Passion of a Scottish Warrior (The MacLomain Series: Later Years Book 4)

by Sky Purington

  His lips curled slightly. “A man like me?”

  She grinned. “You strike me as the affectionate type.”

  “Mayhap.” He dropped a soft kiss on her lips as he worked at pulling her dress down. “I know you like the mysterious type. So what of affectionate types?”

  “I think it’s fairly…obvious,” she gasped as he squeezed one nipple and sucked the other into his mouth. The man seriously knew how to use his lips, tongue, and teeth.

  “I’d like it to be more obvious,” he murmured as he pulled her dress down further, exposing her stomach and hip bones. She had no idea what he meant until he continued exploring with his tongue and hands and magic. Everywhere he touched seemed to invoke a different sound. It became very clear that he made love like he battled, creatively and with more finesse than most. And it became even clearer that he knew a woman’s body as well as he knew how to wield a weapon.

  The light trail of a rough finger had shivers racing everywhere. A press here and there on different points of her hipbone shot pleasure straight to her core. A swirl of his tongue in her bellybutton combined with a few fingers trailed down her side made her womb clench in anticipation.

  By the time he yanked off her dress entirely and made his way between her legs, she was starting to feel a little wild. Free almost. She’d always been a fan of sex but had never felt it like this even before dealing with ill-timed numbness.

  New sensations.

  Soul deep pleasure.

  What made it even better was that she knew he felt the same.

  This was a first for them both.

  “Oh, God,” she groaned as he worked the flesh between her legs. Before he could get too far, she shook her head and panted, “No.” Then she yanked at his clothing, eager to remove it. “Both of us.”

  His brows perked with interest when he realized what she was after. “Och, lass, I like the way you think.” She never saw a man remove his clothing so fast. Seconds later, she was on top and his mouth was between her legs.

  Better yet, hers was between his.

  After that, it was pure, unfiltered pleasure.

  So much pleasure.

  Because of their mental connection, she knew exactly what he liked and vice versa. Not only that, she thoroughly enjoyed every second of pleasing him. The sounds he made. The way he tasted. After another shattering climax found them, she lounged on top of him.

  “So good,” he murmured, massaging her backside as he trailed a finger up and down her spine.

  “Mm-hmm.” Limp, sated, her eyes were closed, and her cheek rested on his thigh.

  “More,” he growled.

  Jackie yelped when he tossed her onto her back. Before she had a chance to react, he flipped her onto her stomach.

  “Insatiable,” she mumbled into the pillow, grinning.

  “Aye,” he agreed. “When it comes to you.” His lips came close to her ear. “On your knees, lass.”

  A shiver of awareness shot through her when he flicked his tongue against the side of her neck.

  “No energy to,” she breathed.

  “Nay?” His tone had grown suspiciously soft.

  “No.”

  She heard the grin in his voice. “Oh, I think there is.”

  Her eyes rounded, and laughter erupted when he started tickling her. “Darach!” She tried to wiggle away but played right into his hands when she came to a knee to move forward. Taking advantage, he gripped her hips and pulled back, which brought up her other knee.

  “There ye are,” he murmured before he thrust deep.

  Laughter turned to a long moan, and she dropped to her elbows. He felt so incredible. Astounding. And he hadn’t even moved yet. Instead, he seemed to be enjoying the view as he caressed her ass and hips. She had never experienced a man who touched and massaged so much during sex. It was wonderful. And yes, affectionate. He made her feel worshiped and adored while at the same time thoroughly lusted after. Tender mixed with animalistic.

  The more he didn’t move but touched her, the crazier she felt.

  She needed more.

  Friction.

  Now.

  “Darach,” she pleaded, her voice husky.

  “Aye, Jackie?” he said a little too sweetly as he wrapped a hand around and touched her clit.

  “No fair,” she said through clenched teeth. “Just move already.”

  “But you wouldnae move for me when I asked you to,” he reminded. “So you’ll wait until I’m ready.”

