Laird of the Game (21 page)

The Prince’s men didn’t fight for long. They departed the camp without a fight. The surprise attack gained the Prince’s warriors an additional one hundred points, and the spirit in the MacKenna camp was getting dangerously low. If William could pull off a victory now, he would have earned his right to be Laird.

Alex paused on the ridge. The Prince raised his sword and yelled in Gaelic. Alex smiled at Melissa and turned his horse back toward the Manor House.

“Why didn’t you fight?” Melissa held on to him.

“I quit fighting the day you told me it upset you,” Alex said, lazily caressing her back.

“You quit for me?” Melissa couldn’t believe it.

Alex nodded. “You can show me later how much you’re going tae love having me all tae yourself.” His smile was charming.

“Aren’t you worried about the battle?” She couldn’t think straight when he looked at her with that smile.

“The battle was over before we left. William had them on the run.” He urged the horse on faster. They had a few precious hours to themselves, and he didn’t want to waste a minute of their time together. Melissa soon fell asleep in his arms, and he enjoyed the moments he could look at her beautiful face.

They arrived at the house at dusk, and her things had already arrived with Daniel and were put in Alex’s chamber. Robert brought Daniel in the helicopter. Daniel hated to ride a horse, when faster means of transportation were always available. Daniel’s first love was a MC12 Mozaratti that he took out on the Autobahn.

“You’re an amazing man, Daniel.” Melissa woke when they arrived. “It takes me hours to pack, and you do it in minutes.”

“I am amazing,” Daniel agreed and helped her down from the horse, holding her until she could feel her legs again. Alex jumped down next to Melissa. Daniel took the reins and said he would take care of bedding the stallion down for the night. Robert would then take Yorath back to the cottage as the preparations were being made for the final battle.

Melissa looked at Alex, and they both had the same thought. “Hot water!” They both turned to go upstairs for a hot bath. The bath at the cottage had grown cold. They hadn’t seen Robert for most of the day, and when he did return, he looked exhausted, but happy and slept most of the day in a hammock by the loch.

Chapter Twenty-One

The Laird’s team has been plagued with injuries and misinformation. George is as charming as ever and has promised he will return to London for a while before he goes abroad. Niki was unavailable for a comment on where they will winter this year.

On the Streets with Rosabel

Amber received the report from the Embassy and telephoned Sarah. She dropped her law books on the dining room table. Her last summer school finals had been that morning, and Amber was exhausted from long hours of study before the exams.

“I don’t believe this report for a minute. Has anyone heard from her yet?”

“No,” Sarah confirmed.

“I’m going to Scotland to rescue my sister,” Amber said finally. “Something is wrong.”

“I’m going, too. I’ve got us booked on flights where we connect in New York for the flight to Glasgow. Amber, you won’t believe what I found on their web site.”

“You cracked their codes?”

 “Of course,” Sarah gloated. “There are over five hundred names of warriors on this site. I’ll tell you all about ‘the game’ and Laird Alexander G. MacKenna when I meet you in New York.”

“Is Chad coming with you?” Amber asked. Sarah’s new boyfriend didn’t like traveling, especially so far from home.

“No, he’s staying here. He said someone has to feed our fish.”

Amber laughed. “I’ll meet you in New York, and you can tell me all about the game.”

***

The hot water was just the earthly side of heaven for Melissa. Alex was detained taking care of business, and she was already soaked with her head under the water and soap bubbles dripping down her face when he joined her.

It was good to be back in civilization again. The hot water was heaven. She could hear him chuckle and opened her eyes.

“Ye have the sweetest smile on your lips.” He bent down to kiss her and got his head wet in the process. She looked blissfully happy with the soap rinsing from her hair.

Alex had stopped in the kitchens to meet with Cynthia, their Party Planner who was getting the celebration ready. Alex wanted their supper tonight to be private in his chamber. He wasn’t ready to share Melissa with anyone else. This was their night together, and he had every intention of spending those precious moments with Melissa in his arms.

