A Journey Out of Time (25 page)

"Say it,
Duncan
. I want to hear you
say
it." He let out a low chuckle, then inhaled quickly as she moved her hand up & down on his hard shaft until he grabbed her, rolling her onto her back. Pushing up her skirts up, Sonya laughed. So much for her being in control!

*

Sonya had never been on a ship & when the subject first came up she wasn't so sure she was going to like it. Now? She wanted on the darn thing! Days of travel by horse to the port was way past its excitement factor. How many pieces was that plane in again? She always did like puzzles.

Traveling from the south of Scotland to the Isle of Skye…Just looking at the map made one want to cry. On a plane, in a car, no problem. On a
horse
? Ugh! But when Angus sent word of the wedding of Rowan & Brenna & a reply came from Cullen's wife,
Casia, they knew they had to set out right away. Although Cullen's trouble with the anger had abated after a time, his physical problems had not & Casia was asking for them to come. She feared for him. He was getting worse.

"Are ye sure ye doona wish to wait until Rowan & Brenna's wedding is over?" Duncan had asked Sonya as he walked into Angus' private library.

"No, I don't think we should wait. It will take us ages to get there as it is."

"I know. I just hate for yet to miss it."

"Well, we will have ours next, just as soon as we sort out this brother thing. I don't want any squabbling in my new family." Duncan hugged her tight & kissed her on the head.

"Any luck?"

"Not really. I mean we don't even know what we are looking for, do we? I think we will just have to see when we get up there. Losing control of his temper & appearing to look animal-like isn't really helpful."

"What if Cullen doesn't want us to come?"

"Well, we are going anyways! I have a future sister in law to meet." Duncan laughed. "We are all packed. I have Ewan's things & now I just have to contain myself until we leave tomorrow."

"I ken something that can keep you busy," he whispered heavily into her ear. It gave her chills all the way down her body.

"Really?"

"Aye, lass. Shall I tell ye about it?"

"Aye," she replied.

Duncan took the book out of her hand & laid it on the table. He locked the door & led her to a chair. He sat down, pulling her onto his lap.

"Oh!"

Duncan nipped the back of Sonya's neck & she turned her head to the side. He licked up her neck, taking her earlobe into his mouth, he bit it gently. His hands found there way to her already hardened breasts. Sonya ran her hands down the outside of Duncan's thighs. He pulled her back, turning her head so he could press his tongue through her parted lips. His manhood bulged against his trews under her skirts. He rocked his hips, rubbing against her. Sonya moaned, opening her legs wider.

"Duncan?"

"Aye?" he breathed heavily.

"I can't reach your trews from here!" He chuckled.

"Perhaps ye should do something about that, lass."

She did. She stood up & turned around, pulling at the ties at the front of his trews impatiently as he untied her bodice. When she removed his cock he moaned. He roughly grabbed her & pulled her towards him, his tongue deeply penetrating her mouth. Sonya kissed him hungrily as he put his hands under her skirts, lifting her onto him. She let out a gasp as he pulled her hard onto him. Kissing him roughly she rocked her hips to the rhythm he set as he moved her with his strong hands. Duncan moved his mouth down to her breast, taking one into his mouth, sucking on it & then the other. Sonya's muscles tightened around his cock & he moaned. Their rocking quickened as did their breathing. He covered her mouth in his & they both let out their moans of lust until they came. He leaned his head back & she rocked as he gasped, his legs quivering. Duncan held her to his chest & she sighed laying all of her weight against him.

"Who knew a library could be so exciting," he chuckled.

Sonya kissed his chest as he combed his hands through her hair. She bit him & he let out a yelp, pulling her head back. He grinned wickedly & she grinned back, moving her brows. He kissed her hard, then more tenderly. They stayed like that for a long while. It made her glad he was such a big, sturdy man! He made her feel small & protected. He was strong, but tender. He loved her. What more could she ask for?

*

"Woman!" Duncan yelled. "Woman, where are ye?"

Sonya looked across the gardens, smiling.

"What is it, man of mine?"

Duncan chuckled, raising the parchment in his hand. "We got word from Cullen. He is looking forward to our visit."

Sonya hurried towards him & he picked her up like she was a feather, spinning her around. He held her & she hung onto his neck.

"That is great!" Duncan put her down & scanned the letter further. His face went from joyous to serious. "Duncan what is it?"

"This is from Casia. Cullen has gotten worse."

Sonya didn't say anything more, but they hurried towards the castle to gather their things. She looked at Duncan. His face was grave.

"Duncan?"

"Aye, lass?"

"Did she say what was happening with him?"

"Nay, but I think they ken."

"Well, we will see what we can do when we get there then."

He smiled faintly & reached for her hand. This big strong man was hurting inside & she couldn't help him. She hated the way that made her feel. It made her feel helpless. As if he read her mind he said, "Lass, I am glad I have ye. It helps just having ye with me."

Sonya smiled sympathetically & squeezed his hand.

"Sonya?"

"Yes, Ewan."

"We are leaving now?"

"Your uncle Cullen is very unwell & we are going to see if we can help."

