“Caelan”
Slowly, Caelan raised his tortured emerald gaze and locked it with Rachel’s impassioned amethyst stare. What happened next was quite unexplainable and would be something that would be told to their children and their children’s children in the years to come.
As soon as their eyes met, for the longest of moments, all time and space seemed to stand still. Nothing existed for the two of them except the brightest violet light encapsulating them in a brilliant orb. The light reverberated with the dual rhythm of the beating of their hearts, drawing them closer and filling their senses with warmth and pulsating energy. It swirled around them, through them and within them until there was no distinguishing where one of them ended and the other began.
It was as though all of their thoughts and emotions, all of their passions and feelings, were suddenly melded into one vibrating frequency that totally surged throughout their entire being. Than just as quickly as the moment happened it was over and once again, green eyes were gazing lovingly into the adoring pools of the deepest purple.
“I think I love you.” Rachel breathed, leaning forward to brush her lips lightly across Caelan’s mouth.
“What?”
Caelan stepped back, grabbing both of Rachel’s hands in his. Cocking his head to one side, he looked like Sam listening for Maizy barking in the woods.
Leaping from the porch, Rachel wrapped her legs around Caelan’s waist, locking her ankles around the small of his back and her arms around his neck. “I said I love you.”
Groaning, Caelan filled one hand with the hair at the base of her neck and turned her head to stare down into her eyes.
“Ahhhh. My sweet Rachel I thought I’d ne’er hear ye say that. I’d given up all hope.”
Crushing her tightly to his chest, he settled her against the porch railing so he could cover her mouth with his.
Pulling away, Rachel whispered softly, “Your note it made me feel so lost and alone. I thought you’d returned to Scotland.”
Burying his face in her hair, Caelan’s voice was soft and husky as he murmured against her throat, “I canna leave without ye. But I’ve done nothing but drive ye away from me every time I’ve tried to draw ye closer. I’d nearly given up hope, lass. Ye have no idea how badly I need ye.”
Pressing her forehead against his, Rachel closed her eyes as she kissed the tip of his nose. “Take me inside I need you ”
Rachel ducked her head against Caelan’s chest, her face flaming as she whispered the words. She thought for a moment he hadn’t heard her until he scooped her up into his arms.
Leaping onto the porch, he nudged the door open with one shoulder. Once inside the kitchen, he pushed the door shut and securely bolted the lock. He wasn’t about to have anyone interrupt them this evening and if he had his way it was going to be a very long evening.
“Don’t get my boots on the bed!”
Rachel squeaked and squirmed as Caelan carried her through the bedroom door.
Sitting down in the over-sized chair beside the bed, Caelan settled Rachel firmly in his lap.
“Has anyone ever told ye that ye’re a headstrong woman?” With one strong arm wrapped possessively around her waist, he effortlessly slipped one boot from her foot.
“I am not! It’s just that my boots are filthy and I don’t want to be rolling around in mill dust while we’re uh while we’re ” Rachel could feel her ivory skin growing warmer the longer she took to finish the sentence.
“While we’re what?” Caelan grinned evilly as he drew closer to her face and slipped the other boot off her foot.
“Just shut up and kiss me!”
Grabbing his face with both hands, Rachel drew his head down to hers and opened her mouth to his. For someone so strong, his lips were like velvet and she shivered as his exploring tongue sent bursts of heat through her entire body.
He left her mouth and nibbled her jaw line down to her throat, causing her to catch her breath as he pushed the neckline of her tee shirt down to explore even further.
“We’ve got to get out of these clothes!” Rachel gasped, grabbing the front of her coveralls and popping the snaps apart in one motion. She squirmed her way out of his lap so she could shed them to the floor.
“Slow down, lass! We’ve got the rest of our lives to enjoy each other!”
Caelan laughed as he helped Rachel stand before she fell out of his lap into the floor. His laughter faded, as she suddenly stood before him completely free of her clothes.
