The Highlander's Curse (25 page)

And
then, I wasn’t holding onto Cailen anymore, and the horse wasn’t under me. We
were thrown free, the sound of a gunshot ringing in my ears as our horse
tumbled to the ground beside us.

“Run,
Elizabeth,” Cailen said.

There
was something urgent in his voice, and I looked up as Donnan tossed a pistol to
the ground only to grab another from his waist. He pointed it directly at us.
Cailen was already on his feet, and as I struggled to mine, he bent to help me.

Once I’d
found my footing, I didn’t dare move. No, scratch that, I didn’t want to. After
everything he and I had been through the last few weeks, there was no way I was
leaving his side now. “I’m not going,” I said, echoing what he’d said to his
dad not a minute before.

“Go,”
he growled.

“No.” I
stepped forward, putting myself between MacDougall and Cailen, despite my Scot’s
attempts to stop me. “You can’t just keep hunting me. I’m with him because I
want to be.”

“Which
is exactly why I should hae killed him sooner,” Donnan spat, still aiming his
gun at us. “Though, I dinna much care tae keep ye alive any longer. No’ after
the trouble ye’ve caused” He launched toward me, and Cailen shoved me out of
the way. I landed on the ground, rolling back up as fast as I could, gripping
my side as the two men fought one another. Donnan, with a pistol and knife;
Cailen, bare-fisted. I whirled around, searching for any weapon I could find,
and focused on a body lying in the field. I hobbled toward it, pressing my hand
to my ribs as I reached the dead man. There was a sghian dubh at his side,
lying in the grass next to him.

I
scooped it up and sprinted back to the men. They were wrestling now; Cailen was
throwing punches and blocking Donnan’s blade as much as he could, though there
were new cuts spewing blood. He was winded. The other Scot crushed the hilt of
his knife against Cailen’s head and jumped to his feet, pointing his gun at my
Highlander.

“
No!
”
I screamed.

Donnan’s
eyes flicked to me, a wicked smile curving his lips as he pulled the trigger.

Click.

I
nearly laughed and cried as the gun misfired, and I rushed toward Cailen,
shoving the knife into his palm. “Here!” Tears streamed from my eyes and I
brushed them away. How many times had the love of my life escaped death today?
How many times in the last three weeks?

My
Highlander had gotten to his feet again, and stood by my side. Breath wheezed
in and out of him, and he looked like he’d topple over at any second, but he
never let his gaze fall away from Donnan.

From
the corner of my eye, I saw the blade that he now held glimmer in the waning
sunlight. Now that he held a weapon, Donnan had no chance. My sweetheart
battled boars. This piece of crap had nothing on him.

“Yikes.
Those misfires can sure be pesky, huh?” I said to Donnan, before smiling. “You
are so freakin’ screwed now that my sweetie is armed.”

MacDougall’s
eyes flicked from me to Cailen, his brows lowering. “Best silence yer wench,
MacKinnon, or someone will shut her mouth for her.”

My
Highlander let out a sound I’d never heard before and barreled toward the other
man. Donnan dropped his gun and the two faced off, each with a single knife in
hand. I forced myself to watch as they attacked each other, slicing and
jabbing, blocking and punching, until Cailen gained the upper hand.

He
slashed the sghian dubh across Donnan’s throat, a crimson line forming as the
man fell to his knees. Blood gurgled from his neck, spilling down his body as
his eyes widened. His gaze danced around as if he couldn’t decide what to look
at as the life faded from his eyes. His skin grew pale as blood soaked his
shirt and kilt. The seconds seemed to take an eternity, but he finally fell
face first into the grass, and died.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Oh, shut up,” I said,
rolling my eyes.

After
the battle, most of the MacKinnon clansmen made it back to Ardmoir. A few hadn’t
walked away from the fight, and even more came home wounded, I thought beyond
repair. It was hard to accept that, knowing that they risked their lives for
me, and for Cailen.

