Highland Temptress Read online

  Jamie slid his hands under her and lifted her hips off the bed, his eyes locked onto hers. "I can't hold back much longer."

  His hands went to her thighs and brought her legs over his shoulders. "This allows me to take you deeper," he explained at her widened look.

  Indeed it did. He began to slide in and out, again maintaining a steady pace. Long lashes fanned across the top of his cheeks as he closed his eyes and moved faster, driving in and out of her. On and on Jamie continued, their bodies slapping against each other, while Cailyn began to thrash under him, lost in the assail.

  Powerful quivers raced to and from her core, and she panted in an effort to regain control, only to lose it when Jamie's demanding mouth crushed over hers.

  Everything disappeared and Cailyn soared, leaving all behind. She didn't know how long it was until she regained her senses.

  He lowered her legs and still raced to his completion.

  Cailyn urged him on, her hands stroking his now-taut ass, as she pushed her finger at the rear entrance to his body. He bucked harder until he began to shake.

  Jamie jerked from inside her, spilling his seed onto the bed beneath her, his cock still driving, sliding in a motion taken over by the release, but now between the cheeks of her derriere. Finally, he collapsed, spent and gasping for air.

  ****

  Jamie could not, did not wish to move away from the siren that had driven him to the point of allowing the loss of control. Never before had he lain with a woman he didn't first investigate.

  Although he'd remained neutral in the war, he'd made enemies.

  Powerful ones.

  There were many who'd pay handsomely for a comely wench to drive a dirk between his shoulder blades while making love. This was a mistake he'd not made before, and would not make again. Obviously, luck was on his side today, he lifted up to meet the cerulean half-closed eyes. The beauty was sated, and from the look of her, as curious about him, as he of her. She studied his face with open interest, seeming to search for something.

  Jamie rolled to his side and held back a smile when Cailyn snuggled into his side with a satisfied sigh. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

  Questions had to be asked. He tipped her chin up to speak to her, but at the delicious pursed lips so near, he could not help but kiss her, instead. The kiss deepened until she moaned, and Jamie found his hand on her hip, pulling her against him.

  His senses were clouded. He pulled back.

  "I feel I'm at a disadvantage. You know exactly who I am, but I, on the other hand, know nothing about you."

  She bit her bottom lip and slid her gaze away. Jamie stiffened, not sure he wanted to hear what she was about to tell him. "I--I came to find you, actually," Cailyn began.

  "Who sent you?" Jamie slid up and leaned on the pillows, forcing a calm façade.

  Cailyn sat up and pulled a corner of the bedding to cover her nudity. He held back a groan at the enticing picture she made. Chestnut-brown hair tussled from lovemaking fell in waves past her shoulders. Her kiss-swollen lips full and reddened, while soft curves escaped from the edges of the fabric, testing his resolve.

  "No one sent me, I am my own person," She protested, her brows pinched together. "I decided it was the best course to keep war from my clan."

  "You are a true McDougall, then?" Jamie resisted leaving the bed. If the blasted McDougalls sent her in order to detain him, so they could sequester Victoria, they had succeeded. Anger began to brew, more at himself than at her.

  "Yes," Cailyn lifted her chin with pride.

  "Your brothers know you came to see me, then?"

  "What?" Her mouth fell open. "If my brothers knew of your being here, with that show of force off our shores, they'd not come with peace in mind. My brothers are probably not aware of you being here as of yet. I intercepted the messenger and made the decision to come see you myself…after…" She pressed her lips together and her brows drew into a straight line.

  "After?" he prompted, his arms crossed over his chest. "Go on."

  "Victoria sent me to…to delay you." She stuttered coloring slightly. Surely his sister did not expect the delay tactic to be for Cailyn to seduce him?

  "Why would Victoria send you to delay me?" Jamie narrowed his eyes. "Where is my sister?"

  "I won't tell you, neither will any Scot in the region."

  "I've become aware of that," Jamie replied with more patience than he felt at the moment. "Which is why I'm prepared to take my army north of here and find her."

