Dreams Of The Highlander

by Sarah Hoss

  Everyone turned to stare at her. They acted as if they had forgotten she was even present. That pissed her off. This was her life they were discussing, the least they could do was not look at her as if she was an alien with three heads.

  “Ye may,” Duncan said.

  “I don’t want to marry either one of them, how about that?” She had everyone’s attention now. Pointing at Alex, she said, “You don’t want to marry me. You’ve made that very clear.” He flinched as if he’d been slapped.

  Then she turned her anger on Colyn. “And you,” she said, pointing him in the chest. “You’re only doing this to anger Alexander. You don’t know me well enough to want to marry me.”

  He smiled. “I knew from the moment I saw ye that I wanted ye.”

  Did Alexander just growl? Marlana stayed facing Colyn.

  “Exactly, Colyn. You want me, but not for marriage”

  She started to say something else, but the Chief cut in.

  “Enough.” He’d been leaning back against the desk. “I’m sorry to disappoint ye, lass, but ye know what is at stake here and I will handle this as I see best.” He put up his hand to stop her from commenting.

  She had to remind herself that in this day and age, women had no rights. You were lucky if you found a man who cared what you thought or said, but even then, in some things, it just didn’t matter.

  “The Crawford Clan is going to demand a marriage to save yer honor. If ye hadn’t wanted to put yourself in this situation, then ye shouldn’t have stayed with him for so long unchaperoned. I will not make enemies with them. Do ye understand?”

  She nodded.

  “Ye do have a choice here, lass,” he said, pointing to Alex, then Colyn. “Will ye make one?”

  She furrowed her brows and shook her head, trying to understand. “What?”

  “Will ye choose Alexander or Colyn to be yer husband, its yer choice.”

  “You actually expect me to give you my answer right now?” She stood in total disbelief.

  “Aye.” He waited.

  She didn’t dare look at either man, so she chose to stare at the floor instead. She couldn’t do it. Not here, right now, on the spot. There were too many things to consider. She hated to be pressured.

  She paused a little too long.

  Duncan sighed. Colyn smiled. Alexander deflated.

  A knock at the door startled her, having been lost in the moment. They all turned to see who it was when James opened the door. The same small boy, the one that told James to bring her to the Chief’s chambers, announced that members of the Crawford clan had been spotted. They were on their way here and would arrive in a few hours.

  James closed the door and walked over to stand near the Chief. There were a few minutes of silence. She was about to voice her answer when the Chief spoke.

  “As for ye two...” He sighed again. “There is one way to solve this.

  Alexander reacted sharply. “Ye canna do it.” When he spoke, she heard the disbelief in his voice.

  “Aye Alexander. I can and I will.” Duncan turned to Colyn. “Are ye in agreement?”

  “Aye,” Colyn answered, with anger in his eyes.

  “What?” She turned to James. “Tell me what’s going on.” Dread washed over her quickly.

  James stared at his brother; a sad expression crossed his features before he schooled it, then turned to Marlana.

  “The Chief plans on hosting the games. Alexander and Colyn will have to compete in a series of challenges. Whoever wins, will be yer husband.”

  That didn’t sound bad enough to have Alexander act as if the world had dropped from under his feet. He was strong and talented, he could do it. She had to have faith in that. She should have chosen Alexander when she had the chance.

  “So, what’s the big deal?” She stared at Alexander, but listened to James. “This whole scene has been played before, Marlana.”

  That caught her attention and she glanced back at James.

  “Before ...” Alexander whispered, “... with Mairi.” Then he turned on his heel and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

  CHAPTER 20

  A few hours later, Marlana found herself standing by the stables, watching the horses graze, with her mind racing from the day’s event. Her head ached from thinking. After Alexander left the Chief’s chambers, she had stared at the door, willing him to come back to her. He didn’t. James finally shook her. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Every fiber of her being wanted to run out the door and find Alexander.

  Then she turned and asked the Chief why it had to be this way?

  “I suppose I could have just handed ye over to Colyn, since he asked for ye and Alexander didn’t.”

  She started to say something about his barbaric ideals, but he stopped her again. “I think Alexander has shown enough interest in ye by wanting to kill Colyn.” He said this as he pointed at Colyn.

  She turned all of her fury on the one man she was beginning to despise. “And what do you think you’re doing coming in here and wanting to marry me? Seriously, this is ridiculous. Look at what you’ve done.”

  “Aye, I’ve given myself a chance and I will win.”

  She growled and left the room, not able to stand Colyn looking so smug.

  Now, having replayed the whole scene in her mind, thoughts about these times amazed her. In the future, she would never be forced to play along. Alexander would not be forced to participate. Modern technology would have saved his wife and child.

  She slid down the wall of the stable to sit, brought up her knees, and laid her forehead on them. Her shoulders shook with sobs, tears soaked her dress. She missed home, she was scared to be here, and she wanted Alexander. Things were so unfair.

  She needed to see him, but would he see her? Her heart ached for the pain he must be in.

