by Kam McKellar
He hadn't moved and her body screamed for him to lean into her, to touch her, to do something. Him towering over her, gazing down at her fiercely, but not touching. It was the most erotic thing she had ever experienced. Six months worth of emotion, attraction, dreams, and fantasies were manifesting right then.
"You good now?"
She knew he meant with moving on, with healing from the crap Mark had drug her through. But all Riley could think about was that she was damn good, damn ready, and damn impatient.
Her fingers flexed on the front of her towel. "Yeah." She drew in a deep breath and released the towel. "I'm good."
"Dear God," Jamie breathed, stunned. He scrubbed a shaky hand down his face, his gaze going down. Naked. Riley was naked. And perfect.
She reached up, slid a hand behind his neck and pulled him down as his heart tumbled and his body melded against hers.
He'd been waiting for what felt like centuries. He'd never been so turned on in his life. He was rock hard and aching. He paused, his lips hovering over hers, savoring the feel of her shallow breath on his lips, savoring the fact that he was finally going to kiss her. His eyes closed.
A loud knock at the door jarred through him.
"Riley honey, time to wake up," Gram called from the other side. "Ian's waiting downstairs. Chop, chop!"
"Oh, God," Riley whispered, her tone husky and disbelieving. She cleared her throat and drew in a deep breath. "Coming!"
Her sexy bedroom eyes gazed up at him still clouded with desire. She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and bit down. Christ. The door knob rattled.
"Riley? The door is locked." The concern and confusion in Gram's tone came loud and clear. She wasn't used to being shut out. The knob rattled again.
"Shit." Riley grabbed him by the hips and pushed him backwards and into the bathroom where the door slammed in his face.
Jamie blinked, in total shock. He heard her muttering, heard rustling, and guessed she was pulling on her clothes. The door unlocked. Gram's voice became louder.
"Must've locked it by accident," Riley said. "You didn't have to wait for me."
"Haven't been waiting long. I fell asleep, too. You look a little flushed."
"From the nap. I just woke up."
Gram muttered something and then said, "Ready to go see that precious baby?"
"Yeah. Just let me get my shoes and find a clip for my hair." More rummaging, and then the door to the room closed.
Jamie let his forehead bang softly on the bathroom door. Un-fucking-believable. He wasn't sure how their reunion would go, but it sure as bloody hell wasn't this. He hadn't pictured her opening the door in nothing but a towel either. That had changed everything. His approach had gone right out the window when he saw her standing there with all that loose copper hair and those sleepy bedroom eyes…
He'd almost kissed her. Again.
Third time was damn sure going to be the charm.
Leaving the room in a state of frustration, he nearly collided with Hamish in the hallway. The old man's eyes went from Jamie to Riley's room and back again.
"Don't ask," Jamie said, moving past him, and then stopping to add, "And don't meddle either."
Hamish went all blustery. "Why, I wouldn't dare."
"Uh huh." Jamie was well aware of Hamish's addiction to matchmaking. "Hamish," he called, thinking of something else.
"Aye, Jamie?"
"If Riley should happen to go missing. Don't call the authorities."
Hamish's eyes went wide. Then, a slow, ridiculously pleased smile burst through his beard. "Planning a good ole fashion highland abduction are ye, lad?"
"I just might."
He laughed. "Oh, yer Scots down to the bone, Jamie MacLaren. Ye do us all proud." Chuckling, Hamish went on his way.
Well, he hadn't quite meant abducting her—just when he got his hands on her she might not surface for a while. But maybe it wasn't a bad idea. They needed to be alone, away from distractions, and interruptions. He didn't want to take her away from her time with the baby, though. All he needed was a couple hours, just to sit her down and lay it all on the line.
As he made his way downstairs, his thoughts churned. How to get her alone. He knew she'd be at Kate and Dev's for a few hours at least… Plenty of time to make a plan.