  Cailyn blanched. "Your sister would be cross with you if you did that."

  He reached for her, took hold of her upper arms, and dragged her closer. "Why did my sister send you?" He asked, emphasizing each word. "Tell me, what has she gotten herself into?"

  "She wishes to wait for my brother Conor to return from battle. He's gone to help our cousins, who are in a fight with those blasted McNeils over land. They always ask for one of my brothers to attend, as our stronger clan sets those bastards on their heels with haste."

  Her proud statement made him want to smile, but he resisted. "Continue."

  "Victoria promised Conor she'd wait. So she refuses to leave until he does. She's afraid he'd be distracted during battle, and perhaps fall to his demise."

  "Your clan killed my sister's husband, burned their home to the ground, kidnapped her, and brought her here against her will. Yet she wishes to assure your brother? What nonsense do you speak, woman?"

  Cailyn flinched, and Jamie realized his fingers dug into her soft flesh. "I apologize," he told her, releasing the hold.

  She rubbed her upper arms, but did not say anything. Her eyes went to the dark window. "It is late, I should go to my chamber."

  "Not until you explain everything," he replied.

  "There is not more I can say, I do not know her reasons for wishing to remain until Conor returns. The rest you'll have to ask of Victoria when you see her."

  "I will not relent until you tell me where she is," Jamie cautioned. "I must see her and assure myself she is well, before I call off my rescue. And when I find her, I will take her back to England with me."

  "She is at my home," Cailyn told him with a sigh. "She is well, asked that I give you a note."

  "Where is this note?"

  "In my chamber, in my bag." She shrugged. "I'll get it."

  She slid from the bed. In splendid nudity, she moved to retrieve her clothing. "I will bring you the missive at daybreak. It is night yet, will be for a few more hours. I suppose there is not much you can do until morning."

  She was right, of course. It would be a death trap to ride into the darkness of unknown territory.

  "I believe there is much I can do until daybreak." He lifted from the bed and went to her. Cailyn yelped in surprise when he crushed her against him. "For what I intend, this is not needed." He removed the piece of clothing from her hand and dropped it onto a nearby chair.

  Soft velvety skin under his roughened palms brought a reminder of finer thing in life, things he'd given up long ago, for life at sea. Jamie inhaled the flowery scent of her hair and closed his eyes, imagining how it would be to have such a creature with him always. Another luxury he'd lost, companionship, a wife. He pushed the thoughts away and ran his hands from her waist to the curves of her plump bottom, enjoying the lushness. She was not short of stature, which meant she fit perfectly against him. Her breasts full and high on her chest, presently pressed against his harder one, brought his cock to full-mast.

  Her hands moved down his back, her nails trailing a delicious path. "I don't understand this, between us," she told him, her brows drawn together. "It feels natural, yet it's something I have never done."

  "You were not a virgin, have you not enjoyed your other lovers?" Jamie asked, not wanting to hear the answer.

  Cailyn bit a corner of her lip in thought. He kissed the opposite corner and she nodded, sliding her hands back up his back. "I've had one true lover, I was betrothed."

 
; "Was?"

  "Yes, handfasted, actually. After Englishmen attacked my men and attempted to rape me, my betrothed's family assumed I'd been ruined and returned me to my family."

  "Englishmen?"

  "Victoria's husband, Lord Turner."

  Ahh, the reason for her clan's revenge.

  Anger for her filled him. "Did your fiancé not stand up for you? After all, you'd already lain with him."

  Her shoulders lifted, and she looked away. "It's not important now."

  "It is," Jamie tilted her chin up to face him. "It was not fair to you."

  An impish grin curved her lips. "I cannot believe we're having such a serious conversation while standing here nude." Hands behind his neck, she pulled him to her. "I'd rather be kissed right now, Captain Westcott."

  The instant their lips met, Jamie lost track of thought other than joining with her again. He lifted her and carried her back to the bed.

