Laird of the Game (19 page)

“So we can be injured,” James said wistfully.

“Don’t worry,” Evan said. “We can give ye a broken leg. Now that ought tae get ye a hug and a kiss.”

Alex shook his head and laughed softly. “Now, see what you’ve started,” he gently reprimanded his lovely lady and hugged her tightly to his side.

“I wonder what I could get for a missing leg,” Jonathan asked Evan seriously. They debated the issue all the way back to the camp and had decided they would have to stick with concussions. A missing body part wasn’t the preferred method of getting the lady’s attention. However, in dire circumstances, it could be held out as an emergency option.

Melissa didn’t hear a word of the conversation. Evan had lifted her up to Alex’s lap, and she put her arm around him, pressing her cheek against his warm chest. She could hear his heartbeat, and the sound was a soothing relief.

“How did the battle go today?” she asked Alex.

William rode behind them and spoke up. “We won!”

Alex smiled. “William earned the right to brag. It was his fast thinking that saved the battle and protected me from capture. The Prince almost had me, too. We were outnumbered, but William figured out it was a trap and they rode back in time to turn the battle back on the Prince.”

Melissa smiled up at him and tightened her grip on Alex’s waist. She didn’t want to break down and cry in front of the warriors and struggled to gain control of the emotional riptide that suddenly had tears stinging her eyes. Alex held her tightly in his arms to still her tremble, and she felt safe, for the moment.

***

Robert dropped Gideon, Iain, and Daniel off at hospital and picked up a guest of his own. Agotha was waiting for him and took a seat in the helicopter. He smiled and picked up her hand to give her fingertips a kiss. Moments later, the helicopter was air born and they headed for the glen where they could have a few hours of privacy. He had personally repaired that cottage and prepared for a long lovely afternoon there with his lady.

Agotha put on a headset so they could talk while they flew. “Robert, I talked to Rebecca. Who is the woman with Alex?”

Robert smiled a flash of straight white teeth. “She’s an American tourist who stumbled into the opening battle. Alex took one look at her and fell in love.”

Agotha wasn’t about to give up on this subject. “Is this Yank in love with Alex?” She had promised Rebecca she would find out what she could from Robert.

Robert landed outside the tiny cottage and shut the helicopter down. He walked around and lifted Agotha into his arms.

“Yes, my darling. Ye can tell Rebecca that Melissa is a verra fine lady and very much in love with Alex. You’d like her, Agotha. She cares about all of us, and there is a light in her eyes when she looks at Alex.” He knew Agotha and Rebecca were close friends.

Robert wrapped his arms around his beautiful Agotha. She had been on his mind a lot lately, and he missed her during the past few weeks. Her dark brown hair filtered through his fingers. He loved to touch her. She was very loving when she wasn’t kicking his arse in battle.

He grinned and ran his hands over her back. She was agile and strong enough to hold a sword against a man, yet a lady in every respect when they spent precious intimate hours together.

They had discovered a raging passion between them one day when she had given him a private lesson. She had knocked him down to the ground, and he had kissed her playfully. One thing had led to another, and they had spent their first night together making love under the stars at the glen.

Their love play could get a little boisterous, not that he was complaining. He had never known anyone like her, and he couldn’t get enough of her.

“So this is the cottage you repaired.” Agotha walked through the door.

Robert stood in the doorway and watched her reaction to the cottage with its new floors. He had brought in a few provisions for an afternoon delight and even put sheets on the bed, a blanket, and pillows—a fact Agotha noticed right away.

Raising one eyebrow, she studied him. Robert’s long straight hair was loose and hung well past his shoulders. He was magnificent to look at with a tanned, honed physique that drew her hands like a magnet. She loved to touch her warrior lover. She walked over to the doorway and slowly pulled him inside.

Robert kicked the door shut. He reached out and gathered her into his arms. His darlin’ Agotha was an eager lover. The touch of her fingers sliding over his muscled chest reminded him he hadn’t seen her for weeks.

He picked her up and brought her over to the bed, sitting down on the edge with Agotha on his lap straddling his hips. His lips crushed hers in an agony of desire. He wanted her now. Waiting another minute was not an option.

She wiggled just a little as he slid her jeans off and he shrugged his shirt off. She felt good in his arms, and he loved to kiss her pretty red lips. Robert pulled her t-shirt off and threw it across the room. He kissed a trail over her shoulder as a bra strap fell to her elbow and then left a trail of sizzling kisses along the curve of her throat.

He managed the clasp with one hand and their clothing quickly became a pile on the floor. Her breath was warm and fast on his cheek, and he lifted her, touching his lips to her full pink breast.

Agotha almost cried. He teased her body with his warm tongue sliding over her breast before she slid down the length of his body, allowing him to fill her completely. She cried out his name again and again as the ecstasy nearly drove her to madness.

Her teeth on his earlobe got his attention, and he grabbed a handful of her hair and captured her tempting lips. His tongue slid into her hot mouth and retreated, teasing her, caressing her, until she groaned in the back of her throat, pushed him down on the bed, and rode him hard and fast.

Robert slid his hands over her luscious body and cupped her heavy breast in his hand while his thumb brushed the hardened nipple to taunt peaks. He flipped her over on her stomach and returned to the heat of her with his legs straddling her hips. His hands caressed her back and the curves of her lovely body until she called out to him to have mercy on her.

