Haunted Warrior (31 page)

“You won’t.” That wasn’t true. But she’d worry about the consequences later.

Right now she felt weak with desire. Too needy to care about tomorrow, and she sensed an equal urgency in him. It blazed in the dark smolder of his eyes and showed when he pulled her against him, almost crushing her as he kissed her again, even more passionately than before. She clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, wishing she could hold on to him that way forever.

Whatever he thought, she knew their time together was quite limited.

These moments at Castle Grath might be all the bliss they’d have.

Not wanting to think about their inevitable separation, she flashed a glance at the sea, breathed deep of the cold, tangy air. Before the stunning, oh-­so-­northern Scottish view drove home just how far out of her element she was, she slipped a hand around the back of Graeme’s neck and returned his kisses as boldly as she
dared, using her passion to show him how much this meant to her.

She needed more than kisses, wanted to be with him wholly, feeling him pressed skin to skin against and inside her, if only this once.

“Graeme.” She twined her fingers in his hair, drawing him closer, their kisses now a heated tangling of tongues and soft, shared breath.

“I would lie with you, lass, taking you again and again until the light fades.” He broke free from the embrace, raining kisses on her face and throat, nipping the side of her neck. “But here…”

Not taking his gaze off her, he pulled off his jacket and tossed it onto one of the alcove’s stone benches. “This isn’t the best place.” His voice was muffled as he jerked his sweater over his head, letting it drop to the cold stone floor. “I’d rather have—­”

“The ruin is perfect.” She couldn’t believe the steadiness of her voice.

“Nae, you are perfect.” He took the dirk from beneath his belt, placing it on top of his jacket before he tugged his shirt from his pants, undoing the buttons with a speed that sent heat rushing through her.

He wanted her badly.

And—­she couldn’t take her eyes off his nakedness—­she’d never seen a more beautiful man. The dusting of chest hair she’d felt earlier was just as black as she’d imagined and even sexier, spread so temptingly across his powerfully muscled chest and then arrowing down his abdomen to draw attention to the large bulge in his jeans.

Kendra swallowed. Her entire body caught fire when he bent to take off his boots. Then, before she could blink, his jeans joined the sweater on the floor.

“You see what you do to me.” He reached for her
jacket, removing it with the same startling swiftness with which he’d shed his own clothes.

“I do.” She touched his jaw, the rasp of his beard exciting her.

“Good.” He smiled, the heat in his eyes making her tremble in anticipation. “Because I want you to know how much I desire you, Kendra.” A shadow crossed his face then, his smile dimming. “I don’t do this lightly. You’re special.” He smoothed his hands down over her breasts, cupping her through the softness of her pullover. “I can’t resist you. I’m that powerfully drawn to you.”

Pulling her to him again, he kissed her deeply, gently squeezing the curve of her breast. “I don’t want you to leave here.” He breathed the words against her cheek, their portent filling her with the sweet sensation of a rushing tide of happiness.

“I mean that, lass.” He stood back, lifting her chin to look into her eyes. “If there’s any way you can stay on, we’ll find it.”

“I’d love to.” Kendra bit her lip, nodding.

She ached to stay. But his suggestion, though beyond her wildest dreams, also flooded her mind with thoughts of Zack and Ghostcatchers International, her work here, and—­a ripple of dread raced along her nerves—­the need to tell him Jock MacAllister’s message.

And when she did…

It’d be over.

“Just kiss me, please.” She pushed the worries from her mind, reaching for him.

“No’ so fast, sweet.” He shook his head, a slow smile spreading across his face as he removed her pullover, letting it fall on top of his own sweater and shirt. “Gods, you’re beautiful.” He ran his hands over her breasts, cupping and weighing them, rolling his thumbs over her chill-­tightened nipples.

He leaned down to kiss her neck, nipping her skin lightly. “I’ll be aye grateful to the steepness of Cliff Road for keeping you stopped there when Jock and I came along.” As he spoke, he moved his hands over her hips, then along her thighs and back up again until he reached the fastening of her pants, undoing them and pulling them down her legs until she was just as naked as he was.

Kendra closed her eyes, cold air washing her even as the most sensual heat spilled through her. “I’m glad I stopped.”

