Page 20 of Farlan (Immortal Highlander Clan McKeran #3)

Enjoying his embrace should have embarrassed her.

Instead she could have done just that for hours.

The warmth of him enveloped her like the softest plush blanket, making the nerves juddering under her skin calm.

His wonderful scent soothed and teased her.

She could sense the dampness between her thighs growing as her body responded to his, but it didn’t shame her. Would she ever get enough of him?

So I’m a slut. Fine.

“Be certain ’tis what you wish, mo ghrian ,” Farlan warned.

He sounded instead as if he meant to take her seriously—or was he teasing her?

She had never been with a man who’d had a sense of humor.

She’d always hidden her own because it had made other people uncomfortable, as if her physical beauty should have made her incapable of joking around with them.

Confused, she backed out of his arms and hurried out into the passage, nearly colliding with the laird’s wife.

“Hello, Miz Johansen.” Ava’s smile reached her eyes, but it seemed guarded. “I was hoping you’d be up for a chat.”

“Surely that can wait, my lady.” Farlan appeared beside her. “She’s weary.”

“It’s all right. I’m fine.” Knowing one glance could make her self-control fall apart, Grace didn’t look at him. “Can we go somewhere a little more private?”

The laird’s wife gestured toward the door at the closest end of the passage. “This way.”

The entire time she was walking away she wanted to turn and run back to the seneschal, who thankfully didn’t try to follow them. Ava took her through the end door, into another passage and up to some stone stairs. The steps led to a long gallery overlooking the exterior of the castle.

“Olivia brought me up here earlier,” Grace told her as they emerged from the tower’s topmost room. “I’ve already seen the view.”

“Not this one, you haven’t,” Ava told her, nodding toward the dozen men fighting below them, and even more watching and calling out encouragement.

It took her a moment to realize they were sparring rather than fighting in earnest. “Does this happen every day?”

The other woman nodded. “The men drill so they can be ready to defend the stronghold at any moment. If Alec is in a bad mood, they’ll practice killing each other all day.”

Grace couldn’t imagine why they needed to talk about this. “Why do you want me to look at half-naked men beating on each other?”

“The sound helps keep any conversation you have here from being overheard,” the other woman said.

“You’re upset with our chatelaine. I hate to meddle in other folks’ business, but Inga is someone my husband and I care about a lot.

I’m butting in to find out from you if I can help settle this thing. ”

She shrugged. “I’m not upset with her, Agent Travars. Or should I call you Lady Ava?”

“Ava’s fine.” The laird’s wife studied her face for a long moment. “All right, if you’re not upset–” She said that blandly, as if she didn’t believe her. “–then you should know that Inga is. She wants to apologize to you for whatever she did to offend you. I’d let her.”

Inga didn’t know, of course. She didn’t have the first clue about Grace, or Tonje, and it was best to keep it that way.

“She certainly makes a lot of presumptions about me.” She sounded cold and callous, even to her own ears, so she tried again.

“I did the decent thing and told her about her daughter dying, but I don’t owe her anything more than that.

I’m not interested in having a relationship with her, either. As far as I’m concerned, we’re done.”

Ava nodded. “I’ll pass that along to her. Are you done with Farlan, too?”

Grace hadn’t blushed since she was seventeen and had been told to take off her clothes by a dresser. Now her face seemed to set itself on fire. “That’s none of your business.”

“With a gal like you on the premises? You better believe it is, hon.” The laird’s wife pointed at the men below them.

“These boys have been locked up in here with the same girls for close to a thousand years. Some of these gals are sweet, some are pretty, and a few are both, but most are just ordinary. Not a one of them can hold a candle to you, and you know it.”

“That’s hardly my fault,” Grace pointed out.

“Never said it was. Look, I get it. You’re a private gal.

I’m the same way, especially when it comes to my personal business.

” Ava gave her another assessing look. “I just don’t need our boys fighting over you, and our girls getting their knickers in a twist because they do.

So if you’re hankering to be with our seneschal, saying you do would be kinda convenient right now. ”

“I want to be with him.” She couldn’t believe she’d blurted it out like a kid with a crush, but it was the truth. “I’ll talk to him about it later, after things settle down. What more would you like me to do?”

The laird’s wife grinned. “That’s all.”

“There is one thing I’d like to know,” she said. “Does Farlan have a lover now? I don’t want to steal another woman’s man.”

“I don’t think so, but I’ll make sure of that,” Ava promised.

E lspeth watched the two ladies talking with a pang of envy in her heart.

The laird’s wife had always been kind, and the beautiful newcomer had been quite mannerly if a little distant.

Overhearing their conversation told her that Lady Ava welcomed Mistress Johansen’s choice of the clan’s seneschal.

That Farlan liked Grace in return was plain, or he would not have called her his sunshine.

It also made good sense to pair the newcomer with the seneschal, for everyone very much liked Farlan, and would not begrudge him such a stunning lover.

If I choose to follow my heart, no one shall approve.

Last moon her lover, Kelso McKeran, had met his end at the hands of Laird MacBren’s men during the second event cycle.

She should never have chosen him, as everyone but Kelso knew he was doomed to die every cycle in the same fashion, but he had helped her resist her more insistent urges.

Since his killing Elspeth had not offered herself to another clansman.

Even as she mourned Kelso, she had a guilty secret.

In a dream she had revealed her heart to the two men who mattered most to her: Benedict Miller, the clan’s healer, and Hunter Ulf, the first outsider to become trapped with the clan.

