Romantic Legends

by Kathryn Le Veque

  She darted to where Dugan stood and attempted to shove him aside, but he refused to budge. “It’s Captain Westcott.”

  “Oh, God!” This time she succeeded in moving Dugan and peered down. The rider who approached, surrounded by her clansmen was clearly Jamie Westcott.

  A loud crash sounded. Bringing her attention back inside the room. Her brothers tumbled over a large settee, two of its legs now flattened. Surely they should have tired by now. “Stop it!” She screamed at them, and was promptly ignored.

  She had to prevent Jamie from entering right now. Her already angered brothers would in all likelihood kill him. Cailyn hiked up her skirts and rounded the men, who now had hands wrapped around each other’s throats, while their wives attempted in vain to pull them apart. Hopefully they’d not notice her absence right away.

  Cailyn dashed down the wide stairwell of Somerset Keep, her childhood home and through the great room out to the courtyard. At the open expansive wooden door, she attempted to catch her breath cursing the tight corset she wore. Once outside, with her hand over her brow, Cailyn shaded her eyes against the bright sunlight and squinted at the approaching party of men.

  With four escorts and many more of her clansmen around them, the infamous privateer Captain Jamie Westcott’s immense steed lumbered toward the keep. His wind-tussled auburn hair glistened, as did his green eyes when they met hers.

  Her already thundering heart drummed faster under his regard. Cailyn motioned him with both arms to hurry and dismount, while glancing over her shoulder toward the keep.

  His brows scrunched together, he dismounted and stood next to his horse, holding the reins.

  “Hurry, Jamie, I must speak to you before my brothers come downstairs.” Cailyn grabbed the reins from his hands and tossed them to one of his men. She then looked to a clansman, who watched with interest. “Captain Westcott is a friend of the family. Six of you can remain until the laird orders different. The rest of you return to whatever you were doing.” The men gawked but did as she bid.

  Threading her arm through his, she tugged Jamie toward the keep. “Can you please walk faster?” she begged, now panting with the exertion of attempting to breathe against the tight contraption around her waist.

  “Are you trying to get me killed?” Jamie asked, as he hurried his pace. “I believe it is protocol for a visitor to wait for the laird to invite one in.”

  “Believe me this is no time for protocol.” Cailyn lead him into the only room with a lock on the door, her eldest brother’s study, and slammed the door. She swung around to Jamie and placed her fisted hands on her hips. “You promised to wait at the port. Didn’t I also inform you we’d travel there? Why did you come now?”

  Exasperation grew when he raised both brows and gave her an incredulous look. “You seriously expected me to sit back at the inn and wait patiently for whatever your clan planned to do with my sister?” He shook his head, “The only reason it took me this long is because it was almost impossible to get information as to where this keep is located from the people. It was only by accident that we stumbled upon it.”

  Screams sounded, along with items crashing, and Jamie went toward the doorway. “Where is my sister?”

  Somehow Cailyn hoped to delay a meeting between the men upstairs and Jamie. At the moment, neither of her brothers were of a mind to attend to Jamie. She shuddered to think what would happen if he burst in and demanded to take his sister back to England.

  “She’s not involved in what is happening,” Cailyn held both hands out against his chest. “My brothers are having a disagreement.”

  Although poised to rush out, he peered down at her with ill-concealed want. “I have thought about you and our time together.”

  Heat rushed to her face and Cailyn took a breath. “So have I.”

  He drew her against his muscled chest. “I thought about your kisses.” Strong arms surrounded her, and Cailyn held her mouth up for him to take. When his lips fell on hers, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  Soft, yet firm, his mouth traveled over hers and her blood began to pump harder. His tongue probed at her lips and she parted them. Both began the lover’s dance, tongues twisting, palms sliding over each other’s body, while moving in circles in an attempt to sway into the natural rhythm of their heartbeats.

  Jamie raised his head and peered down at her, a slight curve to his lips. “I’ve come for Victoria. I must take my sister back to England, as I am prepared to depart as soon as I return to port.”