  She started to stand, when she spotted shoes on the ground in front of her. How long had he been standing there? Her eyes followed up the legs, past the kilt, but she knew who it was before she got to his chest.

  He held out his hand to help her rise and she hesitated. Looking him in the eyes, she saw no expression in them.

  “Go on, it willna bite.”

  She placed her hand in his, the other on the wall to her back, and stood. He took her by surprise by wiping her tears away; she flinched at his touch.

  “I’m sorry that ye’ve been crying. None of this was ever my intention.”

  “Really, I find that hard to believe, Colyn.” He gave her a wounded look. “Really, I do. I know this is all to get back at Alexander and has nothing to do with me.”

  She started to walk past him, but he grabbed her arm.

  “Will ye not listen to what I have to say? It’s no lie that Alexander and I doona get on well, but that isn’t the reason I did it. I want ye, Marlana. I want ye to be my wife.”

  She refused to turn around and look at him. Anger welled up inside of her. Anger at not being able to control anything and anger that Colyn could say exactly what she wanted Alexander to say.

  “That’s very flattering, Colyn, but you should’ve spoken to me about this sooner, in private, instead of blurting it out in front of everyone. You never did and it doesn’t look good on your part, does it?”

  He let go of her arm. “No, and I’m not very good at saying sorry, so I won’t say it again. I only wanted ye to know that I had honorable intentions.” He leaned down and kissed her. She stood still, making no moves. The kiss didn’t stir any emotion inside of her. When he pulled her closer to him, she broke the kiss.

  “I can’t right now, I’m sorry.” She ran from him, crying again.

  The kitchen was a flurry of activity as the women who worked inside the heat-filled room rushed to get the food out on the tables in honor of the wedding meal. Gue
sts would be coming inside to eat soon, and they wanted the table to look perfect. Mrs. Cleary rushed past her, then abruptly stopped and came back.

  “Ye there, go to the pantry and fetch more butter.” Leaving her once again, she glanced around at the room.

  Was she supposed to do as she was told? They obviously didn’t know she was a guest. She had no idea where castle pantry was. When a girl of about sixteen passed by her, she tried to ask, but the girl ignored her. Shrugging her shoulders, she left the kitchen in search on her own.

  By process of elimination, the room had to be down below and close to the kitchens. Turning to her left, she ran her hand over the cool stone as she walked down the corridor. Pausing at a juncture, she glanced down both hallways.

  “Eenie, meanie, miney, mo,” she said and with her finger pointing to the right, she turned and started walking. When she reached the first door, she tried it. It slipped open quietly and she peered in.

  “Jackpot!” Various scents greeted her. The smell of strong onions, sweet apples, and earthy potatoes. The room was dark. Why hadn’t she thought to bring a candle? When she heard the door close behind her, she jumped and spun around, her heart slamming into her chest.

  “Who’s there?” When no answer came, she grew frightened. “Colyn, this isn’t funny.”

  “So, when ye are in the dark, it’s him ye think of?”

  “Alex?” She heard his footsteps on the floor as he approached her, and she unconsciously took a step back. “Good gracious, what are you doing?”

  Alexander reached her as she bumped into a wine cask. “I’m gonna make sure that when ye are in a room with a man, I’m the only one who comes to mind.”

  He could see nothing, as the room was pitch black, but he didn’t need light to see her body. Her naked image was branded into his brain. He reached out and gripped her by the hips lifting her to sit her on the wine cask. He secretly smiled when she squealed her surprised. He could hear her breathing quicken, could picture the pulse jumping at her neck. Using that as a beacon, he gripped her chin to tilt her head and fastened his lips to her neck. He stroked his tongue up the column of her neck, then went back to her pulse, nibbling the area. Marlana held her breath for a moment, then he felt her let it go, the air tickling his hand.

  “Do ye like that?”

  Her head nodded in his hand.

  “What about this?” He brought her face to his and placed soft kisses over her eyes, nose, and cheeks, skimming her lips as his other hand caressed her breast, bringing the eager nipple to life. He reached inside her dress, skin on skin, and Marlana moaned her pleasure.

  He kneaded the full mound and his cock grew hard, anxious to be deep inside of her. But he wouldn’t be selfish. This wasn’t about him. He needed to erase Colyn from her mind so the only images she would have were of him. He was done ignoring his heart. He wanted her and damn it, he would fight for her.

  “Do ye like that?”

  Marlana nodded her answer again.

  “Tell me, Marlana.”

  Her breath teased his face. “Yes, Alex.”

  He kissed her hard, his mouth demanding for a brief moment. When he pulled away, Marlana followed.

  “Ye want something from me, no?”

  Marlana nodded.

  “I want to hear ye say it, lass.” His hand cupped her breast and squeezed ever so slightly. Marlana grabbed his shirt.

  “I want you to touch me, Alex. I want you to—”

  Alexander quieted her words as he took her mouth like a pirate plundering a city; greedy and with no regret.