Chapter 9
Spending time with her family erased some of Riley's lingering jet lag. Seeing Kate as a mom and meeting baby Piper was amazing. Holding the tiny girl in her arms did funny things to Riley's heart. She could practically feel it expanding with love as she coddled and kissed the gorgeous infant. And yet there was a pang of yearning she hadn't expected. Piper seemed content to rest her head in the crook of Riley's neck and nap. Riley patted her bottom gently and closed her eyes, surprised at how much she liked the feeling.
But soon her turn was over and Gram laid claim yet again.
"I'm gonna head outside for a bit," she said, standing and carefully handing the baby over.
In the kitchen, Riley patted Devin on the shoulder as he stood at the sink washing out a bottle. Seeing him there, a big rugged man doing something so domestic and caring for his little girl gave Riley yet another pang. He glanced over and smiled. "She's something, isn't she?" he asked, pride lighting the depths of his eyes.
"Yeah. Gonna be a stunner, that one. I'll be back inside in a sec."
"Everything okay?"
She nodded. "Just getting some air. Last time I was here it was winter…"
"Ian's out there. Send him in if you see him."
"Will do."
Riley stepped onto the back patio and drew in a deep breath of the cool spring air. The sky was so dark, the stars vivid, so different than what she was used to seeing back home. She shoved her hands into her jacket and walked toward the creek that ran behind the lodge. The sound of it running past soothed her mind.
She wanted a family. Wanted what her cousins had. For the last six months she'd thought a lot about her life, her work, and her hang ups. And she'd come to terms with her mistakes and Mark's. Now she was back. James was as magnetic and sexy as she remembered. More so. He looked healthier, his hair had grown some, taking on a more rugged outdoorsy look that she was particularly fond of. Those eyes were just as riveting and intensely blue as before, and he still made her stomach flip and her fingers itch to touch him.
It was odd, another cousin falling for another MacLaren brother. But maybe it was meant to be. Maybe like attracted like. They'd both been through tough times, both brought into the same realm because of their families. Riley bit on the inside of her cheek as she tried to work out her feelings. She'd developed a huge crush on Jamie, so big it felt monumental and detrimental that he feel the same. From the way his gaze raked her, and the torrid expression in his eyes, it appeared as though he did.
Of course, that might just be because she'd dropped her towel and stood there naked in front of him.
An embarrassed sigh escaped her. She just wanted it over with. Wanted to know where the cards fell, what he felt.
The unknown made her jumpy and annoyed. And they were probably wondering where she'd gotten off to. Riley turned to make her way back to the lodge. As she drew closer to the patio a figure separated itself from the shadows near the corner of the house.
Jamie walked through the shaft of light emanating from the kitchen window. Her breath hitched and the butterflies in her stomach started going nuts again.
He stopped several feet away as though not wanting to get too close. "You want to go for a drive, New York?"
That deep, even voice set her blood on fire. Riley swallowed. He looked dark and dangerous, his large form outlined by the light. The guy had presence in spades.
"I already told Ian to let the others know..." His head tilted a fraction. "It's just a drive."
Said the spider to the fly. "All right. Sure." She could do this. It wasn't like she'd throw herself on him once they got into the truck. Well, she'd better not. Retaining a little dignity after the towel-
dropping incident would be nice. No need for him to think she'd pined after him for the last six months. Because she hadn't. Not totally. Nor did he need to know that their moment earlier had caused such a huge firestorm in her body that the flames still lingered. One little spark now and she was pretty sure she'd light up like a damn firework.
As they drove away from the lodge, Riley focused on calming her nerves and putting a lock on the attraction she felt for the hunky Scot. But it was hard. He was within touching distance. His scent filled the cab. Hell, she could even hear him breathing. And even that was a turn on.
"Fix your heater yet?" she asked, looking for a distraction.
Jamie glanced over and gave her a lop-sided smile that nearly sent her over the edge. "Forgot."
She glanced out the window. "Where are we going?"
"Just up to the bothy. I know you want to spend time with Kate and the baby. It's the closest to the lodge."
"What's a bothy?"