Cailen
had been on strict bed rest. I’d seen firsthand how adamant his mom could be,
and I didn’t blame her in the slightest. And she’d gotten a taste of my own
stubbornness. I hadn’t dared leave his side, so I’d demanded I sleep in the
same room as him. At least until some of his injuries healed.

I didn’t
give a damn if everyone on the isle thought it was scandalous, I wasn’t letting
the man out of my sight.

Cailen
laughed. “What dae ye mean, ‘shut up’? I can barely speak a’tall.”

“Which
is exactly my point. You shouldn’t be forcing it. Give it time.”

“It’s
been two days,” he grumbled. “How long dae ye expect me tae lie here?”

“For as
long as it takes. Now if you’ll just shut up for a minute, maybe I can get some
sleep. I’m freakin’ cold.”

Damn
rain. It was only midday, but I couldn’t seem to shake my exhaustion from the
last few days. During the times that Cailen wasn’t making terrifying breathing
sounds that had me sending for the doctor, or when he’d actually stop forcing
words through his crushed throat, I’d been able to cuddle up in my blanket and
sleep through the chill that was inherently Scotland.

“Yer
cold, are ye?” His eyes lit up, and I thought back to our first few nights
together. “Ye ken, there is a way tae keep us both warm.”

My
eyebrows rose. “Are you actually hinting that we should share your bed? Your
mom would hand me my ass if she walked in and saw us.”

My
Highlander chuckled, which turned into a painful sputtering. “Och, lass, the
things ye say.” He shook his head. “I’m a grown man, and ye’re a grown woman.
If ma mam is troubled by it, we’ll deal wi’it then.”

I
smiled and crawled off my bed, bringing my blanket along with me. I spread it
over the top of his and laid next to him as he held the covers open for me. I
rested my head on his arm, facing him. “How bad does it hurt?”

“Ma
throat? It’s gettin’ better. I’ll be good as new in a few days’ time.”

“And
then what will you do?”

Cailen’s
gaze mingled with mine and we laid there, silent, for however long. “I shouldn’ae’ve
left ye. I regretted it e’en before I walked awa.”

“Why
did you then?”

“Dae ye
recall that I mentioned ma wee brither, Kieran?”

“Mmm
hmm.” I nodded, feeling a prickle of unease at hearing his name. Ailsa thought
it was Kieran who’d worn that cloak in Lorne’s Pub, and was responsible for
sending me here.

“Did I
mention that I was cursed?”

“Excuse
me?”

“Aye.
It was his birthday, and the two o’ us were supposed tae be daein’ chores. We
decided it would be more fun if we just disappeared for a while, and when we
were certain our jobs were done by someone else, we’d return in time for
supper. So, Kieran and I left Ardmoir. We were messin’ around, goin’ places we
shouldn’ae, when we came across a witch.” He shifted and sighed as his throat
evidently started to give him fits again.

“You
really don’t have to do this,” I said, even though I was dying to hear what
happened. “Your throat is more important.”

He
kissed me on the forehead. “It’s all right. At first we were just teasin’, ye
ken, bein’ ignorant lads, but somehow we angered her. I should’ve had the sense
tae leave her be, but the two o’ us kept at it, harassin’ her for spells, askin’
her tae entrance the lassies in our clan tae fall in love wi’us. She warned us
awa, but we didnae listen.”

His
eyes saddened, and I reached up, touching his chest. “What happened?”

“We
were just teasin’, as I said, and I told her that Kieran needed her tae dae a spell
tae finish his chores, and Kieran told her I needed a spell tae find me a wife.
That’s when she started laughin’. I’ll ne’er forget that woman’s cackle, or the
look in her eyes. Everything around us changed then, like the sky was afraid o’
her, maybe. It got dark and the clouds rolled in. She turned tae me and said
there was only one who could be mine. I remember bein’ scared and excited at
the same time, no’ realizin’ she was puttin’ ma family under a curse. She spoke
in riddles so it was hard tae understand, but she said that my one true mate
was Red Michael. And if I took any other that ma family would ne’er be whole.”

