away.
Right. Kissing seemed to work a real treat.
Glowering, Tavish stomped along the landing in black leather trews and sturdy boots, his war coat flapping open over a white tunic. His weapons gleamed at his side, a great two-handed claymore on one hip and a battle axe on the other. “We too will be having words. You’re never to leave me in such a manner again, or set one foot on MacKenzie land without me by your side. Are. We. Clear?”
“I couldnae hear my parents’ auras.” She rested her forehead on his chest, her burgundy skirts fluttering in the wind against her legs. “Nessa said I’d need to see what was there with my own eyes afore the truth could ever set me free.”
“Did going there do so?” His voice gentled as he gripped her upper arms, skimmed downward and threaded their fingers together. “Tell me what happened.”
“Jeremiah spoke to Cherub and I listened in on their conversation. He said my parents are alive and far from here, that when they first arrived at their keep, he was the one to personally escort them to their new accommodations and that they’ve remained there the length of their imprisonment. When the fortnight expires and I’ve not been brought to him, then their death will be assured. He’ll see to it himself.” She lifted her chin, looked deep into his golden eyes. “The truth is, my parents would be furious if I ever agreed to marry Jeremiah MacKenzie in order to see them freed. My resolve is now firm. We shall search for them, find them, and bring them home. There can be no other way.”
“I’ll never allow you to wed Jeremiah MacKenzie. You’re my mate. I’ll never lose you to the enemy.”
She untangled one of their hands and cupped his cheek. “My heart tells me we’re mated, even though my skill does no’. I’ve no wish to wed any man, other than you.”
“Then you and I need some privacy to talk, just the two of us, without any possible interruption. I certainly intend on showing you exactly how very completely mated we are.” He led her farther along the landing, bounded into a skiff, reached back and swung her on board beside him. “Take a seat.”
“Where are you taking me?” She plopped down on the bench at the stern, as eager and needy as he was for this stolen moment in time. Just the two of them. She longed for that.
“Where there isn’t another soul except you and me.” He released the mooring rope, coiled and stored it then with the oars in hand, sat on the center seat and rowed out of the bay. Once he’d cleared the rougher waters, he tucked the oars away, removed his war coat studded with bits of steel and tucked it under the seat then grasped the ropes.
The wind filled the sail with a hearty slap, and with his feet braced wide along the side, the skiff shot off like an arrow. “The wind is strong. Come here, Julia.”
She climbed over the center seat and seized his waist. The crosswinds at the tip of the loch slapped into the sail and pulled it taut. The skiff rose farther out of the water on the other side and as Tavish leaned back to counter the balance, so did she.
Flattened against his chest, his arms either side of her as he harnessed the wind power in the tight sail, he sent them flying across the water. Goodness, if she reached out, she might very well be able to touch the white-capped waves. “Do you sail like this often?”
“Tor and I often race together along Loch Bear near Ivanson Castle. There’s nothing quite like sailing the seas or enjoying Scotland’s freshest air. It clears the mind as nothing else can.”
The wind whipped her golden locks into a frenzy and she giggled at the sheer freedom that rolled through her. The sea swelled and crashed into the shore they sailed alongside and the forested hills of her homeland rose high and far into the distance. “This is wonderful, and just what I needed.”
“Me too. Don’t let go of me,” he yelled over the heavy thrashing of the waves.
“I shall never
Right. Kissing seemed to work a real treat.
Glowering, Tavish stomped along the landing in black leather trews and sturdy boots, his war coat flapping open over a white tunic. His weapons gleamed at his side, a great two-handed claymore on one hip and a battle axe on the other. “We too will be having words. You’re never to leave me in such a manner again, or set one foot on MacKenzie land without me by your side. Are. We. Clear?”
“I couldnae hear my parents’ auras.” She rested her forehead on his chest, her burgundy skirts fluttering in the wind against her legs. “Nessa said I’d need to see what was there with my own eyes afore the truth could ever set me free.”
“Did going there do so?” His voice gentled as he gripped her upper arms, skimmed downward and threaded their fingers together. “Tell me what happened.”
“Jeremiah spoke to Cherub and I listened in on their conversation. He said my parents are alive and far from here, that when they first arrived at their keep, he was the one to personally escort them to their new accommodations and that they’ve remained there the length of their imprisonment. When the fortnight expires and I’ve not been brought to him, then their death will be assured. He’ll see to it himself.” She lifted her chin, looked deep into his golden eyes. “The truth is, my parents would be furious if I ever agreed to marry Jeremiah MacKenzie in order to see them freed. My resolve is now firm. We shall search for them, find them, and bring them home. There can be no other way.”
“I’ll never allow you to wed Jeremiah MacKenzie. You’re my mate. I’ll never lose you to the enemy.”
She untangled one of their hands and cupped his cheek. “My heart tells me we’re mated, even though my skill does no’. I’ve no wish to wed any man, other than you.”
“Then you and I need some privacy to talk, just the two of us, without any possible interruption. I certainly intend on showing you exactly how very completely mated we are.” He led her farther along the landing, bounded into a skiff, reached back and swung her on board beside him. “Take a seat.”
“Where are you taking me?” She plopped down on the bench at the stern, as eager and needy as he was for this stolen moment in time. Just the two of them. She longed for that.
“Where there isn’t another soul except you and me.” He released the mooring rope, coiled and stored it then with the oars in hand, sat on the center seat and rowed out of the bay. Once he’d cleared the rougher waters, he tucked the oars away, removed his war coat studded with bits of steel and tucked it under the seat then grasped the ropes.
The wind filled the sail with a hearty slap, and with his feet braced wide along the side, the skiff shot off like an arrow. “The wind is strong. Come here, Julia.”
She climbed over the center seat and seized his waist. The crosswinds at the tip of the loch slapped into the sail and pulled it taut. The skiff rose farther out of the water on the other side and as Tavish leaned back to counter the balance, so did she.
Flattened against his chest, his arms either side of her as he harnessed the wind power in the tight sail, he sent them flying across the water. Goodness, if she reached out, she might very well be able to touch the white-capped waves. “Do you sail like this often?”
“Tor and I often race together along Loch Bear near Ivanson Castle. There’s nothing quite like sailing the seas or enjoying Scotland’s freshest air. It clears the mind as nothing else can.”
The wind whipped her golden locks into a frenzy and she giggled at the sheer freedom that rolled through her. The sea swelled and crashed into the shore they sailed alongside and the forested hills of her homeland rose high and far into the distance. “This is wonderful, and just what I needed.”
“Me too. Don’t let go of me,” he yelled over the heavy thrashing of the waves.
“I shall never
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