Highland Dawn Read online

  He walked to the bed and looked down at it. There was no telling what type of creatures lived in it. He pulled the mattress up and carried it outside.

  After that he dug in Moira’s bag and pulled out the Sinclair plaid she carried with her and walked back into the cottage. There wasn’t a broom in site, so he couldn’t sweep, but he got as much of the dirt away from the fireplace as he could before he laid the plaid down.

  He went back outside and picked Moira up to carry her inside. Once he laid her on the plaid, he began to build a fire with a few remaining pieces of wood.

  It wasn’t enough and he had to look for more. When he had an arm full he returned and built a large roaring fire. It wasn’t cold, but he thought the fire might help Moira. He might be five hundred years old, but when it came to an illness he was as stupid as the village idiot.

  After he checked the small cottage and found nothing of use, he sat and twisted his hands. He had never felt so helpless in all his life.

  He went to Moira and knelt beside her. He touched her face where she had been hit and ran his finger down her cheek. Then, his fingers traced the opening of her gown.

  His thoughts turned dark when he wondered if the leader had dared to touch her as he was. He had never even dared such a thing.

  Until now.

  His hands began to shake when he realized just how close he had come to loosing her. It changed how he saw himself...and her.

  He had to hold her. To feel the breath in her body.

  He lifted her until she reclined back against his chest. His hands continued to roam her face and arms. They would stop occasionally on her chest to feel if she was breathing.

  Despite the fact that Moira was injured, Dartayous was content to hold her in his arms. He had to admit to himself that it felt right to have her like this.

  He stopped that thread of thought quickly. It wouldn’t do him or Moira any good to think like that. He was immortal. With no past and no future.

  She was a Druid blessed with powers by the Fae. She had a very important mission ahead of her.

  He wouldn’t allow his body to rule him. Moira would stay untouched by him. She had already suffered so much, she didn’t need to suffer anymore.

  Chapter Eight

  Moira pushed past the fog of pain. Her face ached terribly, and all she wanted to do was go back to sleep.

  But something called to her. It had been calling to her for some time, bringing her back to the present. All the memories of the attack returned to her in a rush.

  Had she imagined it, or had Dartayous broken the leader’s neck? She wasn’t sure but she thought she had seen Dartayous standing over the leader before giving a vicious jerk.

  And his eyes. They had glowed a feral blue right before he had killed the leader. Could he have been upset to see her attacked?

  Well, of course he was upset. Just not the way I’m thinking. Or wishing.

  She took a deep breath and felt strong arms come around her. The warmth of the body beneath her lulled her into serenity.

  Warm body?

  There was no mistaking the rock hard body beneath her. Her eyes slowly opened to find a fire in a hearth in front of her.

  Where am I?

  Without moving her head, she looked around the small room. Then down at the tattooed hands clasped in hers.

  Dartayous.

  He never touched her unless he had to. Why was he holding her now?

  Why do you want to question it? Just like the kiss, take it. You have wanted it your entire life.

  That was the truth. She had always wanted him. Yet, there was something different about him, something that pulled to her more strongly than any other man she had ever looked at.

  “Moira?”

  Her name, spoken so softly and gently sent chills racing across her body.

  She turned her head and looked over her shoulder. His eyes were barely open, as if he too had been asleep. For a moment she stared into those ice blue eyes. “You saved me.”

  “Are you injured?” he asked and ran the back of his knuckles on her cheek.

  Her stomach tied itself in knots at his touch. “’Tis just my face that hurts. He hit me harder than I realized.”

  In a split second Dartayous’ eyes went from soft to hard. “He dared to lay a hand on you. Where did he touch you?”

  Though his voice hadn’t risen, it was laced with venom. “You have already killed him. You cannot do it again.”

  His eyebrows furrowed. “You saw?”

  “I think so.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “Everything was such a blur.”

  “I know nothing of herbs to chase away the pain.”

  She gave him a smile. “The pain isn’t so terrible that I have need of anything.”

  “Good. I have no wish to leave you.”

  His words shocked her. As did the fire in his eyes.

  “Why haven’t you healed yourself?”

  She jerked her gaze away from him. “I use my powers for others. Not myself.”

  A finger beneath her chin lifted her face to his. “I have need of you to be healed.”

  “Why?”

  “Because the thought of you injured, or dead, is like ripping the heart out of my chest.”

  Moira didn’t have time to respond as he mouth claimed hers. The kiss was soft, slow, sensual. His tongue touched every part of her mouth. He sucked her bottom lip and then her tongue.

  Her body came alive in a blink. Gone were the small aches and pains, and in its place a fire blazed hot and fierce. A fire that Dartayous had started.

  His arm wrapped around her to give her support, while his other hand lightly ran up and down her neck. His touch only made the fire within her grow and spread.

  She whimpered and he brought her closer to him, turning her so that she fit more securely. She broke the kiss and pulled away.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  He gave her a small grin. “I cannot deny you anymore. You’re body has always called to mine. I’m just finally answering it.”