  He pulled his hand away from her breast and pushed her skirts up to her hips. Placing his right hand on the barrel behind her, he used his left hand to spread her thighs. His finger flicked her sensitive mound and she arched her back, gasping in surprise. Dipping his fingers inside of her, he stroked in and out, before coming back to massage her bud. He teased, dipped, and teased her wet folds, all the while kissing her with a fevered heat.

  He wished he had light to see her face when Marlana gripped his shoulders, arched her back and came. She called out his name and her breath became labored with her orgasm. Alexander wrapped his hand around his hard length. It throbbed a pleasurable pain, and he was unable to stay his release when she cried out. He stroked hard, pumping, until he grunted and spilled his seed. His labored breathing matched hers.

  When Marlana touched his face and leaned in to kiss him, Alexander kissed her back as he straightened her skirts.

  Pulling away, he stared at her in the dark, yet not seeing her at all. “Did ye like that, Marlana?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, her hands still griping his shirt.

  As Alexander began to say something, a woman yelled down the hall. Mrs. Cleary was looking for someone.

  “Shit.” Marlana wiggled, trying to get off the barrel. “She sent me to get butter. She thinks I work in the kitchens.”

  Alexander laughed, then stepped away from her. He’d been in this room before and knew where her treasure lay. Rummaging around in the room, he returned and he placed something in her hands, then helped her off the barrel.

  “Go, before she opens the door and sees something that might cause her to drop in a faint.”

  Marlana kissed him one last time, then walked to the door and left. Alexander stood still, reigning in his emotions. He loved her and he would not allow anyone else to have her.

  With his future decided, he left the little room and headed out to the wedding celebrations.

  They took a day to get the field ready for the games. Since everyone was still around from the wedding the previous day, there would be quite an audience.

  Marlana spent the day in her room. She wasn’t in the mood to encounter either man or to be grilled by anyone else. She had so many things to think about and was getting a headache from all the thinking she did the previous night. She hadn’t slept well. She’d sat in front of the fireplace all evening, contemplating the future, thinking about the day and all the events she’d encountered so far. The one vision that occupied her mind the most, was the time in the pantry with Alexander.

  No one had ever touched her like that before. She could still feel his caress, taste his kiss, and her body craved more. She smiled. She understood why Alexander had done the things he did, and she wouldn’t fault him anymore. Tomorrow, she would go to the games. She was going to root for Alexander to win and would have faith that he would. She wanted him to see that she had chosen him. She wanted Colyn to see it, also. It was time to start taking circumstances into her own hands. She was no longer going to sit by and let others dictate what would happen to her.

  She stood and stretched, every muscle in her back screaming from sitting hunched over in the chair, while staring into the fire. Walking over to the table, she splashed some water on her face. After a quick washing, she lay down and tried to get some sleep.

  A knocking at the door woke her. When another knock came, she sat up in bed, fully awake.

  Opening the door, she found Alexander standing on the other side, a worried look on his face.

  “Ye didna come for the evening meal. I got worried. Are ye feeling all right?”

  “I’m fine. I just wanted to be by myself today.” She started to step aside to let him in, when what he’d said caught her attention.

  “Did you say the evening meal?”

  “Aye.”

  She had no idea what time of day it was, having locked herself in her room, but was startled to realize time had gone by so quickly.

  He held up a tray of food. “Ye havena eaten today?”

  “I’m fine, thank you.” At that exact moment, her stomach growled.

  Alexander cocked his head and smiled, “I think ye are.”

  He pushed past her and walked over to the table, setting the t
ray down. He motioned for her to come over and sit and she did. She was starving and hadn’t realized it until presented with the smell of food.

  Alexander must have raided the kitchen, by the looks of the assortment on the tray. Cheese, bread, strawberries, and meat. He poured her wine and she took it, thanking him.

  After taking a few bites, she pushed the tray toward him. “Did you eat already?”

  “Aye. Two hours ago with James. It is late.”

  She coughed on her drink, having swallowed it wrong. “What time is it?”

  “Most of the castle is heading for their beds as we speak. Ye see why I was concerned?”

  “I’m sorry. I just had a lot on my mind.” Guilt tugged at her for making him worry.

  A grunt from him was the only reply.

  They sat in silence for a while, then he got up to stoke the fire, and she finished off the tray. Thank goodness it wasn’t a large tray. She sat back and yawned. A full belly, warm fire, and exhaustion were starting to take effect.

  “Did ye sleep last night, Marlana?”

  She yawned again. “No.”

  She closed her eyes for a moment to savor the contentment she felt. She could hear the fire crackle and pop; could feel the wood of the chair in her back, every muscle starting to sag. She wasn’t sure if the feeling of being picked up and carried to bed was real or not.

  She was aware of the bed greeting her, soft and comfortable. Covers were brought up to her chin; she was actually tucked in on all sides. This made her smile again. “My mom used to do this,” she said with a sleepy smile.

  “Mine, too,” he whispered.

  She felt his fingers brush back her hair, followed by a gentle kiss on her forehead.