by Donna Grant
Ever.
Her legs wrapped around his waist, her ankles locked at his buttocks as his tempo increased. Her already primed body began to tremble with this new pleasure.
With her breaths coming in great gasps, she met him thrust for thrust. Body to body, heart to heart they gave in to their desires.
The longing within her was filled, her need met by a man who was much more than he admitted. The world ceased to exist. There was only the two of them, locked in a dance as old as time.
Each time Charon plunged within her, he went deeper, harder, faster. Her skin was drawn tightly over her bones as the pleasure coalesced into a fiery ball within her.
The orgasm hit her like a tidal wave. She was swept away and over into an abyss of pleasure so intense, so amazing she lost herself in it.
Just when she thought it might end, Charon continued to move and prolong her bliss until she screamed his name, the second climax taking her before the first was finished.
Laura held on to him, refusing to let go for fear that she might not come back to herself. The muscles beneath her hands moved and bunched as he continued to thrust.
He pumped mercilessly within her, until he plunged deep and gave a shout as he climaxed.
She didn’t know how long they lay there before she felt him pull out of her, and then tuck her against his body. She didn’t want to think of what was coming, but reality was quickly crashing down around them. Whatever time they had, she would take it and cherish it always.
A smile formed when Charon’s arms tightened around her. It made her feel special, something she hadn’t ever experienced before. But then again, just being with Charon had always made her feel like she truly belonged.
She knew he was awake by the way his fingers played along her skin, as if he couldn’t stop touching her. Laura squeezed his arms and saw the room begin to lighten from the coming dawn.
“There’s more to the story, isn’t there,” she whispered. She didn’t want to bring it up, but she had to know.
Charon’s fingers paused before he said, “Aye.”
“It’s a part you don’t want to tell me, why?”
“Because of what you’ll think of me.”
His honesty brought tears to her eyes. “I know what I think of you already. That won’t change.”
“I doona wish to test your theory.”
She sighed when he kissed her neck. “Our time is at an end, isn’t it?”
“Unfortunately.”
“It wasn’t long enough.”
“I fear an eternity wouldna be long enough for me to explore your body.”
Laura sat up and faced him. His words gave her the courage she needed to tackle what was coming. “I’ll go to the MacLeods, but I expect to see you there. Promise me you’ll be there, and I’ll go.”
The wicked grin he gave her sent chills along her body. “I’ll be there once I’m finished with Jason Wallace.”
“No,” she said with a frown. “I don’t want you going after him by yourself. He isn’t alone. He’ll have people with him. I’ll go to the MacLeods, just keep Phelan here with you.”
“Laura—” he began.
She gave a shake of her head, refusing to give in. “That’s the only way I’ll go to the MacLeods.”
He blew out a loud breath as he came up on his elbow. He stared at her before he nodded. “All right. Get dressed. We’ll gather a few things from your flat while I contact Fallon.”
It was good enough for her. She jumped from the bed and hurried into the bathroom where she had discarded her clothes when she took her shower. She glanced over her shoulder to see Charon getting dressed as well.
Laura finished putting on her bra and panties and grabbed another shirt from Charon’s closet when Phelan was suddenly standing in the doorway.
“We need to move. Now!” Phelan shouted as he tossed a bag at her.
Charon didn’t hesitate to find his boots and quickly put them on.
Laura opened the bag to find jeans, hiking boots, and a shirt from her flat. She dressed in record time with her heart thumping wildly in her chest.
“Did you call Fallon?” Charon asked Phelan as he grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the bedroom.
She fought to keep her balance as fear began to course through her. “What’s going on?”
Phelan gave a vicious shake of his head. “The damn mobile phones willna work. I tried the phone in the office and pub, but the lines have been cut. I wanted to get you and Laura on the road before I tried to find another phone.”
Laura collided with Charon as he came to an abrupt halt. Charon’s face was filled with fury. She’d never seen him so angry, and she almost felt sorry for anyone who would dare to challenge such a man.
“We willna be going on the road,” Charon said as he went still as death.
“What?” Laura and Phelan asked in unison.
Charon glanced out the opened sliding glass door and then to Laura. “We’re going into the woods. No one knows this forest like I do. There’s a place we can hide until the others arrive.”
“Charon,” Phelan said, his voice low with uncertainty.
“If we get on the road, I guarantee Wallace will have something waiting for us,” Charon said. “He expects that I’ll take Laura to the MacLeods.”
She watched the two men stare at each other for several long tense minutes.
“Fuck,” Phelan ground out as he turned away. After a moment he faced them again. His face was set in grim lines. “I’ll get the others as quick as I can. Just make sure you doona let Wallace find you.”
“He willna,” Charon promised.
Laura then found Charon staring at her. She tried to smile, but the growing apprehension wouldn’t let her.
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
“Implicitly.”
With a nod to Phelan, Charon once more dragged her after him. They ran down to the second floor, and then out of the building and down the stairs.
Just before they reached the woods, Laura glanced back, but Phelan was already gone. An ominous feeling overtook her, one that said very bad things were coming.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Charon kept his pace slow. He knew it would be easier to pick Laura up and use the speed his god gave him to get them to safety, but then that would open up questions he didn’t want to answer.