  “Will I then?” If he could tickle her into submission, then she could force the same from him. So she rolled her hips and rocked back and forth.

  They both groaned as he cursed under his breath, gripped her hips again and took control. After that, she drifted away on pleasure. Far, far away. This time, he lasted considerably longer, his energy admirable and bone weakening. Several orgasms tore through her as he moved at varying speeds. Sometimes fast and deep. Sometimes slow and even deeper.

  She eventually sank, her body putty in his hands. It was then as he rolled her onto her side and spooned her from behind that it grew far more intimate.

  Loving.

  He tilted her head and kissed her while touching between her legs again. He did everything so masterfully that mini-orgasms rolled through her in crests that built one on top of the other until she hit a plateau. One that kept her trembling.

  It almost felt like her body waited for him.

  As if their flesh worked in harmony separate from their minds.

  When he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her tight against him and his breathing became harsher, she knew he was close. Something about that, the raw pleasure he felt, pushed her right off the plateau and seemingly straight out of her body. He released a deep chested groan and locked up tight against her. The feeling of him throbbing deep within only heightened her own acute ecstasy and she struggled for breath.

  She had no idea how much time passed as she drifted somewhere multi-dimensional. At some point, she ended up on her back with her eyes closed. When she finally opened them, Darach was propped on an elbow, gazing at her.

  She almost felt bashful. “How long have you been watching me?”

  “For a while.” He ran a finger along her jaw. “You’re hard to look away from.”

  Her gaze got caught in those eyes of his. “I could say the same.”

  “Ye married me in at least one other life,” he murmured as he ran the pad of his thumb over her chin, the look in his eyes tender. “Marry me in this one, Jackie. I want ye to be mine in the eyes of God before I lose ye again.”

  “What?” Her heart leapt. “You know I can’t do that.”

  “But you can.” He cupped the side of her neck. “’Tis what people do when they’re in love.”

  “I’m not in love,” she whispered, but even as she said the words she knew something had changed. That she felt things for him that she never had for another. Intense things that she suspected might very well be love. Yet he didn’t need to know that.

  “I’m inside your mind,” he said softly. “You cannae keep such from me.”

  Right. She needed to remember that.

  “I don’t believe in love at first sight or that you can be in love with someone so quickly.” Her eyes searched his. “It’s supposed to take years to develop through compatibility and shared interests.” She frowned. “So maybe what I’m feeling now is because our past lives are getting in the way.”

  “Mayhap some of it but not all.” He again explored her jawline with a lazy finger. “If you havenae noticed, true love tends to happen quickly and often betwixt Brouns and MacLomains. Love that lasts straight into the afterlife.” He dropped a soft kiss on her lips. “You just need to accept and enjoy it. Not overthink it.”

  Could she really, though? Wasn’t that selfish considering he was doomed?

  “Nay,” he murmured. “I have chosen my own fate. ‘Tis inescapable. The only selfish thing you could do now is to deny me when we both want this so muc
h.”

  Jackie narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to manipulate me?”

  “That depends.” Darach grinned. “Is it working?”

  “Maybe.” But now wasn’t the time to analyze his tactics. The sound of bagpipes had started to drift up from the great hall. “We should go downstairs and join the celebration. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. And you don’t want to miss it.”

  “Aye,” he agreed. “More so because of what we’ve shared.”

  She didn’t respond, though she agreed. “Let’s go back down.”

  He looked at her for a long moment before he relented. “If that’s what you wish.”

  Jackie was shocked by her thoughts. Because what she really wanted was to spend the night in bed chatting…and playing. More than that, she realized she wanted a chance to have a life with him. A chance to create memories together. It might be hard to know how compatible they would be, but she sensed he was easy-going enough that he could manage her bluntness. But then he wasn’t one to hold back either. And she strongly suspected that spark between them would work.

