Martha blinked as she waited to feel some kind of side effect. She kept her eyes on the empty in front of her and then felt her heart skip a beat, as it started to blur and shift in front of her. She tried to fight against her eyes, which were closing without her consent. Her brain felt heavy and full of clouds, as she tried to bring herself back around, but it was too strong and she could feel her head falling through the air, as it sped towards the table.
*******
Martha opened her eyes slowly and tried to ignore the swirling feeling in her brain. She could feel a dry itch in her eyes from sleeping too long and she blinked hard to try and bring some moisture back to them. She shivered as a breeze swept up around her neck and she pulled her cover further up to her chin. The material felt wrong though. It wasn’t the same soft cotton sheets that she had picked out from the small shop in the village. They felt scratchy and heavy on her body. She looked down and realized that the sheets weren’t hers, but more to her surprise was the fact that she wasn’t even in her room.
She sat up as the cold breeze started to wrap its hands around her uncovered skin. She looked in front of her and then behind her. She looked to the side of her and then down to the small hay bed that she was laying on. She didn’t get it. Her brain was desperately trying to get the joke. She could feel fright started to take a hold of her, as she realized that she didn’t even know where she was.
She stood up quickly and pulled on a long robe that was hanging over a standing mirror. She wasn’t sure whose it was, but she could feel her arms getting goose bumps as they fought against the cold of the air that seemed to nip with every breath she took. She walked around the large tent trying to look for clues, but there was nothing. She could hear the sound of a fire crackling beyond the sheets that made up her tent, and she walked over to the small double flapped doors and peered out.
She was in the middle of nowhere. All she could see were hills surrounding the small campsite that she had found her way onto. There was already a small crowd of people are the fire, but Martha could tell from the number of tents that she could see that there were more people than what were present. She pulled her head back into the tent and tried to stop the panic from taking over her. She didn’t know anybody she had seen from outside of the tent and they were all dressed, so strangely.
“Daughter!” A familiar voice called out.
Martha tried to place the voice with a face, but she couldn’t think of where she had heard it from before, even though she was sure that she had heard it.
“Daughter!” The gruff voice called out again in a thick Scottish accent.
Martha turned with a surprised look on her face, when she heard the door to her tent being ruffled.
“I’ve been calling for you.” A large man said with the same gruff voice that had been calling out.
Martha took a moment to explore the man with her eyes. He was tall with broad shoulders that seemed to fill the small space of the tent. His hair was fire red and seemed to stick out wherever it chose to. He had a scarred face, but it was softened with sparkly green eyes that seemed full of warmth and life.
“I’m sorry?” Martha said, but she could hear the questioning in her own voice.
“Is everything alright my child?” The man asked with a concerned face as he walked over to Marth and put his heavy arm around her shoulder.
“I’m fine.” Martha lied, as she tried not to buckle under his weight.
“Well, you sure don’t seem it. You know if you’ve got a touch of the nerves, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.” He said supportively.
“Honestly, I’m fine.” Martha said again, but this time without the shake to her voice.
“If you say so.” The man said with a shake of his head. “Are you ready then?” He asked her with excited eyes.
“I think so?” Martha asked, because she had no idea what exactly she was meant to be ready for.
“Are you sure you don’t want a little more time to get ready?” The man asked her with quizzical eyes, as he looked over her messy hair and half fastened robe.
“Perhaps, a little longer?” Martha asked.
“That’s not a problem Martha, I’ll tell your future husband to hold his horses.” The man said with a chuckle and then he walked back out of the tent.
Martha tried to steady her breathing, but she couldn’t. She could hear her heart beating in her ears, as she tried to figure out what was happening to her. She had fallen asleep at her kitchen table and woken up in a tent in the middle of the highlands. None of it made sense and trying to find the sense in it was making her head hurt.
She sat down at the small dressing table that had been put in the corner of the tent. She looked in the mirror was shocked to see a stranger staring back at herself. She lifted her hand up slowly, as to catch the reflection out and prove that it was all a hoax, but the reflection moved with her as one and she found herself frowning over her changed features. She pulled her hand through her hair that was the same red, as the man who had just been in to see her. It was wild, curly and seemed to run the length of her back. Her bright green eyes sparkled against the small flickering lights of the torches that were keeping the tent alight and her pale skin looked almost as white as snow.
She turned away from the mirror once she had braided her hair and looked at a small chest, which she was sure would contain clothes. She pulled open the heavy wooden lid and peered inside at the choices she would have. They were all dresses, but they were made out of a thick, heavy material, which Martha was sure would keep her warm. She finally settled on a dark blue dress that seemed to sharpen the color of hair and contrast against the color of her eyes.
******
Martha pushed open the curtains of the tent and walked out into the busy campsite. She could count at least twenty men all wearing leather guards and kilts. They were all well-built with wide shoulders and rugged faces. She examined each of them as she walked passed the fire and realized that each looked much like the one before him.
She stopped when she had reached the same fiery red haired man who she assumed was meant to be her father. “I think I’m ready now.” She said quietly.