  She did not release him, and both fell onto the now-cooled bedding. "Have you ridden a man before?" Jamie asked her between kisses. "I want to show you something new."

  "No," she replied and began a trail of nips and kisses down the side of his neck. "Show me."

  He rolled onto his back, bringing her with him. Her rounded eyes met his questioning.

  Hands on her hips, he lifted her. "Guide me to your sheath," he instructed.

  Her fingers reached between them and wrapped around him. Jamie groaned at her touch, not sure he'd be able to last long once inside her.

  "You enjoy my touch." Cailyn stroked him, "I like that you do."

  With clenched teeth, he nodded. "If you continue to do that, I will not remain hard for long, and will spill my seed."

  "Hmm." She finally did as he bid and guided him to her center. The head of his cock at her entrance, he pushed up gently, allowing for her body to become accustomed to the invasion. She was so tight that he didn't want to hurt her.

  "Oh!" Cailyn pushed down, completing their joining. Jamie groaned as well, her wet heat surrounded his throbbing length.

  "Place your hands on my chest Cailyn." Once she did, he guided her back up, then down several times, until she took over and began to ride him with an intent expression. He watched her features soften and her lips part, as she grew closer to completion.

  He lifted his hips to meet her descent, and their joined motion became fervent, a race to a goal so intense, Jamie wasn't sure he could maintain the pace.

  Her sheath milked him when she cried out his name, and Jamie barely heard her as he, too, fell away into bliss, his body arching off the bed. He struggled to keep a semblance of control, but lost the fight and cried out, as well.

  Cailyn collapsed against his chest, trembling. He pulled the blanket up over them and held her, kissing her face until she settled.

  "Thank you," she whispered, "I will never forget you."

  Her words were meant to reassure him. A clear message that she did not expect anything from him, had the opposite affect. The lass touched a part of him that was long kept dormant."

  "Nor will I you," he replied.

  Jamie's eyes flew open. There could be a result to their lovemaking. He'd not pulled out. He'd spilled inside her.

  He fell asleep wondering why such a consequence felt more alike a welcome thing.

  ****

  Sunrise came too soon. Cailyn took a deep breath and turned to her side. Her eyes popped open and she found herself still in Jamie's bed, only this time alone. Her heart lurched and she leaped from the bed to where her clothes were now folded neatly on a chair. She threw clothes on and went to her room, straight across the hall.

  Just as she went to pick up the leather bag that held Victoria's note, a knock sounded at the door.

  "Cailyn, are you awake?" Dugan asked, his words tight.

  "Come in, Dugan," Cailyn called over her shoulder. Her hand inside the bag, she pulled out Victoria's note.

  The door swung open and Dugan stepped through. "Why'd you take so long to rise today? This is my second time coming to knock."

  "I didn't hear you," Victoria lied. "Strange, since I never sleep so deeply, don't you think?" She cocked her head to the side, studying her handsome cousin, who narrowed his eyes.

  "The others want to know if we depart today."

  "Yes, but I must speak to Captain Westcott first. Have you seen him as yet?"

  "Aye, he was downstairs to break his fast, and then went out. I followed him. He took a dinghy out to his ship."

  Why would Jamie leave without first reading Victoria's note? He must actually trust her to wait and deliver it to him.

  "Why didn't you stop him?" Victoria slapped the parchment against her hip. "How will I get this to him now?"

  "If you'd been up when I came to find you earlier, perhaps you could have done so. I don't care for the man. Let's hope he sails off."

  Dugan went to the window as if to see if the ships were indeed sailing off. As much as she loved her cousin, she wanted to hit him right now.

  "We'll wait for him to return before leaving then," she told him, and sat on the bed. Dugan, can I ask you something personal?" She waited for his amber eyes to meet hers.

  "I suppose," he looked to the door as if he'd rather escape than listen to what she'd ask.

  "Do men ever fall in love with a woman who gives herself freely, without regard for propriety?" He frowned and shifted his eyes back to the window, past her, and then to the doorway.