  A bolt of happiness speared her. She didn’t want to know if he had an alternate reason. She just wanted more of his kisses. She leaned up and ran her tongue along his lower lip.

  “Moira,” he groaned. “You test my will power.”

  “You said you weren’t going to deny me.”

  “I’m not going to deny your lips,” he said and placed a kiss on them. “Or touching you. But it goes no farther.”

  “Why?”

  Dartayous didn’t know what to tell her. He decided on the truth. “Because I vowed to myself that you would return to the Druid’s Glen untouched by me.”

  “But you have already touched me. You cannot deny it.”

  He looked down and found his hand next to her breast. It would only take the slightest movement for him to cup it and feel its weight.

  “You know what I mean.”

  Her Druid green eyes held his. “’Tis the same to me. I like your touch.”

  His body flared to life at her words. How an innocent like her could bring him to the brink with mere words eluded him. But, he didn’t want to think anymore. He wanted to feel. It had been so long since he’d felt anything real, and Moira was definitely real.

  He silenced any more words she might have with a kiss that told her just how much he desired her. A soft moan that left her throat as she melted into his arms.

  But still it wasn’t enough.

  He laid back on the plaid and took her with him. He leaned up on one elbow and looked down at her. Her lips were swollen from his kisses, and her eyes were glazed with a growing desire that nearly matched his own.

  “So beautiful,” he murmured and ran his finger down her throat to her torn gown.

  She lowered her eyes. “There’s no need to lie.”

  Dartayous was stunned at her words. He raised her chin until she again met his gaze. “It isn’t a lie. Hasn’t anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?”

  “Who would tell m
e? Frang? The only people to ever say that were my parents.”

  Dartayous hadn’t realized she was just as lonely as he was. All this time he had thought she was content in her life, yet the more time he spent with her the more he realized that wasn’t the truth.

  He sucked in a breath when her hand touched his chest. His body raged for release and the last of his control raveled loose when she licked her full lips.

  His hand found and cupped her breast. She arched her back and moaned when his thumb glided over her nipple. It was all the encouragement he needed.

  Moira couldn’t believe the range of emotions that flowed in her. She pushed everything aside and let herself glory in Dartayous’ touch.

  He was gentle but there was no denying the desire within him. All she had to do was look up into his ice blue eyes. It was there for anyone to see.

  Her breath locked in her lungs when his hand began to knead her breast. It swelled at his touch, yearning for more. When his hand moved to her other breast a groan escaped her. Her body heated with his every touch. If this continued she’d go up in flames soon.

  But it was when he lay fully on top of her that she realized just how much he wanted her. Her eyes flew open when his arousal pressed into her stomach.

  She had to have her hands on his skin. With shaking fingers she opened his jerkin and pushed it off his wide, muscular shoulders. The expanse of skin before her made her mouth water. She’d seen him like this before, but it was different now.

  “Touch me.”

  Her eyes snapped to his face. He wanted her touch. It surprised her as nothing else could. With her palms flat she ran her hands along the plains of his flat stomach and bulging chest. His skin was warm to the touch, and the more she touched, the more she yearned for more of him.

  She let her hands trace up his neck. She wound her fingers in his shoulder-length dark tresses and pulled him down atop her. Just before his lips touched hers, she traced his mouth with her tongue.

  He growled and took her mouth in a kiss that made her weak with longing and her sex clutch with need. His tongue touched hers and they mated fierce and passionate. She clung to him as he brought her higher and higher, her body shaking with longing.

  When he ended the kiss, she nearly cried out. Until his hands took hold of her gown and ripped it off her body. She lay exposed to him then. She tried to shield herself until she saw him looking at her as if trying to memorize every inch. It warmed her heart.

  She reached for him. He fell sideways and pulled her with him. She didn’t question him when he placed her legs on either side of his hips then sat her up. She continued to feel the bulge of his rod, but it was the throbbing between her legs that captured her attention.

  With a small movement of her hips the throbbing intensified and moisture ran down her leg. She tried to move again to ease the ache, except that every time she moved it only made it deepen the ache.

  She jerked when he placed his hand at the juncture of her thighs. Her hips immediately rubbed against him as her body instinctively knew what it needed. The sensations that caused made her weak with need.

  His hands grabbed her hips and rotated them against his rod. Moira gasped and supported herself with her hands on his chest. She opened her eyes and found him watching her. He leaned his head up and took a nipple into his mouth.

  Moira cried out her pleasure as he swirl his tongue made sent a bolt of longing to her sex. His hot mouth sucked her nipple, and then his tongue twirled around it, sending shivers of delight through her body. She continued to rub against his rod as her need grew to new heights.

  Before she knew it, he had flipped her onto her back to feast on her breasts. She plunged her hands into his dark hair and moaned as one hand cupped a breast while his tongue played with the hardened nipple. Her back arched, begging for more of this wonderful torture. Her hips rocked against the leg he had placed between hers as she tried to find some release for the sensations that wracked her body.

  Abruptly he rose to his knees. For a moment she thought he would leave her until he reached for her shoes. After he removed them and threw them over his shoulder, he rolled down her wool stockings and they joined her shoes.

