Highlander's Guardian (Highlander Heat #4)

“I’m exhausted.” He tucked her against his side, pulled the covers over them both. “Sleep, scamp. I cannae take any more right now.”


“Then we’ll sleep. I dinnae want to cause you more worry when you have enough on your shoulders.” She snuggled and slowly, her breathing evened out as she drifted.

The moment Annie succumbed to sleep, he finally closed his eyes and allowed his need for rest to take him.



Waking to the sensation of Annie sleeping with her leg draped across his lower body and her hand curled around his neck, had Colin’s groin tightening. He shouldn’t have stayed in her bed, but he’d needed to hold her, and before he no longer had the chance to do so.

Carefully, he extricated himself from her warmth, hauled on his boots and strapped on his sword belt. With dawn so close, ’twas best he left before the rest of the castle stirred.

At the hearth, he prodded the embers back to blazing life and tossed a slab of peat on the fire.

“Is it morning already?” Annie murmured as she propped herself up on her elbows, her pale hair a tangled mess around her shoulders.

“Almost. I have business to be about in the city and the castle will soon awaken. I need you to bolt the door after I leave, and open it only for those you know. I’ve already instructed Arthur to guard you this day. You’re no’ to go anywhere without him. I dinnae need to worry about you anymore than I already do.” He walked to the door.

“I promise I’ll be careful. Will you be gone all day?” Annie hopped across the cold floorboards. “Oh, cold, cold.” She jumped onto his booted feet and stopped him in his path. “Sorry, but I usually pull socks on when I get out of bed. You move too fast.”

“I’ll get them for you.”

“Nay, never mind. I’m here now.” She wobbled and slid her arms around his waist. “You’ll be careful too?”

“Always.”

“You kissed me last eve.” She smiled, so brightly.

“Aye, and ’twas a nice kiss.”

“So you still dinnae wish to talk about us?”

“There is no us.”

She tut-tutted then said, “Whenever my father used to leave for the day, he always used to kiss my mother goodbye. He told me ’twas so she remained on his mind all day, as he wished to remain on hers.” Challenge lit her stunning blue eyes. “I would like to remain on your mind all day.”

“I will always think of you, kisses or no’.” He pressed her against the wall, every inch of their bodies fully aligned until heat raced the entire length of his body. How was he supposed to keep control when she teased and tempted him like this? One kiss, but he’d make it quick. He brushed his lips over hers then jerked back. “Done.”

“My father kissed my mother with far more passion than that.”

“And how would you know?”

“I was a nosy bairn.”

“Aye, and I remember just how nosy.”

“Please.” She ran her thumb along his lower lip. “Kiss me again. Show me your passion.”

“You’re going to be the end of me.” He dipped his head and covered her mouth with his. Lost, and with breathless urgency, he kissed her deeper, darting his tongue over hers until she panted for more. “Annie.” He caressed her sides, roamed down and scooped her bottom. Lifting her higher, he made certain she felt every hard inch of him. “This is dangerous.”

“Oh.” She seized his biceps. “I like your form of danger.”

He kissed her again, until their breath mingled as one and the heat between them blazed and swarmed his senses. Damn, he had to stop. Where was his resolve?

Breathing hard, he pulled away. “I hope that will be one kiss you never forget.”

“I’m certain of it.” She licked her lips and he groaned.

Heaven help him.

He heaved the door open, shut it behind him and adjusted his too-tight trews. Annie was a temptress he had no business playing with. He certainly couldn’t allow her to waylay him when his oath to his chief had to come first.

Through the dark weave of passageways, he returned to his chamber and once inside, stripped off his shirt and dunked his head in a basin of icy water. He came up and sent drops flying. Soap in hand, he scrubbed his jaw then ran his dirk across his stubbles.

Dressed in black trews and a leather vest over his tunic, he marched out the door, his mind once again clear.

“Building the bonds between the clans is important.” James’s voice echoed toward him. “Annie is aware I wish to court her. I would like your permission to do so as well.”

Colin stopped outside one of the private rooms where at night men often enjoyed a game or two of cards.

“James, I cannae believe you have the gall to ask such a thing after I was forced to agree to the handfast between her and your brother.” Rory’s voice. “I dinnae wish her to marry you anymore than I did Alex.”