by Tara Nina
Jasper appeared beside Travis and Fin. “Nay, m’cariad. These men be here ta help. Meet Travis Shain and mi kinfolk, Fin MacIntyre.”
“Ye kinfolk?” Padon questioned. His eyebrow arched as he sheathed his sword.
Jasper quickly explained everything to Padon in their native tongue of Gaelic. Lynn listened in awe of the beauty of the language and wished she understood. But from the expression on Padon’s face, it was clear Jasper spoke of Fin, explaining how they were related and why the two men were here.
* * * * *
When he woke, Padon’s vision was not clear and he knew not where he was. Two men stood in his direct line of sight, strangely dressed but seemingly unarmed. But he took no chances and kept them at sword’s length until he regained composure. Where had they come from and were they associated with MacGillivray were the questions that filtered through his fogged brain. His heavy-headedness felt as if he’d drunk a vat of ale and it seemed as if cobwebs lingered across his eyes, blurring his vision.
Though he’d had a lot of time to think while trapped throughout the day, Padon’s thoughts were contorted, making it difficult to sort time and place for several long seconds. Cursed. That’s what Lynn and Jasper told him last night. His brathairs and he were cursed to stone for centuries by the black-magic words spoken from MacGillivray.
Lynn’s touch to his arm grounded him and warmed his cold heart. Her smile eased his angst and had him wanting to protect her, hold her and kiss her until his world was made right. But Jasper interrupted the moment. He listened to Jasper’s explanation of who the two men were and why they were there. By the time Jasper was finished, Padon needed a second to think.
To gain his bearings, he closed his eyes. Though he tried not to let it, the last memory from that fateful day roared to life, taking over his mind, making him relive it again as he had throughout the hours trapped in his stone tomb. He’d heard his brathair Ian yell some sort of warning, then silence. No longer did he hear Ian’s voice. He’d grabbed his sword and left his room in search of what had happened. The sight of his brathair frozen in stone terrified him. What sort of black magic was this? He’d heard a noise and tracked it.
MacGillivray stood in the great hall, circling his brathair Struan, who now resembled poor Ian. Frozen, unable to move or fight. Padon sprang into the room, sword held ready to spear MacGillivray through his darkened heart. The bastard turned as Padon ran toward him. He didn’t blink, just spoke a verse and life stood still. The last he remembered, his sword stopped mere inches from the demon’s chest. Somehow he knew before his brain shut down he’d fallen to the same fate as his brathairs.
When he rose from the curse for the first time last night, he thought it was a bad dream. That it hadn’t really happened, because he woke in the hunting cave and not the castle. He’d shaken it off as a horrible nightmare brought on by too much drink. Seeing a woman in the waterfall gave him an opportunity to believe his theory. She was beautiful and receptive and a gift given to him by his best friend, Jasper. At least that’s what he’d tried to convince himself as they’d shared intimacies. But the appearance of Jasper’s ghost had set him straight with the help of Lynn.
Padon opened his eyes and let his gaze glide across Lynn’s angelic features. Her nearness aroused his desire and made it easier for him to shove the nightmare into a corner of his mind, for now.
But knowing a descendent of MacGillivray’s lived to carry on his demonic work shredded his soul. He gallantly swallowed his hatred and held it deep within, waiting for the perfect time to let it resurface into a useful tool of revenge. No one need know this level of anger he kept at bay, especially this gentle lamb beside him. Her beauty knew no such beast like the one he knew would rear its ugly head once he found MacGillivray.
“Padon, are you all right?” she asked.
“Aye, mi wee one.” He liked her soft voice and its odd lilt turned him on. A Texas twang she had called it. He knew not where she was from, but admired how they grew their women—full-figured, with ample bosom and a set of hips meant to handle childbirth. Aye, she was built nicely. “Just gaining mi bearings. Takes a moment ta shake the curse from mi bones. Having ye beside mi makes it an easier task ta accomplish.” He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
Blue eyes filled with the brightness of the sun held a hint of joy and happiness within them as heat colored her cheeks. When she smiled, it lit up her face and he sensed she truly understood his needs. He fingered the soft auburn curls that framed her face. It was cut too short for his liking. If he asked, would she grow it long for him?