He turned to look at her and then gave her an approving nod. “You look much better than you did this morning.” He said.
“Thanks.” Martha said with a quick nod.
“Are you excited?” He asked Martha as he stood up.
“I’m nervous.” Martha replied because it was true. She still had no idea what was going on or where she was. She had just decided to play along until someone explained it to her.
“You have no reason to me.” Her father said supportively. “You’re the prettiest flower this side of Scotland.” He said with pride beaming out of his eyes.
“You flatter me.” Martha said with a little shake of her head.
“With good reason.” He replied with a broad grin. “Come on then.” He said and then he gestured with his body for them to start walking. “You know.” He said and then he paused for long enough for Martha to turn and look at him. “It’s taken me a great deal of time to choose a man who was worthy of taking my daughter’s hand, and I’m sure that I’ve picked someone perfect for you.” He said, but his voice sounded a little unsure and Martha could tell that he was nervous himself.
“I am sure that you’ve picked well.” Martha said with a soft smile.
“I do hope so.” He said and then he stopped outside of a tent that had shadows moving from within. “He’s in there.” He said quietly and then he gave Martha a love filled look, before he turned and walked back towards the fire.
Martha watched him walk away, before she turned back to the tent. She could feel her breathing growing rampant as she tried to stay calm, but she could feel herself drowning in the situation. She was confused and scared. She didn’t know what was going on and now she was expected to meet her new husband? She stood still, as thoughts attacked her mind and it wasn’t until a voice brought her back into reality that she even r
ealized that she was still standing in front of the tent.
“You know, you could come in and get out of the cold?” A silky, deep voice said from behind her.
She turned to look, confused by who might be talking to her. She didn’t say anything, as her eyes met the most gorgeous man she had ever seen in her life. His hair was a deep red, but not bright like hers. Instead, it seemed to hold the same glow as embers do, when the fire has died out, but they are refusing to give up their heat.
His eyes were blue, but Martha could see tiny flecks of white in them that reminded her of the spray of the ocean on a windy day. They seemed to sparkle against the weak sunlight that was shining over the camp and Martha could tell that there was a depth to them that she might never reach the end of.
“I’m sorry, I must have got lost in my thoughts.” Martha said with a quick smile.
“Then come in here, get lost in the warmth.” The man smiled and stepped aside, so that she could enter.
Martha walked into the tent and looked around. It was much like the one she had woken up in, except instead of a dressing table there was a chest that seemed filled with weapons. She turned back to the man and waited for him to speak.
“You’re father tells me that you can hunt?” The man asked her with a curious expression.
“Then I’m sure he was telling you the truth.” Martha said because she had no idea whether she could hunt or not. “Might I ask your name?” She said when their eyes met from across the tent.
“They call me, Henry.” He said with a smile that only lifted up the left corner of his mouth. “Your father wasn’t lying when he said you were beautiful, huh?” He said.
Martha could feel her cheeks blushing over his compliment and then she immediately felt stupid for it. Whatever was going on didn’t change the fact that she had a husband at home. It didn’t change the fact that this clearly wasn’t her world and she didn’t belong there. “Thank you.” She said when it became clear that he was expecting a response.
“No need for thanks, when it’s only the truth I speak.” Henry said with a modest look and a little shake to his head.
*******
Martha had been in the strange new world that she had woken up in for a nearly a week. She had been sure that when she went to sleep on the first night that she would wake up and find herself back in her own bed, in her own house and in her own time, but that simply hadn’t happened. Instead, she had woken up the next day feeling the same icy breeze down her neck and rough itch of the sheets she was sleeping underneath.
She had learned much about the world that she had woken up in too, and as she opened her eyes on what was to be the eighth day of being lost in time, her stomach sank as she realized what it meant. Her father the red haired man had told her about the upcoming battle. He had told her that’s why they were camping out so far away from their village and it was today that the battle was due to start.
Martha pushed her legs out of the cold bed and shivered when the even colder air hit her. She walked over to her wardrobe and threw on her gown, before she walked out into the quiet settlement that hadn’t quite woken up yet. She walked over to Henry’s tent without making a sound and then pushed open the curtains, so that she could walk in.
Henry and Martha had been spending a lot of time together since they had first met. Martha had grown quite fond of his sense of humor and warm smile that seemed to reach all the way up to his eyes. At first she had felt guilty knowing that Ross was out there somewhere in time, but she quickly pushed those feelings away as the desire between her and Henry seemed to build up. There was something about him that reminded Martha of Ross. It was, perhaps, the way that he made her feel as though every smile, his lips gave was for her, or the way that his eyes filled with warmth whenever he looked at her.
She walked over to his bed and gently shook his shoulder. “Are you awake?” She asked quietly, although she already knew that he wasn’t.
“Well, I am now.” He said with a chuckle as he turned over and smiled at Martha.
Martha stood and smiled right back at him for a moment, before she felt his warm arms wrap around her waist and pull her onto the bed with him. She laughed as he lifted up the covers and let her slip inside.
