Laird of the Game (16 page)

“Oh, yes, right now.” Alex moved his hips against hers, and she gasped.

He sat up, still joined to her, and she clung to him, trembling from the rage of passion he unleashed. He could hold her and love her at the same time, and his body thrilled her again and again until she could bear the sweet agony no more and gave in to the ecstasy.

Alex fell back on the bed and held her close. He couldn’t let go of her. Her small hands gently caressed his shoulders, and her breathing slowly calmed. Her eyes were closed and there was a pretty smile on her lips.

“What are ye thinking, Melissa?” Alex propped his back against the pillows so he could hold her against his chest. “I want tae know what that smile is for.”

“It’s for you, my love.” She turned her head so she could peer up at his face. Her fingers traced the line of his chin. “My beautiful love,” she sighed. “What am I going to do with you?”

“I can think of several things.” He stroked her hair that spilled over his chest and arms.

The serious tone in her voice was an instant warning to him. “You’re no’ going tae leave.”

She looked at him with a sad smile. “I do have to work, Alex.”

“Why? I can take care of ye?”

Melissa wanted to cry. He was so wonderful to her. She knew the enormous amount of responsibility he already had on his shoulders, and it made her want to work even harder to help him.

“Alex, I wasn’t born in this country. I don’t know what work there is available for women here. I will have to apply for permission to stay here.”

His heartbeat hammered in his chest. He couldn’t ask her to marry him just to keep her there beside him and couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving him.

“Daniel is a Barrister. He can take care of that.”

“Do you ever let Daniel rest?” She laughed. “He is always going somewhere. Alex, I have to work.”

“But why do ye have tae work, my lovely lady?”

“So we can afford to buy our own cottage.”

He looked at the warm glow in her eyes and couldn’t believe how much he loved her at this moment. “You’d go tae work tae buy me a cottage?”

He stroked the hair from her face and got lost in her gaze. He had never had anyone offer to take care of him before now. The thought rolled around in his mind, and he decided he liked the idea of having Melissa take care of him. She was the first woman he trusted with his heart and his body.

“Yes.” She laughed at the serious look in his eyes. “We have to put a roof over our heads. We can’t stay at the cottage forever. Winter is coming soon. That is what partners do, don’t they?” He was smiling at her and didn’t seem to notice she had asked him a question. “Alex. We are partners, aren’t we?”

He let out a heavy sigh and had to choke back so much, just for now. He wanted to be honest with her. She didn’t hold back with anything. Melissa loved like she painted with a passion. “Forever,
a Grá
.”

Melissa noticed that far away look in his eyes. They were content for the moment, and she didn’t want to break the enchantment that surrounded them. She wanted him to hold her and chase her fears of returning to the future away. She wanted to think she would be beside him forever.

Whatever it was that caused that look in his eyes, she didn’t want to know. She couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him, and it wrung her nerves ragged to think the mist that brought her to him could take her back to a time when she couldn’t touch him. With his arms around her nothing could hurt them.

“Forever, Alex,” she whispered, certain that even if she did get pulled back to her time in the future, she would find a way back to him.

Moments later, Melissa thought about the warm cobbler left for them and got out of bed to redeem her treasure. She crawled back in bed and sat next to Alex. “Want some?”

He softly caressed her back. “Aye, lass, ye know I do but…” He grinned and in one sweep of his arm had her on her back and pinned to the bed. “I want tae lick it off your sweet lips.”

“That is not my lips.” Melissa laughed as he nuzzled her stomach. The tickle of his whiskers was a delight.

He stuck his finger in the cobbler and brushed a dab on her lips. “Just the way I like it,” he teased and proceeded to taste her.

She pulled his finger up to her lips and lazily licked the remaining blueberries off. He was spellbound as he watched her pink tongue curling around his finger. She closed her mouth on his finger, and he could feel her tongue moving against his skin. The sensation was clearly meant to arouse. The look in her eyes took on a soft glow in the candlelight.

“Insatiable wench.”

She nodded agreement, and the cobbler was forgotten.

Melissa laughed as he stared at her nose. “What are you doing?”

“Shhh, you’re making me lose count.” She moved just a little, and he was distracted with her warm body wiggling under him, losing his place.

He started humming a Gaelic love song for her, and she was content for the moment. Alex started the freckle count again, but then she distracted him with a kiss on his chin, pulling him down to nibble his earlobe. He groaned and tried to remember where he left off. He was up to nine freckles, and she moved under him, causing him to lose track again.

“Ye’re goin’ tae have tae stop squirmin’.” Her silken lashes brushed against his cheek, and he forgot all about freckles. The touch of her soft lips against his was a severe distraction. Her blue eyes shimmered violet in the glow from the candle.

He joined with her gently, lovingly. Her gaze held his, and he caressed her golden curls and soft skin. Her smile was radiant, and he felt her quiver deep inside, bringing him with her into ecstasy.

Alex collapsed beside her.

She brushed her lips over his eyelids. “Go to sleep, my love. You look tired.” After extinguishing the candle, she curled in to his side. They had already developed sleeping habits, she thought happily. His arms went around her, and she put her head on his chest.