But was her life worth those questions?
“Shite,” he said as he came to a halt.
Laura was already gasping from running over the rough, ragged terrain, and they hadn’t gone quite a mile yet.
“What is it?” she asked, leaning over with her hands on her knees.
Charon looked back the way they had come. He could already feel the sickening, cloying feel of drough magic. It turned his stomach.
The forest was vast, but was it big enough to escape Jason Wallace? Charon looked at Laura. She was an innocent, targeted because of her association with him.
What a fool he’d been to waste those precious few hours making love to her instead of getting her safely to MacLeod Castle. That lost time could well seal her death.
“He wants me,” Charon said. “If you run while I lead them away, you might have a chance.”
She slowly straightened, her forehead creased in a frown. “You’re leaving me?”
“To save your life.” He hated the accusation in her voice, but perhaps that’s because he didn’t want to leave her. He wanted to stand beside her, to feel her body next to his.
“I’ll be safer with you.”
Charon raked a hand through his hair as his frustration mounted. “I’m powerless against a Druid, Laura. Once he finds me, it’s over. If you’re near, your life could well be forfeit.”
“We have a head start.”
Charon wasn’t sure how quickly Phelan could get ahold of the MacLeods. Would it be in time to save Laura? He was certain it wouldn’t be in time to save him.
After so many centuries, his death had finally arri
ved. He had to die, but Laura didn’t. And she wouldn’t. He’d make sure of that.
“I’ve fought Jason and his Druids before. I know what to expect. You said you trusted me. I’m asking you to trust me now.”
She swallowed and put her hands on her hips as she looked away. “What do you want me to do?”
He grabbed her shoulders to force her to look at him. “The cabin is another three miles. Continue southeast on this same heading. You’ll find it.”
“And if I don’t?”
“You will,” he said reassuringly. “I’ll keep them heading in the opposite direction. Wait for Phelan at the cabin. If Phelan doesna show, only go with Ian Kerr.”
“What of the MacLeods you speak of?”
“Ian will be with them. He and his woman, Dani.”
“Charon—” she began.
He gave her a hard, quick kiss and turned her in the direction she needed to go. After a second, he gave her a little push. “Now, hurry!”
She stumbled forward, and then took off at a brisk run. Charon watched her for a beat before he turned the other way. He quickly removed any evidence of him and Laura, and then set about making sure he left a trail anyone could follow.
* * *
Phelan wanted nothing more than to walk up behind Jason Wallace as he got out of his BMW and snap his neck. But getting close enough with all the droughs surrounding Wallace was the problem.
Phelan growled, his god instantly rising to his call. He looked down at his hand to see his skin turn gold. He clicked his long claws together, itching to sink them into the flesh of a drough.
How he despised them. It was always droughs who continued to think they could take over the world. Based on the idea that they were better than anyone else.
Phelan stayed in the shadows, his eyes glued to Wallace. The man was a prick, and would soon follow Declan and Deirdre into death.
There was a niggle of worry in Phelan’s mind though. Jason had proved to be smarter than either Declan or Deirdre. The question was, was he smart enough to best the Warriors?
Phelan waited until Jason and several droughs went into Charon’s pub before he glanced at a nearby rooftop to see one of Charon’s men watching him for the signal.
Phelan gave a nod, and the man ducked from view. Thanks to Charon’s careful planning, the town knew what to do in case of such an event. Phelan just hoped everything went according to plan.
He’d have liked to wait and see where the other droughs with Jason were going as they fanned out in the village, but Phelan kept his gaze on the big brute of a Warrior with Jason.
There was little time to waste, so Phelan crept away and entered through the back door of the bakery. The old woman lifted her head from stirring the batter and gave him a swift nod before going back to her baking.
Phelan reached for the phone on the wall and quickly dialed Fallon MacLeod’s number. Fortunately, Fallon answered on the second ring.
“We have a problem,” Phelan said as he kept watch through the small window of the kitchen door that led out into the main store.
“Phelan?”
“Aye. Wallace is in Ferness. He had a man try to kidnap one of Charon’s employees, a woman. The kidnapping failed, so Wallace showed up here. They were going to use Laura to get to Charon.”
There was a mumbled curse through the phone before Fallon asked, “Where are Charon and the woman now?”
“Wallace somehow cut off the mobile phones. Phelan took Laura out into the woods to try to stay hidden until you and the others arrived.”
There was a sound as if someone covered the phone, and then Phelan heard Fallon bellow for Quinn and Lucan.
“I’ve no’ been to Ferness so I can no’ jump there,” Fallon said when he got back on the phone. “But Ian has been to the village. Where are you?”
“At the bakery. Be warned, Wallace and the droughs are all over town.”
There was some talking Phelan heard through the phone, and he picked up Ian’s voice. Then suddenly, Ian was on the phone.
“Phelan, can you get to the roof of the inn?”
“Aye,” Phelan answered.
“Good. Meet us there. Now.”
