“What do you mean?’
“He has business in Scotland. He has to go back, probably this week, and it may take a while.”
“But you just got him back! Magnus, are you leaving us?” Haley pouted petulantly.
“Och aye, I have business in Scotland. I must return.”
James joked, “Married life too boring, you rushing back to the highlands to get away?”
Magnus held my hand tightly. “I daena want tae leave her, but I must.”
Haley turned to me. “You aren’t going to go with him, see Scotland? I bet it’s beautiful.”
“No, I have work, running the estate, keeping the house. I have to keep Zach in work, so yeah — hey, Magnus, do you need another beer?”
I escaped to the house. Emma poured beers into glasses. “He’s really leaving again?”
“In a couple of days.”
“I’m sorry, it’s been nice to have him home. And we’ll keep working, right?”
“Yep, at the thought of losing Zach as his private chef, Magnus wanted to sign him right there for a ten year contract. You both have a job, a home, no worries.”
“How long will he be gone?”
“Could be weeks or longer. I don’t know, he has something big that needs to be handled with his family business.”
“Oh,” she gestured she would carry the beers out for me. “I guess we need to start thinking of you as the boss instead of Magnus; we’ve worked for you longer. He just seems like he’s the guy we work for.”
I chuckled, “True, I’m a bit boring to cook for; he has enthusiasm. It makes us all want to do things for him.”
Buffalo wings were passed around, walks on the beach were had. The night started with forty people but dwindled past eleven o’clock to about ten people. The core group with a couple of stragglers. A game of Cards Against Humanity was played. Magnus remained a spectator because, as he put it, “I canna make sense of it. Tis scandalous.” Then James got a hold of the speakers and connected his Spotify playlist to them and turned on a song that was deep, deep country.
Magnus sang along.
I dropped my cards and opened my mouth in feigned outrage. “How do you — what?”
Magnus sang a few more lines. “Master Cook played it for me, tis a verra good song. It played in my head over and over while I was away.” He sang, “. . . driving in my pickup truck.”
I said, “Zach, do you hear this? All your music history lessons for nothing — Magnus likes country.”
Zach shook his head sadly as he spooned ice cream into bowls. “Magnus, sir, I played you Nirvana, the Beatles, you prefer pickup trucks, really?”
“Listen, Chef Zach. He has a truck and also a beer. The woman he loves has gone away, tis verra poetic.”
We all burst into laughter.
James said, “You sound like Shakespeare most of the time, and you think this song is poetic? Well, you might be a little delusional, but your taste is headed the right direction.” He held up a beer toward Magnus. “To the Scottish farm boy-king and his love for American country music.”
We all laughed more and for a while, with the game, and the music, and the beer, we were laughing a lot. For much of the night I completely forgot to be depressed.
Michael said, “Kaitlyn and Magnus, Hayley and I were hoping to have Zach and Emma to dinner tomorrow night?”
Magnus said, “I believe tis my last night.”
“Zach does deserve a day off though, and I’ve never cooked for you. Some people say I’m pretty good. I mean, I’m no Chef Zach, but I could make you something special for your last night.”
Emma said, “If you’ll give me a list I’ll pick up the food for you.”
“Awesome, I’m really good at chicken breasts, but buy lots of ice cream just in case the chicken is lame.”
Magnus kissed my fingertips. “I would like that.”
Chapter 8
The next evening we had the house to ourselves except for Quentin stationed on the back deck. I cooked. Magnus perched on a barstool watching, and then we ate at the kitchen island because it was reminiscent of that night we became friends, so many weeks ago. It also wasn’t that long ago, really. We talked about how quick it had been — we met and then in a month we were married. Two months passed while we were apart and now this time, less than a week.
The end of June to the beginning of September, barely any time at all. But also three hundred years.
Still, we had been in the same house, under the same roof, while married, for just a little over a week.
We were still just getting to know each other.
When I said that to Magnus he said, “While that may be the truth of it, I find I canna imagine living without ye, Kaitlyn. When I was imprisoned at Talsworth I kept it in my thoughts that ye were nae yet born, and that ye were safe and would grow up in a future where ye winna need me. But I am selfish and wanted to come back because ye are everything tae me.”
