Page 30 of Trapped by the Wicked Highlander (Lairds of the Loch Alliance #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY

T he sun had barely risen, casting a golden light over the hills as Cassandra and Hunter rode together on their journey to McDougal castle. They shared the same horse, the sturdy animal trotting steadily beneath them. Cassandra felt the warmth of Hunter's body at her back, and she couldn’t help but remember their first ride together, when Hunter had insisted she share his horse, much to her annoyance.

"Here we are, sharin; a horse again," she said.

“Aye, ye remember that day, daenae ye?” Hunter said with a grin, clearly reading her thoughts. “Ye werenae too pleased to be ridin’ with me then. Couldnae wait to get off, I reckon.”

Cassandra chuckled, shaking her head as the memory returned.

“Aye, I dinnae think I’d survive that ride with ye so close,” she teased, her voice light. “But now, I find I daenae mind so much, though ye’ve nae given me much choice today.”

Hunter's arm tightened around her waist, pulling her just a little closer. “But truth be told, I’ve nay complaints with ye so close to me now, or then. I’ve nay intention of lettin’ ye go anytime soon.”

Cassandra laughed softly, her heart fluttering at his words. “Ye’ve always been so sure of yerself, Hunter McDougal,” she replied, glancing over her shoulder to meet his eyes. “I daenae ken if that’s arrogance or confidence, but it’s certainly amusin’.”

“Confidence, lass,” he replied with a wink. “Confidence, and a wee bit of charm, if I’m being honest.” He gave her a teasing grin. “But I’m nae wrong, am I? Ye like it.”

Cassandra shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips despite her attempt to remain serious. “Aye, ye may be right,” she admitted. “I daenae mind yer confidence, but daenae think ye can use it against me too often.” She nudged his hand that rested on her waist, feigning a little discomfort. “A lass needs her space, ye ken?”

Hunter laughed, a low, rumbling sound that made her smile even wider. “Ye ken, Cassandra, ye always try to act like ye cannae stand me, but ye’re just a wee bit too fond of me to admit it.” He paused for a moment, letting the horse pick up a faster pace, and then leaned in slightly, his breath warm against her ear. “I reckon I’ll win ye over, in time, lass. Ye’ll be beggin’ to ride with me like this forever.”

Cassandra could feel the heat of his body so close to hers, his words striking a chord she couldn’t ignore. “I’ll never be the one beggin’, Hunter,” she replied, her voice a playful challenge. “But ye may just get yer wish, for I do enjoy ridin’ beside ye more than I did the first time. Ye’ve got yer charm, nay denyin’ that.”

Hunter’s smile widened, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Ach, I told ye. A bit of charm, a bit of confidence, and a whole lot of patience. Ye’ll come around, lass.” He leaned in even closer, his lips brushing against her ear. “Maybe I’ll have ye beggin' sooner than ye think.”

She let out a soft laugh, trying to push back against the heat spreading through her at his closeness. “I’ve nay doubt ye’ll try,” she said with a teasing edge. “But, ye forget, I’m nae so easily swayed, Laird McDougal. I’ll make ye work for it.”

Hunter gave her a mischievous grin, his voice lowering slightly. “I’ve nay problem workin’ for it, Cassandra. I enjoy the challenge.” He nudged the horse a bit faster, feeling the wind rush past them. “But for now, I’ll take what I can get.”

Cassandra raised an eyebrow, catching the look in his eyes. “Aye, I think ye’re quite taken with me, Hunter,” she replied with a grin. “But ye’d best be careful, ye might be the one beggin' for me attention next.” She turned her head to look at him, her eyes narrowing playfully. “I’m nae an easy woman to win.”

Hunter’s smile softened at her words, and for a moment, he said nothing. Instead, he simply squeezed her gently, holding her against him with a tenderness that took her by surprise. “Ye never make anythin’ easy, lass,” he said after a beat, his voice warm and affectionate. “And that’s what makes ye so irresistible.”