"I have missed Uncle Cullen. We will make him better, won't we?"

"I hope so, Ewan."

Telling Angus, Anne, Rowan, & Brenna goodbye was much more difficult than Sonya could imagine. She never did do well, leaving family behind. So, she tried to focus on the task before them. After having ridden for a while she asked, "Duncan, what do you think happened to Cullen?"

He seemed to be thinking about the answer. "Cullen would ne'er tell me where he met his wife. She was'na from the near by villages. She was'na like anyone I had e'er seen before."

Sonya raised a brow. When he looked over at her he chuckled. "Lass ye canno be jealous, can ye?"

"Hmph."

"Casia is petite. She has white blonde hair that reaches to her ankles. She is verra pale & I have never seen the like of her before. From my short stay she seemed like a kind woman. My brother & she seem to love each other verra much."

"But?"

"She seemed frightened a lot. Cullen seemed very protective, but I was'na sure why. It was'na from anyone threat in the clan, but seemed a threat outside that."

"And the fight with you?"

"I doona ken, lass. I ne'er understood what I might have said or done. I just knew he looked so unusual. He did'na sound like himself, he did'na look like himself." Duncan shook his head as if to get the picture of his brother out of his head.

"And yet no one in the clan was alarmed by this?"

"Not that I ever learned. Even Angus tried to find out & no one would say anything was wrong with Cullen."

"Well, we will see. Maybe we can figure it out, my love." Duncan smiled.

"I hope so. I truly do."

*

Okay, the ship was preferable to the horses. Sonya was right about that. Seeing the ocean, being in the middle of the blue-green was breathtaking. Between the oceans song & the rocking of the ship she was lulled to sleep. When Duncan let her sleep, she had never slept so well. The only thing she didn't like was being restricted to the ship. It was an unusual feeling knowing you could go no further. Unless you wanted to swim with the fishes!

When they arrived at the castle where Cullen & Casia lived, they were greeted with their guards & fanfare. Duncan looked at Sonya with a smile, obviously relieved. Duncan knew everyone of course & she knew no one. He introduced her to cousins & aunts & uncles that welcomed her as if they had known her her whole life. It was a wonderful feeling. It was family. More family.

Duncan was pulled aside & was talking intently with a clan member. Sonya watched his face changing when Ewan pulled her arm excitedly.

"Aye, Ewan. What is it?"

"Look! Is that Uncle Cullen's wife?" he asked in a loud whisper.

Sonya looked up to see the most beautiful human she had ever seen. Then she wondered if she
was
human at all. Now she understood what Duncan meant, she had never seen anyone like her. Every woman can see beauty, but this lady, glowed. Duncan was right.

"I believe so," Sonya whispered to him. She had no clue why she was whispering, but she was.

"She is beautiful," he whispered back.

Duncan came up behind Sonya, making her jump.

"Aye," Sonya replied.

"Careful lass, ye are starting to sound more & more like one of us."

Sonya smiled up at him. "Soon, I will be." Duncan pulled her towards him, hugging her to his side.

Casia came up extended both of her hands, taking theirs. "Sonya, Duncan. We are pleased you could come."

"Thank you. We are very glad to be here."

"You
are
from another world, aren't you?" Casia stated.

Sonya raised a brow, perplexed. There was something different, but she couldn't figure out what it was.

"It is good to see you again, Casia." Duncan hugged his sister in law.

"And you too, Duncan. It has been far too long." Then she went down in front of Ewan. She was smaller than he was when she did. "And you, lad, must be my nephew." She took his hand & he had a look of awe on his face.

"Aye," was the only reply she got besides his huge, green eyes staring at her.

"Well, I am very glad to meet you."

"I will show you your rooms & then take you to see Cullen."

"Thank you," Sonya smiled, following after the dainty lady as she led them up the stairs to a beautiful bedchamber. She took Ewan by his hand, showing him to his room down the corridor.

Sonya walked to the window & looked out. Windows always seemed to draw her first. She saw a field edged by a loch. "It is beautiful here."

"Aye," Duncan agreed, inhaling.

"You grew up here?"

"For a time & then at Ronin."

She left the window, looking around the room. Above the bed hung a medium blue tapestry with two white birds in a tree, below them were horses running in a field. She ran her hand over the shiny silver & blue bedding. She looked up to see Duncan grinning at her.

"What?" she asked.

"Naught. I just like looking at ye, lass."

She blushed. "Why?"

Duncan seemed surprised by her question. "Do ye not ken how beautiful ye are lass?"

"Beautiful? Ha," she laughed briefly. She recalled Rowan telling her also, but she never believed it.

Duncan came to stand in front of her. He took her chin, turning her face up to him. "Look at me, woman." Sonya looked up at him. "Ye are the most beautiful woman I have e'er seen."

"Even more than the woman you wanted to wed?" Sonya didn't know why she asked that. Insecurity?

Ah, so the lass felt threatened. Without a second going by Duncan said, "Aye, lass, without a doubt. I was but a lad & she was'na my mate. I ken that even then. Ye are the only woman for me. Ye had to find
me
because I knew not where to find ye. I knew only that I needed ye."