“Aye, I’ve seen what could only come from another time.” He shoved the thing under the bed then turned her hand over and examined her wrist. Someone had thrust a needle into her here. If only he could make them pay with their life. “Who did this?”
“It was done to aid me, not harm.”
“It shall never happen again, just as you shall never return to the future.” She carried his bairn, and the agony of her disappearance had cut into him so hard that to live without her would be akin to death.
“I don’t have any control over the portal.”
“You must have activated it somehow.” She slowly nodded, her lips pressed together as if she didn’t wish to admit what she’d done. “Speak it.”
“I made a wish upon the Fairy Flag seconds before I was taken.”
“Then no more wishes. Not one, Anne. I cannae lose you again.”
“My parents are alive.” Her eyes brightened. “I want to see them again.”
“No. More. Wishes.”
“I really want to see them.”
“You dinnae listen, lass.” He kissed her. She tasted so sweet, and damn it, he’d missed her in the worst way. She wouldn’t leave his sight again. “I’ll find a way to change MacLeod’s decision, and if no’, be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.”
“You’re a stubborn man, but I’m glad you’re mine.” She wound her arms around his neck and snuggled. “I’m sorry about the wishes, but I can’t promise I won’t make any more. I’m a little impulsive like that.”
“You’ll obey and give me your word.”
“Well, you could offer some persuasion. I’d totally be up for it.”
He kissed her again, plundering her mouth as he needed. Touching her, having her body pressed against his was heaven, a sensation he never wanted to give up. He yearned for her, and the bairn. So much was at stake. He must fix all that had gone wrong and get her back to Dunscaith. He spread his palm over her belly. A life they’d created beat within.
She writhed against him. “Did I tell you I missed you?”
Skin. He needed to touch her without the barrier of her clothing. He stroked her hip and down her thigh then heaved up the folds of her pretty red dress. He caressed the milky flesh of her inner thigh. Her heat pulsed, so close.
Beyond aroused, he slid a finger inside her. He rubbed her tight nub and she released a soft sigh.
“Alex, you have a magical touch and I’m about to forget where we are.” Her hips moved and she pressed harder into his palm.
“Then forget, but I must remain alert.” He stroked deeper until she panted for a breath.
“In that case before I do. I, Anne MacLeod, from the year two-thousand and fourteen, pledge my troth to Alexander William MacDonald. Oh.” She bucked against his hand. “With his wicked touch, I take him as my husband for the next year and a day.”
“Aye, and I, Alexander William MacDonald, pledge my troth to Anne MacLeod from the year two-thousand and fourteen. I give my word I shall find a way to take her as my wife, for all time, present and future.”
Easing her legs further apart, he added another finger and plunged deeper to hit the spot that would make her come apart in his arms.
She arched into his touch, urged him for more. “Alex, kiss me, please.”
He seized her mouth, kissing her with all the longing that ruled his heart. Desire drove him as her heartbeat thumped against his chest and below, her channel tightened wickedly around him.
She moaned as he kissed her, and then with his fingers alone, he drove her over the edge.
Aye, he desired all of her, and not for a year and day. Forever wouldn’t be long enough. “I’ll never leave you. I give you my word.”
After the orgasm from heaven, Anne held Alex’s last words close to her heart. “I know you’ll never leave me. Right from the beginning, I sensed you never would. Somehow and someway.”
“Aye, you did. I heard you whisper those words in your sleep that first night.” He kissed her belly then drew her skirts down and tucked them under her legs. “You said your parents are alive.”
“Yes, and it’s about time you believed me.” She rolled toward him.
“Time travel knows no bounds. You were gone ten days instead of ten hours. Tell me exactly what you and Annie spoke of when you first met at Dunscaith.”
“I gave her my name, and she asked if I had any kin who’d miss me. I told her no, that my parents had passed away three years ago. They were lost to me when our house burnt down. She promised me she’d fix what she’d started. I don’t think she truly intended for me to end up at Dunscaith, or at least that’s the impression she gave me.” She scrambled into a sitting position then peeked past the bed curtains to the door. “Is it safe for you to still be here?”
“Mother waylaid MacLeod, and dinnae worry over me.” He planted his booted feet on the floor. “I can hold my own against Rory MacLeod.”