“It’s freezing out there.” He said, as he pulled her even closer to him with his arm.
Martha could feel her body wrapping around him, as his skin seeped heat into her. “It certainly is.” She agreed.
“Do you know?” Henry said and then he paused, as he brushed back a bit of Martha’s hair behind her ear. “That I can’t remember what life was like before I met you.” He said gently. “It sounds stupid doesn’t it? We’ve only known each other such a short time and yet, my life didn’t really begin until I saw those beautiful green eyes of yours.”
“I know what you mean.” Martha said without really thinking. “I feel as though I’ve known you all of my life.” She said and she turned her body so that their eyes were meeting against the dusky light that was just starting to brighten up the day.
They said nothing to each other. Martha could feel the tip of her nose brushing against Henry’s, but she didn’t try to move away. She could feel the heat from his breath, as it caressed her cheek and she closed her eyes, so that she could soak up the moment without any distractions. That’s when she felt Henry’s lips brush against hers. The kiss was slow and soft at first. She could feel his lips, as they learnt their way around hers. She could feel his kiss as is deepened and started to fill with a hunger that she was could already feel.
She shifted herself closer to him and found that her whole body was pressed against his. She could feel his heart beating hard against her hand, which she had rested on his chest and she pushed his kisses back, as she began to give him her own. The moment melted away with each other them lost in the other, until Martha felt a wave of tingles running up her spine, as Henry’s hand slid up her leg and pushed gently for them to part.
She didn’t say anything. She didn’t move. She was too afraid that any gesture from her might scare him away and she didn’t want him to stop. She desperately didn’t want him to stop, as he lowered his lips from her lips to her neck and started to leave a trail of kisses down to her collar bone. She could feel her skin starting to speckle with goose bumps, but she didn’t care. His every touch was like bliss to her. She could feel her body crying out for more every time he moved away and she knew that he had complete control over her.
Their eyes met again, as he lowered his lips from her collar bone and started to work his way over to her heaving chest. She could feel the hot little touches from his lips, as he started to kiss her breast and then circle his tongue around her hardening nipple. She could see her breath hanging in the air in animated clouds, as she breathed heavily and tried to control the deep desire to moan loudly. He closed his lips around her nipple and she felt his teeth graze against it. A shiver shot up her spine and caused her to call out, before she could stop the nose. He moved his teeth again and the same feeling shot through her, but this time seemed to end between her legs.
The sudden attention change to the space between her legs surprised her, as she felt a sudden void that needed to be filled. She could feel herself getting wet over his every touch and her mind was already showing her all the things that he could do. She watched with excitement as his hand slipped up her leg again and this time brushed up against her panties, which she was sure were hot and damp.
She shivered at his touch and looked at him with eyes that begged for more. She needed him in a way that she had never needed anybody. She could feel her whole body crying out for his touch. She could feel her heart growing giddy with anticipation of what was to come and then the whole world went silent, as she felt him sliding closer to her and his hardness pressed against her hip. She let her hand fall from his chest, as she playfully traced a line down his chest and then across his hardness.
She could hear the way his breath got caught in his lungs, as she started to lig
htly run her hand up and down on his hardness. She could feel the way it throbbed over her touch. She could feel the way his body was building up with excitement over being with her.
“I can’t wait any longer.” She whispered to him, as his hardness throbbed to the same rhythm that she could feel between her legs.
He didn’t say anything. He just held her eyes and climbed on top of her. She was surprised to find that he’d managed to distribute his weight through his legs and she could barely feel his weight, as he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her deeply and passionately. She closed her eyes, as the moment took her away and then she felt his hand sliding down his hardness as he directed it to her. She held her breath as she waited for him to give her what she needed. She could feel her lungs burning with hunger, as she her head fell back and he thrust inside of her, filling her in a way that she was sure she would never feel again.
******
The next morning was quieter than usual. The men of the camp had gone to explore the nearby highlands for new land worthy of migrating onto and to maybe even return with dinner. Martha had heard the silence fall over 3 hours ago, but no one had come back to camp yet. She had begged her father to allow her to go explore with the men and when that failed, she had appealed to Henry too, but neither of them had allowed her to leave with them. Instead, she had been waiting back at the camp alone in this still strange world.
She stood up when she heard the squelching of footsteps against the wet earth that was outside of the tent. She walked over quickly and pulled open the curtains to find that the men were returning to the camp. She scanned the crowd for the two faces that she most wanted to see and felt her heart drop into her stomach, when she realized that Henry was being carried by two other men.
She rushed over to him without a thought for herself and instantly felt tears pricking in the corner of her eyes. Henry was awake, but she could tell from the glazed over expression in his eyes that he wouldn’t be for long. His leather protectors had been stained with a deep red liquid that Martha could tell was blood. She looked at Henry’s almost limp body and found the source of the bleeding.
HISTORICAL ROMANCE: Scottish Romance: Scars of a Highlander (Highlander Alpha Male Romance) (Historical Fantasy Scottish Time Travel Romance Short Stories) Page 2
