s mind about the feud?” she asked the men.

  “Not a bit,” they said almost in unison.

  A deep frown drew her brows together. “Then why are the two of you willing to do this?”

  Braden gave her a grim look. He’d been dreading this question, and though he knew he should probably lie, he couldn’t bring himself to be dishonest with her. Maggie was probably the only woman he had never lied to, and for some reason he wanted to keep it that way.

  “Because,” he said, “if you fail, then I know a certain way to end this feud once and for all.”

  “And that is?”

  “I plan to kill Robby MacDouglas.”

  She stumbled at his words, then stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth open. “Nay, you canna be serious.”

  “Of course I am,” Braden said. “You want this feud to end and this is the only guarantee I know.”

  Maggie felt tears prick her eyes. How could he?

  And all this time she had assumed he was going with her strictly to protect her.

  Foolish woman, her mind snapped. You should have known he didn’t do this for you. Do you honestly think he’d care whether or not you live or die?

  But she couldn’t say that out loud. Instead, she whispered, “I thought you were being chivalrous. You said you couldn’t let me go alone.”

  “Listen to me, Maggie. The only
reason I’m allowing you to come along at all is that I know you well enough to know you’d trail along after us on your own, anyway. At least this way I can keep my eye on you. Believe me, I did learn a thing or two about you while you were growing up.”

  “And I learned a lot of things about you as well, Braden MacAllister, most of which left me in tears. But of all the heartbreaking lessons I learned, I never thought I’d see the day when you’d just go off to murder someone.”

  Her words stung his conscience. Braden had no intention of murdering the MacDouglas. It would be a fair fight. But when he left MacDouglas lands, the feud would be over.

  One way or another.

  “If you’re too squeamish to do what must be done, woman, then I suggest you hie yourself home where ’tis safe.”

  Frustrated, she turned to Sin. “Could you please talk sense into him?”

  “Why?” Sin asked. “For once, I completely agree with him. I would think the life of the MacDouglas would be paltry when compared to those of your family.”

  Maggie was aghast. “You would honestly walk up to him and just cut his throat?”

  Sin’s dark gaze became empty, dull. “I’ve done worse things in my life.”

  Braden flinched at the tone, for he knew only too well just what sort of things his brother had done. He patted Sin on the back.

  “Maggie,” Braden said quietly, “I am willing to do what I know is foolish. I’ll give you time to talk to Robby MacDouglas. If you succeed, then there will be no more bloodshed. But if you fail…”

  Anger darkened her eyes. “Thank you for adding that.” Her sarcasm made a mockery of Sin’s usual tone. “Let’s see if I have all this correctly. Right now I have hanging on my shoulders the lives of our laird, your brother Ewan, and my four surviving brothers, as well as the hopes of all the women of both our clan and the MacDouglas’s, and now the very life of Robby MacDouglas rests with me too. Have I forgotten anything?”

  “There are a few things more,” Sin added dryly. “If you fail, you’ll probably get yourself killed, along with Braden and myself. If the MacDouglas kills Braden, I’m rather sure Lochlan will spend the rest of his life trying to eradicate all the MacDouglases from this earth. Should I die, King Henry would be rather put out himself, and since he’s not overly fond of the Scottish and completely fond of me, there’s no telling what he might do to retaliate. Knowing the king as I do, I’m sure it won’t be pleasant.”

  Braden cleared his throat. “This would probably be the place where I might mention that Sin is one of the king’s chief advisors and a close personal friend.”

  Maggie rolled her eyes toward heaven. “Sweet Mother Mary,” she breathed. “Now you’ve got me responsible for two countries going to war?”

  “Aye, but that’s only if you fail.”

  Maggie squared her shoulders as she started trudging through the forest. “Very well, then. I shall not fail.”

  And then under her breath she added, “I hope.”

  Chapter 8

  By the time they finally stopped for the night, the full moon hung high above their heads. A thick, eerie mist clung to the forest floor as the cool white light dappled all around them, streaming through the trees and shrubs at strange angles. Braden took a deep breath and savored the smell of clean air that held a hint of heather and pine.

  It was the kind of night for fairies and other fey creatures to frolic, and for more earthly creatures to take advantage of in quiet, undisturbed embraces.

  It was also the kind of night Braden had once used to frighten a young Maggie into a screaming fit years ago.

  Braden smiled at the memory.

  No older than ten, Maggie had trotted along after Anghus and him one night when the two boys had snuck out of her small cottage in search of dragon’s treasure. What they found was a red-haired imp who wanted to tattle on them unless they let her join them.

  Being the clever ones, they had told her she could come along only if she could keep up.

  Anghus had led her forward slowly while Braden had run ahead under the pretense of scouting for trolls and pixies. Once he was out of sight, he had doubled back to come up behind an unsuspecting Maggie.

  Just as they were reaching the cave that was their destination, Braden had goosed her and shouted.

