Highlander's Seduction (The Matheson Brothers #3)

“Is there a reason for the hurry?” His arms banded tighter about her as he opened his beautiful golden eyes.

“Isla and Arabel spoke to Nessa a few days ago and Nessa sent a guard to fetch Father John from the priory. The ladies wish to wed their mates although your brothers know naught about their plan to do so. ’Tis a surprise, which means we must leave now so I can add to their special day with a surprise of my own. I wish to collect some very special guests along the way.” She became as one with the air and breezed to her wardrobe door then retook her form.

“Cherub,” he grumbled and slapped the mattress. “I really hate it when you flitter right out of my arms like that.”

“I’m sorry. I shall try to remember not to do so.” Smiling, she walked into her walk-in closet. Clothing to suit the ages hung clean and pressed by her maid, from jeans, sweaters, skirts and day dresses, to silk and satin gowns in an array of glittering colors.

She selected a gown of cream and gold silk, one with long lacy sleeves that fluttered to her fingertips. With the mountainous folds of fabric in hand, she eased the material over her head and the soft layers whooshed down her body. She laced the bodice’s front stays, slid on a pair of matching slippers then strode into her bathroom and brushed her locks.

“You are moving far too fast.” Kirk still lay in bed, his arms crossed behind his head as he watched her through the open doorway between them.

“Oh, I completely forget. You’ll need clothes too and you dinnae have any here.” She walked to the bed.

“I’m certainly a little short on clothes at present.” He shoved the golden covers back and stood, every inch of him so deliciously nude. Gently, he reached out a hand and curled one of her blond locks around his finger. “You look beautiful, Cherub, and I’m the luckiest man on this Earth to have found you.”

“Lucky, yet still nude.” She caught his hand and kissed his palm. “Even though I’ve been to Ivanson Castle afore to visit one of your clansmen, I’ve no’ actually been to your chamber. Show me an image of it in your mind so I can travel straight there. I’ll gather some clothing for you and return as quickly as I can.”

“You’re welcome to the image in my mind, but you’re not leaving me behind. I’ll wear what I’ve got until I can change.” He frowned as he eyed her. “Exactly which one of my clansmen have you already visited?”

“Dr. Tavish. I had a need to take one of my wounded kin from the past to him, for an ailment that required a certain degree of his special twenty-first century care. A couple of follow-up visits were included.”

“Tavish is my second cousin. He and Tor, his brother, are identical twins. Neither have ever sensed their mates, and both came of age around the same time as me and my brothers did.” He picked up his discarded clothing from the day before and donned the leather pants and now crinkled shirt. With his weapons in hand, he wrapped one arm around her waist. “Who are the very special guests by the way?”

“Your parents and Isla’s father. I cannae allow either Michael and Megan, or Murdock to miss their children’s wedding day.” She nabbed the image of his chamber from his mind and focused on it. The air swirled as she opened a portal. It tunneled around them and then they fell away into the dark abyss, both holding onto each other.

Moments later she arrived in Kirk’s chamber and the air settled. His large bed with its thick black fur bedcover and plump white and black striped pillows dominated the room. In the corner a tall chest with glass fronted doors showcased a collection of ancient weaponry within, from dirks to swords to war axes, while on the wall near his bathroom door a glorious family portrait hung.

Taken by the image, she walked across and stroked one finger along the lower wooden edge of the frame. Iain and Finlay stood impeccably attired in black dress pants and collared shirts, each standing either side of their mother seated on a roped swing under the shade of a golden-leafed tree. Kirk and his father stood behind Megan, both with a hand on her shoulders. Megan’s black wavy hair swished about her shoulders in a soft bob and her beautiful smile lit up her face. She’d seen his parents from afar during those flying visits to Dr. Tavish, so she knew exactly who they were.

“I love this portrait.” Kirk brushed in behind her. In the image, Michael’s hair was the same midnight-black shade as his sons’ hair, although it held just a sprinkle of gray at the sides. “They completed the bond right after they came of age, and my brothers and I were born exactly nine months afterward.”

“You were all clearly eager to enter the world.”

“Very eager, and now I know why. You were already waiting for me.” He kissed the top of her head then strode to his wardrobe and pulled down a canvas case from the uppermost shelf. He popped the case on top of his bed and added clothes from his oak dresser—shirts, pants, casual jeans and jackets.