“I’m so glad you have them.”
“We’re tight and always have each other’s backs, just as they’ll now have yours.” He slid his fingers between hers. “Going forward, we’ll live our life together, and when you need to return home to your father, then that’s where we’ll go.” He turned off the main road, the one just before the inn, then bumped along a private driveway winding deep into Matheson territory. Pine, ash and elm trees rose high either side of the thin track. Ten miles in, he slowed then entered a clearing. His log cabin, with its two chimneys and wide wraparound porch painted a deep rustic-brown, had taken him and his brothers almost a year to build in between assignments. He pulled up in front and opened Isla’s door.
“This place is amazing.” She twirled around, her gaze bright as she eyed the river running alongside the forest’s edge. “I love it.”
“We always keep the kitchen fully stocked, and I have plenty of clothes stored here, just as I do at the castle.” He opened the trunk, grasped her purchases and climbed the front steps. “There’s a four-digit key code needed to enter.”
“I’ll get it for you.” She walked up beside him. “What’s the number?”
“One, one, one, one.”
“Huh?” She frowned, so damn endearingly. “I think you’re supposed to use a number no one is supposed to guess.”
“Would you have guessed that?”
“No, but that’s not the point.” She unlocked the door and opened it.
“We like to make things easy if we can.” He slid the bags inside then scooped her up before she could enter. “Would you like that shower you missed out on this morning?”
“I’d love one, particularly since I’ve been rolling around in dirt since.” She wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her over the threshold.
“One shower coming up.” He nudged the door shut with his hip and weaved through the large lounge with its four tan leather couches and big screen TV. Down the passageway, across the plush cream carpet, he strode. He passed his brothers’ bedrooms then stopped at the open doorway of his own and gently set her back on her feet. “The bathroom is to the side. I’ll grab your bags.”
“Thank you.” She unzipped her knee-high leather boots and peeled them and her socks off then shrugged out of his borrowed shirt and whipped her tank top over her head. A peek of her nipples showed through the sheer white silk of her bra, and her jeans sitting snug on her hips, added to the mouth-watering sight he couldn’t turn away from. No, he wouldn’t be able to move an inch from this spot even if his life depended on it.
“You were going to get the bags…” Gaze on him, she slid the button of her jeans free, lowered the fly then wriggled the blue denim down her gloriously creamy legs and off. Nothing but two scraps of silk covered her and his cock throbbed to attention and wept for more. “They’re by the front door, Iain, where you left them, remember?”
“I know exactly where they are, my mate.”
“Then could you choose something from my purchases for me to wear after I’ve showered?” She sashayed up against him and he wound a lock of her hair around his finger before allowing the silky length to slip free and bounce between her breasts.
“I’d rather you wear nothing.”
“I’m sure you would, but I’m not going to.” She flounced backward, turned and walked into the bathroom with her pert bottom swaying back and forth. She closed the door and he wanted to hammer it down. Instead, he forced air into his lungs and attempted to get his thoughts back on track. It was time to woo his woman.
He returned to the front door, collected her bags and spread the contents over his bed. He folded everything and stored it all away in the top two drawers of his oak dresser, all but the tiny, two-piece racy-red swimsuit. That he left for her to wear.
Out on the porch, he breathed deep. Time to come up with a plan. He wanted their time together here to be incredibly special. He’d catch some fresh fish for dinner tonight. She’d said she liked it pan-fried. He strode down the steps, crossed the lush meadow and stopped at the river bank. The stream was wide, deep in the middle and shallow where it pooled at each side. He’d spent so many hours out here, allowing his bear to splash about before lumbering out and curling up on the grass to dry in the warm sunshine.