Highlander's Seduction (The Matheson Brothers #3)

“Aye, wherever and however you please.”


“Like this?” He smoothed over her hips from behind then cupped her breasts through her gown. With his thumbs, he flicked her hardened nipples as he sucked on her neck. A deep burning need for more sent a rush of heat to her core and cascaded over and sent steam curling into the air from the basin of water. “Are you ready for more?”

“Only one bite.” A desperate desire for far more raced through her. “Then we leave for the cavern.”

“Mmm, very good. You are a woman after my own heart.” He slid his hand inside her bodice just as he bit down and marked her. All of her throbbed, her control teetering on the edge as a wave of heat shimmered from her and rustled the bed canopy behind them. “Time to go,” he murmured and crossed to the door. “Ladies first.”

“One moment. I need a full dunking afore we leave.” She tipped the entire basin on her head and steam plumed. That should be enough to cool her until they reached their sanctuary. She righted her bodice and brushed her sides as she walked to the door, her gown drying from one step to the next with merely a thought from her mind alone.

Finlay opened the door then frowned as Iain stood with Isla on the other side, his brother’s hand raised, ready to knock. “This is really bad timing, Iain.”

“I know the feeling.” He motioned behind him toward nothing but the passageway wall. “Cherub is here. She knocked on our chamber door a few minutes ago. She needs our aid. A lad from the village is missing, taken by MacKenzie’s men. Joseph, Amelia’s son. He holds the skill of foreknowledge, a rather sought after skill. Kirk awaits us in the forest where the boy was taken. Grab your weapons. We may encounter a battle to get him back.”





Chapter 7


Cherub extended her cloaking to cover both Iain and Finlay as she whisked them over the woods toward the meadow where she’d left Kirk. Collecting them had made for an interesting moment. The men had been both frustrated and yet glad to offer her aid, Iain reassuring her that whenever she needed them, they’d come, and without a moment’s hesitation. With both men heavily armed and Iain carrying a war coat for Kirk, she set them all down gently in the meadow currently bereft of her mate. She uncloaked and dipped her head toward them. “Thank you both for answering my call of need.”

“Whoa, how incredible.” Iain’s gaze widened on her. “Your skin glimmers. Has Kirk seen you like this?”

“Aye, he has. Such a glimmer is a physical attribute held only by the eldest child born within the ancient royal line. As such, since I’ve never had children, I’m the last to hold it.”

“It must be a little difficult for you to go around unnoticed on Earth. No wonder you cloak so often.” Finlay stepped forward, hugged her and smiled. “Welcome to the family, to both you and your sparkly skin. I’m going to enjoy having another sister.”

“Thank you.” She smiled and searched the meadow surrounded by tall pine trees for her mate. “Kirk intended to scout around.”

“Then he won’t be far.” Walking toward the forest trail, Iain raised his nose to the air and she and Finlay followed as he tracked his brother.

They tramped through the trees a good furlong or two before they found Kirk crouched next to a trickling stream.

“Kirk, I’ve brought your brothers,” she called out to him.

“Perfect timing.” Kirk rose and crossed to them, his white tunic flapping free under his fur vest. “The MacKenzies are definitely headed back the way they’ve come, toward their own land and we’re after a group of five, maybe six warriors.”

“Then we’ll need to head them off at the pass, before they have the chance to make it back to their lair.” Iain tossed Kirk a black war coat studded with bits of steel, the same as what he too had donned over his brown leather pants. “Cherub explained Nessa’s vision to us, that the MacKenzie was after a woman from the fae village. The fact that they’ve taken a lad instead is very interesting, although Joseph does hold the skill of foreknowledge, an ability the MacKenzie would likely covet as well.”

“Gilleoin will be furious when he learns Joseph was taken. We sent Arabel and Isla to update Nessa and ensure one of his guards rode out with the news.” Finlay adjusted the bow and satchel of arrows he’d slung across one shoulder, his black cotun a thick jacketed padding underneath. “Children shouldn’t be brought into a war. It’s despicable.”

“I agree, which means we need to retrieve the lad and return him to Amelia and Olaf, immediately.” Kirk donned his war coat, his golden gaze sweeping over her. “We need to catch up to them as quick as we can. Can you extend your cloaking to cover us all?”