  "I don't know, I 'spose it depends the nature of the situation," Dugan replied, swallowing visibly. His eyes widened, and he took a step back when she stood.

  Realization dawned, and Cailyn let out a loud laugh. "Oh goodness, Dugan, I am not referring to you and me that one time…" She left off and began to laugh again. "I'm sorry, it was just something I was considering last night."

  He visibly relaxed. "Right, well then, I will go and tell the others we shall wait for the captain to return." He dashed from the room and Cailyn followed in his tracks. "So you don't love me then, Dugan?" She teased and giggled when he scowled up at her.

  "Don't you have things to do? Your hair is a tangled mess, cousin," Dugan replied and rushed down the stairs.

  Her hair. Cailyn reached up to touch the locks, which were as Dugan described. A memory of a very nude Captain Westcott, ensuring she earned every one of the tangles, rushed heat to her face. She hurried to her chamber to change and wash up.

  Two hours later, said captain entered the inn. Her heart lurched at the sight of him.

  Dressed for riding, he scanned the room until he found her. A brow cocked, but other than that, he remained aloof.

  "I'll ask him to come over," Dugan grumbled, and stood.

  Cailyn noticed that both men were about the same height, although Dugan was broader and had more bulk than the leaner, yet muscular, Jamie. The men spoke, and Jamie's eyes flicked over to her. He then followed Dugan to the table.

  "Miss McDougall," Jamie bowed at the waist, his eyes locked to hers.

  Aware that everyone at the inn had stopped talking and now watched openly, she waved to a chair. "Please join us."

  He sat.

  Dugan sat as well, scowling, not looking at either her or the captain.

  Cailyn slid the parchment across the table toward Jamie. "This is a missive from Victoria, she asks that you give your reply to me."

  ****

  Jamie reached for the parchment and tore it open. Victoria's flourished handwriting reassured him. As Cailyn had told him the night before, his sister did indeed request that Jamie put off coming for her. Victoria informed him she'd come to him instead, once Conor McDougall returned from battle. The chit was presumptuous enough to inform him she was no longer a maid, and therefore not under his control.

  The missive was signed "Torrie", his nickname for her, which reinforced that Victoria was not in distress at all.

  Jamie let out a breath and looked up at Cailyn. At meeting her beautiful eyes, his first thought was to grab her. For a moment al
l he wanted was to take this vixen back to his ship and sail away, spending endless days and nights with her.

  "Tell my sister I will await her. But I will only remain for four days. At that point, I will come for her."

  "I will tell her." Cailyn looked to her brawny companion. "Cousin, tell the men we leave as soon as I collect my things. Please get the horses." She stood, as did the captain and her cousin, who then strode to the door.

  "Will you return with her?" Jamie wasn't sure why he asked; it was obvious she had no plans to see him again.

  She slid a look to the stairs. "Meet me upstairs in my room." She left the table and went up to her chamber.

  He waited enough time that he didn't think it would rouse suspicions, then went up the stairs to find Cailyn in her chamber, placing items in her bag.

  Not sure of her reaction if he went to touch her, Jamie remained just inside the doorway. Relief flooded him when she came to him and leaned into his chest. His arms around her, he kissed the top of her head.

  She looked up at him. "I'd hoped for a farewell kiss."

  Their mouths met with an ardent kiss that pulled at him. He'd not had enough of this woman, needed more.

  When they finally pulled apart, her eyes were shiny. "I will do my best to accompany Victoria."

  "Come back to me," Jamie told her, and pressed his lips upon hers again.

  "Cailyn!" Dugan's voice at the doorway, just behind Jamie, jerked them apart. The large male stared at them, mouth agape.

  "Let's go," Cailyn flew toward her cousin and grabbed his arm with both hands. "Come on, Dugan." She pulled the man, whose face had colored to a dark shade of red, and fists were curled.

  Jamie braced for the first hit, which he'd allow.

  But Dugan allowed Cailyn to usher him away. She turned one last time to Jamie.

  "I'll return to you, Captain."

  "What?" Dugan asked as they left.