  A louder crash sounded, followed by Victoria’s clear voice. “Stop this instant, you are going to kill each other.”

  “Torrie?” Jamie rounded Cailyn and rushed from the room, with her on his heels.

  He sprinted up the stairs and stopped abruptly at the scene inside the sitting room. Furniture laid askew, drapery torn. The room was in shambles, thanks to the two panting men who were now sprawled on the floor side-by-side, each with a woman sitting on their heaving chests.

  The large man who’d accompanied Cailyn to the village remained by the window with his arms crossed, his scowl moved from the floor to Jamie. “What are you doing here Captain Westcott?”

  Victoria looked up expectantly. “Jamie, I thought you were going to wait at port for me to come to you.” She pushed her disheveled hair away from her face and smiled up at him. Her smile disappeared upon realizing the scene he’d walked upon. “The brothers were fighting, I think they’ve finally tired out,” she told him, as if it were an everyday occurrence.

  At Jamie’s lack of response, Victoria scrambled to her feet, and so did the man on whose chest she’d sat got up with her. She dashed over and hugged her brother.

  Over his sister’s head, Jamie glanced at Cailyn. The man who remained on the floor cleared his throat and pinned her with a hard stare.

  The same man took the woman who sat on him by the waist and hoisted her off. He then came to his feet, wiping blood from his cut lip with the back of his hand. “Captain Westcott, I presume. I am Calum McDougall, the Laird.” He met Jamie’s questioning stare with indifference. “It seems I am forced to welcome you to Somerset Keep as a member of the family. My brother Conor and Victoria were married last night.”

  “What?” Jamie looked from the laird to Victoria, who moved back to stand next to whom he assumed was her husband. The large male placed a possessive hand on her back.

  “What do you think you’re doing? Unhand my sister.” He glared at the McDougall, who now stood with an arm possessively around Victoria’s waist.

  “I will do as I please, she is my wife.”

  Jamie flew at the Scot with a loud growl and fists swinging. Punched returned by another sounded until Dugan let out a shrill whistle and they stopped fighting, although Jamie noticed Conor did not put up much of a fight.

  Dugan gave the men a bored look. “I believe the laird wishes to speak to you both.”

  Jamie released his grip of Conor’s tunic and lowered his arms.

  “Very well,” Conor replied, motioning for Jamie to exit before him. Jamie snorted his displeasure and moved ahead.

  He needed to speak to Victoria alone. Although a spitfire like their mother, she’d never been impulsive or rash about important decisions.

  The Laird motioned for Conor to exit before him while extending a hand to Jamie to ensure they kept a distance.

  The women remained in the tattered room, none of them knowing what to do about the situation.

  “This is all my fault.” Victoria paced the now-destroyed sitting room while the others picked up broken items only to put them back down again. “Jamie was so angry.”

  Victoria blew out a breath. “What a mess.”

  Cailyn nodded in agreement. “Calum is as angry, if not more. Nonetheless, there isn’t much can be done about it now. You are married to Conor, and both of them will have to accept it.”

  Victoria went to the doorway and scowled toward the stairway. “It’s been nearly an hour. What can they possibly be discu
ssing for so long?”

  “Well, for starters, I have not heard any crashing so that is a good sign. I imagine they talk of your money. Decisions have to be made about your estate in England and such,” Cailyn replied. “There is much they have to agree upon, which I assume with those three, it is like enticing a boar out of a thicket and onto a platter.”

  “You are right.” Victoria sat and sighed. “What of you and Jamie? What transpired between you? I noticed he struggles to keep his eyes off you.”

  “I am sure it is your imagination.” Cailyn flushed and stood. “I will go see about the evening meal.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  That night Jamie lay on the large bed and stared up at the ceiling. Things had definitely not gone as he’d planned. Victoria married to a McDougall, of all things. He never expected to find his sister married to the man responsible for her late husband’s murder. Although he had to admit she seemed happier than when married to Turner.