Cassandra turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze. Her heart swelled in her chest, and she realized just how much she had come to care for him, despite the stubborn resistance she often tried to put up. “I’m nae one to be tamed,” she said softly, her voice almost teasing but with an edge of vulnerability.

Hunter gave her a sincere look, his eyes locking with hers. “I’ve nay intention of tamin’ ye, Cassandra,” he said, his voice deepening with sincerity. “I want ye as ye are—wild, untamed, and full of life. I want to be the one who stands beside ye through it all.”

Cassandra felt a warmth in her chest, and for the first time, she allowed herself to truly feel the depth of her affection for him.

“But for now, let’s just enjoy the ride.” The wind picked up, carrying them forward toward McDougal castle, but neither of them could ignore the spark of something deeper, something true, growing between them.

The rolling hills of the Scottish Highlands stretched out before them, bathed in the soft, golden light of the early afternoon sun. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of wild heather and pine, and the distant sound of a bubbling stream echoed through the valley.

The horse’s hooves clopped steadily against the earth, but it was Hunter’s voice that broke the peaceful quiet, his words low and filled with a simmering intensity.

“Cassandra, I cannae wait anymore,” he murmured, his grip tightening on the reins as he guided the horse off the narrow path and into a secluded meadow.

"What are ye doing?"

He glanced at her over his shoulder and she saw that Hunter’s dark eyes were fixed with a fire burning in them that mirrored the fierce desire building within him.

He dismounted the horse first, moving swiftly to her side as she carefully slid from the saddle, her fingers brushing against his strong arm as she did.

"Should we nae be getting back to McDougal castle?" she asked.

With a smirk, Hunter reached down, pulling a thick, warm blanket from his saddlebag and spreading it out on the soft grass beneath them.

The world around them seemed to still, the breeze whispering through the trees, and the meadow bathed in the golden light of the late afternoon. It was as if the very land itself had conspired to give them this moment—a moment where the world fell away, leaving only the two of them.

"Let us take a moment ourselves, lass. We've waited too long," he said.

As Cassandra knelt on the blanket, her heart raced in anticipation, her pulse quickening as Hunter joined her.

His presence was magnetic, his broad shoulders and powerful frame a stark contrast to the softness of the meadow around them.

He reached for her, his strong hands gently cupping her face, tilting her head to meet his lips with an intensity that stole her breath away. The kiss was immediate, deep, and filled with a raw need, his lips pressing against hers with a fervor that left no doubt in her mind of the desire he felt.

Her hands trembled as they reached for him, sliding up his chest to the hard planes of his muscles. The warmth of his skin beneath her fingertips sent a shiver through her, and she couldn’t resist the urge to feel more of him. Her fingers traced the taut lines of his six-pack abs, marveling at the strength and power beneath his tunic.

His body, honed through years of hard work and battle, was a map of masculine strength, and she longed to explore every inch of it.

Hunter groaned softly as her hands moved lower, her touch igniting a fire in him that burned hotter with every second. His lips left hers only for a moment, his breathing ragged as he looked into her eyes, his voice a low rasp.

“Cassandra, ye’ve nay idea what waitin’ this long has done to me,” he whispered, his hands sliding down her back, pulling her closer to him. The heat between them was unbearable, the air thick with the tension of what was to come.

She gazed up at him, her heart pounding in her chest, feeling the warmth of his body pressed against hers.

"Show me then," she whispered.

The strength of his arms, the power in his chest, and the solidness of his body against hers made her pulse spike with a want that she could no longer ignore.

The desire swirling between them was like a storm, impossible to contain, and she found herself pulling him closer, hungry for more.

"Aye, I'll show ye," he groaned.

His lips found hers again, urgent and demanding, as though he could no longer hold back.

She pressed herself closer to him, her breath coming faster as his hands slid under her dress, caressing the soft skin of her legs, sending sparks of electricity through her body. Every touch, every kiss, every movement was a promise—a promise of the passion that was building between them, unstoppable and undeniable.