She was, even if she knew she’d surely regret it once she was back home and pining for him.

Opening her eyes, she met his gaze, wishing she dared stop him now—­just for a moment—­to tell him all the things she must. But she couldn’t summon the courage, as her overwhelming need for him, for this closeness, was too powerful and urgent to risk ruining.

She wanted him so badly.

Delicious waves of pleasure spooled everywhere, gathering low by her thighs where hot tingles and driving need made her forget everything except Graeme and the wonder of feeling his gaze on her, his hands caressing her intimately.

Had any man ever looked at her with such appreciation?

She knew no one had. And seeing the hunger and desire on his handsome face was almost unbearably arousing. He’d urged her knees apart and was looking down at her, stroking her as if she were fragile, the most precious treasure he’d ever seen. She lifted her hips against his hand, his masterful touch making her burn for him.

He caressed her lightly, moving his fingers over her softly and swiftly like air, watching her face as he did so, his dark gaze locked on hers. And the intimacy of him
looking deeply into her eyes as he stroked her almost sent her spinning over the edge. Her sex clenched as the pleasure built, tingles and sweet, molten heat setting her aflame.

“Oh, please…” She could hardly breathe. “You’re killing me. Please…”

“I mean to please you.” His lips curved in a slow, devastating smile as he slid his hands around her hips and beneath her, lifting her onto a ledge in the wall. When he raised one of her feet, opening her legs wider as he set her foot on the alcove’s stone bench, she nearly did climax. “Dinnae move, lass. Keep your legs apart and let me just look at your beauty.”

“Oh, God…” She couldn’t stand it. The pleasure whipping through her was really too intense. He wasn’t just looking at her, but devouring her with his eyes. And she’d never felt so decadently female, so very desired and wanted.

But when he dropped to one knee and leaned close to kiss her inner thigh, she jerked, embarrassment sweeping her. “Oh, no. Please don’t do that.”

No one ever had.

And if he kissed her
there
, as she knew he meant to do, she wasn’t sure she could look him in the eye again. He didn’t have any such qualms, one black brow lifting as he looked up at her, questioning.

“I told you you’re beautiful, especially here.” Not taking his gaze off her, he lowered his head, kissing her belly, his fingers again working their magic on the place she was worried about.

“And you taste delicious.” He kissed his way lower, grazing her with his teeth, teasing her with his tongue. “The sweetest nectar,” he swore, licking her then, each delicious stroke making her breath come faster. The tingles weren’t just
there
now, but everywhere. They
raced through her entire body and even along her skin, electrifying her.

“I can’t bear it, Graeme. Please.” She squirmed on the stone ledge, gripping its edge with one hand and digging the other into his hair. “You must stop.”

“Is it no’ good, then?” He flicked his tongue over her clit, not once but again and again. And the maddeningly wicked sensations were going to shatter her at any moment. “It is for me.” His voice was rough, his burr thick now, the rich, buttery tones flowing through her as wondrously as the shivery pleasure he was giving her. “I’ll stop if you want me to. Just say and I will.”

“No.” She couldn’t lie. “I didn’t mean it, really. I couldn’t bear it if you stopped.” The last words came out in a rush, heat staining her cheeks.

“So it is good, then?” He was still looking up at her, holding her gaze, and his smile almost undid her. The next movements of his tongue did undo her.

“Oh no-­o-­o…” She felt herself falling, the stone walls of the ruined tower and the sweeping view of sea and sky starting to spin around them as her heart pounded and she grew dizzy from the intense pleasure spiraling from her core. “It’s too much, Graeme. I can’t—­”

“You can.” He slipped a hand between her legs, circling one finger around the spot driving her so wild. “And”—­he pushed to his feet as he stroked her, giving her a heated smile when she lifted her legs, locking them around his hips—­“I’d help you there now, with me inside you.”

“Oh yes…” She tipped back her head, levering her body against the cold stones of the tower wall as he gripped her arms to steady her. His hard length nudged her and she arched her back, lifting her hips for him as he eased himself inside her at last.

“Och, lass…” He stilled and then lunged deep, filling her completely, claiming her soul as she slid her arms around his neck, clinging to him as he moved slowly in and out of her. Each thrust completed her; his long, thick length felt so good, so right.