"Ours is an old stone cottage. One room. It's open for hikers or anyone to use to rest or take shelter from the elements. They're all over the country. No furniture usually, but always stocked with wood and matches. Supposed to be anyway. Rule is to replace what you use, leave it the way you found it. It's right over the hill."
Not good. So not good. The idea of being in a one room cottage with him, isolated in the hills, sent panic coursing through her system. "Thought we were going for a ride."
"Aye. To the bothy." He slowed the truck to a stop and turned to her. "We need to talk. And I rather do it face to face than driving."
She'd wanted to figure things out with him, to know how he felt. Now that the time was near, she couldn't quite find her courage. "Okay."
Jamie went back to driving and it was just a short distance over the hill to the bothy. The tiny stone building sat just below the crest of the hill with commanding views over the land. It was a pretty spot, especially with the backdrop of the starry sky and the high half moon.
"You coming?"
She hadn't realized he'd turned off the truck and had already opened his door. "Yep."
Riley followed, keeping a safe distance as they entered the building. Jamie went to the fireplace and started a fire. It was a little musty, so she propped the door open using a rock. The fire grew, lighting the room in a soft orange glow. There was a wooden table and two chairs, and a low wooden platform that she guessed was where one would roll out a sleeping bag.
Good thing there wasn't a mattress. Would keep her from wanting to use it. Though she wasn't averse to using the wall, the chair, or hell, being bent over the table—
Her face went hot.
"Doing okay?" Jamie asked, straightening from the fire and taking a seat on the edge of the wooden bed. He parked his elbows on his knees, and gave her such a frank look that Riley was sure he'd just read her wanton thoughts. "I think I can hear your heart racing from here."
Her mouth dropped open then snapped shut. Great. Like she really wanted her reactions known. Riley bit back a retort, trying to keep all her conflicting emotions at bay.
"If it makes you feel any better," he said quietly, "I've had a hard-on since your room."
Yep. There it was. She was on fire. Every part of her just combusted. "What is this?" she asked in a shaky voice. "Shock Riley night or something?"
He stared at her for a solemn moment. "What happened to the woman who sat on my couch and said things more shocking than what I just said, the honest one, the one who didn't pull any punches?"
"That woman was drunk. This one isn't." And this entire thing was not turning out like Riley thought it would. Inside, chaos reigned. She couldn't seem to find stable ground, and it made her nervous and scared. "And I'm honest."
"Then you can't deny there was and is something between us, something way more than just the attraction."
Riley stifled a wince. She'd walked right into that one. "That was one night," she muttered lamely. "You can't make way more out of one night."
"Who are you trying to convince, Riley? Because it isn't me. One night was all it took for me. You can make way more out of a second, a minute, a night." His voice dropped. "If you want to."
Her mind clouded, the weight of what he was saying, what he might be saying overwhelmed her. On one hand, her fantasies and hopes these last six months were coming true. It was everything she wanted to hear. And yet the sane part of her, the down to earth, the pull no punches side suddenly wanted to take a step back, to clear her head and regroup. She couldn't think. She was confused and disoriented and panicked. Only Jamie could do that to her. Rattle her like this. Set her on fire one minute and have her running scared the next.
And, boy, she was scared. Terrified.
This wasn't like her. She was the strong one. The fearless leader of the three cousins. The one who wanted to know how he felt. And now that she had a good idea, she fell apart.
"Do we need to make love first for you to decide?"
Riley glared at him, the heat returning with force. "Will you stop doing that?!"
A wicked grin played on his lips. "Doing what, turning you on from a distance?"
Oh God. Yeah. That.
Her eyes narrowed to angry slits. He wanted to play it like that? Fine. She'd show him just how effective her punches were. "Yes. Turning me on, MacLaren. I'm achy all over, my heart is pounding, and I'm already wet."
His jaw went slack and his eyes went wide and slightly unfocused. His nostrils flared. Jeez. Her breath went shallow, too. Okay, well, she'd meant to give as good as she got, but it had the additional effect of making her even more turned on than before. Her pulse pounded between her legs. She hadn't been lying. Her body was responding as though they were in full on foreplay, and they hadn't even touched.