His hand cupped her between her thighs. She responded with a moan.

"Tis that showin’ ye?" he asked.

"Yes,” she whispered.

His hand moved back and forth rubbing her. Even though there was a layer of material between his hand and her skin, she could feel the heat gathering between her thighs. The tingling shot through her.

Hunter’s lips moved from her mouth to her neck, kissing her softly, before he began to trail a line of fire along her skin.

Cassandra gasped, her fingers tangling in his hair, urging him closer, wanting more. She felt as if she was being pulled into a whirlwind of sensation, each moment intensifying the craving she had for him.

His hand moved from under her skirt to her belly. It roamed up her body, cupping her breasts through the fabric of her dress, his touch both gentle and demanding.

The warmth of his palms against her made her gasp, and she arched into him, her body responding to him in ways she had never imagined.

“Hunter…” she breathed, her voice a soft, desperate whisper as she leaned back, pulling him on top of her. The feel of his body pressing against hers, his weight comforting and yet electrifying, was all she needed to surrender completely to the passion burning between them.

He kissed her again, deeper this time, his tongue brushing against hers in a slow, deliberate exploration that made her head spin. His hands were everywhere, caressing, gripping, teasing—leaving no part of her untouched.

And when he pulled away, just for a moment, to look down at her with dark, lust-filled eyes, she knew that this was only the beginning of something they both craved.

“Cassandra,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with need, “I want ye. I cannae wait any longer. Do ye surrender to me?"

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning, and Cassandra’s heart thudded in her chest as she realized that this was it—that moment when they would no longer be able to resist. The desire between them had reached its peak, and there was nothing left to do but to give in to it completely.

"Aye, I do," she whispered.

With a final, desperate kiss, she pulled him back to her, ready to feel everything he had to offer.

Her hands tugged at the fabric of his tunic pulling it up over his head. She let her fingers touch his muscular arms, shoulders, and down his firm chest.

A devious smirk crossed his face as he pushed her skirts up to her waist. He went to work removing her underthings, untying laces, until she shimmied them off.

"I've longed to look at ye again," Hunter groaned as he moved lower down her body.

She gasped when he kissed her sweet center. Softly brushing his lips against her, teasing and licking.

Cassandra crumpled the fabric of the wool blanket beneath them in her fists as the sensation of his touch sent a shiver through her.

"More… once more," she said.

"Aye, like last time?" he asked.

She blushed. "Aye," she said remembering how it felt the last time he pleasured her.

Hunter pressed his tongue on her, playfully tapping her rosebud. The skill he presented in flicking back and forth drove her wild. Cassandra arched her back and opened her thighs wider.

Hunter groaned at her response and in his excitement moved his tongue faster and faster until she moaned like a banshee beneath him, wild and untamed.

"I'm… I’m losin’ meself," she whispered. With those words she felt the tremor rock through her, shaking her to her core.

Hunter moved his body until his hips were between her legs and his lips pressed against hers. He whispered between kisses.

"Have I made ye feel good, lass?"

"Aye," she whispered. "I want ye to feel the same."

With this encouragement he pushed the tip of himself inside of her. Cassandra pressed her fingers into his strong back as they locked eyes. She thought that she could never love anyone as much as him.

I want him to take me.

With encouragement from a nod of her head, Hunter pushed deeper inside of her. She moaned softly.

Cassandra felt the satisfaction move through her of finally experiencing this man inside her. She had longed for it and now it felt better than she ever imagined. His manhood sliding in and out of her, created a growing pulse between her thighs.

Sensual delightful sensations built up inside of her ready to explode as Hunter moved his hips. Time stood still as he slowly made love to her. She could feel him deep within.

The weight of his body pressed her into the soft grass under the blanket. Feeling his strength on her, she pressed kisses into his shoulder.

"Lass, I daenae ken how much longer I can hold on," he groaned.

"I want to please ye," she said.

With those words, he released inside of her. Both blissfully tremored with pleasure as they lay under the Scottish sky.