The last rays of the setting sun were flooding through the window, tinting her pale skin in fitting fiery hues. Her breasts and hips shone copper and gold. Her thighs and the promise between were tawny silk as well. His breath caught in his throat as she stood before him, her ebony tresses falling down around her glowing curves.
“I want to see you.”
Rachel reached for his hands, pulling him to his feet and quickly began unbuttoning his shirt. She smiled as she inhaled his wonderful scent, fresh pinewoods and very aroused male. Circling behind him, she stretched to her tiptoes to slide his shirt down his broad shoulders. Caelan stood frozen, barely breathing, as she tossed his shirt to the floor.
While still standing behind him, Rachel ran her hands slowly up Caelan’s smooth muscular back, noticing with a frown a long thin scar running along his right shoulder blade. As she ran her hands higher up his back, she moved closer finally pressing her burning breasts against his skin as she licked and nibbled as high as she could reach.
“Lore woman ye’re killin’ me come around here and let me love ye.”
Caelan reached back and pulled Rachel around in his arms, enfolding her against his chest. “Ye’re not finished undressing me yet and my best features are definitely in the front.”
Grinning mischievously, Rachel locked her gaze with his as she slowly undid Caelan’s belt. She never took her eyes from his as she carefully unfastened his jeans. Slowly still holding his eyes with hers she slid his pants to the floor.
Kneeling, she carefully withdrew each of his feet one at a time and tossed the jeans aside. Still on her knees, with a feather-light touch, she ran her hands up each of his legs. Caelan caught his breath as she reached his throbbing shaft, and traced the length of it from base to head with the tip of her inquisitive tongue.
She cupped him in one stroking hand as she swallowed him to the hilt. Pulling him closer, she suckled and swirled her tongue as she straddled one of his legs between her silky thighs.
“Come here!” Caelan growled as he grabbed her wrists and threw her to the bed.
He stared down into her smiling face as he covered her body with his. Her breasts felt wondrous pressed against his chest; her smooth thighs cradled his throbbing shaft and promised a delightful journey to her heated core. Her mouth was ecstasy to his lips and tongue. The taste and scent of her was driving him insane.
He raised his head to look again down at her smiling face, as he reached to cup her hips in his hands. “Ye’ve undone me this time woman but I will have my revenge.”
Raking her nails down his back, she pulled at him impatiently as she wiggled her hips to get him inside her. “Threaten me later Just take me now!!”
Whether it was the words or the wiggling of Rachel’s enticing body, Caelan could tempt her no longer. Diving inside her heat until he was completely buried, he groaned as she surrounded him with her wet folds.
“By the Goddess, we were made for each other.”
Withdrawing and plunging again and again, Rachel and Caelan moved together as one. Their bodies melded in white-hot heat like neither had ever experienced before. Their souls merged as they crested as one, their cries echoing through the house.
Cradling Rachel in his arms, Caelan rolled to his side to keep from crushing her. Kissing her forehead, he reached down to pull the sheet up over their love dampened bodies as the evening breeze from the window began to blow.
“I love ye, Rachel more than you will ever know.”
He pulled he
r closer into his arms as she snuggled against his chest.
“I love you and I never thought it possible that I’d ever love anyone.” Rachel kissed his chest and pulled his body against hers as she sighed in complete contentment.
Pulling her even closer into his arms, Caelan smiled up at the ceiling as he caressed her hair. Finally his plans were coming together surely everything would now start falling into place.
CHAPTER NINE
Rachel blindly slapped at the blaring alarm clock rudely pulling her from her dreamless sleep. Rolling over in bed, she sighed as she snuggled deeper into Caelan’s arms.
“I wish I didn’t have to go to work today.”
His arms tightening possessively around her body, Caelan kissed the top of her head. “Stay here with me today. Surely, that mill can survive one day without ye.”
Propping her head in her hand, Rachel smiled sadly down into Caelan’s face. “The mill will do just fine without me but my paycheck won’t be fine without today’s eight hours of pay.”
“Ye worry too much about money. Everything is going to be different now that we’re finally together.” Softy stroking her cheek with his hand, Caelan rubbed his thumb along her lower lip as he spoke.