Would she get mad if he tugged one straight and let it go? Before he could stop himself, his hand took action. Looping a curl between his fingers, he gently pulled it straight and let go. It did exactly as he thought it would by popping right back into a tight curl beside her face. She didn’t slap his hand away, instead she laughed. The warmth of her laughter filled him, making him smile.
“The only time those aren’t so curly is when I let it grow long,” Lynn stated, fingering her hair as if ensuring it had returned to its proper place.
He touched her chin, lifting her face to look into her eyes again. “Long. Aye. Would be nice on ye, mi wee one.”
Padon stared at her until the realization of what Jasper had said sank in. These men were here to help him return to Castle MacKinnon. Though he hated looking away from those gorgeous eyes, he dropped his hand to his side and looked at Jasper over Lynn’s head. “Man by night. Stone by day. Apparently that part o’ the anti-curse be true.”
“Aye,” Jasper replied.
“Castle MacKinnon can no be reached in one night.”
Fin stepped forward and offered, “We have a way ta get you home. We just have ta get ta my grandfather’s farm before sunrise.”
“How far?” Padon asked, looking at the wiry man.
“Travis and I have made the hike in a day and a half, but that was pushing it.” Fin looked him directly in the eye. Padon liked that. It was a true measure of a man. If he couldn’t or wouldn’t meet his gaze then he was untrustworthy.
Padon said, “We shall leave now.”
“We’ll gather our gear.”
“Return here, quickly,” Jasper called to the retreating backs of Travis and Fin as they hustled toward the stairs.
“Do you have shoes or a shirt for Padon?” She posed the question to Jasper. Lynn’s sweet concern for his state of undress made him pause as he adjusted the sheath around him.
Padon grinned at her. “Milady, ’tis no a concern.”
Jasper laughed heartily. “Lynn. Padon tends ta be without shoes and shall we say clothes as much as propriety allows. Ye be lucky he had on a kilt the day he was cursed.” At the mention of that day, a dark shadow seemed to pass over Jasper’s expression. “The curse be o’ no luck at all. If’n I were there I could have saved ye.”
“Nay, Jasper,” Padon replied in a reassuring tone. “MacGillivray was determined ta end Clan MacKinnon. Ye would only have fallen ta the curse as well.”
“I should never have left the castle that night,” Jasper snapped, but more at himself rather than at Padon.
Padon rubbed his chin and his tone was laced with innuendo. “As I recall it, ye left with a young maiden.”
“Aye.” Jasper’s head hung low in shame.
“Did ye enjoy the night?”
“Nay,” Jasper admitted. “Naught happened. I tried and failed. She no be ta mi liking.”
Padon laughed. “More likely the amount o’ ale we drank that night interfered.”
Jasper let loose a nervous laugh but Lynn saw right through it. Padon didn’t seem to be catching on to what Jasper was trying to say. When Jasper looked at her, his expression spoke what he couldn’t and Lynn’s heart took a nosedive to her stomach. From what she understood, Jasper felt guilty for not being at the castle to save his friend. And worst of all, he was trying to prove himself to be a man by bedding a woman, which apparently didn’t
work. Oh lord, what was she going to do to help him?
Padon moved toward the waterfall. She followed. Jasper lingered where Padon had stood for centuries. When she looked back, she saw a light brighten around him and he shook his head as if saying no to someone she could not see.
“Padon,” Lynn called out and he stopped. She pointed to Jasper.
His shape flickered and it appeared he struggled to keep his visceral appearance. Padon hurried to his side. He knelt in front of his friend. Tears shimmered in his eyes.
“’Tis time for ye ta go?” His voice cracked and Lynn sensed he felt deeply for Jasper.
“Aye. The angels call. Ye are free. Mi presence be no longer needed.” Jasper looked at Lynn. His eyes darkened with sadness. “Take care o’ him. See him home safely for mi.”
She stepped forward, reaching in the direction of Jasper’s cheek. It didn’t matter her fingertips sank into his image and coldness shot along her arm. “Tell him,” she simply stated as she held his heartbroken stare. When he shook his head, she said it again. “Tell him. Leave this world in peace with your heart free. Don’t let regret darken your heavenly travels.”
