Page 13 of Highlander’s Fruit of Eden

Jealousy

J on walked through the castle gardens, and it was obvious to everyone around that something was weighing on his mind, but especially to Amelia.

She walked by his side and wanted so much to reach out and take his hand, but she did not want to jeopardize their relationship by pushing it when they were in public.

Once he spoke with his uncle, everything would be fine, and they could officially be together without sneaking around.

She had to admit that there was something thrilling about all the sneaking around, but she wanted more than that.

She wanted to be with the man that she was…

she almost admitted that she was developing feelings for him.

It was all happening so quickly, but there were feelings there for him, she knew that. As they walked, her hand brushed lightly against his, and a tingle ran up her arm. It had only been a day since he had pleasured her in the woods, and she wanted more, but his mind was on other things.

“You can share your thoughts with me,” she said.

“I’m thinkin’ about speakin’ with me uncle,” said Jon. “He’s still not back for a few days, but he’s nae going to like the conversation.”

“I’m sure that everything will be fine,” said Amelia. She brushed his hand purposely this time. “When he hears about us, he will not be able to stand in our way, will he? Even if I am an English girl.”

“Nay, not about that. I have other things to speak to him about, more pressing matters.”

“Oh, more pressing than us,” said Amelia.

“It’s nae like that,” snapped Jon. He quickly added, “I’m sorry, I just have a lot going on right now. I will speak to him about us. I promise.”

Amelia remained silent. She was worried that Jon was taking on too much and that it would affect their relationship together.

She did not know the ins and outs of running a Clan and a castle, but he had only been acting in his uncle’s stead for a day and it had resulted in this.

What would he be like when he became the Laird.

“I wonder if that is why he went down to the border. Is this somethin’ to do with keepin’ power for himself? What is he worried about down there that he couldnae send some advisors or me?”

“I am glad that he did not send you away from me,” said Amelia, hoping to lighten the conversation.

“Perhaps he needed to speak directly with the leaders of the other Clans,” said Jon, lost on his own thoughts.

“If he’s thinkin’ of an attack, would he speak to the Lairds first to come to a compromise, or is it the other way around?

Trade to the south benefits our Clan, and keepin’ the trade routes open definitely makes sense?

Is that it? Does he want to create more trade deals that will increase our coin?

Is he tryin’ to get us out of the mess that he has created for the Clan? Has he created this mess?”

“Jon, Jon,” said Amelia, taking him by the shoulders so that he would stop walking and talking.

“Look at me for a moment.” She held his gaze, swimming in his sea-blue eyes.

“You have to stop this. You have been Laird for one day, and you are already worrying yourself sick. Please, just take a breath and focus on me.”

Jon stared at her for a second, and his features softened. The tension released from his jaw, and the corners of his mouth turned up into a slight smile. He took a deep breath in, held it for a moment, and let it back out again. he nodded his head at her.

“Sorry,” he said. “There’s just a lot of stuff that I’m dealin’ with, and I need to make sure that the Clan prospers.”

“I know,” Amelia said. “You care about the Clan, and I know that it will thrive under your leadership, but it does nothing to worry about it, does it. I have heard that when you worry about something, you go through it twice—once when you worry about it and a second time when you do it. How about you do not think about your uncle for now and spend some time with me. I do not dare claim that I am more important than the Clan, but I do think that you need to rest your mind for a while.”

“Ye’re right,” said Jon. “Ye’re always right, Amelia.” Jon looked around quickly before leaning in and kissing Amelia delicately on the lips. He held his lips there for a moment, applying gentle pressure before he pulled away.

“I thought that we were keeping this a secret,” said Amelia.

“Well, nay one is lookin’, are they?”

Amelia looked around the gardens and could only see one gardener with his back to them. “Well, if no one can see us, we should make the most of it.”

Jon did not need a second invitation. He leaned forward again, putting his arms around Amelia, and pulling her in near to him so that their bodies were close together.

He pressed his lips more fully, their heads moving in time with each other, and Amelia could feel her body giving itself up to Jon.

She was his again, and he could do whatever he wanted with her.

A hand went to her rear, squeezing the plump flesh, and that brought a smile to Amelia’s lips as she kissed him.

His lips were supple and soft, and she bit gently at his top lip, feeling his hand squeeze more on her fleshy behind.

Her hands ran up his back and onto his shoulders.

She wanted to open her eyes to see if anyone was watching them, the thought of them doing this in secret still thrilling.

She could not open her eyes. She could not do anything except bend to this Scotsman’s will. She had tried to deny it in her mind as she had thought about it before, but she could not deny it now. She was developing feelings for him.

Part of that was a deep physical attraction but seeing how complex he was and how much he cared for his Clan made her feel stronger. She wanted to be with this man physically, but she also wanted to be by his side when he took on the world.

They came apart all too soon, as was always the case.

Their faces lingered close to each other, and Amelia waited patiently for him to kiss her again, but there were noises in the gardens as a small group walked through in conversation.

Jon held her gaze for a moment longer before he turned to the side to regard the newcomers.

