His Heart's Desire (13 page)

Braden squeezed her fingers. “And I don’t want to have to share you. Hopefully Alec will be busy with his new friends for a while. I don’t want him to hear you screaming with pleasure.”

“Neither do I.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. “Let’s go home.”

Cat prayed that when they were alone and away from everything that was different to him, Braden would be able to rest. And when the day was new, she’d do what she could to help him adjust to his situation.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Braden stood on the front step for a second before forgetting his promise to behave. He stepped into the entry hall, shoved the front door shut with his foot, and gathered Catrìona in his arms and began devouring her mouth. This was the perfect way for him to forget how overwhelmed he’d been this past evening. Braden needed to be reminded of what was important and it wasn’t their location or even the time period. The emotions between them were tantamount and he needed to remember this.

Their kiss swept both of them into a sensual storm. He made love to her mouth like he planned on making love to her body. He knew what drove his lass crazy with lust and put every ounce of his knowledge to good use. Alternating sucking and nibbling kisses, he slowly ran his hands up her ba
ck in order to cradle her head.

Braden thought Catrìona tasted like sin and desire. His erection swelled and throbbed, and he wanted nothing more than to bury his aching flesh
in her warm and welcoming body.

Braden pulled back from the kiss, taking deep ragged breaths, but continued to hold Catrìona tightly against him. He knew if he didn’t get himself under control, he would take her in the hallway. She deserved better than that, he wanted to take his time and savor her.

His breath was warm and moist against her face. He could feel her heart racing His hard cock pressed against her belly, and it took everything he had not to wrap her legs around his waist right then and there. She ran her fingers through his hair, loving the feel of the long, dark, coarse strands falling through her fingers.

He moaned low in his thro
at. “I love when you touch me.”

Slowly she began to kiss him, first on his chin, and then on the corner of his mouth. With deliberate care, she ran her tongue along the seam of his mouth, seeking entrance. Braden groaned again. Her tongue was gentle and seeking. She took her
time tasting and exploring him.

His body shaking with need, he swept her into his arms and hurried up the stairs. After reaching the second floor, he pulled back only far enough to say in a husky voice, “God,
mo chridh! Much more of that, darlin’, and this is going to be over before it gets started.”

Cat just smiled a sweet, sexy smile, and said, “What does it matter? Do you have somep
lace you have to be later?”

Braden gently laid her on the bed and kicked off his dress shoes. “No, darlin’, the only place I have to be is right here.” After taking off his socks, slacks, and dress shirt, he set about divesting Catrìona of her clothes with more speed than finesse.

He started with small nibbling kisses from her foot to her ankle while running his fingers up and down her silky legs. Catrìona moaned softly. Braden continued trailing kisses up her leg and behind her knee. He laved and sucked on her flesh, loving the taste and scent of her skin. Cat lifted her head and noted his erection, straining the confines of his brief, ached with desire. Finally he made it to her skirt. Slowly he slipped the material down her hips, then down her thighs and finally off her legs.

“I just
discovered my favorite thing.”

“What’s that, Braden?”

“You in nothing but scarlet red lace.” His husky voice sent gooseflesh over her body.

She watched with anticipation as he lowered his head and gave her a gentle kiss th
rough the scrape of fabric.

“I love your feminin
e scent,” he said in a whisper.

After placing another gentle kiss on her feminine mound, Braden replaced his lips with the palm of his hand. Slowly he rotated his hand roughly against her center, while at the same time bending
to dip his tongue in her navel.

Her feminine folds were damp and swollen. Each grind of Braden’s palm against her center seemed to send shockwaves through her body. She arched into his touch, wanting, needing the contact of his skin
against hers.

Braden worked his way to her chest. He eased the lacy cup of her bra aside and his tongue tantalized the rosy buds, which had swollen to their fullest. He laved and caressed each sensitive peak. She reached out to run her hands up and down his strong back, wanting more, needing to feel more of him.

Braden lavished each delicate mound before raising himself over her. His rock hard erection poked out of the band of his briefs; his control was at its end. He could no longer wait to make her his again. He marveled that each time they made love was like the first time.

Lifting his hips away from her body, Cat helped to lower his briefs. Not to be left out of the fun, she lightly pushed him against the mattress, and then cupped the full sack below his throbbing erection. Braden groaned as she explor
ed him, tasted him, devour him.