  He had a way of chiseling away at the persona she had created long ago, and she liked it. Somehow it felt as if the ‘real’ her was surfacing. Someone who used to smile more. Who wasn’t contained and careful. The person she had nearly forgotten existed.

  Someone he truly liked.

  Neither said a word as they dressed but she felt his emotions as much as he felt hers. Turbulent. Conflicted. Jackie bit her lip and eyed him when it was time to tie up her dress. She had help from a servant before.

  Her heartbeat quickened when he finished tying his boots and stood. God, he was handsome all done up in Highland regalia. Even the tattoos worked. Or maybe the muscles. Definitely both. And she had never really been into either. She’d always been more into scholarly guys in suits.

  Not anymore. Not at all.

  A small grin curled his lips, no doubt at her thoughts, but he made no mention of it as he stepped behind her and started tying her laces. “I’ve wanted to do this since you needed your dress tied at the Highland Defiance.”

  “Yet you let Heidrek do it,” she murmured and shivered at his proximity.

  “Aye.” His voice grew husky. “’Twas good that you didnae feel then what you feel now.”

  She bit back a smile. “I didn’t realize you were paying such close attention.”

  “Sure you did.” Darach pulled the strings just a smidge tighter than necessary, plumping up her cleavage even more. “There.” He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her back against him. “Perfect.”

  She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. As suspected, he was eying her chest. “Enjoying the view?”

  “Verra much so.”

  “What about my inability to breathe because the dress is so tight?”

  When he brushed his thumb across the underside of her breast, her breath caught. “You dinnae quite breath correctly around me anyway.” He grinned and winked as he pulled away. “But if you need it loosened, let me know.”

  “I need it loosened.”

  “Aye then.” He tucked two fingers into her cleavage, yanked her against him and kissed her. She had nearly melted against him when he stepped back and grinned again. “See, your dress is loosened yet your breathing still isnae quite right.”

  Jackie scowled and eyed her dress. “Good thing you didn’t rip it.”

  Darach continued to eye her breasts. “’Tis too bad, really.” He wiggled his fingers. “But as you’ve recently learned, I’m verra good with my hands.”

  She snorted, then chuckled at the unladylike sound. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  Darach held open the door. “After you.”

  “Thank you.”

  He took her hand, and they walked down together. As she guessed, the celebrations were well underway. What she hadn’t anticipated was the crowd quieting as all eyes turned their way.

  “Um,” she said into his mind. “What’s going on?”

  “I dinnae know.” That same grin was back. “Mayhap you’ve too much cleavage showing after all.”

  “Seriously,” she said. “Did you tell someone you proposed?”

  His brows shot up. “Now why would I do that unless you said yes?”

  “I’m starting to learn that with you anything’s possible.”

  “There you two are!” Adlin declared, emerging from the crowd with a wide smile. “Everyone’s been anxiously awaiting your return.”

  Jackie and Darach looked at him in confusion as they arrived at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Aye?” Darach said.

  “Aye,” Grant said, joining them with an impressed look on his face as he gestured across the hall. “After all, my son and his lass created MacLomain Castle’s great mantle.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  IT TOOK DARACH a moment to realize what his father meant as his eyes landed on the huge mantel over the main hearth. The very mantel he and Jackie had leaned against earlier. Where before it had been wood with no design, now it was stone with several intricately carved faces. It had always been the heart of this castle. The most magical spot.

  “Bloody hell,” he murmured. “I dinnae ken.”

  “Come, join us in front of the fire.” Adlin beamed. “And I will explain.”

  Darach and Jackie received mugs of whisky and made their way through the cheering crowd.

  “All right, my friends,” Adlin announced to the clan once they arrived in front of the fire. “Let’s give this fine couple some time to admire their handiwork. Back to celebrating!”

  “It didn’t even register earlier that this wasn’t here yet.” Jackie’s eyes were wide as she studied the mantle. “It looks different than it does in the future. Fewer faces.”