  He’d stay a couple of days to ensure Victoria’s estate was safe from the Scots. He’d sent a messenger, escorted by a McDougall back to let his men back at the village know of his delay. His ships and crew awaited, they would not remain too much longer. With the still tenuous peace between the countries, the Scots were not keen on his ships remaining off shore.

  The most imperative thing for him to do was to avoid time alone with Cailyn. She was a distraction he couldn’t afford.

  “Ah but what a tempting diversion she was”, Jamie thought.

  The plan had been to collect his sister and return to port immediately. Instead, now he’d agreed to spend two additional days at Somerset so they could come to an agreement over Victoria’s assets in England.

  Conor McDougall her new husband, seemed to be a man of honor; as he’d requested Jamie remain the sole administrator of Victoria’s fortune. The Scot vowed his sister would not want for anything. The couple planned to relocate to his nearby keep soon.

  That day at seeing Cailyn again, he immediately lost all his resolve. When the beauty rushed to him, he…Captain Westcott, the infamous Red Pirate, felt a fluttering in his gut. She was definitely dangerous and had to be kept at a distance.

  All throughout the evening meal he’d been able to maintain a conversation with the laird, Victoria and Conor. Barely any words were exchanged between him and Cailyn. Although he had to admit, his gaze did constantly go to her.

  Breathtaking in a deep blue gown, her matching cobalt eyes, that met his several times, she’d remained mostly quiet. The exposure of her neck brought by her dark hair pinned up and the low cut of her gown, made him painfully hard. The entire evening, his cock had throbbed uncomfortably against the fabric of his breeches.

  Now as he lay alone in the dark, he considered attempting to find her. If only he could have her one last time.

  At the thought of her stunning body, his cock throbbed and Jamie slid his palm down past his stomach to press against his hardened length. It was already proving to be a test of endurance for him.

  His door cracked open and Jamie reached for the dirk beneath his pillow and pretended to sleep, watching under his lashes to see who entered.

  “Jamie?” Cailyn whispered and took a tentative step inside. “Are you awake?”

  If they weren’t in her brother’s home, he’d have slammed her against the doorway and taken her then and there. Instead, he turned to his side and lifted up to his elbow. “I must ask you again if your intent is to have me killed.”

  The door closed without sound and she moved closer. When she stepped into a ray of moonlight, Jamie lost his breath. Her sheer gown left very little to his imagination. Soft curves were outlined down to her long, lithe legs. “I …I am not sure why I came, I couldn’t sleep knowing you are here.”

  Jamie could only stare, transfixed.

  After a beat of silence, Cailyn shrugged. “Well, I suppose it is best that I return to my chambers. I apologize for having disturbed you.”

  He bounded from the bed and took her around the waist, his mouth instantly over hers. Even if the price of having her was death, he was powerless to allow her to leave. The temptress returned his kisses, her arms around him pulling at him. Slow and precise, he pressed kisses along her jaw line, down to her throat.

  Cailyn moaned and her head fell back, while her hands slid up his back. She drew her fingers through his hair in encouragement. He yanked her nightgown over her shoulders, tossing it to the floor and cupped her breasts with both hands. His lips’ descent continued, and he did not stop until he pulled her tight nipple into his mouth eliciting his name from her. “Oh Jamie.”

  From one to the other, he continued to taste her breasts with eyes closed. He’d memorize each moment for the long, lonely months at sea. Every touch, stroke and kiss would be committed to memory to keep him company in the solitude to come.

  “Jamie,” she hissed, when he cupped her tight, round ass and ground his stone-hardened cock against her. “I want you.”

  He continued to kiss her until she clung to his shoulders shaking, and then stepped away to undress.

  Seeing her stare at his jetting cock made him harder. “As you can clearly see, I’m very much in need of you as well.” Jamie moved to her and picked her up.

  As soon as they fell into the bed, he took her mouth again. Cailyn’s hips lifted up to grind against him and he fought not to take her. When her nails trailed down his back to grab at his derrière and he bucked forward with the tip of his cock at her entrance.