His erection strained up toward his belly, the head of his penis almost brushing his navel. Cat gently laved the liquid drop that had formed at the crown of his erection before lowering her mouth and t
aking him as deep as she could.

Braden could think of nothing sexier than the vision before him, but he had been holding himself back for so long that he couldn’t take it anymore.

“Darlin’, you need to stop.”

Catrìona lifted her head and smiled. Before she could resume her ministrations, Braden sat up and dragged her along his aroused body be
fore rolling her onto her back.

He lowered his body over hers, making love to her mouth. He had never realized how sexy a kiss could be until he kissed Catrìona. Braden pulled back to whisper his desire for her into her ear.

“I need to be inside you now, love.”

Catrìona grabbed his throbbing erection and led him to her drenched and swollen entrance. Slowly he sank into her warmth. They moaned in mutual satisfaction
.

Once he was deeply seated, Braden paused and took her mouth again. He put all of his feelings and desires into that touch. With his kiss, he tried to tell her she was more than a quick tumble, and she meant more to him than even he understood. She was so tight he felt as if he was in his very own paradise. Her silken sheath clasped him in a warm embrace. When he withdrew slightly, her body grasped him and caused sensation
s to run up and down his spine.

He tried to set a slow pace, but she was not interested
.

Braden brought her leg up and rested it high on his thigh, allowing for deeper penetration. Palming her backside, he pulled her closer to him and ground his pelvis against hers, causing shockwaves to shimmer up his cock and t
ighten his balls.

Cat ran her hands down his back and finally grabbed his buttocks, pulling him closer and deeper. Something snapped and he plunged in and out of her honeyed warmth. He continued to kiss her, his tongue mimicking his hips, in and out, in and out. Catrìona met him move for move, thrust for thrust, and the sensatio
n was more than he could stand.

His arousal brushed against the heart of her femininity, and his scrotum lightly hit her backside with each thrust. It was delicious and wicked. Braden ground the root of his erection against
her, sending her over the edge.

“Catrìona . . . uh, God . . .
you feel so damn good.” Braden could feel her body as she experienced her orgasm. Catrìona called out his name as he continued thrusting. Soon, he was following her into sensual bliss.

Braden raised his hands to her head and held her still as he placed a gentle, whisper-soft kiss to her wet and swollen lips. “You are so beautiful.”

Catrìona smiled up at him. “You are so handsome.” She brushed his long hair behind his ears and pulled him back down for another long and lingering kiss.

They were both covered with a light sheen of sweat, and the ceiling fan was slowly cooling them with the light breeze. Still connected, Braden pulled up the sheet before rolling onto his side, pulling Cat with him. He kissed her on the forehead and gently held her to him. Wrapped in the protective cocoon of his arms, Cat relaxed. Slowly Braden ran light fingers up and down her back.

“Um, that feels so good. Don’t stop,” Catrìona muttered in sleepy response.

Braden smiled. “So demanding.” He couldn’t stop himself. He kissed the top of her head. She felt perfect wrapped in his arms. He closed his eyes.

“Welcome to New Orleans, Braden.”

He chuckled and hugged her close. “Now that’s a welcome I could get used to.” He smoothed her hair
. Contentment crashed over him.

Looking up into his beautiful dark eye
s, she whispered, “I love you.”

Braden stilled. “I love you, too.” And he did. But would their love be enough to breach the chasm of diffe
rences between them?

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Braden woke in the middle of the night desiring the beauty he held in his arms. Unable to help himself, he began worshiping her body with his mouth. Now and then he came to a section that he felt he must linger o
ver, if only to do her justice.

His lips awakened as he lingered at her navel. He felt Catrìona awaken and he smiled at her moans of appreciation to her wake-up call. He moved his lips over the smooth skin of her stomach toward her straining nipples, loving the way her breasts filled his hands, and how responsive they were to his touch. He loved the way she smelled of sin and tasted sweet like warm summer strawberries. After he drove her crazy by loving her breasts, he applied himself to other areas he wanted to explore. He took considerable time working his w
ay down to her feminine center.

Slowly he parted her nether lips and gently blew on the exposed flesh, eliciting a soft moan from he
r as she arched into his touch.

Braden lowered his mouth and loved her until she came to a screaming climax. Before her shudders subsided, Braden entered with one deep thrust. Catrìona wrapped her legs around his hips and he thrust in, rocking her to another powerful orgasm and joined her in the exploding ecstasy.

