The Angel and the Highlander(47)

Clothes soon found their way to the floor and naked limbs were wrapped around each other, gentle laughs and nibbles mixed and hands explored.

Lachlan loved the feel of her smooth, silky skin. It reminded him of the softness of a newly blossomed rose petal and was just as fragrant.

“You smell so good,” he said wrapping his arms around her middle and resting his head there.

“Rowena’s soap. It’s a special blend,” she said, running her fingers through his dark brown hair.

“I could stay wrapped around you forever.”

“You’re welcome to.”

His heart swelled with her remark, for she told him that she didn’t wish to part from him, which meant she just might be falling in love with him. And with that sense of joy filling him he began to make love to her.

He took his time, exploring her naked flesh with a delicate touch, lingering his kisses in places he found sensitive to her and loving every little moan that slipped from her lips.

He refused to let her do anything this time. This time his pleasure would come from pleasuring her. He brought her to climax with intimate touches then forced another one from her with the magic of his tongue. Then he entered her and brought her to a climax that had her reeling and him exploding, his body shuddering from the tremendously satisfying sensation that continued to ripple far beyond what he had ever experienced.

They lay spent against each other, their breathing erratic, not able to speak. But their fingers locked tightly and held on firm, both letting the other know they had no intentions of letting go.



Terese smiled broadly as she walked, a spring in her step, toward the common shelter. Her body never felt so good, so satisfied, so alive. She hadn’t wanted to leave Lachlan. She would have loved to linger, but she had chores to do and Lachlan had things to see to, and it wouldn’t be right to spend the entire day in the cottage, just the two of them. Everyone would talk, not that they probably weren’t already, and that was why she was glad to be so far removed from clan and family. Here she was free to love and not be judged. Here couples handfasted, joining together the old way, since clergy was far and few between. Here was her home.

It was a beautiful and glorious day, and she wouldn’t let anything destroy it for her. She would relish the joy of it all and think on the pleasure yet to come.

She laughed softly.

“Someone is pleased.”

Terese looked to see Hester approach and she could see by her expression something was wrong. She didn’t want anything to be wrong, not this day. She wanted this day to continue with smiles and tingles and never-ending passion.

She raised her hand before Hester could say anything. “Just give me a moment to tuck away my happiness for safekeeping.”

That caused Hester to smile. “There’s no problem. We all would like to have a meeting tonight. It has been awhile since we’ve had a chance to voice our concerns.”

“You’re right,” Terese agreed. “It has been too long since our last meeting, but why the bleak expression?”

Hester walked alongside Terese as they continued toward the common shelter. “Things are changing around here and I fear losing those I think of as sisters.”

“None of us intend to go anywhere,” Terese said. “Everagis is our home and somehow I think we will keep it. However, to make certain that we always do have a home I intend to speak with our recent friends and see if they can provide us with a parcel of land should we need it so that we may keep the friendship that already exists between us, providing them with our healing skills and a portion of our harvest.”

“Wise choice, but then that is why we look to you to lead us,” Hester said. “I don’t know what we would do without you.”

“You would survive,” Terese said firmly. “You would have to; you would have no other choice.”

“Yes, you’ve taught us that too, but I’d much rather have you around.”

“And I’d much rather be around,” Terese confirmed.

“What excuse will you give Lachlan for tonight?”

“I’ll think of something.”

“You are happy with him,” Hester said.

“More so than I imagined,” she admitted.

Hester shook her head. “It seems to me that love is more madness than anything else.”

Terese laughed and nodded. “I agree. Love does seem maddening.”

“And yet you embrace it?”

“I don’t think you have a choice once you fall in love. It grabs hold and has you in its clutches and suddenly nothing makes sense anymore.”

“And when it finally disappoints?” Hester asked.

Terese took hold of her hand. “We survive.”