by Kara Summers
Drummond didn't seem the least bit bothered by his nakedness, and, as Eva took in a better view of him, she could see why he would have nothing to hide.
In an instant, he had his arm about Eva's waist, had lifted her up into his arms and was carrying her down the platform and away from the courtyard.
Eva could feel her cheeks burning now. She was thankful that he decided not to sling her over his shoulder this time — although she would have had a far grander view of his derrière from that vantage point. She could feel his thick muscles through the thin silk of her dress and it fueled something within her that no man back home had ever been able to do before.
Chapter: VI
Drummond didn't put her down until he had reached his spacious private quarters.
Eva gasped as her eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room. It was incredible, with a large four-poster bed situated in the middle, and intricate tapestries that decorated the stone walls. Embers smoldered in a large stone fireplace, and a thick fur rug on the floor added an intimacy to the setting.
Drummond set Eva gently on the bed before turning toward the stone fireplace. "Are ye cold?" he asked, concern lacing the tone of his voice.
Eva took a long, heated look at Drummond's body. She touched the back of her hand to her blushing cheeks. "Not at the moment," she said huskily, "but don't stop building the fire on my account." She liked the view from the bed, watching the intensely male figure tending a fire for her.
Once Drummond had stoked the fire, he rose and made his way toward a washbasin in the corner. He splashed his face with the water and then grabbed a small linen cloth to wipe the grime away. He paused and looked down at his body, which was still covered in dirt and sweat. He turned back toward Eva and nodded at her dress. "I'm sorry for ruining yer fine garment," he apologized.
Eva looked down at her bosom. Dirt marred the white silk from where he had carried her inside. "No worries," she said casually. "I didn't really like it anyways," she added. It was a lie; Eva thought the dress was beyond beautiful.
"Would ye like me to call for a bath?" he asked.
Eva was having a hard time keeping a straight face while having a conversation with the handsome, naked, highlander. Her eyes kept drifting down his torso and she had keep reminding herself to look him in the eyes. "Hmmm, I'm good," she said. "Actually, I wouldn't mind getting some sleep. I was up all night getting ready for this silly ceremony, I don't care that it is morning," she added.
Drummond regarded her with an interested expression. "Ye have a funny way of talking," he commented.
Eva laughed. "Ditto," she threw back at him lightheartedly.
Drummond looked thoroughly confused by her phrase.
"And you too," she clarified. She couldn't help but smile at him.
The smile Drummond shot back at Eva was a mixture of amusement, confusion, and lust. Eva could feel the tension building between them, and it both excited and unnerved her.
"Would ye like help getting undressed?" he raised his eyebrow and sent her a heated look.
Eva's eyes widened at the thought of allowing this highlander to help her undress. "I, umm," she stuttered nervously. "I can call Gussie to help —"
"Nonsense," he strode toward her, his long powerful legs quickly closing the distance between them. He slid his hand over the silk that covered her thick thighs, over the curve of her generous hips, and slipped behind her waist to tug at the buttons in the back. "I have a lot of experience removing female garments," he teased.
Eva sucked in her breath; she didn't think her cheeks could get any redder. "I suppose it wouldn't be fair to take Gussie away from her other duties," Eva tried to justify why she was allowing this complete stranger to undress her.
Drummond nodded. "Tis, as you say it, only fair," he mimicked Eva's carefree slang.
Eva could feel the hairs on her arm raise as she felt the last button give way and the top of the garment fall down, exposing her shoulders and the tops of her full breasts. Her breathing quickened and her chest followed suit, rising and falling rapidly. She could feel Drummond's gaze as it traveled down her neck and came to stop at the border where the edge of the silk dress rested on her nipples.
Drummond leaned closer, and Eva held her breath as she anticipated his next move. Drummond brought his lips just inches away from the edge of the fabric and paused; Eva waited with baited breath. Then with a gentle ease, he blew on the light silk, causing it to flutter and finish its journey down Eva's skin and fully exposing her naked breasts.
