Read Online Highlander's Heart (Clan Matheson Book 2) by Joanne Wadsworth - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Joanne Wadsworth
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he. He’d play with her some more. He swept her up into his arms then tossed her into the water with a resounding splash and dove in after her.
She emerged, spluttering and laughing just as he did, her long hair floating like a silken web of gold around her as she treaded water. “Your bear is far too playful for me right now.”
“Do you wish to head in?” He tipped his head toward the beach. “Or take me on once more? I know you can.”
“I would adore taking you on, but I’m afraid we should return afore a search party is dispatched. I’ve no wish for anyone else to discover this sacred place. It is ours alone.” She swam in and once her feet touched the ground, she slogged through the water to the sandy shore.
He set out after her, kicked into shore and joined her on the beach then wrung his shirt out as best as he could, although it’d dry quick enough since his temperature ran hotter than most. All shifters’ blood did.
Gripping the hem of her sopping shift, she eyed him. “I need to remove this undergarment. The wet cotton will chaff my skin if I wear it underneath my gown. Could you turn around?”
“I’d rather not.” Except he did, giving her the privacy she’d asked for. He shook the sand from his black pants and jammed them on, fastened his sword belt and tugged on his boots. Done, he waited, rested one hand on the warm surface of the damp rock wall. “Let me know when you’re dressed.”
“I still need a moment.” A wet plop, the swish of velvet falling in a whoosh then her soft step as she moved across the sand toward the fire pit. “Now I’m done.”
He turned around, his pulse racing at the way she smiled at him, her brown eyes dancing with mischief and her lush lips lifted with a sultry sensuality he longed to taste for himself. “It’s time to leave.”
“Aye, it is.” She knelt before the fire and even though it had died out some hours ago, she scooped sand and tossed it over the charred remains to ensure not even a spark remained alight. She rose, picked up the cane basket of cherries in one hand and tucked her wet shift inside it, her shawl again draped over her shoulders. “What are your plans for the day, Tor?”
“To speak to your father and then my brother. I need to inform them both that I’ve found my chosen one and that she is you. Following that, I intend to continue wooing you.”
“Do you have another hidden pool to show me?” Grinning mischievously, she wandered toward the tunnel’s entrance and sent the basket floating ahead of her down the darkened passageway. She bounded up onto the rock, her red skirts clinging to her pert bottom and her hips swaying so enticingly as she sashayed out of his sight.
His bear growled deep inside him, doubling his demand for her. Hell, keeping his hands off her until she’d ended her betrothal would be one of the hardest things he’d ever done. He lengthened his stride, caught up with her as she squeezed through the thinning gap at the end of the stone ledge and joined her outside, the crashing of the waterfall and life beyond their secret haven, resounding all around.
“This place is so enchanting.” She pressed herself against the mist-covered rock wall, the clear sheet of water arching over them and pounding into the pool nestled within the ravine far below. The morning sunshine beamed bright, flared through the cascading water and sent a colorful rainbow of beautiful yellows, pinks, reds and blues shimmering over her upturned face.
“You’re the enchanting one.” Her beauty was one of sweet, youthful innocence, her vibrant love for her clan making her glow all the more and drawing him in. Unable to help himself, he traced his knuckles gently down the softness of her cheek, her flawless skin warm to the touch. He dropped a kiss on the tip of her tiny nose, wanted to smother her face in a myriad of kisses. “You’ll need to set the basket down on the other side of the ledge, Layla.”
“Why?”
“So
She emerged, spluttering and laughing just as he did, her long hair floating like a silken web of gold around her as she treaded water. “Your bear is far too playful for me right now.”
“Do you wish to head in?” He tipped his head toward the beach. “Or take me on once more? I know you can.”
“I would adore taking you on, but I’m afraid we should return afore a search party is dispatched. I’ve no wish for anyone else to discover this sacred place. It is ours alone.” She swam in and once her feet touched the ground, she slogged through the water to the sandy shore.
He set out after her, kicked into shore and joined her on the beach then wrung his shirt out as best as he could, although it’d dry quick enough since his temperature ran hotter than most. All shifters’ blood did.
Gripping the hem of her sopping shift, she eyed him. “I need to remove this undergarment. The wet cotton will chaff my skin if I wear it underneath my gown. Could you turn around?”
“I’d rather not.” Except he did, giving her the privacy she’d asked for. He shook the sand from his black pants and jammed them on, fastened his sword belt and tugged on his boots. Done, he waited, rested one hand on the warm surface of the damp rock wall. “Let me know when you’re dressed.”
“I still need a moment.” A wet plop, the swish of velvet falling in a whoosh then her soft step as she moved across the sand toward the fire pit. “Now I’m done.”
He turned around, his pulse racing at the way she smiled at him, her brown eyes dancing with mischief and her lush lips lifted with a sultry sensuality he longed to taste for himself. “It’s time to leave.”
“Aye, it is.” She knelt before the fire and even though it had died out some hours ago, she scooped sand and tossed it over the charred remains to ensure not even a spark remained alight. She rose, picked up the cane basket of cherries in one hand and tucked her wet shift inside it, her shawl again draped over her shoulders. “What are your plans for the day, Tor?”
“To speak to your father and then my brother. I need to inform them both that I’ve found my chosen one and that she is you. Following that, I intend to continue wooing you.”
“Do you have another hidden pool to show me?” Grinning mischievously, she wandered toward the tunnel’s entrance and sent the basket floating ahead of her down the darkened passageway. She bounded up onto the rock, her red skirts clinging to her pert bottom and her hips swaying so enticingly as she sashayed out of his sight.
His bear growled deep inside him, doubling his demand for her. Hell, keeping his hands off her until she’d ended her betrothal would be one of the hardest things he’d ever done. He lengthened his stride, caught up with her as she squeezed through the thinning gap at the end of the stone ledge and joined her outside, the crashing of the waterfall and life beyond their secret haven, resounding all around.
“This place is so enchanting.” She pressed herself against the mist-covered rock wall, the clear sheet of water arching over them and pounding into the pool nestled within the ravine far below. The morning sunshine beamed bright, flared through the cascading water and sent a colorful rainbow of beautiful yellows, pinks, reds and blues shimmering over her upturned face.
“You’re the enchanting one.” Her beauty was one of sweet, youthful innocence, her vibrant love for her clan making her glow all the more and drawing him in. Unable to help himself, he traced his knuckles gently down the softness of her cheek, her flawless skin warm to the touch. He dropped a kiss on the tip of her tiny nose, wanted to smother her face in a myriad of kisses. “You’ll need to set the basket down on the other side of the ledge, Layla.”
“Why?”
“So
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