Highlander's Kiss (Clan Matheson #1)

She accepted the help, hopped up beside Cherub and after toeing her riding boots off, she scrunched her violet skirts to her knees and sat on the stony edge. With her feet dangling in the cool water, she softly sighed. “This is why we fight so fiercely to hold this border, to keep these kinds of lochs and hidden treasures within our hands.”


“Aye, the MacKenzie is driven by his greed to have it all, but we’ll never hand one inch of our land over to him.” Cherub plopped down next to her, her vivid aura beaming a sweetly precious white glow with gold sparks rimming the edge. Cherub’s aura tugged toward the east, suddenly and quite strongly, as did her own aura of rainbow colors.

“I believe we’re about to have company, bear company.”

“Are you sure?” Cherub glanced all about.

“I’m very sure.”

“Drat.” Cherub frowned then shook her head. “They are very smart bears with a homing beacon that points directly toward us. Although I still cannae believe they found us quite so quickly.”

A low growl rumbled then two big bears, their pelts a stunning silky black, lumbered out of the thick tree line and prowled toward them, their noses to the air.

The bear in the front, who had to be Kirk, rose up onto his hind legs, slapped his paws down on the top of the ledge and heaved himself up. He brushed in behind Cherub and she turned, wrapped one arm around his neck and rubbed her cheek against his. “My mate is currently telling me off.” Cherub winked at her. “What of yours?”

“You shouldn’t be here, Julia.” Tavish’s bear clomped toward her, his golden gaze targeted on her and no other. He bounded into the water before making the ledge and disappeared under its darkened surface. A flare of bright lights deep within the water shone then her man emerged right in front of her, the water lapping the golden skin at his waist. He shook his wet head and drops flew.

She giggled and wiped her face. “I’m with Cherub, which means I’m perfectly safe, as you well know.”

“Thank you, Julia.” Cherub stood and hands to her hips, eyed Kirk in his bear form. “See, at least there is someone here who appreciates that I’ve lived over a thousand years and looked after myself and my kin the entire time.”

Kirk prodded Cherub’s hand with his muzzle then lapped her palm.

“Dinnae try and sweet talk your way out of this argument, my tempting bear.”

Kirk’s bear nibbled on her fingertips.

“Or eat me. I am no’ your next meal.” She dipped her head and kissed the top of his furry head. “Goodness, you are hard to stay angry at for long.” Cherub glanced at her. “Mates are beyond impossible at times. I’ll speak to you later. Kirk wishes for some alone time afore the evening meal.”

“Thank you for bringing me here.”

“You are most welcome. On the morrow, we shall head out at first light and begin our search. Be ready, both of you.” Cherub nodded at Tavish, cloaked both her and Kirk in his bear form and in a rush of wind, swept out over the loch. Their auras disappeared into the dark, the beautiful streams twirling around and blending together until they whisked away on the wind.

Leaning in, Tavish set his hands down on the ledge either side of her, the water beading on his chest and running in rivulets down. “Some alone time with you is exactly what I need as well.”

“Where are your clothes?” She pressed one hand to his warm chest, the heat he emitted washing over her.

“Within the trees.” He pointed to the closest and tallest of the massive pine trees. “Just a little way past that one. Care to join me for a dip?”

“I’m under doctor’s orders not to get my stitches wet.” She nuzzled his cheek where she sat and the sizzling red edge around his white aura exploded with a hungry blaze of starburst gold.

“I’ll make sure you don’t defy your doctor’s orders and get your head wet, the rest of you, not so much.” He eased her shirt hem free of the waistband of her riding skirt and lifted her shirt over her head. The cool night air brushed her skin and puckered her nipples. Gently, he eased her breasts together and licked the puckered tips with a hearty swipe and a fierce growl. “Rid yourself of your skirt as well. I’ll be able to scent if anyone approaches. We’re safe here, well out of sight.”

“As you wish.” She rose to her feet, tugged the ties of her riding skirt open and shoved her heavy skirts to the ground. She stepped over them and halted as Tavish’s golden gaze devoured her, from her head to her toes and everywhere in between.