Eva thought that he was done, but was shocked when he bent his head closer and brushed his lips against the erect bud of one of her nipples. She sighed with pleasure as his rough lips caressed the soft skin and sent a myriad of sensations down her spine. She could feel her center throb as the touch incited her aching desire for him.
"Drummond," she breathed.
"Bhradain," he corrected huskily. "Call me Bhradain," he added a bit softer.
"Bhradain," she echoed in an attempt to mimic the way he spoke his name.
"Ah, lass, say my name again," he whispered enticingly.
Eva met his gaze and batted her eyelashes in the dim light that streamed through the shutters. "Bhradain," she repeated softly.
He moved in closer, pushing her back down on the bed and pressing his body against hers. He pushed up on his forearms and looked down at her. "And what can I call ye?" he asked.
"Eva," she replied.
"Eva," he repeated in his thick highland brogue, right before he brought his head down to kiss her neck.
"Mhmm," Eva sighed as he kissed a trail back down to her breasts.
Bhradain lifted himself up in order to continue the removal of Eva's gown. He tugged at the dress where it snagged on Eva's full hips. "I want to see all of ye," he said in a deep, seductive tone.
Eva didn't argue; she liked how she felt when he gazed upon her. She had already seen every inch of him, she might as well return the favor. She shimmied her hips to allow the dress to slide more smoothly past them.
Her movements caused Bhradain to groan with unquenched lust.
"I need to taste ye," he purred.
Eva wasn't about to turn down the offer of a highland god's wish to be between her thighs. She was too caught up in the moment to think of a coherent answer, so she simply nodded her agreement.
Bhradain continued his trail of kisses down her torso until he reached the juncture at her thighs and the small patch of curls that guarded it.
When he pushed his tongue inside of her, Eva gasped and clutched at the bed sheets. The sensation when he nipped, licked, and flicked his hot tongue against her most sensitive core caused her toes to curl and whole body to shiver in ecstasy.
"Don't stop," she gasped as he continued to bestow sensual attention on her womanhood and slowly tease out Eva's release.
Eva could feel her body start to ride the wave of anticipation, while toeing the edge of carnal release. Each flick of Bhradain's tongue sent her spiraling closer and closer to the tipping point. All rational thought left her mind as her a more primitive nature took over and guided her along the sensual experience.
When Eva thought that she could take no more, she felt her body let go of the tension and allow the pleasure to overwhelm and consume her. She cried out as her body shivered, then relaxed as she came back down from ecstasy.
When she finally opened her eyes, she saw Bhradain standing between her thighs: tall, powerful, and sensually dangerous.
"I'll leave ye to rest now," he said softly, but his eyes continued to flash with the reminder of their erotic encounter.
Once Bhradain had left, it didn't take long for Eva to drift off to sleep. She had gone through a lot in the past few hours and it had taken its toll on her. Although the events had appeared dreamlike and surreal, Eva couldn't quite shake the nagging suspicion that she had stumbled upon a world just as real as the one back home.
Chapter: VII
"M’lady," Gussie interrupted Eva's sle
ep. "T’is time to wake, ye slept the whole day away."
Eva opened her eyes groggily; she couldn't believe that she was still here. She thought surely it had all been a strange hallucination. As she started to come awake, Eva blushed as she thought of what had happened in that bed only hours earlier.
"I brought yer garments," Gussie offered her the pair of jeans and the extra-large black t-shirt Eva had been wearing when she arrived. "Peculiar garments," Gussie muttered as she set the washed and folding clothes at the foot of Eva's bed.
Eva was excited to see her clothes back. Although she had thought the silk dress — which was now in a crumpled pile on the floor where Bhradain and tossed it — was beautiful, she was more comfortable in her regular clothes, no matter how out-of-place they made her look in this world.
"Thank you," Eva said.
"Do ye need help to dress?" Gussie offered. "The Lady Drummond would like to see ye before the supper," she added quickly.