Melissa yawned and closed her eyes. “I love you, Alex.” As she tried to drift off to sleep, her stomach grew queasy again. The cobbler had been very rich and was the cause, she was certain. It had been weeks since she had any sugar. Their diet was very different from her salad-a-day nutrition. She had decided she hated the smell of mutton. But lately, her stomach was rebelling over almost everything.

”My love, my Melissa,” Alex said quietly and drifted off to sleep. He held her close by his side always certain he was going to wake up in the morning and find out his beautiful Angel had only been a dream. His thoughts drifted back to her earlier comment about going to work to buy him a cottage.

Alex had let go some of his enormous control on life, and the result staggered his imagination. She was taking care of him, and it pleased his soul to know she wanted something more out of life than to be a trinket and adored.  She was his partner, lover, and friend.

He hoped she would forgive him for the deception.

Chapter Seventeen

Alex was already awake when Robert arrived with the horses. When he touched Melissa’s shoulder, she  turned over in the soft bed. “Not yet, darlin’,” she protested. “It’s too early.” Moments later, her eyes opened as the covers were pulled back. She could hear the sound of the Robert’s whistle, and the sound made her stand, stretch, and head for the water closet.

Alex loved to watch her wake up. There was a battle raging as she struggled for consciousness. It was pure sin to watch her stretch in the morning. His thoughts always returned to their joining. Reluctantly, they got dressed and met Robert out on the lawn.

The ride back to the cottage was spent snuggled in Alex’s arms. He put her back to bed the moment they arrived, with a promise to join her soon.

He then met William at the stables. “Ye are taking command today, William. I am taking the day off tae get some rest.”

William looked at him in shock. “You want me tae command the warriors?”

Alex smiled at him. “Yes, little brother. You’ve earned the right. Make war upon the Prince!”

Alex finally noticed Rebecca, their horse trainer, standing on a bale of straw beside Evan. He walked over to her and smiled.

“Tis good tae see ye, Rebecca.” Alex had no idea he was about to get punched, and the blow completely surprised him, knocking him to the ground with a thud. He rubbed his jaw. “Wha’ was that for?”

Rebecca glared at him. “Ye ask me? The answer is plastered all over the bloody world!” She threw the copy of the tabloid at him. “Ye sent me off tae find an Andalusian stallion for William’s birthday present, and I find ou’ while I am in Caracas that ye have a woman in the game with ye. And then, I find out that ye have ruined Yorath!”

“Tis a special circumstance, Rebecca,” Alex tried to explain. She was obviously furious with him for excluding her from the game, when he had brought Melissa into the game with them. They had known Rebecca all her life, and he had never seen her so angry.

“I love the present, Alex,” William said quietly and led the beautiful white Andalusian stallion over to be saddled. “I’m going to name him Phantom of the Opera.”

“Ye’re welcome, William.” Alex frowned, his jaw still stinging. He had no idea Rebecca would take the news this hard. He stood up and brushed the dirt from his Kilt.

Rebecca shook the sting out of her hand. Hitting him was like striking a brick wall. Livid, she jumped up to ride bareback on the Andalusian mare she’d brought to breed with William’s stallion. How could he just break her heart and act so casually about it? Devastated, she wanted to scream.

Moments later, when Daniel walked up, he knew there was something very wrong. Rebecca had tears streaming down her face. Alex had no idea she was in love with him. Daniel knew she loved Alex and had kept his own affections for her to himself. He couldn’t stand seeing her so upset. “What’s wrong, Rebel?”

Rebecca took one last look at Alex. “Go to hell, you miserable bastard!” She kicked the horse into action and sped off toward the hills.

Daniel shook his head at Alex. “Ye haven’t figured it out? She’s in love with ye!”

“Yes, I know. But I’ve never been able to figure out why.” For Alex, it would have been like falling in love with his sister and just not possible. He watched Rebecca ride off, mystified.

Daniel walked up to the saddled Andalusian stallion. “William, I am going tae need your horse tae catch up tae her.” He ran to the horse and was off in an instant to find her.

“Good. When you find her, tell her thank you for the horse,” Alex said softly. Rebecca didn’t know how much Daniel cared about her.

Rebecca’s mare had reached the cliffs when he caught up to her. She was headed straight for the edge, and his heart jumped into his throat. Daniel envisioned her riding straight off the edge, and her broken body at the bottom of the cliffs.

“Rebecca, no!” he yelled and raced to intercept her before she did something really crazy. He was angry, too, because in all the years they had known her, she had never done anything so wild. The stallion picked up speed, and he managed to head her off just as she came to a screeching halt on the edge of the cliffs.

Her heart broken, Rebecca didn’t care if she ran straight off the cliffs.

Daniel turned the horses back to the grassy hillside and dismounted. He held her reins in his hands, unwilling to let her try that foolishness again. He was furious with her and roughly pulled her off the horse in front of him.

“If I wasna a gentleman Rebecca—ye scared me half tae death!”

Her tear streaked face turned up to his. “Alex does no’ love me. I’ve waited all these years for him.”