  “Open wider for me,” he instructed. Cailyn was too tight for him to chance hurting her. He slipped a finger inside her wet sheath, sliding it in and out while she mewled against his neck.

  “Ahhh, you feel so good.” Jamie moved down her body, needing to ensure she was fully prepared for him.

  Cailyn wanted to scream when Jamie’s lips traveled down her body. He lifted her legs to bend them at the knees and pushed them apart leaving her fully exposed to him. More than anything, she wanted him inside her.

  Delicious frustration mounted when his tongue traced circular patterns on her inner thighs. Finally, he licked at her core, his tongue fiery against her sensitive flesh. “Oh!” she exclaimed, concentrating on keeping her voice down, which became increasingly difficult when his hot mouth covered her entirely and his tongue began to flick at her throbbing nub. She pushed up into his mouth and began to float.

  Again and again, his wicked mouth caressed between her folds until Cailyn lost control and fell into the abyss of stars and darkness, with only enough consciousness to bring some bedding against her mouth to muffle her cries.

  From her flat stomach back up to her chest, Jamie pressed kisses and nipped gently at her skin. Cailyn floated back down as he positioned himself between her legs. “I dreamed of having you again, just like this.” The sound of his voice fell like a warm blanket over her exposed skin. Her embers fanned at watching his muscles bunch while he pressed himself closer, sliding his cock against the already weeping core. “I need to be inside you Cailyn.”

  Cailyn reached between them and took him in her hand. His shaft was moistened by her juices, which allowed her hand to slide down the thickness to its base, then back up to the head with ease. “I want you so much, Jamie.”

  Positioned at her entrance, he pushed in with excruciating slowness. Both of them let out a hearty sigh when he was fully sheathed inside her.

  “Take me,” Cailyn brought his face down to her and took his mouth, suckling at his full lips. “Hurry, love, I need you so much.”

  His hips began to move, slowly at first. Then with her urgings, he picked up the pace, sliding in and out faster.

  Jamie lifted her hips with both hands and pulled her to the edge of the bed. He stood and positioned her legs up over his shoulders and then drove into her harder. The tempo of his drives became more hurried; his breathing became more of a pant.

  Cailyn fought to not lose all control at his delicious assault, wanting to wait and plunge with him.

 
; He released her legs and continued driving so hard the sounds of their bodies colliding rivaled their moans. Cailyn finally surrendered and came with so much force she wept. Jamie thrust into her only twice before he too came, groaning quietly into her throat. With a final jerk, he drew out of her and spilled his seed onto the bedding.

  “Lay with me for a bit.” He told her climbing onto to lie beside her. They settled onto the bed, snuggling together under the thick furs.

  Cailyn gazed at Jamie’s face and he kissed her with soft lips, his eyes already drooping with sleep.

  When his breathing became even and a soft snore escaped, Cailyn slid from the bed. She tugged her nightgown on and stood by the bed to steal one last look at him, before slipping from her chamber.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Two days later, dressed for the road, Jamie put down his cup when Victoria came into the drawing room where he’d been waiting. Admittedly, his sister glowed, her face split with a wide smile at spotting him. Victoria’s eyes, which he knew matched his, shined bright with unshed tears when she came closer and hugged him.

  “Oh, Jamie, must you leave so soon?” She frowned up at him. “Stay for the season. It will be winter soon. You should not be out sailing in such weather. I’ll be sad without you here.” Her pout made him waiver. His weakness for women, especially his sister, made it hard to keep his resolve.

  “I must,” he replied, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “Besides, it seems your new husband keeps you plenty company.”

  Victoria laughed and nodded. “Yes, he does. Oh, Jamie, I am in love. For the first time in my life, I am deliriously happy.” She beamed up at him, her face flushed. “Conor is an honorable man who treats me well.”

  “I can see that.” Jamie glanced toward the doorway. He needed to leave.

  Cowardice or self-perseverance, he wasn’t sure which, propelled his departure. He didn’t want to run into Cailyn. He’d actually managed to avoid time alone with her since their time together.