My eyes misted. “You were thinking about me while you were singing your favorite song about your pickup truck?”
“Aye, because ye must drive it.” He smiled at me, a smile full of love and sadness and longing so I climbed onto his lap and kissed him. Deep and passionate. His hands tucked around my butt and pulled me closer, settling me down. I whispered into his ear. “Are you done with dinner?”
He nodded, his unshaven jaw rubbing along my cheek, his breath warm on my skin. “I am, twas delicious.”
I pushed his plate, his beer, and his utensils away across the counter. Then I didn’t put my feet down on the ground, instead I stood balancing on the rungs of his barstool and climbed across to the counter. And sat. I spread my legs and leaned back on my hands.
He stood and folded onto my body. “You are full of surprising moments, Madame Campbell.”
He kissed down my neck to my shoulder, pressing and pressing, and—
“Are you talking about my deft game of Lava Tag, just now?”
There was a long pause where he kissed and nibbled along my shoulder and neck, and oh god I wanted him so badly.
He mumbled, “What is this — Lava Tag?”
I arched back. “A childhood game where kids pretend like the ground is covered in lava. They can’t touch it, so instead they climb everywhere, you know,” I gasped as he sucked on the edge of my neck, “seriously unimportant. A minute ago I felt like joking, now I …” He pressed against me again, and I moaned.
He raised my shirt just a bit and kissed my cleavage along the top edge of my bra. I arched to meet his lips. He spoke into my flesh, his breath hot on my chest. “I was speaking about the surprise of finding your legs spread wide upon my dinner table.” His arms tightened around my back pulling me close to his mouth, him. The scent of our dinner lingered in the air around us, the dim light of our kitchen, and the soft hum of the refrigerator set the mood. A candle flickered nearby. Also nearby, his security guard.
I whispered, “Quentin is right outside.”
His head drooped on my chest as he pulled my shirt down to cover me. “Aye, and my castle walls are made of glass.” He pulled away a bit, his desire plain under his kilt. “If you were wearing a skirt, we might accomplish this without excessive nakedness.”
“Ah, but Master Campbell, what is the fun in that?”
He groaned. “Do I carry ye tae the bedroom or ask Quentin tae go tae the beach for an hour?”
I leaned forward, kissed his jawline and down his neck, loosening his shirt and rubbing my hands up under it to the small of his back, pulling him toward me again. I whispered, “I’ll wait for you right here.”
He pushed away, blew out a breath of air, ran a hand through his hair, and straightened the front of his shirt. Adjusting it so it covered the front of his kilt. “Aye, daena move.”
I said, “Freeze tag,” and instantly regretted it, because he paused and looked at me quizzically. “I’ll explain later, go go go.”
He slid open the door and leaned out. I could hear the ind
istinct rumble of my husband asking his security guard to disappear for a bit and then the door slid closed and he crossed back to me, waiting, perfectly still on the kitchen counter.
He folded over my body, kissed me deep, and then went primal, shoving my shirt up, unclasping my bra, fondling my breasts, running his hands down my back, cupping my ass, pulling me close, desperate and urgent, and incredibly hot. I held on as he fumbled with my shorts and frantically pulled them down my legs, breathing so heavy and deep and rumbling, and with almost a roar he entered me, my name departing on his breath, “Kaitlyn,” he said, and my fingers were wrapped through the back of his hair and I kissed his throat — say it again — Kaitlyn — do you love me?
He pushed and shoved against me pulling me tight toward him, filling me so fully with desire, him, want — I do, I love ye — I arched back, lost in a moan. He kissed my breast as he pushed harder, faster, and more, and collapsed on me as he came to the end with a groan completely spent.
My feet twisted on his back pulling his hips closer, I laid back on the counter, wrapped my fingers through his hair, holding him close, nestled to my chest.