Both of them lay motionless and Braden listened as Cat’s heavy breathing slowed in time with his own. This thing happening to them was not only happening fast, but was more than a quick tumble.

Braden felt Catrìona slip back into sleep. He stared at the shadows dancing across the ceiling and walls. He vowed to do all he could to make sure that this time she was not taken from him, and that they would grow old together. His time in the fade had taught him a great deal and one thing he had learned was to value what you had; fate was a fickle mistress. He must not let his pride get bruised by having his lass take care of him.
For now he’d enjoy the moment. A perfect moment with his love in his arms.

*
* *

Dawn arrived too early, silently heralding a new day. A day Braden knew would be filled with challenges and questions. Always more questions. He rolled over and stared at the beauty lying beside him. The night before had been incredible. They had made love twice more through the night; each time better than the last. He was waxing poetic and it was pitiful. Him. A Highland
warrior overcome with emotion.

Coming into this time period was proving to be more emotional than he planned. He hadn’t rea
lized how much he’d missed her.

But in the bright light of morning he allowed himself to dwell on the things that had bedeviled him for the past few days. What was he going to do in this new country, in this new time? He knew there was no call for a Highland warrior. The world had changed whi
le he lived in his misty realm.

Until he had boarded the plane, it really hadn’t sunk in just how much. Oh, he’d been aware of the changes the world had undergone, but hearing about airline travel and experiencing it were two very different things. Internet, SUVs, cell phones. This was all
so much to absorb.

He was letting pride get in the way. Vain and stupid pride, but it was all he had in many ways. In the parameters of his mind, he admitted to his fear. Fear of not fitting in,
fear of letting his lass down.

And there was more. This place was haunted; he felt the souls that had long departed this plane for the next. He also felt unsettled. One thing he always knew was you couldn’t outrun your past and the future was always uncertain.

Stifling a yawn, Catrìona snuggled up to Braden. “I love that you are here with me.” She placed nibbling kisses along his chest.

Braden chuckled and pulled her closer. “I
love being here too, darlin’.”

Catrìona draped her arm over his stomach and kissed his shoulder. “Did you sleep well?”

“Aye. Like a babe.” Braden ran his fingers through her soft hair.

“Did you hear Alec come home last night?”

“No. But don’t worry about him. I’m sure he’s fine. He’s a grown man, lass.”

He watched as she wrinkled her sweet little nose. “I know, but I still feel responsible for him.”

“Why?” Braden sat up against the headboard and held her close.

“I don’t know. There’s something about him that makes me feel maternal.”

“Aye, he does act like a lad at times. But I’m sure your friends will take care of him.”

His words caused her to laugh. “That is true.”

Catrìona stretched like a lazy cat and moaned in pleasure. “I’m hungry.”

Braden felt his stomach rumble. “Me, too.”

“Since I don’t have anything to eat here at the house right now, do you want to get a shower and go to Café du Monde? They have the greatest
beignets
.”

“What is a
beignet
?”

“Only the most delicious doughnuts in the world.”

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go.” Braden flipped back the covers and smacked Catrìona on her sweet backside. “Get a move on, woman.”

She laughed. “Well, I didn’t expect that modern phrase to come out of your old world mouth.” She leaned in. “That’s going to cost you.”

* * *

Cat wrapped her fingers around Braden’s as they walked around the Vieux Carre on t
heir way toward Jackson Square.

Café Du Monde was a tradition in the French Quarter for tourists and locals alike. Normally the locals would stop by on their way home after a long night at the bars. Tourists came in droves to experience the world-famous, puffy, squared, powdered sugar-covered doughnuts
and the delicious café au lait.

Cat and Braden purchased their beignets and coffee before sitting on the terrace to people-watch while they enjoyed their sugary treats.

Oh, how she’d missed these while in Scotland. She sank her teeth into the warm sugary pastry. Powdered sugar covered her lips and fingers, but she didn’t care.

Braden sat back and watched her consume two in short order. Laughing, he reached over and kissed the sugar off of her lips. “I love to see a woman enjoy her food.” Cat swallowed and then stuck her tongue out at him, pitching a wadded-up napkin at him. He laughed and ducked the flimsy missile.

