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“ Y ou will feel refreshed after a hot bath," Anna said. "I'll see that some fresh clothes are brought to you."

"That is so nice of you, thank you. I was nervous about meeting the other women like me. Melanie and Elena have been great, but I was worried that…"

"That I wouldn't like you?" Anna said.

"Well, yes," Crystal said.

"Don't worry. I'm easy to get along with." She laughed. "Despite the fact that I'm the Laird's wife, I'm still me and still American in many ways," Anna said. "We all are."

"That's good to know. I'm relieved," Crystal said.

"I know it's all a bit overwhelming being here, but you'll get used to the castle."

Crystal nodded. "And there's no way to go back?"

Anna sighed and gave her a sad look. "No. The one thing all of us have in common is that we died in that life. That is how the fae are able to bring us here. We think they must grab us at the moment of our deaths, and repair us, then send us here."

Crystal frowned. "What about our bodies? Wouldn't they go missing? If I died, I did it in a bar full of people."

"Right, so you know the fae have magic? Well, we think that they use a changeling, or something similar to switch us out. Leaving a body behind for them to bury."

"That's kind of creepy." Crystal shivered.

"But necessary. And that is just speculation. We can't know for sure what happens on that side of things. We'll talk more soon, right now, I'll let you have your bath."

"Okay, thanks again, Anna." Crystal smiled as she left. "I've brought some food, Miss," the maid entered the sitting room with a tray of food.

"Thank you," Crystal said.

On the tray was the most decadent food she had seen yet.

It was better than the food at the tavern.

There was a roasted game hen, roasted vegetables covered in a rich sauce and sprinkled with fresh herbs.

Beside that was a whole loaf of bread basted with honey and butter.

There was a decadent fruit pastry that she had never seen before with red berry preserve.

She smiled at the delicious bounty and dug into the meal.

Another maid entered the sitting room from the hall with a bundle of material. "Miss, my lady asked that these be brought to you. There are dresses, and underthings, and nightdresses. Shall I hang them in the wardrobe?"

"Yes, thank you," Crystal said, excited to put on fresh clothes after a bath.

When the tub was ready she thanked the staff as they left her alone and took off her clothes in the bedroom as fast as she could. Within moments, she was deep in a the tub filled with hot water in front of a large roaring fire. Her bones ached and she relished the warmth.

She leaned her head back on the edge of the tub and closed her eyes.

The water felt divine as she soaked. She'd brought her mug of whisky into the bedroom with her and she reached for it next to the tub and took a sip.

The alcohol here was so much stronger than what she was used to, but it was warming and delicious.

Fifteen minutes later, the door opened behind her. "Thank you, I don't think I need anything else," Crystal said, her eyes still closed.

"No? Nothing else?" Jamie responded.

The door closed. Crystal turned to see Jamie standing next to the door with lust in his eyes.

"Jamie. Sorry I thought you were the maid," she said with a giggle.

"Sorry to disappoint you, lass." He grinned. He unbuckled his belt with his weapons on it and set it aside.

Crystal became aroused the minute he did so. "I'm not disappointed. I'm glad to see you. Are you glad to see me?" she asked.

"Seeing you like that? Aye," he said. With every step he took toward her, he removed more of his clothing.

"I thought you were busy," she said, arching a brow at him.

He stopped in his tracks and looked at her. She could see the hesitance on his face. "I was, do you not want me here while you bathe?"

"You are welcome to be here anytime. I like having you near me, though I wondered if you were trying to escape my company," she said shyly, nervous about their budding relationship.

"I mean we kind of announced to everyone that I was staying in your room…

I wondered if maybe you felt it was too fast."

Jamie moved to her side and knelt down beside the tub. "I suppose I did need a minute to adjust to the idea of it, but I cannot say I am unhappy about it.."

"Then why did you need a minute?" she asked, curious.

"Because I realized that I cannot be without you in my life.

You have only just arrived and from the moment I laid eyes upon you, I knew I wanted you in my life.

Tis a scary thing to see your future in the embodiment of a woman from the future.

" He smiled, but it faded as a troubled look came over him.

"When Cameron went for you, I knew that I could not lose you.

I would find him a thousand times, fight hordes of goblins to not lose you.

If I lost you, I would be just as shattered as Brian is," he said.