He bent down to kiss the swell of her breast. Tonight, he would tell her everything.

“Hmmm.” Melissa reached out and put her arms around him. The hot water splashed down between them and washed the soap away. She was already done with her bath and took the soap from him to start on his chest.

He kissed the side of her neck while she worked her way down his flat stomach. His groan and ardent interest became amazingly apparent as the soap slid down the curly chest hair into the vee on his belly.

Melissa had her hands full of soap when she caressed him clean all the way to his toes. His eyes closed, working for concentration, as her soft hands slid over his hips.

She touched him with such gentleness, and Alex lost all thoughts of being patient. His arms hugged her tightly to him, and his mouth touched hers in a torment of desire. He wanted to feel the heat of her again. He ravished her tender lips, and his tongue delved into her sweet sanctuary. Melissa moaned softly in the back of her throat as his desire pressed against her belly.

Conversation was overrated, he thought. He could bear the torment no longer. He pulled her out of the bath with him and dried her with a sheet.

He laid her across the bed and couldn’t wait a moment longer to feel the heat of her surround him. Alex groaned, lost in the warm, slippery haven. He cupped her breast and rubbed his thumb across her nipple. Melissa’s breath caught, and she moaned softly against his lips. He held heaven in his arms. The feel of her lips on his, the heat of her body surrounding him, and the touch of her hands on his back and shoulders was all the torment he could endure. He loved her with his heart and soul in those few moments of bliss until she cried out his name, panting and fulfilled.

Her arms held him close, and they rested—the rage of passion abated for the moment.

A knock on their door delivered their supper on a tray from the house staff.

Alex chucked at the blush on her cheeks. He waited until the door was shut and got up to tempt her with supper. She still wasn’t willing to eat much, and he was getting concerned. The aroma of garlic filled the room. Melissa’s head popped up off the pillow. She was delighted to find chicken on the plate. Alex wrapped his kilt around his hips and handed her the wrapper. The food was so divine, Melissa didn’t stop to talk.

“Now I know all your secrets, sweetheart.” Alex laughed and handed her glass of wine. He pulled her to his lap, and her head fell back against his shoulder. “Why didn’t ye tell me ye didn’t like mutton?”

Melissa thought again about the enormous amount of cost it would take to feed so many warriors, and they all seemed to enjoy the aroma. “What makes you think I don’t like mutton, my love?” She kissed his ear lobe, trying to distract him.

Alex breathed out slowly to find some concentration. The touch of her lips against his neck was a severe temptation. The warmth of her tongue against his lips made him forget the question. And when she started squirming on his lap, he forgot to speak at all.

The wrapper fell open, and her warm body beckoned his touch. His hand moved over her velvet skin to the curve of her breast. She straddled his hips, and the pressure of her body against his pushed him back against the overstuffed chair.

The room was cool and dim now that the sun had gone down, and the candlelight shimmered reflections from the mirrored bureau. Melissa pulled the tuck out of his tartan, and the heat of her body surrounded him.

His arms went around her, holding her tightly. He had wanted to talk to her; he had so much yet to say before the dawn arrived and he was captured. Alex pulled back to tell her he had to speak to her, but she pressed forward, her sweet lips finding his, and desire overwhelmed any need to speak.

She loved him with her soft body moving against his, and her tender lips beckoned him to forget everything but the magic between them. She whimpered against his tongue which explored her luscious mouth. His hands slid to her hips and pulled her down to fill her completely.

“Alex,” Melissa cried out as he took her to ecstasy. His strong arms held her tight as a deep quiver built in her belly. She put her head down on his shoulder, dizzy from the heady feelings.

His hand wound into her hair and pulled her lips back to his. His breathing was ragged against her cheek, and the trembling in her belly began all over again as he passionately claimed her body. And she surrendered her heart to him completely.

“Say it, Melissa,” he demanded of her in a low growl. Alex was terrified he would lose her, and with the dawn, his worst fears would be realized. He had to hear it one last time, had to know her heart belonged to him.