Jamie scrubbed a shaky hand down his face. "Keep talking to me like that, lass," he said in a thick tone, "and I'll embarrass myself."
"Wouldn't want that," she quipped.
"What do you want, Riley? Want my hands on you? Want me to touch you," he flicked a glance at the juncture of her thighs, "there?"
Her heart was going to hammer right out of her chest. All she had to do was cup herself with a little pressure and she'd come. Her mouth had gone dry. She tried to swallow and couldn't.
But she could fix this on her own, end the constant tension.
Her hands were already on the buttons of her shirt, unbuttoning. Jamie's hands gripped either side of the wooden bed where he sat, his knuckles white. Emboldened by the effect she was having on him, Riley found her voice. "I want a lot of things." She pulled her shirt off her shoulders. "I want to be kissed." Her legs were weak as she unbuttoned her jeans. Jamie nearly came off the bed, but he forced himself to stay down, enraptured by her striptease. "I want to touch your bare skin." She bent and pulled one leg off then the other.
His Adam's apple slid up and down. Riley straightened. Down to her bra and underwear, she stepped toward him and stopped at his knee. He opened his legs a little wider, slid his hands up her thighs, and pulled her close. "About time." He kissed her stomach. She gasped at the sensation of warm lips on her skin and his roughened palms on her body. Pleasure shot through her veins, hot and achy.
He continued placing hot little kisses along the top of her panties, his hands coming around and squeezing her ass. As low as the wooden platform was, it put him in the perfect position to kiss her through her underwear. She ached for that, everything in her pounding and pulsing. And when he did, she cried out, grabbing his shoulders, plowing one hand in his hair.
He licked her through the cotton and she saw stars, her muscles clenching as her orgasm built. "God, Jamie, please."
Her nails dug into his shoulders. "Say you missed me," he murmured against her, the vibration of his voice making her crazy.
"I did. I missed you. I'll say it whenever you want. I don't care, just…" His finger slid under the edge of the cotton. She gripped him tighter. He pulled the material aside. And then this hot tongue was licking, circling
around her one time, two times, and by the third she exploded suddenly, hard and fast, pleasure surging out and stealing her breath.
He held her tightly until her body went still. But still she wanted more, needed to feel him inside her, needed to put her hands on him.
Compelled by need, Riley took a step back. "Stand up," she said, breathless.
He gazed up at her and her heart tripped over. He stood, snagged a condom from his pocket as she tried to help him with his pants, her hands trembling. Finally they were down, along with his boxer briefs. "Sit down," she told him and as soon as he did, she tore the wrapper, sheathed him with the condom, and then straddled him, sliding herself down until she was fully seated.
A breath of relief went out of her.
Jamie was staring at her, the moment seeming to come to a poignant stillness. He cupped her face, looking deeply into her eyes. He was going to kiss her. Finally. With him inside her, unmoving, and about to kiss for the first time… It was the most overwhelmingly erotic thing Riley had ever experienced. He brushed her lips. "You and me, New York," he whispered against her lips. He angled his head. Their tongues met. He kissed her so sweetly and thoroughly, she nearly died.
She had to move. The temptation was killing her. He felt right, filling her up, making her nuts, making her want to meld into him and never leave. Her fingers threaded through his hair, her nails digging into his scalp. She ground down on him, lost.
Jamie groaned, grabbed her around her rib cage with both hands and thrust up. Riley lost herself, reveling in everything he did, every touch, every kiss, every move, until pleasure built so thick and slow and powerful that she went over the edge once more to the sound of Jamie's, "God, Riley." Right before he went over the edge with her.
Chapter 10
"I don't want to let you out of here," Jamie admitted. They'd dressed and now he was on the wooden bed, his back against the wall with Riley in his lap. His muscles were useless. His pulse had finally calmed down. But his mind was still clouded and dazed. He knew it'd be good, but he never expected to lose himself so completely.