  Terrified, she had screeched like a banshee, cocked him with one swift kick to the groin, then ran home shrieking the whole way with her arms flapping above her head.

  To this day, he swore he could still feel the pain of that kick. But how funny she’d looked running through the forest, screaming that a dragon was after her.

  He wondered if she recalled the event. If she did, she showed no signs of it tonight as they stopped. She just looked weary-eyed and exhausted.

  Silently, they took shelter beside a narrow stream, in a small clearing of grass and heather. Braden handed Maggie her pack as Sin headed off to gather wood for a fire.

  Maggie unpacked the dried meat, cheese and skins of ale and made them each a small meal.

  Once Sin found enough wood, Braden started the fire while Sin used a stick to clean mud and wet leaves off the soles of his black leather boots.

  “How far do you think we’ve come?” Maggie asked before placing a piece of cheese in her mouth.

  Sin snorted. “Since we’re on foot, my wager is less than half a league.”

  Braden tossed a handful of dried leaves at his brother. “Could you be any more pessimistic?”

  “Aye, but for the lady’s sake, I’m trying to behave.”

  The worst part was, Braden knew Sin’s words for honesty. And God save them if Sin gave full rein to his biting sarcasm. The man could make Job leap from a cliff.

  Choosing to ignore his brother, Braden answered Maggie’s question. “I’m sure we’ve covered a few leagues. How long did it take you to reach the Lady MacDouglas last time?”

  She hesitated as if she were silently debating something. “Four days,” she said at last.

  “Four days?” Sin cursed. “Why didn’t one of you say that to me before we left? Haven’t any of you people ever heard of horses?”

  Braden shook his head at Sin’s typical anger. He placed another piece of wood onto the fire before rising to his feet and moving to sit by Maggie. “He’s teasing you.”

  “The devil I am. If God had meant man to walk about, he’d have made smaller horses.”

  Befuddled by the logic, Braden frowned at Sin. “That doesn’t make a bit of sense.”

  “Well, if I weren’t so tired from walking, I’d be able to think up something more intelligent to say,” Sin retorted.

  “Excuse me,” Maggie interrupted them. “Do the two of you always carry on in this manner?”

  “Mostly,” Sin said, before Braden could respond.

  “Well, then, I beg you to cease. I canna take any more of it tonight.”

  And so they withheld their conversation while they ate a light repast.

  Maggie was grateful for the silence, not that they were really all that annoying with their bantering.

  In truth, it was funny at times.

  But what she feared was that one of them might become enraged by the teasing and lash out as her brothers so often did. She couldn’t begin to count the number of suppers that had started out with just a good-natured jab or two and had ended in all-out warfare as one of her brothers lost his temper and attacked the other.

  Both Sin and Braden were large and dangerous enough to inflict serious damage on the poor hapless soul who angered them. She doubted if a quick dousing of water would calm them as it did her brothers.

  Most likely, if she tried, they would turn on her. And that would be truly terrifying.

  After they finished their modest supper of bread and cheese, Braden banked the fire while Sin took up watch on the edge of camp. Maggie dug her large woolen green and yellow plaid out of her pack and settled down just before the fire.

  To her instant chagrin, Braden laid down behind her.

&nbs
p; Close behind her.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, rolling over to look at him.

  “Combining our warmth,” he said nonchalantly as he snuggled up to her spine.

  “I’m quite warm enough,” she said quickly. Indeed, with him this close, her body felt as though it were on fire.

  “What?” Braden asked with a teasing note in his voice. “Are you afraid of me?”

  “Nay,” she answered honestly. It was herself that scared her. As well as the strange emotions his presence evoked.

  “I won’t hurt you, little blossom,” he said, smoothing back a lock of her shorn hair.

  Mo chreach, his hand felt good in her hair. His strong fingers did the most wicked things to her scalp.

  He gently rolled her back to her right side, facing the fire, and positioned his body right behind hers, not quite touching, yet so close she could feel the warmth radiating from him to her.

  “Just close your eyes and go to sleep,” he said, his breath stirring her hair.

  As if she could really do such a thing while so much thrumming heat pounded through her body. She’d never felt so alive or alert.

  Every tiny part of her body could feel Braden. The skin over her neck where his breath fell in a soft, rhythmic pattern. Her back where his body heat warmed her through and through.

  But worst of all, she felt him in her heart. For it was there where he made her feel secure. There where she ached for a dream that could never come true.

  Her throat tightened at the thought.

  And it was through her pain that she wanted to enjoy this night. To pretend that for one moment he was hers and they were lying here as lovers.

  With the dream foremost on her mind, she tried to relax. But that was as impossible as sleeping.

  Aggravated at herself and her foolish dreams, she propped her head on her arm and forcibly closed her eyes.

  A few minutes later, her arm fell asleep. The rest of her remained painfully conscious. Unwilling to let Braden know how much his presence disturbed her, she tried to wad her plaid up into a small pillow.

  Her shoulder began to ache.