Jasper looked as if he wanted to protest but changed his mind. He floated to kneel before Padon and took his face in his hands. Lynn swallowed against the sudden lump in her throat at the beauty of what happened in front of her. If Padon felt the chill she knew graced his skin from Jasper’s touch, he didn’t show it.
“I have loved ye mi whole life and more,” Jasper said. Passion and love filled each word of his declaration and Lynn had to breathe deeply to keep from crying.
“And I have loved ye as close as one o’ mi brathairs,” Padon answered. His rich baritone seemed to falter as he spoke.
“I know, mi gaol—love, m’caraid—my friend,” Jasper continued. His fingers on one hand disappeared when he ran them through Padon’s hair, yet the hair didn’t move from the touch. “I have been thy bloodless brathair. In mi heart, ye have been mi leannan—lover.” Jasper rose. His image became less visible by the second.
Padon leapt to his feet, reaching for Jasper, but his hands swept through his ghostly frame. “I knew, Jasper,” Padon admitted, raw emotion lacing his words. “I knew. But I did no feel the same kind o’ gaol for ye.” His head hung low. “Please forgive mi.”
Jasper’s hand cupped Padon’s chin and though Lynn knew he felt nothing but cold, Padon lifted his face to meet Jasper’s gaze. “There be nothing ta forgive. We shared a friendship like no other.” Jasper smiled. “I am free ta walk in the Garden o’ Angels. Ye are free ta follow thy heart, mi gaol.”
He leaned and brushed a kiss across Padon’s lips and Lynn could no longer hold back her tears. The look in Padon’s eyes said it all. He loved Jasper and that was a memory Jasper would take with him to the other side.
Jasper floated until he was near the ceiling then spun at a rapid rate of speed. Padon placed a fist across his heart and stared directly at Jasper. “Thank ye, m’caraid. May ye rest in peace. Ye deserved so much more than mi.”
“Nay,” came Jasper’s voice from the spinning ball of light. “Ye were m’caraid and that was enough for mi.”
Jasper suddenly stopped spinning. He shot Padon a smile then burst into a flash of brilliant colors and stars, which rained down upon them. His spirit was gone.
Chapter Seven
She couldn’t be sure how much they heard or saw, but the spell of the scene that had just played out before her was broken when either Travis or Fin cleared his throat loudly. Padon swiped the back of his hand across his eyes, and she knew he hid his tears from the men. But if he’d looked at them as she did, he would have seen them both brushing tears from their eyes as well. They understood the love between men.
She swallowed hard. Padon and Jasper never had a chance. Though their feelings were not exactly the same for one another, they still loved each other deeply. Their unrequited affair made her realize love was a valuable gift from the heart, to be cherished when it hit. Mixed emotions had her rethinking her feelings for Padon. What if this was more than just a sexual attraction? What if she hadn’t cheated on Eddie’s memory, but in fact started a new relationship off with a bang?
He abruptly interrupted her train of thought.
“We must leave,” Padon stated then turned and headed for the waterfall again.
No one questioned his direction. He walked along the ledge that ran toward the waterfall. He glanced over his shoulder at them. Lynn followed close behind with Travis behind her and Fin behind him. At the waterfall, he gave them a nod then disappeared into the cascading water. Lynn paused for a second, not certain if he remembered the way correctly. She’d had sex with Padon in the waterfall, but hadn’t noticed a pathway behind it. She looked at Travis and shrugged but wasn’t given a chance to say anything. A strong hand reached from the water, grabbed her hand, tugged her into the steady stream and through to the other side.
The wet stones made her slip and she fell against his slick body. His arm held her securely around the waist. Water dripped from his hair, giving him a playful yet sexy, roguish appeal. When his gaze met hers, moist heat formed low in her pelvis. Lordy, he had a way of turning her on with simply a look filled with sexual innuendo. His eyes darkened and his muscles flinched tighter around her. He was about to kiss her and every ounce of her wanted him to as she pursed her lips, making ready for his touch.