He was tempted to tell her that all of her worries were over since they would soon be tossing her problems to the wind with their journey to the past. But something inside stopped him their bond was still too new. He needed to deepen her trust.
“One of these days maybe I won’t have to worry about money. But unfortunately, today is not that day.”
Kissing him lightly, Rachel slid regretfully out of the bed and headed toward the shower. Turning on the water, Rachel stuck her head back out the bathroom door as she brushed the night’s snarls out of her hair.
“Besides don’t you have to go to work today too? I don’t want to be responsible for causing you to lose your job.”
Smiling to himself as he rose from the bed, Caelan pulled on his jeans from the night before. “Ye need not worry about that ever happening, lass. Trust me my job here is quite secure.”
Brushing her teeth, Rachel glanced around the door again, admiring Caelan’s bare chest as he searched for his missing boot behind the chair. Wiping her mouth, she smiled at the rawness of her lips a testament to last night’s long hours of loving.
As she stepped into the shower, Caelan stood in the doorway buttoning his shirt and caressing her body with his eyes.
“What time do ye have to be at work?”
Shaking a warning finger his way, Rachel grinned as she stepped behind the shower curtain and into the spray. “We don’t have time you’ll just have to wait until tonight.”
Reaching into the shower to pull her face to his, Caelan covered her mouth with a deep possessive kiss. Once she was breathless, he finally released her and smiled down into her eyes.
“Until tonight then, lass,” He promised with a smile and then left her to get ready for work.
)O(
“How exactly do ye go about telling a woman from the Twenty First century that she’s needed in the year 1379?”
Caelan stared down into the still waters of the pond, missing the crashing waves of the ocean beneath the castle of Clan MacKay.
Strolling around the edge of the peaceful waters, Emrys frowned as he scratched his beard. “It may not be as difficult as ye think. There is definitely something mystical about this place. I saw the violet orb surround the two of ye yesterday evening. Perhaps the lass won’t think it so strange if she’s open to the energies of the lands.”
“We haven’t talked about the light that joined us.” Grinning as he ducked his head to his chest, “We didna do much talking at all last night.”
“Hmmmmpf!” Emrys shook his head and rolled his eyes as he settled himself down upon a limestone ledge. “Ye need to be talking to the lass about the crossing over. Ye need to remember ye have but a short time left here in Kentucky.”
Holding out his druid’s staff to Caelan, Emrys inclined his head toward the deepest end of the pool. “Take this and stir the waters perhaps the energies of this place will guide ye in what ye seek to know.”
Eyeing the staff as though it were a poisonous snake, Caelan held his hands up as he backed away. “I do not have the touch, old man. I have no magic flowing thru my veins to call out to the powers of this place.”
Huffing in aggravation, Emrys stood and started toward Caelan, his staff still held out before him. “Ye ask me to advise ye and then ye willna listen! Have ye become a coward since traveling to the future?”
His eyes flashing, Caelan snatched the staff out of Emrys’ hand. “Ye forget your place, Druid! When have ye ever known me to cringe from a battle?”
Stifling a smile, Emrys bowed his head as he slowly backed away. “Forgive me, my Laird. I was merely frustrated that ye might be losing touch with the ways.”
Watching closely as Caelan strode to the darkest waters of the pond, Emrys nodded his approval as Caelan first turned a reverent face toward the heaven’s in silent appeal. After a brief moment of breathing deeply and focusing his thoughts; Caelan slowly lowered the tip of the staff into the shaded waters beneath the trees.
His nostrils flaring as he concentrated on the waters, Caelan frowned as images slowly began to appear as though flowing from the end of the rod. A teary eyed Rachel shimmered upon the ripples of the pool as she seemed to be slowly backing away. The snarling face of Jayden Smith materialized threatening the retreating Rachel.
Continuing to slowly stir the waters, Caelan could feel his blood beginning to boil. Clenching his teeth, his knuckles whitened on the cane as he envisioned his hands around Jayden’s throat.