"I think I got it," Eva laughed. She peeled back the covers and quickly pulled the t-shirt over her head and yanked the tight jeans up her legs. "I'm ready," she announced to the girl after a few seconds.
Gussie nodded. "Follow me m’lady."
Eva followed Gussie down the long, darkened halls. Although Gussie carried a candle to light their way, Eva wasn't accustomed to the lack of electricity.
Lady Drummond was waiting for them in front of large double doors.
Gussie curtsied the moment Lady Drummond came into view. Eva was unsure of how to act when one entered the presence of a lady, so she just copied whatever Gussie did.
"Gussie, ye are dismissed," Lady Drummond waved her hand at the young maid.
"Yes m’lady." Gussie curtsied a second time before departing.
Eva felt a bit nervous being alone with the intimidating Lady Drummond, who was currently giving her a rather sharp look.
"Do ye ken why I brought ye here?" Lady Drummond asked Eva with commanding force.
"No ma'am," Eva blurted.
Lady Drummond raised an eyebrow at Eva before continuing. "The high druids seek yer counsel," she stated calmly.
Eva balked at the idea. She didn't like the two figures that had accused her of witchcraft in front of the entire clan. She wasn't sure if she could take a repeat of that incident. "Does Laird Drummond know about this?" she asked cautiously, instinctively knowing that he was her protector here.
Lady Drummond didn't flinch at her question, but neither did she acknowledge it. "Before we can accept ye, the druids of our clan need to see if ye be true."
Eva could feel her heart racing; she knew that this was a bad idea. However, she didn't know how she was going to get out of it, short of running away from here as fast as possible. Somehow, she knew that wasn’t a feasible answer. Where would she go?
"I guess?" Eva said hesitantly.
"Excellent," the Lady smiled at her. She opened the door and motioned for Eva to lead the way.
Eva's nostrils were assailed by the heavy smell of incense as smoke wafted out of the room. Lady Drummond did not appear the least bit bothered by the smoke, but nevertheless proceeded to wait by the door while looking at Eva expectantly.
"Am I —" Eva began, "do you —" she pointed at the room. Does she expect me to go in there? It is so thick with smoke how would one be able to see anything, let alone breathe?
Lady Drummond simply nodded.
Eva took a cautious step into the room, her mind racing with the absurdity of the moment.
Once she stepped inside, Lady Drummond shut the door behind Eva.
"Wait!" Eva called out, she tried to open the door, but it was already firmly secured. Her heart raced with the cold realization that she was trapped inside with two people that didn't seem to trust or care for her.
Cautiously, Eva turned back around. "Hello?" she called out into the heavy smoke. Her nostrils burned with the sweet smell of incense; her head began to grow heavy and her mind started to fog. "Hello?" she said again, her voice beginning the slur.
The only reply was the distant sound of chanting. Eva took a shaky step toward the hypnotic song, and out of the cloud of smoke emerged a shadowy figure.
Eva recognized the figure as one of the druids from her "ceremony." In this room, the cloaked figure seemed even more inhuman amongst the thick smoke, than he had outside in the courtyard. Eva shook her head to try and clear it, but her idea of reality had been thrown into turmoil the moment she had stepped through the door back at the house.
"So ye claim to be capable of breaking the curse that afflicts our laird?" the shadowy figure asked in a hushed male voice.
"I don't claim to be anything," Eva blurted out. But she paused as her mind took in what the man had just said. The curse? Is this what this is about? Was Bhradain cursed?
While Eva was still trying to process this new information, the figure continued. "So ye say," he said in his hypnotic voice. The chanting in the background continued, creating a thoroughly chilling atmosphere.
Eva was just about to reach her limit. "Look here mister," she advanced closer to the hooded figure. "I don't know what is going on, but someone better start explaining things to me!" she demanded coolly. Eva was shocked by her own forwardness, but a girl could only take so many surprises.
The figure regarded her from under the hood, and took his time before he replied.