I
pushed up, leaning on my elbow as I searched his eyes.

“The
next thing I kent, Kieran and the witch were nowhere tae be seen. I searched
for them for two years, and I searched for anyone kent as Red Michael. I…I’ve
feared that she cursed me intae fallin’ in love wi’a man—which I kent I couldn’ae
dae. That’s why I told ye I wasn’ae likely tae take a wife. But after all that
searchin’, I’ve no’ found any o’ them, and the closest I’ve come tae findin’
that witch is ye.”

“Me?”

“Ye
speak the way she did. No’ in riddles, I mean. Ye’ve the same accent.”

“Is
that why you wanted to keep me away from witches?”

He
smiled. “A part o’ me still thought ye might be one. I didnae want tae be part
o’ another curse. And now, I couldn’ae e’er let ye near one.” Cailen sat up in
bed, facing me as I rolled up as well, sitting beside him. “I meant tae come
back for ye, lass. That’s when I found Cameron and was taken by Donnan’s men. I’d
hoped…” He coughed. “Well, I’d hoped ye’d forgive me, and maybe agree tae be ma
wife.”

I
probably looked like an idiot with whatever expression I gave him, but I didn’t
care. I hadn’t really expected Cailen to change his mind. A part of me had
feared his confession in the barn was only because he’d thought he was dying.

“Dinna
stop breathin’,” he added.

“I won’t.
It’s just that…I mean…Are you sure?”

“Aye, I
am. I’ve ne’er been more sure o’ anythin’. I’ll no’ let the curse drive ma
actions any longer, and intend tae tell ma family so. If I canna hae ye, then I’ll
no’ take anyone.”

Okay.
Stunned. Still breathing, but stunned.

“Elizabeth,
I’ve loved ye since the moment I saw ye, wi’ that fire in yer eyes and that
quick tongue o’ yers. I’ve ne’er met another lass like ye and I’d be a fool tae
let ye go when ma heart yearns for ye.”

“When
you first saw me, hmm?” I shrugged, smiling. “So my Juicy T and short skirt had
nothing to do with it?”

“Och,
the sight o’ ye in those made ma heart stop. But it was
ye
that made it
beat again.”

Melting.

“Did ye
call me yer ‘baby’ in the barn?”

“Oh,
umm—”

“And in
the field wi’MacDougall, ye said I was yer ‘sweetie’. Now, that could all be in
ma mind, or maybe I’m just hopin’ that ye’ve forgiven me, but—”

“I did
say that. Both of them, I mean.”

“Ye did
then? Oh, I thought so.” He nodded, smiling. “At least ye didnae call me a son
o’ a motherless goat.”

The
hilarity of him saying that in his accent was enough to bring a bubble of
laughter from me. “When did I say that?”

“That
day ye got the wee splinter in yer foot.”

“That
was not a splinter, that was basically a small tree.”

Cailen
chuckled and pressed his forehead against mine. “We can sort it out later.
Right now I must ken if ye’ll let me be yer husband.”

“If I
can’t have you, I won’t take anyone.” I wrapped my arms around him, and we
rolled off the bed, laughing and wincing at the same time.

“Is
that a yes then?”

“Aye,
it is,” I said, biting my bottom lip as I placed my fingertip against his cleft
chin. “Nothing would make me happier than being yours.”

“Ye’ve
always been mine, love. It just took us a while tae realize it.”

Our
lips met briefly, and we laid there on the floor, staring into each other’s
eyes.

“There’s
something I’ve been meaning to tell you,” I said, tracing my fingertips over
his lips. “It’s something that I should have told you a long time ago, but,
well, I was scared I guess. And now I know why your mom got so excited when I
told her.”

“Oh?”

I got
nervous suddenly. What if I was wrong? What if Ailsa and Cameron and Conall
were all wrong? “My last name is Michaelson.”

“Aye, I
ken.”

“I
think that I’m Red Michael.”