I breathed deeply, warm blood and oxygen flowing through me. Beads of sweat glistening on Magnus’s forehead. His skin was warm to my touch, his body, a moment before taut and hard and desperate, and now a moment later soft, relaxed and comfortable. I ran my hands down his arms, massaging his muscles, also tightening my hold.
“I love you too,” I whispered.
“I know ye do, mo reul-iuil.”
“You do? How do you know?”
He raised his head, his chin nestled on my breastbone. His arms around my back, keeping me arched. “I read it in your eyes. Tis one of the reasons I have loved ye since I met ye.” He nestled back into my chest and I kissed the top of his head. Then he pushed away, adjusted his clothing, and picked up my shorts. He slipped them over my ankles and pulled them up while I dropped down into them, pulling my shirt back down.
“If I go put on my pajama pants, can we go for a walk on the beach?”
“That would be good, mo reul-iuil.”
Chapter 9
I changed into some silk pants, a roomy T-shirt, and a sweatshirt, and Magnus and I walked out onto the back deck. The sound of the crashing waves filled the air. Our interior had been so quiet. The breeze was stiff, but the wind wasn’t too cold. We walked down the boardwalk with our hair dancing on the wind.
We passed Quentin at the end of the boardwalk and Magnus directed him to remain there, watchful, while we walked. Then we stepped out on our beach.
The waves were big, crashing, the tide coming in. I led Magnus to the edge of the water and we put our feet in, just at the edge. The water was warm, the breeze cooler, and I huddled my shoulders against the breeze. Magnus put his arms around me, warmth and protection.
I looked up at the sky, my hair flinging. “Whoa, look at the stars.”
Magnus looked up at the sky. “Och aye, tis sublime. Wondrous. Tis god’s work tae create this majesty. I am lucky tae praise him in two different lifetimes.”
I nestled into his shoulder. “Shall we walk or sit?”
“Let’s walk for a bit.” With his arm around my shoulders, we walked.
I used to do this with friends and boyfriends when I was younger. Now with my husband; walking on the beach in the dark. It had a wonderful quality, nighttime beach walks. I could do it for hours. Best part, there was no chance of becoming lost. A few times I walked past my sand dune, but mostly, once I memorized the shape of the roofline of my house, darker against the moonlit sky, I could find it again. “Tell me three things I don’t know about you.”
He looked down at me. Then back at the far horizon. “I have a sister and a brother.”
“You do?”
“I do. They are older than me. Their father, Lady Mairead’s first husband, died when they were verra young. They took care of me when I was a wee bairn before I was sent tae London tae live. When I returned to the Highlands, a few years ago, I spent most of the time with them. My sister, Lizabeth, is kind and funny. She has a baby and a terrible husband. My brother, Sean, is a troublemaker and a ruffian. Do ye know that word?”
“I do.”
“He likes to create mischief and fight daily if he can. Tis verra useful tae have him around if ye daena want tae fight. He will take it on for ye.” He smiled. “He is good protection for Lizabeth, except was hard for her tae make a match with Sean acting as her guardian.”
“This is why you said you could understand a man like James, because you have Sean?”
“And all the other men of my clan. Tis a place full of hotheaded fools and the best of men. Ofttimes within the same body. James would fit in well. Perhaps better than well, he is stupid in the ways of love, but in business I hear he is quite wise. That means something in any time.”
“I suppose it does.” I kissed the end of his fingers, where they rested on my shoulder. “Tell me two more things.”
“I had a girl, in London.”
“What?”
“I liked her a bit. I would have married her had someone made me.”
“Oh, I never asked, that’s…”
“This would have all been different, but instead I was called back to the Highlands, and I left her without a thought.”
“Really? That’s so callous, so you’re kind of a bad boy, huh?”
He looked down at my face and laughed. “What if I had married a girl such as that and had then met ye? It would have been a hard thing tae break a vow.”
I laughed this time. “I was thinking you would have honored those vows, that I would have been left out.”
“Nae, I would have moved heaven and earth tae make it happen with ye.”
“Like Henry the eighth, you would have started a new religion?”
