Devils Highlander (Clan MacAlpin 1)

“You won't be leaving me,” he said groggily. With a firm arm, he nestled her to him, stroking her hair. Sated exhaustion pulled him down. “Ree, don't you know?”

“Hm?” She snuggled closer.

“I find you when I sleep. ” He let himself begin to drift, filling his head with the scent of her, filling his hands with the wavy silk of her hair. It was peace. “Always. ”

Chapter 25

They stood arm in arm at the foot of the quay. Marjorie's legs still trembled from yesterday. Merciful sweet heavens above. Yesterday.

She looked up at Cormac, remembering. They'd lain abed much of the day, simply exploring each other. He'd wake her up with his wanting and send her back to sleep sated, repeating it over and again until her thighs ached from their lovemaking.

Finally, in the late afternoon, he'd left her to pay a visit to the bailie, and then to the docks. But he'd come back. She sighed dreamily. He had most certainly come back.

And though her body was still tender, he had awoken deep and slumbering places she hadn't known existed. She gave him a coy but suggestive smile. They were places that wanted to be explored again, and soon.

“Are you ready?” He stared down at her, the usual steadiness in his eyes.

She could face anything by this man's side, so implicitly did she trust him and rely on him. She'd never stopped relying on thoughts of him to get her through. “I'm ready for anything,” she said with her jauntiest of grins.

“Anything, eh?” He gave a surreptitious pinch to her rump.

Swallowing a squeak, she grabbed his arm. “Anything on board ship. ” He shook his head in mock ruefulness. “That's what scares me. You must let me do the talking, Ree. These men…

they're killers, with icy water in their veins. ”

She gave an abbreviated curtsy. “The Lady Brodie is ever careful. ”

“Mind you, I had to do some very pretty talking for the sailors to agree to let you board. They're dreadfully superstitious, and women are a particular menace for any sensible seafaring man. ”

“A menace, am I?” She stood a bit taller, pleased with her newfound status. “How did you manage to convince them?”

“Once I managed to leave the bed yesterday” — he paused to give her a teasing wink — “'twas easy enough to find Forbes at his office, under the pretense of bearing tidings of the ailing Lady Brodie. Your 'illness' proved a most convenient explanation, by the by. My weak lady wife must hire a boy for her obvious needs. ”

“Why, I am a menace. ” Her eyes narrowed, and he chuckled.

“Those were the imaginary Lord Brodie's words, not mine,” he was quick to assure her. “And it was all the excuse we needed. I gather Forbes is new to this particular enterprise. He told me whom to contact dockside, and here we are. ”

“Enterprise,” she muttered with a frown. “As though we're discussing a new sweets shop instead of folks' lives.

You're certain Davie's on board?”

“We can't be certain of anything. But if Davie is on the Oliphant, we'll find him. ” He let go her arm to slip his hand behind her, hugging her close to reassure her. “Now, shall we?” They were about to enter another foreign world. She thought of eccentric wives and their uncharitable husbands.

A wave of nausea swept her, as though she'd just had another tankard of that hideous rumbullion. “I don't want to see any of those people ever again, Cormac. ”

“Don't fret,” he told her, leading them down the pier. The walkway was spindly and precarious, reaching far into the inky water. Its wooden planks creaked underfoot, and she gripped him for balance. “'Twill be simple sailors we find on board. A coarse lot, but at least they don't come clothed in velvet. ” Slowing his pace, he stroked her hand with his thumb. “Are you certain you're prepared for what awaits us?”

“Never more certain. ” Standing tall, she eased her grip on his arm to prove her point.

“I promise there will be no more feather-wearing harridans to provoke you. You'll be the only woman aboard. And I doubt Forbes or any of his cronies will make an appearance. I gather those sorts of men don't like to sully their good names by standing witness to the vulgar exchange of goods and money. ” Goods. The word made her shudder. It was boys they were talking about. “No, he simply enjoys the profits after the fact. ”

Cormac stopped in his tracks. “It's the last time. ” He turned, leaning close to her, his voice a whisper even though none could possibly hear. Cupping her chin, he told her, “We'll get Davie and go far from here. ” We. His hushed promise gave her strength. Marjorie gave him a definitive nod. She could weather anything as long as she was by his side.

“Ho!” he cried when they got to the end of the dock. The Oliphant cast a long shadow, its hull looming thrice her height overhead. Was Davie just on the other side of that timber, imprisoned in a darkened, vermin-infested hold? Cormac chafed her back, and she realized she'd shivered. “Ho there!” There were distant shouts, and a head popped over the side to look down at them. A young boy, no older than thirteen, studied them skeptically. His head popped back out of view, replaced a moment later by a grizzled man in want of a full set of teeth. “You be Brodie?”

“Aye. ” Cormac's voice was clipped, and Marjorie was astonished to watch his transformation. The man who'd soothed her chill a moment before had, with a word, turned into a creature of all mettle and no heart. “We come aboard. ”

The man sucked on his rotted teeth and spat into the water. His eyes went to Marjorie, scanning her intently.