Her entire body welcomed him. The world and all her cares and restraints no longer existed. Only Graeme’s strong arms holding her and his proud, masculine body making her his, branding her forever. As if from a distance, she could hear the crashing of waves and the barking of his seals. The wind seemed to increase, shrieking now as it rushed past the great open space that had once been a fine medieval window arch. All of that surrounded them, yet none of it mattered.

Nothing existed except the two of them.

Until he swept his hands up from her arms to grip her face, kissing her hungrily as he thrust deeper and faster, fiercely now. Almost as if he, too, knew this would likely be their only time together. Her heart lurched on the thought, even as her body arched, her climax ripping through her at last. And still he kissed her, rough, openmouthed kisses, frantic and ravenous, as he finally jerked and shuddered, spilling his seed deep inside her.

And it was in that exact moment that another sound intruded on the solitude of pounding breakers and the wail of the cold, northern wind.

It was the quiet putter of a boat motor.

Drawing away from her, Graeme glanced toward the window opening and frowned at the small, dark blue boat just passing by the rock-­edged entrance to the cove.

“Damn!” He stepped in front of Kendra, shielding her, although the boat looked too far away for anyone to see them up here inside the ruined tower.

“That’s the
Fenris
, Ramsay’s craft.” Swearing beneath his breath, Graeme snatched up his clothes, throwing
them on even faster than he’d torn them off. “It looks like he didn’t trust Ritchie or his own far-­seeing abilities enough to wait to see if his magic worked.”

Kendra pushed to her feet slowly, the magic that she and Graeme had spun evaporating. She picked up her own clothes, pulling them on much more clumsily than Graeme had donned his. Unlike her, he seemed to have recovered at speed, already forgetting the passion they’d just shared. His eyes were dark and blazing again, but this time it was with anger and not desire.

“He’s already gone.” She saw that when she retrieved her jacket from the stone bench. “I don’t even hear the boat’s motor now.”

“Aye, he’s left.” Graeme stepped closer to the window, gripping its edge to lean out and look toward Pennard. “He’ll have had only to cruise by the haul-­out site to see we weren’t lying there, crushed by a stone.”

“He’ll have seen your boat, though.” Kendra shrugged into her jacket, feeling sick that such beautiful moments had to end this way. “He must know we came up here.”

“So he will, aye.” Graeme took her hand, already leading her away from the embrasure, back down the tower’s ancient, ruined stair. “And he’ll no doubt head straight to the Mermaid, where he’ll order a fish supper and a pint, hoping one of his lackeys will burst in with news that I’ve been arrested for killing Ritchie Watt.”

“But you sent Ritchie away.” Kendra almost stumbled on the lower steps, her legs still shaky. “There won’t be any gossip until people start wondering where Ritchie went.”

“That’s right.” Graeme looked up at the sky as they reached the bottom of the stair and stepped out of the tower’s protective half circle. The sun still shone, but gray clouds were building in the distance and the air smelled faintly of rain. “So”—­he turned to her—­“I think
we should let him wait and wonder. If we go back down to the cove now, we’ll just have time to enjoy our packed lunch and then head back to Pennard before the weather breaks.”

“Okay…” Kendra wished they could stay here forever.

But she forced a smile. “I am hungry.”

She was, but it was more of him that she wanted.

How awful that he didn’t seem bothered by the same need. She stole a sidelong glance at him, hurt that he could appear so cool, as if nothing at all had happened between them. Or, and this really stung, as if he wished they hadn’t done what they had.

He met her glance, frowning as he reached to squeeze her arm. Her breath caught and her heart jumped, and for a moment he looked again like the guardian she always thought him to be. A man who’d walk through fire and challenge the world for someone he cared about.

He’d said he had, after all.

“When we get back to Pennard, I’ll take you straight to the Laughing Gull.” His words put doubt in her mind. “I want you to stay there and not leave for any reason. I need to find out what Ramsay’s next move will be. I’ll come for you after I’ve dealt with him.”

“What are you going to do to him?” Kendra’s mouth went dry at the thought of them fighting.

Graeme looked eager. “Only what I should have done many years ago. But dinnae you worry.” He leaned in to kiss her cheek. “It won’t be anything on the wrong side of the law. I’m not that daft.”