Cailen’s
brows lowered and he eyed me for a few seconds before his face relaxed. “Ye
dinna hae red hair, nor is yer name Red.”

“Well,
that’s what I really wanted to tell you. When we first met, I gave you my
middle name. My first name is Scarlett.”

He
quietly stared at me, blinking as he processed what I was telling him. “Yer
name is
Scarlett
? Like the color red?”

“I
think the witch really was talking in riddles. She was trying to tell you about
me.”

“Ye’re
the one I’m meant tae be wi’? I mean, ye
lied
tae me, but…yer ma woman?”

“Of
course I’m yours. And I lied to you because I didn’t trust you.”

He
shook his head and kissed me. “Aye, that was smart o’ ye. But it could hae
saved us a lot o’ trouble if ye’d just told me the truth.”

We
smiled at the same time, laughing again as we held each other. Cailen’s hand
brushed slowly down my side as he captured my lips. I ran one of my hands down
his stomach as the other went up to grip the back of his head, pulling him
closer as we explored each other’s mouths and bodies. This is what I’d craved
since the moment we’d arrived in Ardmoir. His palm brushed up my leg, dragging
my skirt higher and higher up my body until he reached under the fabric and cupped
my breast.

I
moaned against my Highlander’s mouth, and he rolled on top of me, pinning my
hips with his. “Where’s yer wee trinket, Scarlett?”

I
shuddered at hearing my name on his lips, and pointed to the wall beside the
door. “In my purse.”

I
didn’t want that though, I wanted him.

“Ye
might as well toss it out, love. Ye’ll ne’er be needin’ it again.”

Our
eyes locked as our foreheads touched. He lightly stroked my bruised cheek with
his fingertips, and pressed a tender kiss to it. Everywhere he touched, his
lips followed. I closed my eyes, relishing in the moment as he kissed slowly
down my body, taking extra care not to hurt my bruised stomach. My eyes flashed
open in surprise as Cailen ripped my slip apart, exposing my breasts. His
exploration continued, and I gasped as his mouth closed over a nipple, the warm
wetness heightening every sense.

“Oh,
Cailen. Oh God, oh God.” I slapped my hand against the floor, sprawling before
him. I felt absolutely everything: the soft press of his lips, the tickle of
his hair brushing over my skin, the press of his fingertips as they slid under
my thong and petted me where I craved his touch, the pressure of his cock
against my leg. I sucked in a breath at another stroke of his finger. “Oh baby,
please, I want you inside me.”

“Oh, I
intend tae be in ye verra shortly.”

I
lifted my head, meeting his eyes as he latched onto my other nipple. “Even
though you don’t want to have sex before marriage?”

“We’ll
be wed on the morrow, love. Right now, I plan tae make love tae ma future
bride.” He pulled my panties slowly down my legs, tossing them before he wrenched
his kilt off. In seconds, he was bare, staring at me with a look in his eyes
that had me sitting up, eager to meet him. His hard, chiseled body took my
breath away. I’d always admired the way he was built, with his wide,
muscle-packed shoulders, arms, chest, and stomach, and the perfection of his
face. But now I was starving for him. I allowed my gaze to travel down the
light dusting of hair that ran from his belly button to his long, hard length
that pointed straight at me. My body quivered with desire to caress every inch
of him, to have him inside me, to share something with him that had always been
meant for him and him alone. I let the sleeves of my torn slip fall away and I
reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck as he lifted me.

We fell
onto his bed together, his body pressing against mine, his chest crushing
against my breasts. His erection was pressing against my core now, as eager to
get inside of me as I was for it. I attempted to reach for it, but he stopped
me.

“I
dinna ken how long I can dae this before I spill ma seed, and I’d much rather
be inside ye for as long as I’m able.” He nuzzled the side of my face. “Are ye
ready tae accept me?”

“I’ve
always been ready for you,” I breathed. I was so very wet. Just the mere
thought of him being inside me sent a fresh wave of arousal through my body.
Yes, yes, yes, he was actually about do it. I was about to make love to my
Highlander.