“Come on,” he said. “I ken ye want it to be different, and it will be soon, but we cannae be seen like this. How about we take another ride out to somewhere a little more private, and we can forget about everythin’ in the castle for a while.”

“That sounds perfect,” said Amelia. This was exactly what she had been waiting for, though, this time, she would not be the only one who removed their clothing, she would make sure of that. Even the thought of Jon undressed made her juices flow, and the excitement rose in her stomach.

His muscular chest, thick legs, and, of course, what was between them.

She longed to touch him, to be touched by him, and to feel him inside of her.

She should not be feeling this way with a man she had only just met, but she could not help herself.

This was different. She did not know why it was different, but she knew that it was.

She followed Jon from the garden and back out into the courtyard. They headed toward the stables and found Ruben there once again. As they approached, he turned from them and made for the inside of the stables. Jon called out after him.

“Ruben, prepare two horses, won’t ye!”

Ruben carried on walking, apparently not hearing Jon’s call.

“Ruben!” shouted Jon again. “Hey, Ruben, I gave ye an order.”

Ruben stopped in his tracks and turned slowly. There was a storm brewing on his face, and Amelia wanted to step in between the two men to stop what was coming.

“Yer uncle would never speak to me like that,” said Ruben.

“Excuse me?” said Jon.

“Aye, the Laird is always polite with me, nae like his nephew. I dinnae ken what is going to happen when ye become the Laird, but ye are going to run this castle into the ground. Walkin’ around like ye own the place, and takin’ whatever ye want, even if it is not yers.”

‘I would advise ye to hold yer tongue,” said Jon. “I dinnae ken where this is coming from, but I’m nae in the mood to be listenin’ to this. Dinnae compare me to me uncle.”

“Aye, there is nay comparison,” said Ruben.

“Get me two horses before I start to get annoyed with ye,” said Jon.

“Why don’t ye take them yerself. Ye seem to do that, don’t ye.”

“If ye have a problem with me, then out with it, Ruben, so we can sort this out.”

Ruben stood in silence, looking only at Amelia.

“Ruben, I am not your possession. I am not anyone’s possession. You cannot treat Jon like this. He only has good intentions, you have to believe that,” said Amelia.

“I was with ye first. We were going to kiss when he stormed in all jealous. He thinks that because he is the Laird’s nephew, that he can have whatever he wants. Just wait, he’ll cast ye aside.”

Amelia walked forward, getting in between the two men, walking forward until she was facing Ruben.

“He did not take me, Ruben. I chose to be with him. You have to accept that.”

“I’ll treat ye right, Amelia. He will nae.” Ruben reached out and took hold of Amelia’s arm, pulling her closer to him. Amelia let out a gasp, and suddenly Jon was there by her side.

“Unhand her,” ordered Jon. Amelia wriggled free from the grasp, taking a step back.

“Oh, dinnae get up in me face,” said Ruben. He pushed Jon backward, throwing him straight into Amelia, sending her falling over. She let out a small scream as she went down.

Jon did not hesitate. He turned around and threw his fist at Ruben, the knuckles colliding with his jaw and sending the man to the ground. Jon turned again, stepping quickly to Amelia, taking her by the hand.

“Are ye well?” asked Jon. “Did he hurt ye?”

“Jon,” gasped Amelia.

He did not have time to pick Amelia up from the ground when Ruben grabbed him by the shoulders.

“Get off of her, ye oaf. Can ye nae see what ye have done to her already?” He yanked on Jon, tossing him away from Amelia, and Jon stumbled under the throw, slamming face-first into the wooden wall and crumpling to the ground.

“Did ye see what he did to ye, Amelia? He cannae protect ye, but I can.” Ruben reached out a hand this time, but Amelia did not take it.

“Take me hand,” Ruben said in a sterner voice. “I’ll protect ye from the world. Ye ken that I’m a good man. Have I ever treated ye with nothing but respect? I put in the time, and now I should get me prize.”

“You think that because you were nice to me, I should want to be with you? Is that the reason why you were nice? And look at how you are acting right now, Ruben. I do not recognize you anymore.”

“Ruben,” said Jon. Ruben turned to find the Laird’s nephew standing behind him.

“Jon,” gasped Amelia. There was blood trickling down from his forehead, some of it going into his eye.

Jon did not wait for Ruben to say anything.

He swung his fist again, catching Ruben over the eye and opening up a wound so that both men had blood running down their faces.

He followed that punch up with another. Jon grabbed Ruben by the collar and tossed him to the side, Ruben falling and rolling across the ground.

Jon went to him and picked him up, punching him again and knocking him back to the ground.

He stood over Ruben, waiting for him to move.

“Jon,” said Amelia, placing a hand on his shoulder. He turned to face her. “He has had enough,” she added. “Come on, let us get out of here. We need to get you cleaned up.”

Jon looked around. A small crowd had gathered—mainly stable hands, but some other people too—and they were all staring at Jon. He looked down at the man on the ground and then at his own bloody knuckles.

“Aye, we need to go,” he said. “I can see the way that the people are lookin’ at me. One day of being Laird, and it has come to this. Nay one is going to want me to take over from me uncle.”