Robert could wait no longer and held her hips in his hands, filling her again and again until the quiver of ecstasy overwhelmed them both, and he collapsed on top of her, panting and fulfilled.

He kissed her shoulder, moved beside her, and pulled her into his arms.

“I think you have missed me,” Agotha said softly, brushing her fingertips over his warm chest.

“That,” he gasped, still catching his breath, “is an understatement! Agotha, me darlin’, I missed ye and thought about ye all day -- every day.”

She smiled, her green eyes sparkling sexily. “I missed ye too, Robert. From what we heard on the news, the Prince is winning this game. Is it true?”

Robert laughed and stroked her waist long sable hair. “Aye, it was true for a time, but Alex will change that fast enough. He’s going tae resign as Laird,” Robert knew he could trust her. Agotha trained their warriors. She was their Master Swordswoman and knew all of the warriors and their capabilities very well. Her mouth dropped open when he gave her the news.

“Ye’re joking!” She said aghast. “But he can’t resign! He’s the Laird of the Game. The game will be forfeit!”

“Alex won’t forfeit the game,” Robert said softly. “He is resigning and naming William as his successor and Laird. He is going tae retire with Melissa. She’s a beautiful woman and loves him deeply.”

Agotha felt a slight tinge of jealousy. “Well, she must if Alex would resign for her. She obviously has all of ye wrapped around her finger.” Agotha didn’t want to hear him tell her how beautiful Melissa was or that because of Melissa, the game could possibly be forfeited.

Her friend, Rebecca, was broken hearted, and Agotha could understand her pain. There was just too much at stake for everyone involved. The monetary losses would count in the millions of pounds, and there was also their honor at stake. She trained the winning team and wouldn’t accept their defeat.

Robert opened one eye and peered at her with a frown. He didn’t like to hear the harsh edge of jealousy in her voice, but Robert was also certain Melissa deserved defending. She had dropped into their world and loved Alex beyond reason.

“Agotha, I’ll not have ye talking poorly about Melissa. She’s in love with Alex, and he’s in love with her. There’s no need tae be jealous of her.”

“So why then are ye defending her?” Agotha was suddenly very irritated. “If there’s nothing tae worry about, why would ye make such a point of protecting her?” She rolled from the bed and quickly found her clothing and dressed. She was irritated that Robert seemed a little too protective of Melissa, and Agotha didn’t like the flare of jealousy.

“Agotha, don’t do this,” Robert said, anger seeping into his voice. “Ye have tae meet her tae understand. There just isn’t a sweeter, more loving woman on earth.”

“Have ye forgotten one verra important fact, Robert? Alex is married! Rebecca was madly in love with him for years waiting for him tae divorce Catherine. And now ye tell me Melissa shows up from out of the blue, snags him right out from under Rebecca, and Melissa’s the most wonderful woman on earth! She’s a Yank!” Agotha threw his tartan at him and walked outside.

It just seemed that no matter what he said, it only made her angrier. Robert got dressed and met her at the helicopter. “Ye already know Daniel was in love with Rebecca and that Alex never did have any romantic feelings for her. Alex knew Daniel had a crush on her years ago, and Daniel hoped she would get over her crush on Alex.” Agotha turned to walk away, and Robert was furious. “We’re goin’ tae discuss this, Agotha.”

“No, we’re not. Take me home. Now, Robert!” She was insanely jealous at the moment and not acting like herself at all. What was Alex thinking taking a tourist into the game? If the game forfeited, or Alex resigned because of this…Yank…Agotha knew the press would blame the failure on Alex. They had all worked hard for the game to be a complete success. Many long hours were devoted to the warriors and preparing them for the battles. Melissa had obviously gained all of their loyalty and affection from the look on Robert’s face. She wanted to shove that ridiculous smile of his into the side of his helicopter. She got in and put her seat belt on. Robert didn’t say anything and they took off moments later.

Robert had a few minutes to cool his temper and then couldn’t help but smile. Agotha had never been jealous of any other woman before now. He looked over and gave her his most brilliant smile. He had just figured out she was in love with him, even if she would never admit it.

She just frowned at him and watched the ground. When they touched down, she took off running without another word, got into her car, and drove off before he could shut down the helicopter.

Daniel walked out to the launch pad. “Was that Agotha?” He asked, already knowing it was their VixenBlade.

“Must be the sun in your eyes,” Robert answered. “Ye’re getting old and probably need glasses.”

Daniel chuckled. “From the look on her face, ye had an interesting afternoon.”

Robert grinned. “She’s in love with me.”

Daniel scoffed. “Ye ugly bastard. Why would she fall for ye?”

“I’m damn good in bed.”

“Ye’d better get us back to the game. I have a feeling the Prince has a few more surprises in store for us.”

Robert took off, and Daniel’s mind wandered. Iain had a concussion and a cracked rib but would recover in a few days. Iain had informed him he wanted to marry his beloved, Bonnie, and wouldn’t put it off another day. They would be married at the Kirk before the celebration party began.

Daniel’s frown began to disappear. It gave him an idea and a resolution to a problem he’d been trying to solve. He scratched his whiskered chin. He’d been away from civilization too long and was beginning to think and feel like a Celtic warrior.

“We need tae make one stop,” Daniel said to Robert and gave him the direction. “Set down in the parking lot, and I will get this piece of business taken care of quickly.”