Travis and Fin pushed through the waterfall to stand behind her. Lynn gathered her wits and pressed her palm flat against his healthy chest and steadied herself before easing out of the safety of his hold.
“Thank you,” eked from her suddenly dry lips. If they hadn’t been interrupted, she would have gotten another taste of his magnificent mouth.
He simply nodded and turned without a word. His gorgeous back of wet, slick muscles disappeared into an opening in the wall that she hadn’t noticed while washing and having sex. Well, the sex part had kept her a bit preoccupied to the point she wouldn’t have noticed if a train had barreled out of that tunnel. Travis nudged her arm with a flashlight from his pack.
“Here, you might need this.”
Lynn nodded. “Thank you. I forgot to ask if you wanted me to carry anything.”
“Nay,” Travis replied. “You worry about keeping up with him and let me and Fin do the hauling this time.”
She switched on the light and entered the mouth of the tunnel. She located Padon standing at a fork in the extended cave. He held an ancient-looking lantern in his hand and appeared to be trying to light it when he looked her way. His brows bunched and he dropped the object. When she reached him, he pointed at her hand.
“Magic?”
“No.” Lynn realized he wouldn’t know anything about the gadgets of her time. She took a second to explain as she handed it to him. “It’s a flashlight. You turn it on and off with this switch.” She placed it in his hand, put her hand over his and maneuvered his fingers on the switch, showing him how it worked. He played with it several times before finally leaving it on.
He grinned at her and his expression was that of a bewildered kid with a new toy. “This way,” he said with an edge of excitement in his voice that had her smiling inwardly as he walked into the left corridor.
She followed, as did Travis and Fin. It seemed like hours they traveled this route at a steady pace, which wouldn’t have been possible if Padon hadn’t taken hold of her hand to help guide her through the rough terrain.
The moon was high in the sky when they reached the other end of the tunnel. Moonbeams shone down in an array of streaks of nightshade grays and whites where she stood looking up at the opening in the Earth’s floor. Padon handed her the flashlight, grasped her hand and pointed the beam at a makeshift stairwell made from rocks and boulders. It was definitely manmade, but looked as if it hadn’t been used in many years.
He moved to the stairwell and tested the first few steps then carefully one by one ascended them. At the top, he stuck his head through the openin
g. His arms went above his head and he seemed to hoist himself out with ease. After several seconds, his head poked through the hole and he motioned for Lynn to follow.
Not certain about the stairs, she decided if they held a man Padon’s size then she shouldn’t be a problem. At the top, she shone the light accidentally into his eyes and he winced.
“Sorry,” she said.
“Give mi your hands.”
She turned off the light and tucked it in her shirt between her breasts so she wouldn’t lose it then did as instructed. She held her hands above her head. Padon grabbed hold of her forearms and she clasped her hands tight as possible around his. Smoothly, he lifted her free of the opening. He set her on the ground beside him then leaned in to help the next person. She stood and moved out of the way. But she couldn’t go far. Behind her was a wall of stone. Across from the hole was a thickly woven semicircle of boulders, trees and underbrush. She wasn’t exactly sure how they were going to exit.
With the last man out, Padon turned to the next task. He scaled one of the boulders close to the wall of rock, using the wall for leverage as he climbed. Once on top, he lay flat and it appeared as if he scouted their surroundings before signaling it was clear to climb. He’d made it look so easy, Lynn figured she’d give it her best shot.
Travis and Fin were behind her in case she slipped. When she was near the top, Padon reached over and hoisted her the rest of the way. Going down the other side was easy. Padon jumped and landed on his feet then turned and held his hands out, motioning that it was her turn. Lynn took a breath and a leap of faith that he’d catch her and landed in his arms. He didn’t even make an oof sound as she thought he would by catching a full-figured gal like herself.
Her breasts brushed against his chest, making her nipples react. Being pressed against his naked chest and abdomen, her body was on fire for him. This wasn’t normally like her. Lynn Woodberry didn’t act like a hormone-driven wild woman over anyone, but Padon wasn’t a simple anyone. She looked at the rugged face of the man whose arms she was in and tightened her grip around his neck. Lord help her, the thoughts singeing her brain right now would surely get her sent directly to hell—do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars.