Sitting back and licking his own lips in appreciation, he smiled at her and took a bite of his own beignet. Soon he managed to polish off six and was finally content.

“What would you like to do today?” Cat picked up another beignet and took a delicate bite.

“I dinnae ken. What do you suggest?”

Cat knew they needed to talk about the future, what they planned on doing, and to introduce Braden to his new home, but the coward in her wanted to put this off for as long as possible. “Why don’t we take a walk around and maybe take a carriage tour?”

Braden took a sip of the hot chicory-laced coffee. “This beverage is delicious.”

“Don’t sound so surprised, big guy. I think you’ll find the food here is going to give your Scottish cuisine a run for its money.”

“I’m not familiar with that turn of phrase, but I’ll trust your opinion.”

“Good man.” She winked at him and he was stunned anew by how much this Catrìona was so different from the woman he’d known all those centuries past. But, it was different in a good way. She was self-assured and not timid. He hoped her childhood had been a good one. He knew the parts when she’d come to visit her grandma. What was a mystery was the time she had spent away from the kindly old woman. One day he’d ask her about that time.

* * *

Cat loved to sit still and let the world pass her by. It was fun to listen to all the different languages one could hear if they were listening closely.

New Orleans was really an incredible place. There was so much history regarding the river city and so many different ethnic backgrounds. French, Spanish, Cajun, Creole and so many more had made their home in her wonderful city.

It was also a city that had much to offer like jazz and Dixieland music, the arts, historic landmarks, restaurants with a whole range of options from barbeque to French cuisine and everything in between. There was also something for people that believed in things like voodoo and love potions. Many of the visitors were the fans of Ann Rice. She alone had managed to create a whole new society and tourist draw. The vampire tours and costume b
alls were large crowd pleasers.

The stores that lined the famous streets were as eclectic as the wares that were offered within. One could find anything they wanted on the old streets of the French Quarter. Sex shops, high-end boutiques and tourist shops could all be found right next door to each other. It was definitely a city that could accommodate any type of person or taste.

It was probably due to all of these things and more that Cat loved her city. That and the fact her family had been living there for generations.

She and Braden enjoyed a bit of walking and window-shopping for a while before they decided to head over to the Riverwalk, a long tunnel-like marketplace housing hundreds of specialty shops right along the river. They stopped for something to eat at the food court then headed back outside to the bandstand to enjoy the local jazz band.

Cat’s cell phone rang and she checked the caller id, before flipping it open.

“Hey, Meags, what’s up?”

“Hey, sorry to interrupt.”

“You’re not interrupting anything.”

“Okay. Well, don’t be upset, but Alec stayed over here last night.”

“Why would
I be mad? I’m not his keeper.”

“Oh, good. Anyhow, he’s the most delicious thing I’ve ever seen.”

Cat laughed. “That’s what you said about the football player before I went to Scotland.”

“Yeah, but that guy didn’t make my toes curl in my Docs. Oh, and the man can kiss like a
. . . there are no words.”

“I know what you mean. Glad you’re enjoying your time with Alec.”

“Do you care if he stays here? He’s not really up to sharing quarters with you two.”

“What? This coming from a woman who said she didn’t really care for the whole Scottish guy thing? Remember he’s not an elf or a naughty bad pirate.”

“Very funny. I know what I said, but Alec is not like anyone I’ve ever known.”

Cat didn’t want to admit it, but she liked the idea of having Braden all to herself. Now they could get to know each other properly. Not that she didn’t enjoy Alec; she did. But she and Braden had a past they needed to sort out and a future that was too uncertain for words.

“I think that would be a great. Let me check with Braden.”

Cat covered her phone. “Do you care if Alec stays with my friend, Meagan?”

“Not at all. Now I’ll have you all to myself.”

She loved the way that man thought. “It’s fine, Meagan. Take care of him for us.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.” Meagan screeched and then giggled. “Talk to you later, Cat.”

Cat stared down at her phone. “Alec’
s wasted no time.” She laughed.

“He never did.” He took her hand. “Come on, lass. I have a powerful hunger.”

“You just ate piglet.” She laughed.

“I’m not hungry for food.” The dark promise in his eyes made her weak in the knees.

“Now, why didn’t you just say so?” she teased.

“Sassy wench. That’s going to cost you.” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down.

“Promises, promises.”

“Aye, lass. ‘Ti
s a promise I plan on keeping.”