"There is only one way to tell if ye be the one," he said in a tone barely above a whisper.
"Enough already," Eva interrupted. "I am not your witch or chosen one or whatever else you think I am!" She threw her hands up in the air in a sign of defeat.
The figure chuckled from beneath his hood and the sound sent a chill down Eva's spine.
"Aye, she be her," said an even more chilling voice. The second hooded figure appeared next to the first, her face concealed just like the other.
Alarm bells rang in Eva's brain; she needed to get out of here.
"We have our orders," the first one told the second in a hushed voice.
Eva continued to back away, her anxiety slowly rising as the room took on a more sinister air. When her back hit the door behind her, she stopped. She had no idea how she was going to get out of this situation; she could barely see four feet in front of her. Not to mention, even if she could escape the room, she had no idea where she would go.
Eva noticed something shimmer in the man’s hand. A knife perhaps? Eva froze.
"Look, I promise you, I am not who you think I am!" she said desperately, but already she knew that whatever she said would only be used against her.
The two figures continued to advance forward, closing the distance between them and her.
"Please," Eva pleaded. This whole thing had turned into a horrific nightmare. How could a simple game of manhunt have gone so wrong? She thought of her cousins, her aunt and uncle, the few friends she had back home, her job, her life. Will I ever see them again? she wondered.
The man extended his hand as he came closer, a thin bony appendage that appeared more skeletal than human.
Make it stop, Eva thought. She closed her eyes tightly, waiting, anticipating the chilling touch and the sharp blade of death.
Chapter: VIII
The next thing Eva heard was Jamie's voice. "Cousin Eva, what are you doing on the floor?"
Eva's eyes shot open. She shielded her vision from the blinding light coming from Jamie's flashlight. After spending the past few hours with nothing but moonlight and candles guiding her, the artificial light was overwhelming. She sat up, still disoriented, her heart racing from the near death experience.
Jamie's face came into focus. He was standing in the doorway, an expression of utter confusion clouding his cherub face.
"I, um —" Eva looked around at the room. It was a simple storage room, nothing out of the ordinary. No smoking incense, no dangerous druids, no enticing highlanders. "Nothing," Eva said in a rush. She wasn't about to explain what had just happened to her to her six-year-old cousin.
"You never found us!" Jamie whined. "We waited and waited for fifteen minutes and you never came!"
"Only fifteen?" Eva asked. She felt like she had been away for hours.
The little boy nodded. "Maggie gave up, but I insisted we must find you."
"Thank you," she said kindly.
The little boy beamed. "I'm glad you are alright," he said.
Eva wasn't sure she would say she was alright. She still felt a bit shaken by her experience in the druid's lair. Furthermore, she wasn't exactly sure if what she had experienced was real or not. It had all felt so vivid in the moment, but now that she was back at the house, she felt like it would be ridiculous to believe that anything that had transpired in the highlander's world was anything more than a weird dream.
"I think I am done for the night," she told her cousin. "I promise I will play Manhunt tomorrow," she offered. She felt bad that she had ruined the game.
He gave her a huge grin. "Ok!" he said enthusiastically.
Eva got up and made her way toward the door with little Jamie acting as her guide. As they left the room, Eva closed the door behind her. They both walked down the stairs, while Jamie started telling Eva about the pirate story his father had promised to tell him at bedtime. Eva nodded as he spoke, but her mind was still reeling with the thoughts of her strange experience. Although her rational mind tried to tell her that it was all just a dream, that perhaps she'd slipped and hit her head, her heart ached with a very different memory.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Jamie turned to bound off in search of his father, who had promised to finish that pirate story. However, as Jamie moved away, he called back to Eva over his shoulder. "You need a bath Eva, you stink," he said with unabashed honesty.
Bewildered, Eva looked down at her clothes. Only after Jamie had pointed it out did the sickly sweet smell hit her. She lifted the hem of her shirt sniff the fabric; she smelled heavily of incense.
