Highlander's Charm (Highlander Heat #3)

Calum whirled, barely catching his opponent’s blow. “Get back, Lila.”


A blade whistled past her ear, and hot air pulsed all around. She was blocked on every side. “Get back to where?”

“Hold onto me.” Calum scooped her against him then dodged through his warring men until they reached the edge of the flat.

“I’m so sorry.” She plastered her face against his chest, her heart beating so loud it pounded in her ears. “I didn’t know that would happen.”

“They cannae see any but their opponent when their blood roars for the fight.” He gripped her hand and tugged her into the thick copse of surrounding pine trees. Nesting birds twittered within the highest branches. “How did you manage to slip past the tower guardsman?”

“I was with Margaret and we didn’t have an issue. I needed to come. I had to see you.”

“Then speak.” He slid his claymore into the sheath strapped to his bare back.

Oh, now she had to find a way to say goodbye without actually coming out and saying it. “You left so quickly this morning.” Okay, that was a good start.

“That is hardly an adequate reason for the risk you just took with your life.” He backed her against a wide trunk, his gaze dropping to her lips.

“I wanted to thank you for saving my life and pulling me from the loch.”

“You did that last eve.” He dipped his head, urged her lips apart and from one heart-stopping breath to the next, swarmed her senses with a ferocious kiss. Every inch of her sizzled, burned and throbbed.

“Once didn’t seem enough,” she said when he finally eased back.

“My apologies. I had to kiss you.” He caressed her sides, roamed down and scooped her bottom. He lifted her higher and pressed his hard length against her belly. “Do you feel our connection?”

“Yes.” She seized his powerful biceps and held on. “I’m not sure what we’re going to do about it though.”

“I do.” He kissed her again, so deeply their breath mingled as one, his hardness a hot brand that made her tingle all over. Then he cupped her breast and thumbed the peak through her gown. “In the cave, I saw your beautiful hair spread like black silk over my tartan. I’ve wished since for that vision to come true.”

“You have a wicked way with words.” She tangled her fingers in his hair and reclaimed his mouth.



Calum groaned as Lila pressed her breast more fully into his palm. He stroked the pebbled peak of her nipple. Her breast was lush, and he ached for more. Carefully, he swept her bodice to the side then eased his hand in. The lace edging slid sensuously over the back of his hand as he filled his palm with her warm flesh. “Aye we will be one as I’ve seen. ’Tis only a matter of time.”

Heat surged through his blood and dove straight to his cock. He immersed himself in the heat of her, drinking in her sweet taste.

He wanted more, and not just to have his hand against her. He loosened the ribbon and eased her gown over her shoulder. One pink and luscious nipple beckoned. He rolled his tongue around the tip and sucked.

“Calum.” She moaned and arched into him. “That feels so good.”

His vision resurged, of his plaid pooled around her hips. He wished to slide that last obstacle away and love her fully as he should. They were bound, and in the deepest sense. ’Twas as if she were a part of him, and now she’d returned to claim her rightful place in his life. He moved to her other breast and tasted the tight bud. Perfect.

She broke their kiss and looked into his eyes. “Where’s that cave? Is it close?”

“There are caves all over Mull, and I’ve no’ seen which one might be ours.” The clamoring of weapons rang in his ears. Damn. How had he forgotten his men trained just beyond the trees? When he made love to his woman, he’d give her a night of pure pleasure, not a fast coupling in the woods. “We need to wait.”

“We do?” She shook her head as if trying to clear it. “Oh, of course we do. You’re in the middle of training, and I was in the middle of, well, never mind. You’re right. We should wait.”

“Is there more you need? Have you spoken to Margaret?”

“Yes, I did.” She adjusted her gown, covering the luscious golden skin he’d exposed. “She knows about my grandmother, and that we’re both from the future. Nanna told her, being that they were Cunningham kin.”

“Margaret never spoke a word.” Mayhap she feared for Jean if she had. Other than Colin, he too would never tell another of Lila’s time travel. “Is she aware of where your grandmother journeyed to?” A question he would have asked Margaret himself at midday once he returned.

“Calum!” The shout came from one of his men.

“How about we talk about this later. I should have waited at the castle as you said.” She rubbed his chest.

“Aye, I’ll escort you back to the keep.”