Page 26

J amie stood up from the table and held his hand out to Crystal. She smiled and took his hand. They walked out the door together and into the morning. Some villagers were walking down the lane, going about their morning routines.

As they walked, Crystal saw a few children come out of homes to play.

She smiled and waved at them. It made her happy when they waved back.

Suddenly there was a knot in her stomach.

She realized that it was possible she would never have children.

How could she? She was stuck in a different time period.

She wasn't married and didn't really know anyone here.

It could be years before she got back home.

By that time, she might be too old to marry and have kids.

Sure all the other women who'd come here had stayed.

And Elena had mentioned her own child, but just because things worked out for her didn't mean it would work out for herself.

The thought of sending her child to school and then to college were impossible now.

Things weren't the same in this time. That entire future she'd imagined for herself had been taken from her, and it was just now setting in.

"Are you all right, lass? You look a bit pale," he said.

"Do I? I'm fine, just thinking about home. I mean my home, where I'm from," she said.

"You miss it?" he said.

"Yes, and just coming to terms with the fact that my life will never be the same again." She paused then asked, "So you have never heard of the women going back to their own time, it has never happened?"

"No, it tis not possible. You died in that life, lass.. This is a place of magic and miracles, that is how you were able to come here and have a second chance at life," he said.

Crystal looked down at her feet as they walked, deep in her own thoughts. She could feel Jamie staring at her the whole time with worry on his face.

A few moments later, they were back in Courteney's cottage. Jamie bolted the door again and Crystal lit a fire. She opened the shutters to let in some fresh air. Now that it was daylight she felt safe doing it, especially since Jamie was with her.

"Do you think that will be the end of it for a few hours at least?" she asked. "I know you will have to investigate his place and see if there is evidence of his crime still."

"I do not, some of the other guards will take care of that. Why do you ask?"

"Because I'm exhausted and want to lay down for a while. I didn't get much sleep last night." She pulled off her boots.

Jamie grinned. "No you did not, nor did I. I think a wee nap will do us both good.."

"You have that look again, lass. Are you thinking about your home?"

"Yes, it's hard not to. I guess now that Cameron has been caught, and the mystery of who killed Maeve is nearly solved, I have time to think about what's happened to me. It doesn't sit well," she said.

"I understand. You must be feeling out of place here. I cannot say I would be comfortable finding myself hundreds of years in the past."

"Exactly," Crystal replied with a small sigh. She turned toward the bed.

"You should get some rest."."

Nodding, Crystal laid the blanket on the bed and fluffed the pillows. She watched as Jamie double checked the door and then closed and latched the shutters. Jamie settled down in the chair before the fire.

"I know it's small, but why don't you share the bed with me?" Crystal felt confident asking because they had already kissed and would have done much more if they had not been interrupted.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, it's an order." Laughing, she grinned at him.

He chuckled. "All right, if it tis an order."

He pulled off his boots and took off his belt.

He removed his plaid, and his kilt, setting them over the back of the chair, leaving him in his long tunic shirt.

Crystal removed the dress she wore, but left on the blouse.

She climbed into bed pushing herself to one side.

He placed his weapons near the bed and then climbed in next to her.

Crystal put her hand on his chest and curled up against his body. She desperately wanted to kiss him, but she couldn't keep her eyes open. She didn't remember falling asleep, but she knew she felt safe.

Hours later, she opened her eyes and sensed that it must be very late in the afternoon judging by the crack of light coming in through the shutters. Her gaze then fell on Jamie sleeping beside her. It gave her comfort to see him there.

Though now that her need for rest had been satisfied, her thoughts moved to another need.

Jamie opened his eyes and looked at her. He smiled. "What are you doing?"

"Sorry, I just woke up and you looked so nice sleeping, I didn't want to wake you," she said.

"So you just stared at me, then?" His smile widened to a grin.

She laughed. "Yes, I guess I did."

"You are an unusual woman, Crystal Corbin."

Crystal smiled, feeling a bit unsure of herself. "Is that a good thing or?—"

Jamie didn't let Crystal finish her statement. Instead he kissed her, rolling her onto her back. Crystal was caught off guard but she welcomed it. She placed her hands on Jamie's back and drew him closer to her. She kissed him back with a need for him that was unquestionable in that kiss.