She wanted them both as her lovers, something no female who served the McKeran had ever done—and that desire kept her awake night after night.

Guards smiled at Elspeth as she walked down the tower stairs and through the passages to the laird’s bed chamber, which she attended to every morning for Lord Tasgall and Lady Ava.

In fact she had very little to do beyond changing the linens, bringing more wood for the hearth, and refilling the water for the washstand, for the couple attended to everything else.

Once she had accomplished those tasks, she sat down on the edge of their big bed and rubbed her tired eyes.

Gods, but I’m so tired.

If she blamed the enchantment for what had happened in the dream then he and Ulf could not find fault with her.

Her longing would remain secret, and she could choose a new lover from among the clan.

Perhaps Darro, the laird’s most senior chieftain, would welcome her to his bed.

He was calm and kindly, and quite handsome in his own way.

I must speak with Benedict and assure him I’m no’ wanton. He shall then speak with the hunter, and ’twill resolve the matter.

Elspeth started to rise from the bed when the door to the chamber suddenly opened, and the fair-haired, handsome hunter came in .

“Fair day, Hunter Ulf.” She put on her best cheerful look. “How may I serve?”

“You dare ask me such.” He leaned back against the door. “Tomorrow night we hold the binding ceremony. ’Tis time to make your choice.”

His tone seemed unconcerned, but it didn’t fool her. She could see how closely he was watching her.

“So I shall, on the morrow. We dinnae speak of such things before the night.” She walked up to him, attempting to show a calm she no longer had. “I’ve tasks to attend. Permit me pass.”

Ulf took hold of her shoulders and spun her around, pushing her against the wall.

Every inch of her flesh came alive with excitement but when she tried to turn and face him he tightened his grip.

“No, dinnae show me that mask you wear again, you canny wench, or I shall toss up your skirts and take you where you stand.”

He didn’t sound angry, which relieved her, but he pressed closer until the heat and hardness of his body branded her back and arse. Would he make good on his threat? Her quim responded to that notion by growing instantly hot and slick.

“You shouldnae make threats you cannae keep,” Elspeth said, her voice slightly breathless.

Ulf put his chin on her shoulder so that his words teased her ear. “A desperate lad may do much. ”

“No lad may force himself on me or any female,” she said, reminding him of the laird’s most important rule.

At the same time she pressed her cheek to the cold stone of the wall, hoping it would restore her sanity.

“I must first choose you as my lover, which I’ve no’ done. I... I yet mourn the loss of Kelso.”

She thought speaking the name of her former lover, who had died during the second event of the time cycle, would shame the hunter into releasing her.

“You chose me and Benedict in that dream we shared.” He kissed the curve of her ear, and let his voice drop low as he added, “We’ve awaited your pleasure every day and night since, Elspeth.

Yet you scurry away now whenever either of us comes near.

I’m no’ a patient man, lass. No’ when I’ve come so close to having what I’ve wanted all this time. You and Ben as my wife and husband.”

The bulge of his cock seemed to grow larger as he held it against the part of her buttocks, not rubbing it against her but not allowing her to escape sensing every rigid inch of him.

She had to calm him. “The clan shall condemn us for such an unseemly involvement. Indeed, the laird may order us to–”

“I don’t care. Nor Ben. We want you. We crave you. We’re no’ complete without you, my heart.” Now he spun her around to face him. “Tell me truth. Do you desire become our wife?”

Looking into his eyes, which should have been cold but instead blazed like icy fire, tore at her. Why should she deny herself any longer? Kelso had only wished her to be happy. Ben and Ulf needed her just as much.

“Aye, as naught I’ve wanted in all my life, Hunter,” she finally said. “You and Benedict, you’re everything to me.”

Ulf kissed her brow as if she were yet a maiden, with great care and tenderness. “Then find your courage, my beautiful Elspeth, and choose us on the morrow. We shall wed you before the clan, and love you for the rest of our days.”

For a moment she thought he might kiss her mouth, but then he released her and left, leaving the door open so she could step out into the hall and watch him stride off in the direction of the healer’s work room.

Do they bed each other already, or wait for me? Not knowing was going to drive her mad.

“You cannae choose two men,” a sly voice said, nearly making her jump out of her boots.

Elspeth turned to see Una, one of the kitchen maids, leaning against the wall beside the door to the laird’s chamber. “I dinnae ken what you mean.”

“I heard what the hunter bid you do on the morrow.” Una smirked.

“I wonder what the other maids shall think of you. No lass may take two cocks to her bed and go unnamed as a hoor—unless ’tis your desire to spread your legs for every male in the castle.

” She tapped her chin as if pondering the matter before she said, “I may be persuaded to remain silent, of course.”

The kitchen maid wanted something from her. “How so?”

“I tire of kitchen work and Doon’s sharp tongue,” Una told her. “Tell Farlan the newcomer wishes me to serve as her personal maid.”

Now Elspeth understood why the other maid had come to the guest chamber earlier. “Mistress Johansen hasnae made such a request.”

“Nor shall she—as if I’d tag-tail after her all the day and night.” The kitchen maid sniffed. “Get me out from under Doon’s thumb, and I shall voice my support for you and your husbands at the ceremony. The rest, they’ll do the same.”

She knew that Una had some sway over most of the other maids. She was also aware that her dark skin and outsider status made her unattractive to most of the male vassals at Dun Talamh, and disliked by the females. If she wanted her choice to be accepted, she needed an ally.

“I’ll speak to Seneschal tonight,” she finally said.

Una patted her cheek. “Good lass.”