Highland Son (Highland Sorcery: A New Dawn) by Clover Autrey Page B

wonderfully gorgeous in her anger.
    “Oh boy,” Lance muttered.
    “Well somebody should be.” Alexander stood as well.
    Lance whistled low in warning.
    “Really?” Jewel spun on Alexander, jabbing a finger into his chest. “I need a boss?”
    “Yes?” Alexander squeaked. “No.”
    “Which is it?”
    She was stunning. He knew he was saying all the wrong things and making her angrier by the second but déithe , angry looked good on her. How was a man supposed to think in the face of that and talk himself out of the well his tongue was digging? “No, of course I don’t think that…it’s just…going back to Sheppard…he’ll…I don’t want you hurt, all right?”
    Her features softened and Alexander’s heart melted, lost in the vibrant changing expressions scrolling across her features. He’d fallen over the cliff for sure.
    Jewel’s lips puckered while she chose what words would best placate him. He could see the wheels churning in her intelligent little head. “Sheppard doesn’t’ suspect me. I can go in, find out what has happened with your men, and contact you. How is that not better than rushing in half-cocked and blind?”
    It wasn’t better. He just… bluidy hell . She wasn’t trying to do anything that he wouldn’t let anyone else do. It was a good sensible plan, but dammit, she wasn’t anybody else.
    How the hell did she burrow under his skin so quickly? This was why he didn’t let himself get close to any of the women in this time.
    But wasn’t that what he was fighting for? So humanity could have a chance at life again? At relationships? At love? And family? At normal?
    Didn’t he want that for himself?
    Some day .
    Well some day had waltz in beneath an ugly cap and the fragrance of cherries and punched him in the gut. Something was happening between them. Something rare and wonderful. They’d become connection somehow, upstairs while he held her hands…something else had happened between them, between their magic…something he wasn’t about to let fade away. He wanted it. Wanted her.
    He sighed, knowing he had to let her go back to Sheppard. She was right and this was her choice to make, her sense of responsibility. If he was in her shoes and any one tried to stop him from doing what he had to, he’d be furious.
    He shook his head, not liking it. “You go in. You find them, and you get out. We’ll do the rest.”
    “Yes sir,” she drawled.
    He grabbed her arm and a low current of magical electricity streaked between them. “I mean it, Jewel.”
    She tilted her head, loose strands of hair falling out from beneath her ridiculous cap, and studied him. “C’mere.” Taking his hand in hers, she pulled him out of the barn through the wide doors and around the side of the building near an ancient fence of an old corral. She stopped and turned to face him, their hands still entwined.
    Sunlight pooled down on them, streaking across her perk little nose and warming his skin.
    “Listen…” Her tongue peeked out between her lips and Alexander’s gaze riveted on them. “I…I get it. You kind of like me and it’s twisting your stomach all up into knots. I appreciate that you care…”
    Oh, he cared…
    “But I can do this. You don’t need to worry…”
    The hell he didn’t. He’d show her just how much he’d worry.
    His hands shot to her waist, pulling her body snug against his. Heat flared between them.
    She gasped. Those lips parted in surprise and the irises of her green forest eyes darkened, drawing him in.
    Déithe , he was lost.
    His mouth was on hers before he took his next breath. She was cherries and silk and heat and softness. Feminine. A million sensations to explore. A lifetime to explore them.
    Her back arched beneath his hands, her curves molding into him as she pressed closer, matching his kiss with a hunger of her own. Her fingers slid into his hair, pulling his head harder down to hers.
    Her desire filled him, flowing into his magical essence, pushing