Jamie groaned. "Fuck, I want you badly, lass. I feel like I have lost my mind. Like I have gone mad with lust for you."

"I want you too." She ran her hands up his chest to wrap around his neck.

They stopped kissing and looked at each other, then in a frenzy began to rid themselves of the rest of their clothes.

Jamie's gaze roamed over her. "You are beautiful, lass." Crystal felt her nipples harden under his gaze and he dipped his head, taking one into his mouth and sucking on it. She dug her fingers deeper into his hair, holding onto him as desire rippled through her.

"Oh, Crystal," he moaned when she pressed herself closer to him and she slid her hand down to his cock, gripping it.

She moved her hand up and down his shaft, slowly at first then faster. Jamie groaned then nuzzled her neck, kissing her behind her ear, sending little thrills of pleasure through her.

"You'll make me finish if you keep doing that, lass," he murmured in her ear.

"You want me to stop?"

"Only so that I can be inside you," he said.

She stroked him a couple more times and then let his cock go.

Jamie rolled her to her back and settled between her open thighs.

He pressed the tip of his cock at her entrance.

He leaned down and kissed her as she wrapped her arms around his neck once more.

She was enjoying this more than she'd ever enjoyed sex with anyone.

"You want me? I need to hear you say it." He studied her face, as though looking for acceptance or distaste.

"Yes, I want you, Jamie." Crystal drew his lips down to hers and kissed him.

"Tell me again," he said as he slipped a little further inside of her, but only a little.

Crystal moaned at the feeling of him slowly entering her. "God, Jamie, yes, I want you… please."

He slid inside her slowly until he was completely seated inside of her. "Fuck, you feel so good. Tight, my…" His words trailed off as he began to move inside of her.

Crystal opened her thighs wider, allowing him in as deep as he could go.

His chest skimmed against her hard nipples as he hovered over her.

Every movement of his sent her rushing toward the edge of bliss.

The familiar throbbing and pulsing between her thighs kept building and building until she was ready to burst.

"I'm going to come, Jamie," she cried out, her voice filled with pleasure.

"I want you to, Crystal. I want you to come on my hard cock."

He turned her on more than any man ever had. He flipped every switch in her, now that she thought about it briefly. However there was no time to compare her experiences because her body took control of her mind and she released in a tremor. "Oh, Jamie. Jamie, ohhh," she moaned.

"Aye, just like that, lass."

With that he pulled out of her and moved down into the bed. He placed his head between her thighs and began to slowly lick her core.

"Oh, oh God," Crystal shouted. She was too sensitive for him to be licking her, but she didn't want him to stop, as she melted into the bed with another orgasm.

A few moments later, Jamie moved back up her body and pushed himself inside of her again. "I love the taste of you, lass."

Crystal reached for him, pulling his lips to hers as she kissed him. Jamie moved inside of her, pounding her faster and faster, slapping his body against hers.

"It tis too good. How can you feel this good," he murmured in a thick lustful breath.

His body tensed. The veins on his forearms bulged and he released inside of her with a loud groan.

Crystal felt Jamie's body tremble on top of her as he sent her over the edge of bliss once again.

He pressed his chest to hers, relaxing his weight on his elbows.

She enjoyed the heat of him on top of her, pressing her into the mattress.

A moment later, he rolled off of her and lay beside her staring at the ceiling. Then he turned and looked at her with a smile. "You are not what I expected."

"I can't believe we just did that," Crystal murmured, a small smile on her lips. She hoped he didn't think poorly of her now that he'd had sex with her. Wasn't it frowned upon to have sex before marriage in this time? Suddenly she was a bit worried.

"Why? I am glad we made love. I have wanted to be with you since I first saw you. I hope to make a habit of it in the future," he said, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear and kissing the tip of her nose.

"You do?" She raised a brow at him and grinned. "You want to make a habit of making love to me?"

"Yes, exactly so. If you'll have me," he said. The look in his eyes told her he was sincere.

Her smile softened and then kissed him, a long and tender kiss full of feeling and emotion. Crystal knew that she felt lust and infatuation for this man, but now she was very much in danger of falling in love with him.