Crystal felt her heart beat faster. She'd felt the same, or at least something similar when Cameron had charged her. "I think I would be just as shattered if I lost you," she whispered.

"I love you, lass. You have my heart, my sword, my hands, all of me. Tis a lot to come to terms with after knowing each other just a short amount of time," he said.

Crystal turned in the tub and put a hand to his cheek. "I love you too, Jamie," she said.

He leaned over and kissed her. She kissed him back. His hand slipped into the water and fondled her breasts. She moaned in pleasure. Now she could relax knowing he loved her.

Jamie plunged his hands into the bath and picked her up out of the tub. "Ah, Jamie," Crystal laughed.

"I cannot wait any longer. I need you now," he said.

He tossed her wet body onto the bed.

"I want you, Crystal," Jamie said as he hovered over her.

"I want you too, Jamie," she moaned.

"Beautiful," he said looking at her wet naked body.

Crystal felt desirable as he looked at her with lust in his eyes. She wanted Jamie to want and need her every time he looked at her. Crystal wanted this gorgeous man to be filled with arousal when she was near.

"I can't wait any longer," she said.

"Neither can I," Jamie said. He laid down on top of her.

Crystal's skin was hot and wet from the bath. Jamie licked the wet droplets from her breasts. She arched her back in response to him and dug her fingers into his back. His tongue circled around her hard nipple. When he was done, he put his entire mouth on it, teasing and sucking.

Crystal pushed her hands into Jamie's hair. Soft moans escaped her mouth.

Jamie kissed her lustfully and hard, as though he had waited ages to touch her. His moved up her body, slowly, pleasing every inch of her. Finally he rested his lips over hers, but in a demanding way.

"Take me. I beg you," she said.

"Are you begging for my cock, love?" Jamie teased. "Yes, I am. Please don't make me wait any longer." She gazed up at him with love and desire.

He kissed her with a voracious appetite and pressed her into his bed.

"Mmm, Jamie," she moaned.

Jamie kissed Crystal's neck and his large hands moved over her breasts. The middle of his palm pressed against her hard nipple as he massaged. Crystal's body tingled as Jamie touched her. He left her body ablaze everywhere he touched her. She was filled with a need to be loved by him.

"Oh God," she said.

Crystal reached down and grabbed Jamie's hard cock. He sucked in a sharp breath of air in response. She guided him to her sex and allowed it to linger there for a moment.

Jamie moaned as he looked down at Crystal and locked eyes with her, then he pushed himself inside of her, slowly. Crystal was more than ready to accept him as he slid inside her. It felt delicious and satisfying, to her.

"Crystal, you feel so good," Jamie moaned. "I never want to be without you." He stared down into her eyes with a fierceness that filled her with joy. "This is mine, do you hear me. No other man can have this. I claim you for my own."

Crystal looked at him and grinned. "Yes." At first her words were soft, but then grew louder. "Yes, yes, yes!" she shouted as he pounded against her.

The sound of his skin slapping against her wet skin filled the room as he took her. Crystal wanted Jamie to dominate her. She wanted to only be his and no one else's. His protective nature as a warrior made him claim her and she gave herself to him, not only in body, but in her soul and heart.

Jamie slid in and out of her, faster and faster as she twisted her fingers into the linens, holding on.

Crystal had been hungry for this for so long that she thought she would explode. "Oh, Jamie. Yes. I'm going to come. I can't stop. You feel so good."

Jamie moaned as he watched her squirm with delight. "Come for me, lass."

Crystal felt the pulsing grow and give way to him. Her body released in ecstasy. The trembling over took her. She buried her head in his neck as he slowed his movements, building her pleasure again.

"You want me, as bad as I want you. This is how it is for us," he murmured. Then he began to move his hips faster and faster.

She was so wet now as she felt her juices around his rigid cock. She thought she would faint from the sheer pleasure. His hard back and strong arms held him above her as he moved in and out, and again.

She watched as he tilted his head back and his mouth opened. His brow furrowed and she knew that he was on the edge. "Mmm, Crystal," Jamie moaned. "You're so tight, so…"

But he didn't finish his sentence, he released inside of her.

She felt him fill her inside and she went over the edge of bliss with him.

He moved slower and slower until he pressed his body on top of hers.

Crystal wrapped her legs around his body and her arms around his back as they laid in silence enjoying the intense indulgence.