  A wicked smile played upon his handsome face as he placed his hands on either side of her hips and bent down to kiss her navel.

  Her stomach quivered at his touch. Her breath came fast causing her breast to rise and fall rapidly. She licked her dry lips, wondering what delights he would give her next.

  She had her answer in the next moment when he rose up and turned her head to the side. He kissed and nipped her neck from her collarbone to her ear. Her body tingled with each delicious lick of his searing tongue and masterful mouth.

  Vaguely she realized his hands had begun to roam, but that was soon forgotten as his mouth left her neck and began a trail of kisses down her body. The kisses alternated between playful to a light nip to his tongue swirling on her heated skin.

  He kissed down each leg until he reached her toes. Then he turned her over and began the sweet torment all the way up to the base of her spine then to her neck. Only this time while his mouth played havoc with her sensitive skin on her shoulders, his hands began to rub her hips and bottom.

  Dartayous rolled to his side with Moira’s back to his chest. He continued to place kisses on her creamy skin while trying to calm his raging body. Every fiber of his being told him to take her, to plunge into her hot, wet sheath and let himself feel the pleasure. And he would, he just wanted to be sure he was in control of himself somewhat.

  So, he persisted in his learning of her. With her back to his chest he had access to her entire body. While one had fondled her breast and tweaked a nipple, the other dipped down to her sex and parted her folds to feel her arousal coat his fingers. He eased her legs apart. He lifted one leg and put it on top of his and rested his hand against the

  juncture of her thighs.

  She was hot. And slick.

  He tried to swallow.

  She moaned and moved against his hand, her need evident and it nearly undid him. He took the lobe of her ear in his mouth and gently sucked.

  With his hand, he gently ran his hand over her pearl and felt her body jerk as she cried out. She was close to her release, but he wanted to give her more pleasure, to prolong the exquisite torture of their bodies.

  He slipped a finger inside of her feeling her heat and heard her moan. His mouth moved to her shoulder so he could watch his finger enter her. He squeezed her nipple as he began to move his finger in and out of her. She whimpered and groaned her pleasure.

  It wasn’t long until her hips began to eagerly meet his thrusts. With his finger still inside of her his thumb found her little pearl. As his thumb began to rub back and forth on her pearl, her cries became more intense.

  He couldn’t stand much more. He had to be inside of her, to feel her clench around him as her release came. He quickly divested himself of his boots and trews and knelt over her once more.

  She was so caught in her desire that she continued to moan and writhe on the plaid, waiting for him to join her again. He didn’t make her wait long.

  With a knee he eased her legs apart once more and laid on top of her. He took her mouth in a fierce kiss, one that would claim her as his. Her arms came around him and her hands began to explore his back and shoulders.

  As much as he wanted to feel her hands on his body, he knew he couldn’t allow it now. He was too close to loosing control and he had to have her.

  He eased the tip of his rod inside of her. Scorching heat surrounded him. He had intended to go slow until her hips began to rock against him. It shattered his control.

  With a trust he met her maidenhead. He raised her legs until they were wrapped around his waist. Then, he found her little pearl again. As he rubbed her and brought her to a fever pitch, he slowly began to move in and out of her.

  When he felt her clench around him he pulled back and thrust through her maidenhead to sheath himself fully.
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  Moira rocked with her first climax to feel a slight pain that must have been Dartayous breaching her maidenhead. She ignored the slight pull and let herself enjoy feeling him inside her. She was a bit disappointed that it was over.

  At least she thought it was until he began to move inside of her again. His thrusts became deeper, more forceful. She kept her legs wrapped around his waist as he plunged in and out of her.

  Just as the throbbing began again Dartayous stiffened above her. He threw back his head and shouted out his release. He collapsed on top of her, and there they lay before the glow of the fire. Their bodies entwined and spent.

  Moira closed her eyes and let sleep claim her, a smile on her face. She was content as she had never been in her life. Was this what Glenna and Fiona felt while they were with their husbands? Had she been lucky enough to find her mate in Dartayous?

  None of it mattered at the moment. She was safe and loved in Dartayous’ arms, and there she would stay for the time being. She’d face her questions on the morrow.

  Chapter Nine

  Dartayous came awake instantly. The first thing he noticed was a very soft body pressed against him, a slim hand thrown across his chest.

  Moira.

  The second thing he noticed was that something was near and he didn’t have his weapons. He could hear it moving around just outside the door.

  He silently let out a string of curses and raised his head to look at the door. A door he hadn’t bothered to put anything against to keep them safe.

  His worry for Moira’s health wasn’t an excuse. He should have seen to that first thing after he built the fire. Now, because of his carelessness they might very well die. Light was came through the cracks in the door. Dawn. Had they slept that long?

  Since he didn’t want to alert whatever was on the other side of the door of their presence, he didn’t immediately jump to his feet and grab his sword.

  In a blink the door swung open and he found himself looking into the eyes of a gray wolf. Yellow eyes stared intently into his, but oddly enough Dartayous wasn’t afraid. Somehow he knew the wolf meant them no harm, he had been looking for food.