“Nay, only you.”
“Then it appears I’m the lucky one.” Frowning, she wriggled closer to him on the bench. “Tell me more about Coll. I’m aware he’s your twin and the eldest.”
“What do you wish to know?”
“I may know of him, but I’ve never met him. Can one tell the two of you apart?”
“We’re the same height and build, evenly matched in strength, although there are enough differences to tell us apart.”
“Like?”
“Coll’s eyes are the same shade as yours, brown flecked with gold, whereas mine are a plain shade of blue.”
“Your eyes are a stunning shade of blue.” She snuck one hand out from within the fur, touched her palm to his cheek and looked deeper into his eyes. “They’re a warm blue, as vibrant in color as a clear summer’s sky. They’re also the same shade as my brother’s and my mama’s eyes. I’ve always wished mine were such a pretty color.”
“My eyes arenae pretty.” He’d never live it down if any of his men heard that comment. ’Twas just as well her voice couldn’t travel any farther than the two of them.
“They’re most definitely pretty, but in a very rugged sort of way.” She giggled. “You are just like Ethan. Whenever I call his blue eyes pretty, he acts as if I’ve just struck him.”
“I’m a warrior.”
“So I noticed.” She stroked her fingers back and forth along his cheek, a mischievous tilt lifting her lips. “Aye, you’re a very pretty warrior indeed.”
“You are the worst tease, and I clearly shouldnae have offered you my aid.”
“You didnae offer. I asked to join you.” She buried her nose in his neck, her next whispered words sending his pulse racing, “What secrets are you hiding from me, Duncan MacKenzie?”
“None.” He should insert some space between them, only he couldn’t move. Having her this close made his heart thump harder and every protective instinct within him roar to the forefront.
“Aye, you are, and I wish I could compel the truth from you, but that will have to wait until my voice is fully restored, unless of course you wish to share the truth with me on your own.” She kissed his neck and he barely remained seated. All he wanted to do was topple her into the planked boards underfoot and demand she kiss him proper.
“Sit back where you should.” The air suddenly stilled and the sail went limp. Up ahead, fog swirled as they neared the Isle of Skye, although he couldn’t make out the land with the veiled mist thickening by the second.
“Everything within me demands I get even closer to you and there can be only one answer for such an intense emotion to take me.” She searched his gaze.
“Which would be?” They glided right into the fog and it smothered them.
“For you to be my chosen one, only for that to be so, you’d have to hold fae blood.”
“My father is Colin MacKenzie, my mother the late Cait MacLennan. Neither have ever held your Matheson fae blood.”
“Yet I am still drawn to you, which is the way of those who are mated.” The gold at the edge of her beautiful brown eyes glimmered bright. “Those who are soul bound wait for their chosen one, and if you are my mate as I believe you might be, then you must have been waiting for me too. Am I right? Have you found it difficult to dally with another? Are you the one I seek, Duncan MacKenzie?”
“Nay, and I never shall be.” He couldn’t allow her to believe they were mated. So too should his men believe a bond had formed between them, then his fae blood would be exposed. They cruised deeper into the ever-thickening fog and his men dunked their oars deep and rowed while next to him, Ella shivered within the chilly mist. He wrapped an arm around her back and drew her closer to his side. Aye, he couldn’t be her chosen one, because that would certainly let loose a slew of trouble he had no intention of allowing.
Chapter 3
Sweet sensations flittered through Ella as Duncan wrapped an arm around her and tucked her closer to his side. The fog continued to thicken until she couldn’t see more than a few feet in any direction. Certainly his men on board weren’t visible anymore, only the splashing of their oars dunking into the water proved they remained close by. She rubbed her cheek against Duncan’s shoulder, snuck her fingers between the front ties of his black leather jerkin and traced over the hard muscles of his chest covered in a soft layer of fine white cotton. Aye, this man more than intrigued her. “Do you feel it?” she whispered to him.
“Ella, you need to cease touching me the way that you are.” He covered her hand with his and halted her movement.
“Something draws us closer together, and I’m no’ imagining it.”