“Is that how the story goes then? Interesting…”
“I wonder if you could ask for a three hundred year divorce in court?”
He chuckled. “Would the pope have tae decide it? Tis how it happens in my day.”
“Not here, here the courts decide it.”
“Tis easy tae divorce here?”
“Yes, the number is as high as fifty percent.”
He hugged me tighter, “I owe ye one more bit of information about myself. Let’s see… you will like the humor of this one, I think. The first time I met the Royal Highnesses, the King and Queen of England.”
“Which ones?”
He turned to me, “Ah, tis King William the third and Queen Mary.”
“Ah, I really only know the Elizabeths if pressed.”
“Elizabeths? I see there is much I need tae hear of. Tis an unsettling thing tae have a history I daena know.” He picked up a stick and threw it end over end into the waves. “Tis distressing that the royal succession I and my family have cared so much about is of little consequence three hundred years on.”
“Puts things in perspective, huh?”
“It must. I have often believed, as a Londoner living in the Highlands, and as a Highlander living in London, that I must choose a side. My thought was I would either need tae become an Englishman or take arms against them. Lady Mairead interrupted my decision when she brought me here, and now, the decision seems at times unnecessary.”
“You live here now, you have no side in that fight.”
He kissed the top of my head, near my hairline. “The fight rages on without me, and here I walk with my wife, far away — tis true. But my family is taking up arms. I am distant, but I have a bond. I canna hide from it. I have always wanted tae be someone my family can depend on. My brother Sean is trusted and proven, but our fathers are different. I have tae prove my worth despite my lineage.”
I said, “Still?”
“Still.” A wave lapped over our bare feet, rose to our ankles and then higher to our calves, wetting the bottom of my pajama pants. We laughed and scurried a bit up the slope away from the rising tide. “I am sorry you feel so torn, between homes and t
imes and families.”
He dropped to the ground and put out his arm for me to curl under. We sat and looked out on the dark sea, under the black night sky. The wind kept the sky clear of clouds and stars were flung from horizon to horizon. It was beautiful.
“I am nae torn so much. There is only ye, Kaitlyn, but I have a duty tae my family as well.”
“Oh.” I cuddled into his side, an arm on his knee. “So you met the king and queen?”
“I was livin’ near London with my uncle and his five children. I was the eldest and if you pressed them, they would describe me much the way I have described Sean. I was always getting the lot in trouble. Except Mary May, a bonny wee bairn, now twelve, I would guess. She could get away with anythin’ because of her sweet smile and cheerful laugh, But all the rest followed me on any misdeed and adventure, and then Uncle John would be furious. He always knew the true culprit though. I would receive my whipping and after that the cousins were always quite kind for a bit. Until they forgot tae be cautious, and I led them awry again.
“I was often at court after, but this time was my first audience with the king and queen, twas verra important and we had tae be well dressed. The fussing over our attire was relentless and lasted for weeks.”
“Did you wear a kilt?”
“Nae, breeches and a shirt, with a tight coat. I wore a jaunty bow in my hair. Tiny shoes. Ye would have thought me quite pretty and perhaps nae the suitable marrying type.” He wordlessly stood and held down a hand to help me up. I wondered how I could ever not marry him. His wide shoulders would have definitely offset the feminine bow. We began the walk home while he continued, “We all went downstairs to the carriages tae drive tae Kensington Palace and was all good when we arrived, except—“
“Except? Uh oh.” I wrapped my arm in his elbow.
“Och aye, there were tiny gravel pebbles underfoot. I deftly scooped up a bit and secretly tossed them at my cousins. A pebble hit Henry in the back of the head and he turned cursing to see where it had come from. A pebble hit the ear of Mabel and rolled down into the front of her dress. I hit cousin Theodore next, then Archibald, and lastly I aimed tae lightly pelt little May. It was fun tae see their outage. But then my cousins ganged against me and as my uncle was on the other side of the carriage helping my aunt step out, they grabbed me about both arms and held me still while Henry dumped a fistful of pebbles down the back of my shirt.”
Time and Space Between Us Page 4