Those two images were then quickly replaced by one of Rachel sitting upon an ancient stone bench, her face buried in her hands. As Caelan leaned closer to the waters, he recognized the garden as the one enclosed by the protective walls of his castle. Frowning, he watched as Rachel appeared to be weeping, her shoulders shaking as though her sobs would never cease.
“Is the lass never to be happy?” Shaking his head as he looked up at Emrys, he could feel his heart turning to lead in his chest. “Tell me, Emrys. What do these images mean? She’s obviously returned with us to our home but did ye see the misery she was enduring?”
Nodding in agreement, Emrys frowned as he slowly took the staff from Caelan’s hands. “I canna tell ye what the waters are trying to say. Only that what ye have seen will come to pass.” His eyes dropping to the ground, he shook his head as he continued to explain.
“When ye saw her weeping in your gardens it could be easily explained since we don’t know what has come to pass right before that moment in time. Mayhap we shouldha just left well enough alone and simply had ye follow your heart.”
Glaring at Emrys, Caelan’s eyes narrowed as he slowly shook his head. “So what ye’re saying is that we’ve merely complicated matters by toying with yer wee crystal ball here?”
Bowing his head, Emrys wearily raised his hands in supplication. “Ye have my deepest apologies, my Laird.”
)O(
“Hey Hawk! What am I supposed to do with all these roses?”
Mercy’s voice filled the crane cab, drowning out the local radio station currently playing one of Rachel’s favorite songs.
“If they’re from Jackass, then find out if any of the guys in the mill want to take them home to their wives.”
Rachel adjusted her safety glasses higher on the bridge of her nose to better see the bundle below her magnets.
“What about the balloons?”
Mercy’s voice was beginning to take on a decided strain in her struggle to keep from giggling over the radio.
“Pop’m”
Rachel carefully maneuvered the bundle over the roll line, positioning it for cutting at the offline saw.
“ and the candy?”
Mercy gave up trying not to laugh and merely keyed off the mike to keep her fit of giggles from clogging the airwaves.
“You haven’t eaten it yet?”
Trollying the crane back to the stacker, she parked it to wait patiently for another bundle of finished product.
“Well I might have tried a piece or two.” Mercy admitted between giggles.
“Knowing this crew, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting rid of the candy.”
Rachel leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest in irritation. This was the third day in a row that Jayden Smith had disrupted her shift by having security pelted with gifts meant for her. The only way Rachel had kept her supervisor off her back was by pointedly refusing to acknowledge the gifts and anyone who wanted the stuff was allowed to take it home with them.
She couldn’t understand why he was being so persistent. She hadn’t even seen him since that night at the house when he and Caelan had gotten into their wrestling match. There was something not quite right about the way this guy was pursuing her and she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. She was definitely getting fed up with “Stalker Dude” but she couldn’t figure out how to get rid of him.
She hadn’t talked to Caelan about it and had sworn Mercy and her entire crew to secrecy. Her scowl softening into a smile, she felt her heart lighten with thoughts of her devoted Scotsman. She didn’t want anything to spoil the wonderful moments they shared together. She couldn’t remember when she’d ever been this happy in her entire life.
“Hey Hawk! Are you gonna get this bundle or what!”
Breaking in on her reverie, the stacker crew shouted with indignation over the radio. “You’re backin’ us up here!”
“Yeah Yeah Yeah mess with me and I’ll swap shifts with Jeff and you’ll have to listen to his mouth for eight hours!”
Rachel quickly lifted the newly banded bundle, eased it over to the transfer car and carefully released it to its new location.
“We’re sorry! Sorry! You sit up there and daydream about your Highlander as long as you want!”
Good-natured heckling was part of the job and let Rachel know she was definitely part of the group. Working with her crew at the steel mill was like being suddenly blessed with a herd of little brothers who liked nothing better than to aggravate her at every opportunity. But she also knew if she ever got into a bind, any of the guys on her crew would quickly come to her aid.
Seven Moons Back to the Highlands Page 10