  Her friends joined them as well as his cousins.

  “That is because many have yet to be born, lass,” Adlin said. “You do know what this mantle is, aye?”

  “Not really except that it’s magical.”

  “’Tis verra magical,” Adlin agreed. “’Tis also a portal between here and the afterlife for those of the MacLomain clan.”

  “Oh, wow,” she murmured.

  “That’s what I said,” Erin kicked in. “Unreal.”

  “And you helped create it, Jackie,” Nicole added, a wide smile on her face. “That’s incredible.”

  “I think that face up in the corner looks a lot like me,” little Robert announced, joining them.

  “Why would ye be on a mantle meant for MacLomains?” William scowled as he came alongside. “Are ye of their blood then?”

  “Nay, but I’ve a king’s blood,” Robert pointed out.

  William crossed his arms over his chest. “So that makes ye able to grace any mantle in Scotland, does it?”

  “Hey, you two.” Jackie crouched. “Good to see you again.”

  They smiled, both clearly smitten with her as Robert said, “Good to see ye too, Jackie.”

  They weren’t the only ones taken with her. He noticed far more men eying her than before. But then she had a new glow about her. One he put there.

  Yet it was more than that.

  The person he had sensed beneath was slowly surfacing. She was less refined and more open somehow. It seemed everyone noticed because Rònan and Niall had a perplexed expression on their faces as they watched her. Even Erin and Nicole seemed to be studying her with interest. And while some of it likely had to do with the mantle, he knew it wasn't just that.

  “Enough lads,” Lilas said as she smiled at them and started to shoo William and Robert off. “Let yer elders talk amongst themselves now.”

  Yet again, he had a strong sense of familiarity when he looked at the lass. It appeared Jackie did too because her eyes lingered on Lilas as she hugged then bid the boys goodbye.

  “So tell us, Adlin…” Darach took Jackie’s hand when she stood. “I contributed some magic whilst touching the mantel but how did Jackie and I end up creating it? I for one am not nearly that powerful.�
��

  “Nay, you arenae,” Adlin said softly. “But you and Jackie together are.”

  “It took the perfect mixture of things to create this mantel,” Adlin continued. “The magic of air is one of the most unique. ‘Tis constantly changing and shifting. Combined with the power to resurrect and the intense emotions that fluctuated betwixt you two at the time, a doorway was created betwixt worlds.” He kept smiling, immensely pleased. “One made by MacLomains for MacLomains.”

  “You mean to say that Jackie and I created this mantel alone?” Darach shook his head. “That the rest of you truly had nothing to do with it?”

  “Aye, ‘tis precisely what I am saying.”

  “Okay, no offense but this is a lot to wrap my mind around. Nothing I’m overly ready to…” Jackie started but stopped and shook her head. “Even if what you’re saying is true, one thing doesn’t add up.” She frowned. “You said it was created by MacLomains. I’m not a MacLomain.”

  “Och, but you must be for this mantle to have been created,” Adlin assured. “It can be no other way.”

  Grant’s eyes never left Jackie’s, his voice soft. “Do you want to be a MacLomain, lass?”

  Darach was shocked. Did his father want him to marry Jackie? Even knowing what would eventually happen to his son because he loved her?

  “I’m not sure what you’re getting at,” she murmured.

  “I think you do.” Grant’s eyes went from Darach to her. “My son is by blood a MacLomain. Marry him and you become one too.” Grant tilted his head. “Did he not propose to you?”

  “What?” Erin and Nicole said at the same time.

  Jackie’s eyes narrowed on Darach. “Did you seriously tell your father?”

  “Nay, I did.” Adlin grinned. “’Twas impossible not to sense the verra first proposal made in this castle.”

  She inhaled deeply and shook her head. “We created the mantel without being married so I’d say everything worked out.”

  “Well...” Adlin shook his head, and his grin fell away. “’Tis verra likely the mantel will lose its power if things dinnae go as they should.”