“I love you, Alex!” she gasped and clung to him.

He closed his eyes to shut out everything but the feel of her beautiful body joined with his. It was an act of desperation that he claimed her hungrily, demanding that sweet innocence.

Tears stung his eyes; he couldn’t bear the thought of never touching her again. The torment was nearly destroying him. Alex couldn’t go through another day of his life not knowing she would stay with him and love him for the rest of his days.

The grief and agony of many long years of frustration fell down his cheek in a tear. He inhaled the scent of her, trying to remember every detail of her before she would walk away from him. Their moments together were precious, but now he was out of time and would have to tell her everything.

She called out to him again, and he couldn’t hold back any longer. His release brought her with him into ecstasy. Melissa collapsed in his arms, and her eyes were closed. Moments later, his sweet love was sound asleep with her head tucked on his shoulder, her arms around his neck.

Alex held her awhile longer, savoring the feel of her and kissing her gently so not to wake her. She did look tired lately, and the changes in her body were so subtle she probably didn’t notice. But he knew there was something very different. There were dark circles under her eyes, and he knew she was exhausted.

The harsh lifestyle had been too much for his lovely lady. She could use a long holiday on the beach, and with that thought, he smiled and set his worst fears aside. He thought about growing old with her, having children, building a home and a life together, and wondered if he would ever get over the horrible fear of losing her.

She clung to him, and he couldn’t let go of her. They were destined to love, and he would never give her up without one hell of a fight. No matter what it took, his resolve was set. Alex would find a way and do whatever it took to keep her.

He moved out of the chair, holding her in his arms. She was sound asleep by the time he covered her with flannel sheets and pulled the blanket up around her shoulders. Alex hoped the final battle would be over before she woke in the morning, and he could tell her then about all his demons and the past that haunted him.

He leaned down to kiss her lips one last time and brushed the hair from her face. “I love you, Melissa. More than I ever thought possible. Forgive me, my love.”

Alex took a quick bath and found clean clothing in his wardrobe. Melissa slept peacefully and never heard him leave. Daniel was already waiting for him in the Drawing Room.

Gideon, Robert, Iain, Evan, and William made their way through the dark house to the soft glow of the Drawing Room where Daniel and Alex waited. There were papers stacked on the table waiting for signature. Daniel and Alex were seated at the table waiting for their arrival. There was a stand off of wills going on between Daniel and Alex, and the family took a seat at the table to find out what the hell was so important they were dragged back to the house in the middle of the night.

“Where’s Melissa?” Gideon asked quietly.

“Sleeping,” Alex answered.

Daniel had to ask one last time. “Alex, are ye sure this is what ye want tae do? There has tae be another way.”

“I’m certain. This is my choice.”

“What will ye do if she will not forgive ye? What if she goes back tae the States?” Daniel had already asked from every possible angle but needed to confirm that Alex was committed to the end result, no matter what path his future took.

“Then I will follow her,” Alex said plainly. “I will beg if I have tae, but she will forgive me, and we will have a life together. She is my
Anam Cara,
and I would be lost without her. You have all supported me through the years with your hearts and your loyalty. I couldn’t have made it through those years without your love. Now it’s time tae step down and support the new Laird of the Celtic Warrior Game.”

Alex looked down the row of faces to his youngest brother. “William, you have been named my successor. I am formally resigning as Laird.”

William was momentarily speechless. His brothers seemed to know all about this decision because no one argued. They looked at him, waiting for him to figure out that with the stroke of the pen, William would become one of the most powerful men in Europe, and he had just turned eighteen. “
Och
,” he finally uttered and leaned back against his chair to stare at the ceiling.

William’s thoughts spun with the possibility. He hadn’t planned on devoting all of his life to their business interests as Alex had. He hadn’t planned on spending his life in service to anyone but himself. He had planned to study music, not balance sheets and stock markets.

He suddenly realized how comfortable it had always been to be the youngest with six older brothers who had always shouldered the burdens.