Daniel put his arms around her—to comfort her, he told himself. He had dreamed of this moment when he could finally touch her, a few too many times to trust himself. 

“Alex never knew ye were in love with him, Rebecca. Ye are like a little sister tae him. He is verra fond of ye lass, ye know we all are, but he is no’ in love with ye.”

At that moment, he decided he would kiss her. She needed kissing, and he was going to have that one moment of heaven with her in his arms that he had dreamed about. He bent down and touched his lips against hers. Her warm, soft lips felt swollen.

Rebecca opened her eyes and pushed him back. “No, I canna do this now.” She withdrew from his embrace and walked back over to her horse. The intense desire that suddenly raced through her confused her. How could she be in love with Alex and still desire Daniel? The emotions derailed any attempt she could find to talk to Daniel. His kiss still tingled on her lips.

Daniel’s eyes narrowed. The sting of her rejection was bittersweet on his lips. He could still taste her, but knew he’d never get another chance to kiss her again. He helped her onto the horse and handed her the reins, avoiding eye contact with her. She had hurt him, and he wasn’t about to show her how much.

Rebecca caught his hand when he gave her the reins. “Daniel, thank you.”

The wave of relief that hit him almost washed him away. He squeezed her hand and smiled. He had hope again and would give her some time to work through the feelings she had for Alex.

She gave him a sad smile. “I’ll race ye back tae the stables, and then I won’t see ye again until the party.”

“I will look for you there,” he said softly, hoping she understood his meaning. He couldn’t help but notice the sadness in her blue eyes.

***

Alex rubbed his jaw and glared at William. “Go, make war on the Prince!”

“
Och
!” William bristled. He quickly assembled his team. Evan and Iain gave him strategies for the day, and William took command. The warriors were already saddled and waiting for their commander. William was given a new mount, and they rode off to find the Prince and their battle for the day. Now that he had sobered up, William was excited to be a part of the game again.

Alex returned to the cottage to find Iain checking in on Melissa. He a stack of papers for her to sign—for her identification that she lost, he explained. Melissa signed where he pointed. He looked very pleased with his meddling and tucked the papers back into a satchel.

She didn’t read all the paperwork, and Alex realized just how much she trusted them not to take advantage of her. He had to hide the grin as he closed the door behind Iain. “Robert said the heating stones are working again.” He followed her into the bath.

***

A rider approached, and Gideon immediately recognized him as the local Constable. “Oh hell, now what’s wrong?”

The Constable approached and asked for a word with the MacKenna brothers.

Gideon introduced himself and Robert.

The Highland Warriors looked ferocious. Gideon’s hair was shirt collar length, dark and curly and his beard had grown out during the past weeks. His gray-green eyes were narrowed, giving him a dangerous appearance.

Robert’s long straight dark hair made him look wild and wicked. They were all lean and powerfully built, and the Constable had dreaded this visit. But he had a duty to perform, and his superiors expected a report.

“I’d like tae speak tae Alexander MacKenna,” he said with authority. “The United States Embassy is looking for Melissa Johnson. Her hotel said you picked up her things, and no one has heard from her since.”

Robert knocked on the door to the cottage. The brothers heard Melissa scream and giggle amidst the sound of splashing water. Robert knocked again, much louder. Alex answered the door with a yellow bath sheet wrapped around his hips.

“This better be damned important,” he growled, his hair dripping.

The Constable pushed him inside. “I am here on behalf of the United States Embassy. We are searching for Melissa Johnson.”

Alex could feel his heart lurch inside his chest. In that split second of time, he watched his world fall apart. The Constable was not something they had considered. “Aye, she’s here.”

Melissa called out from the bath. “Get back in here, Alex. The water is getting cold.”

He smiled innocently and shrugged.

The Constable wouldn’t be deterred. “I need tae know the lady is no’ bein’ held against her will.”

Alex walked over to the open door that led to the roman bath. “Melissa, sweetheart. There’s a
mon
out here who wants tae know if ye are all right?”

“Tell him to get lost. I plan on getting you in bed for the afternoon,” was her reply, certain it was Gideon, and he would order her back to bed for the day.

Robert choked. Gideon had to leave the doorway before he burst out laughing.
Leave it to Melissa to always say the right thing.

“Excuse us, gentlemen.” Alex firmly pushed them out of the cottage and locked the door. He braced himself against the door and had to catch his breath. His heart was beating like a jackhammer on a New York City street. “That was close,” he said softly and went back to the bath. His knees were still trembling.

The Constable was clearly disconcerted. “I would say that it seems she is a willing partner.”

“She certainly has been an enchanting guest,” Gideon said, now that he had regained his ability to speak. “As ye have witnessed, she’s a little demanding of our Laird.”

“I’d say your Laird is being very accommodating, considering.” The Constable snorted, satisfied he had a reasonable answer for the Embassy.

The United States Embassy reported that Melissa Johnson had been found, and it was ascertained that she was not being held captive. The report did go on to tell them the Constable had spoken with Ms. Johnson and was told to “get lost”. The local authorities are certain Laird MacKenna has been very accommodating to the young lady and suggested this was a private matter.