Page 10 of Highlander’s Fruit of Eden

The Clearing

“ S o, are ye going to spend any time with us then, now that the Laird’s nephew has taken a real interest in you? Or are we to be cast aside like onion milk?” said Maggie.

“What is onion milk?” asked Amelia.

“Ye ken, when a cow gets into the onion patch, and then all of her milk tastes like onions.”

“I have never had such a thing, but I do not suppose that it tastes very good. And, no, I have no intention of casting you aside now that Jon has taken an interest in me, but he is the Laird’s nephew, and it would be improper of me to reject his invitation, would it not?”

“Aye, ye are probably right there. I would do the same if I were in yer position. Ye’d be dropped faster than a skillet from the oven. I dinnae blame ye, he’s quite the catch, just dinnae forget about us when ye are the queen of the country.”

“Queen of the country,” said Amelia with a snort. “They would not make me queen, that is for sure. Oh, I have to go before I am late.”

“Where is he takin’ ye?” asked Maggie.

“He is taking me riding,” said Amelia. “I am not sure where, but it will be nice to get away from the castle for a while.”

“That sounds braw,” said Maggie. “Well, off ye go and enjoy yerself, and make sure that the Laird’s nephew is a perfect gentleman.”

“Oh, I am sure that he will be.” Amelia placed her hands on her hips and stopped for a moment.

“Ye look saddened by that,” said Maggie.

“There’s always been some passion between us, right from the moment that I arrived in the castle, but I think he is holding back now that I told him off for it.

He was a perfect gentleman when we were out by the water.

I guess that I am just hoping that he is a little less of a gentleman this time. ”

“Perhaps ye will have to be the one who is unladylike, eh?” Maggie let out a loud, booming laugh.

Amelia stepped forward and lightly slapped Maggie’s shoulder. “Oh, stop it. You do have a terrible mind. I am off before you say anything else like that.”

“I really do hope ye have fun, Amelia.”

“Thank you. You know, when I was traveling around, it was hard to make friends, and I thought that it would be even harder for an English girl coming to a Scottish castle, but you have made me feel nothing but welcome here. Thank you for that.”

“Ye are most welcome. I’m glad to call ye me friend. Now, off with ye.”

Amelia turned and scurried off, not wanting to be late for Jon. She thought of him as she walked quickly. The time at the water with him was only two days ago, and she had missed him terribly in the time that they had been apart, and she was left longing.

Perhaps it was the fact that he had not kissed her at the end of their time together or because his uncle had forbidden them to be together, but she wanted him more than any man before.

She could see his muscular form almost bulging through his shirt and trews every time that she closed her eyes, and she wanted to touch that body, but she was also prepared to wait.

With the Laird gone from the castle, this was a chance for them to be together without anyone’s watchful gaze.

Amelia was excited when she heard that the Laird and some of his men had ridden out from the castle.

She quickened her pace down the stairs, hoping that Jon would be wearing something equally as tight for this next meeting.

When she got to the bottom of the stairs, Amelia could see out through the exit to where Jon was standing. She ran to him immediately, ready to jump into his arms. He saw her running, and he stepped into the shade of the exit, putting up his hand to stop her before she could embrace him.

“What is wrong?” asked Amelia.

“Soon, Amelia. Me uncle may have left the castle, but he still has eyes everywhere. Let’s get out of the grounds first.”

“Of course,” said Amelia, feeling extremely disappointed. First, she had not received a kiss from him, and now, she had not even been able to feel his arms around her.

“This way,” said Jon, his tone serious and stern.

Amelia did as she was told and followed Jon through the courtyard.

They went straight to the stables, a place she had not been again since her incident with Ruben.

She had been too embarrassed to see him again, and he had not approached her.

When they got to the stables, he was there, tending to the horses.

Jon walked straight past him and into the stables to bring out his horse and one for Amelia.

“Good afternoon, Ruben,” said Amelia.

“Amelia,” said Ruben. They stood close to each other in silence until Amelia could not bear it any longer.

“I am sorry, Ruben, but we are only friends. I like you, Ruben, I really do, but I do not like you in that way.”

“Is it because I’m nae the Laird’s nephew? I only have me job at the stables, is that it?”