Phelan hung up the phone and hurried out of the bakery. The inn was across the street and four buildings down. He was halfway there when he spotted Ian atop the roof before he disappeared.
In the next instant, there were nine people surrounding him.
“Fuck me,” Phelan muttered as he stumbled backwards when he collided with Ian.
Phelan looked around at the Warriors—Fallon and Lucan MacLeod, Hayden, Ian, Ramsey, Logan, and the only female Warrior, Larena, who was also Fallon’s wife.
Next Phelan took note of the Druids who had also come—Gwynn and Isla, Logan and Hayden’s wives respectively.
Phelan barely glanced at Isla. He hadn’t forgiven her yet for following Deirdre’s orders and tricking him when he was just a small lad to go with her. He’d been locked in Deirdre’s mountain until he reached manhood, and then she unbound his god.
“We doona have much time,” Phelan said.
Ian glanced around. “Where in the woods is Charon?”
“There’s a cabin he uses. It’s deep in the forest, and verra difficult to find.”
“Have you been there?” Ramsey asked.
Phelan gritted his teeth. “Nay. That was the one place Charon wanted absolute privacy. I never tried to find it.”
“Holy hell,” Quinn said.
Isla let out a deep breath. “We can’t sit around. We need to get in the woods and find the cottage.”
“What we need is Broc,” Fallon said before he disappeared.
Phelan was thankful for Fallon’s teleportation abilities. Broc—who was able to find anyone, anywhere—would help make up lost time in discovering where the cabin was.
In a matter of seconds, Fallon returned with Broc.
Phelan glanced down the alley to the street. “I’ll make sure no one sees you.”
They lined up behind him as Phelan pointed to the pub. “The quickest way into the forest is behind the pub.”
“I’ve found him,” Broc whispered as he stood with his eyes closed. “Charon is alone.”
Hayden frowned and turned his gaze to Phelan. “I thought you said there was a woman with him.”
Phelan stopped himself from rolling his eyes. “Charon probably sent her to the cabin while he led Jason in the opposite direction.”
“Aye,” Broc said. “Jason and six droughs are in the woods. But…”
“But what?” Phelan ground out when Broc’s voice faded away.
Broc’s black eyes opened to stare at him. “Wallace isna heading toward Charon. He’s following another trail.”
“Laura,” Phelan whispered.
Ian clasped Phelan’s shoulder. “Get us in the woods.”
Phelan was all too happy to use the power of his god. It was a trick that had come in handy more times than he cared to admit.
The ability to alter someone’s perception of reality was easy enough to do, especially when all he had to do was hide the fact that he and the others were crossing the street.
He gave a nod to let everyone know it was time to get moving. They all crossed without any mishap, Phelan walking right behind a drough in the process.
Just when he was about to take the drough out, Ramsey caught his eye before Phelan could kill the Druid. Phelan knew they couldn’t risk being discovered, but if one less drough was out in the world, the better.
Once they were all safely in the woods, Phelan released his power. Now it was time to find Charon and Laura. And hopefully end Jason Wallace.
* * *
Charon knew the instant Jason decided to track Laura instead of him. Fear snaked down Charon’s spine as he used his unnatural speed to race through the forest toward Laura.
His legs pumped faster than ever before, while the question of why Wallace wanted Laura so desperately rolled through his mind.
C
haron jumped down a cliff, landing on bent legs, before he leaped over a wide stream. He was close to the cabin, and the feel of drough magic was so thick, he was gaging with it.
When the cabin came into view, he almost sighed with relief since Jason wasn’t there. Yet.
Charon busted through the door of the cabin in time to see Laura whirl around. She flew into his arms, and he held her tightly, squeezing his eyes closed at the feel of her.
“I didn’t think you’d get here,” she said as she pulled away.
Charon pulled out of her arms to shut and bar the door even though he knew it wouldn’t keep Jason out. Then he slowly turned to face Laura. “It didna work. My plan. Jason followed you, no’ me.”
“Me?” she asked, confusion marring her face. “Why?”
“I suspect he wants to make me suffer. What better way than to do it to someone I care about.”
She leaned against a wall, dazed with the knowledge he shared. “What do we do?”
“We wait and hope Phelan has gotten ahold of the MacLeods.”
“And if he hasn’t?”
“Phelan willna let us down.”
She sighed loudly. “How long do you think it’ll take?”
Charon opened his mouth to answer when he felt the drough magic closing in. They were out of time.
Which meant he had only one option. But he would do anything to keep her safe.
He walked to Laura and pulled her against him as he took her mouth in a sensual kiss that convey his need, his longing for her.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry I waited so long to kiss you. I’m sorry you’re in this mess. But mostly I’m sorry for what you’re about to see.”
He turned and walked to the door. He placed his hand on the doorknob when she called his name.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
Charon looked over his shoulder at her and forced a smile. “I’m saving you. When I go out there, they’ll be distracted. Leave through the hidden door beneath your feet. Run. Doona stop, Laura, and doona look back. Phelan and the others will find you.”
“Charon, wait.”
“Be ready,” he warned. “As soon as I go out, you have to run.”
