Among the Heather (The Highlands, #2)

“Oh, that. I just mentioned it in passing. It’s not like I give a shit about you, mate.”

I grinned. “Right. How are you?”

“This lead actor is killing me. I walked into ‘a situation’ when I agreed to guest direct. Viola Stewart, his costar, got a lot of attention for season one, and now he’s acting like a little prick. Late to set, questioning lines, questioning camera shots. Next time he does it, I’m going to fucking stuff him in a used Portaloo.”

My lips twitched. “Who is it again?”

“Lucas Grant. A bit of a newcomer. The bastard has talent and charisma for sure, but Viola’s on another level, and his fragile ego cannot stand it.”

Blood rushed to my ears. “Did you say Lucas Grant?”

“I did.”

That piece of shit had gotten a part in a hit show after he’d screwed over Aria? She didn’t tell me that. “Do me a favor and send the Portaloo off a fucking cliff.”

“You know this guy?”

“I can’t go into details, but he hurt someone I care about.”

“Interesting, considering I found out he used to date Aria Howard,” Theo mused. “He likes to tell anyone who will listen that she fucked up his chances of working with Wesley.”

That scummy bucket of rancid turds. “Make sure that Portaloo is stuffed to the gills with sheep shite before you stuff him in it.”

Theo snorted. “Oh, you have it bad, old boy, don’t you?”

“It’s not about me.”

He considered this. “I only have to tolerate one more week of directing this thing. I’ll come up with something fun to express my appreciation for Lucas’s abhorrent behavior.”

I smirked at the thought. Theo was devious when he wanted to be. “Keep me posted on that.”

“So, what are you up to, my friend? Other than defending a lady’s honor.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m hanging tight on the request of my agent. There might be some movement on the Forster movie.”

“That’s good. You’re at the castle?”

Glancing around the beach house, I lied, “Aye. Still here.”

“Well, I might see you soon, then. Once I’m done here, I’m flying back to Ardnoch to work on that damn script.”

“Still giving you problems?”

“Being here has shaken some ideas loose, but I like the peace up north. Besides, before I left, I made the acquaintance of this young widow from Thurso. An ex-gymnast, if you can believe. Wonderful girl. Very flexible. It’s a bit of a trek to bed her, but she does this thing with—”

“I don’t need to know the details, you dirty bugger.”

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot you like your sex wrapped up in romance and commitment. Sometimes I don’t know why we’re friends.”

Chuckling, I reminded him, “You called me.”

“Yes, well, despite your appallingly saccharine need for monogamy, you are quite a bit less of a prick than most of my other acquaintances.”

“High praise indeed,” I snorted.

“Oh, fuck, they need me back on set. I haven’t even finished my sandwich. Don’t be surprised if the next time you see me I’ve wasted away because soul-sucking fiends known as actors have nourished themselves on my blood and bones.”

“Goodbye, you melodramatic bastard.”

“Yes, well, fuck you too.”

“Talk soon.”

“Tell Ms. Howard I was asking for her,” he snuck in with laughter in his voice before he hung up.

“Bawbag,” I muttered.

I was just reaching for the television remote when the sound of the front door closing brought me to my feet. Anticipation filled me as I strode quickly through the house toward the entrance. As I entered the foyer, I drew to a halt. Aria stood at the door wringing rainwater from her ponytail. Water drops clung to her eyelashes and wet her plump lips. Her olive cheeks glistened with rain, and her soaked shirt clung to her tight nipples. My skin heated and all my blood traveled south.

This woman was a craving I’d never experienced before.

I’d read about it. Damn, even the characters I’d played had experienced it.

But me? Nah. As a teenager, I’d been like any teenage bloke and was sex obsessed.

Since then, I’d definitely wanted the women I’d had relationships with, beyond sex. But I’d never felt like I was on the verge of losing control of my senses every time they walked into a room.

Not like with Aria. And I couldn’t explain it. It wasn’t rational.

I wanted her like I’d wanted no one. Wanted to feel her skin against mine, be inside her hot, tight body, needed to kiss every fucking inch of her. All the damn time.

“I didn’t take a jacket,” she huffed as she squeezed the last of the water from her hair. “I was less than thirty seconds from the castle to my car and then just a few seconds from the car to the house and then—oh!” She startled as I hauled her against me, her hands dropping to my shoulders. Her wet clothes dampened mine, but I was more focused on the warm, soft body beneath them. Whatever she saw on my face made her eyes widen in understanding. “Oh. But … I’m all wet.” She closed her eyes, half smirking at her innuendo. I grinned and squeezed her closer. “You know what I mean.”

“I do.” I brushed my lips over hers, unable to resist any longer. I could taste some kind of fruit lingering on them and she smelled of fresh air and an ambrée perfume. My dick hardened. “And you’re about to get wetter.”





Everything had been going phenomenally. If I’d thought our first few times together were a fluke, this was proving otherwise. After she led me to her large bedroom that overlooked the water, we’d gone at each other like savage animals. Perhaps we’d settle soon enough into our attraction, but once we’d pushed past Aria’s insecurities that first night, we were too bloody hot for each other to slow down.

Until five seconds ago, when I’d stopped midthrust, suddenly desperate to have Aria on her hands and knees. I’d made the demand and tried to manhandle her into position, lost to my lust for her. However, her shoving my hands off in distress was like a bucket of ice-cold North Sea water being thrown over every inch of me, including my cock.

“Hey, hey.” I reached for her arms. “It’s okay, we’ll stop, we’ll stop.”

She grew still, her wide eyes and vulnerable countenance making my chest ache. I kneeled between her thighs as horror and embarrassment filled her expression. “Oh, God. Let’s just … I’m gonna … I’m …” She tugged on her wrists but I held on.

“Talk to me. What just happened?”

Annoyance now seeped into her embarrassment, and I watched the telltale signs of her getting ready to throw up her barriers. “Maybe this is just too much work for you. I’m sure you can find one of the members to satiate your needs.”

“I’m sure I could,” I agreed patiently.

Her eyes dimmed, but she stubbornly tilted her chin. “Then you can go.”

I wanted to kiss the stubbornness right out of her. “If that’s what I wanted, I would have been in a different woman’s bed every night since I got here.”