“Do you really think me so shallow?” asked Amelia.

“I dinnae ken, I dinnae really ken ye, do I?”

“I cannot believe that you would think that,” said Amelia. She watched Jon as he emerged with two horses. “If you do not know me, then perhaps this is for the best. I only hope that we can still be friends.”

“Aye, we’ll see.”

Amelia walked away from Ruben, annoyed at how her friend had spoken, if he was still her friend.

“I cannot wait for this ride,” said Amelia, loudly. Jon helped her up onto the first horse, and he mounted the second. The two of them took off, riding through the remainder of the courtyard, and out through the rear entrance to the castle.

“Where are we going?” shouted Amelia.

“Just follow me,” shouted Jon in return.

There were some houses on the outskirts of the castle, and they soon thinned out as they ventured forth until there was no one around.

The fields to the left were green with pastures for cattle to graze, and the areas to the left were yellow and brown with crops.

In the distance, far from where they were riding, mountains were only just visible.

They were massive, but they were far, and the jagged tips were doused in snow, grey rock below, and green under that, just visible behind the foothills.

The small rolling hills before the magnificent mountains were mostly green, but the one they were heading toward was clothed in purple.

Amelia had been in the north long enough to know that the hills were often covered in heather, but the beauty of the purple flower always amazed her.

Jon upped his pace, and Amelia followed suit, the two of them going far too fast to be able to talk.

When they neared the purple hill, Jon slowed his pace, and Amelia trotted up beside him.

“I apologize for back at the castle,” said Jon. “Me uncle still has eyes about the place, and I cannae take the chance, no matter how much I want to be with ye. When he gets back, I’m going to speak to him man to man and make him understand why we should be together.”

“It is fine,” said Amelia. “I kind of like it—all this sneaking around. I feel like a kid again.”

“Yer certainly nay child, Amelia. Yer all woman, from what I can see.”

Amelia was heartened to hear that there was still passion in this relationship. Now, she needed to find out if there was to be a kiss to go with that passion.

“It is beautiful here,” said Amelia.

“Aye, it is,” said Jon, looking only at her. “I used to come here when I was younger. Come on, there’s something that I want ye to see.”

Jon picked up the pace again, heading toward and around the heather-clad hill.

They had not gone far when they came to a crystal lake.

Amelia thought for a moment that it was completely frozen until she saw a duck paddling across it.

The violet hill was directly behind the lake, and the water perfectly reflected it, doubling the beauty.

“It is amazing,” admitted Amelia. “I am glad that you brought me here. Do we have another picnic? I do not see any food or wine?”

“I have something better,” he said. “Come on, not far to go.”

He is teasing me by making me wait. Or, at least, I hope that he is.

She followed on once more, around the almost-untouched lake and into the trees.

Both horses slowed, carefully picking their way through branches and over roots and stumps.

It darkened slightly before the path widened and more light flooded in.

Finally, they were through the trees and into a clearing in the middle of the woods.

Jon dismounted and tied his horse to a tree, taking Amelia’s by the reins and doing the same.

He helped her down from her horse, holding her by the waist. Amelia enjoyed the feeling, his strong hands on her, and she wished that she could be touched by him under her clothes.

She did not have time to say anything to him before his lips were locked on hers.

It was exactly what she had been waiting for, and it was worth the wait.

His lips were warm against hers, and she felt that warmth slowly course through her body, warming her inside, and rippling its way down to her nether regions.

She could feel pulses down there too. She had been building the kiss up in her mind and waiting so long for it that his slightest touch was bringing her pleasure.

His lips parted, moving hers as they did, and his tongue explored her, sending more pulses through her body each time their tongues touched.

His hands moved from her waist, up her back, and into her hair.

He ran his fingers through, gently caressing her.

She moved her own hands onto his back, eager to feel his muscles again.

A moan escaped her lips, and she was sure that he was going to bring her to climax with only a kiss.

There was a wetness below, and she knew that something had to be done about that.

Slowly, their lips came apart, but Jon held her tight in his embrace.

“I have been waiting for that,” said Amelia.

“Well, why do you think that I brought you here?” asked Jon.