Highlander's Magic (Highlander Heat #2)

“You dared me. And I’ve always gone after what I wanted and never deviated from the set course.”


“Your set course is not me and we both know it.” Although two hunters together would be a striking force. Nope, don’t think it. You’re not together, and it’ll never work.

“Then don’t dare me again.”

“All right. I promise I won’t.” I motioned toward the non-danger surrounding me. “See, you came for no reason. No fire here.”

He surveyed the smoky hills in the west.

“Hey.” I clasped his face and brought his gaze back to mine. The slight rasp of stubble tickled my fingertips. “It’s best you don’t look over there.”

“Once the danger’s gone, we’ll get back to our separation. Consider this a hitch in our plans. That’s all.” He leaned in, bent his head close to my neck.

“What are you doing?” I sank my hands into his soft golden-brown hair. And what was I doing?

He breathed deep, nose against my flesh. “So I wasn’t imagining it. Your skin holds the scent of chocolate. Your camisole held a touch of the aroma, but I couldn’t figure out why.”

“I use cocoa butter as a lotion instead of—” Okay, he didn’t need to hear I preferred that over sweetly scented perfumes.

“Don’t stop. Tell me why.” His brown gold-flecked eyes sparkled.

Great. Apparently he did, and the hunter in him wouldn’t rest until he knew. The same happened to me, time and time again. “In Dralion chocolate is nonexistent. We don’t have the land to cultivate the cacao beans.”

“And only warriors can leave your land through the dome.”

“Exactly. This past year I discovered chocolate on Earth. It’s everywhere, and with my heightened senses, I’ve become a bit of a chocolate addict.”

“Have you tried chocolate ice cream drizzled with chocolate syrup, and finished off with a sprinkle of chocolate—”

“Hey.” I shoved a finger against his lips. “Try not to mention chocolate when I’m out on a job. I’ve been known to flash straight to my favorite store and buy up large.”

He smiled. “Even your hair shimmers with varying shades of milk and dark chocolate.”

What was he talking about? “Ah, I don’t think so. It’s brown. Just brown.”

“It’s silky and long.” He tipped off my Stetson and ran his fingers through it. “I like this shade.”

“Cole, we’re getting rather…close.”

“Close is daring.” He pulled back and looked into my eyes. “I’ve gotta kiss you. Just this once.”

“That’s a terrible—” His mouth dropped over mine and he kissed me, with a hunter’s prowess. I clutched his wickedly broad shoulders, flattened myself against him and kissed him back. “We shouldn’t do this,” I mumbled against his lips. But oh, so good.

“One kiss can’t hurt, right?” He deepened our kiss, and I was lost as my need for more took over.

I kissed him, and my heartbeat raced. More. He was my mate, and it wasn’t a bond to be broken. Except, damn it, we pretty much had. What was I thinking letting this go on? Hands on his chest, I pushed him back, only an inch, but one valuable inch. “Okay, wait up.”

He growled. “You shouldn’t taste so good.”

“Neither should you.” Unable to help myself, I traced his full lips with a finger. “I liked the kiss.”

“I’d like another.” He sucked my finger into his mouth. Wow. Hot, and I was about to expire as it was. “What was your intended reward, my mate?”

“I think you’ve already had enough of one. Why don’t you tell me how you found me. I need to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

“I tracked Silas down in Sundrimer. We shared some information about yours and Hope’s visit. He told me about his mated bond with Hope, and Hope’s twin sister being mated to my prince. What a mess. I can’t believe the deadly secret they’re keeping.”

“So he pulled you into his inner circle?”

“He did. I gave him my promise to keep their secret.”

“If Donaldo Wincrest knew of his granddaughters’ relationships, he’d forbid them. Only a few of Hope and Faith’s most trusted are aware.”

“So Silas said. I won’t spill the beans.”

The wind played with his hair, brushing it back and forth over his shoulders. I itched to touch it again. Focus. “Ah, Silas led you here then?”

“Yes. He knew exactly where the closest water source to the homestead was.” He stroked my back. “I also asked him to take me to places you frequent. We buzzed by the stables, the river, and a couple of the more prominent watering holes.”

Silas was a pest, and if I could kill him, I would. Sadly, that was no longer an option. “He shouldn’t have done that. Warriors come and go, Cole. You have to take care.”

“You walked freely into the protectors’ arena. I’ve done no different.”

“Yeah, but I don’t ever intend to visit there again.”

“And neither will I drop by the outback. I simply needed to ensure I had the images for ’porting. As a precautionary measure. That’s all.”