“I used to think so, too.”

His hard torso leaned into her, his lips mere inches from hers.

“Maybe we should stop.” She tilted her head up toward his and licked her lips.

“Maybe we shouldn’t.”

His lips were soft, warm and oh, so inviting. A part of her melted into him, if that were possible. He stood there kissing her, slowly, as if he had all the time in the world to do so and wasn’t going to be rushed. His fingers kneaded the back of her head before descending on her neck to coax her head farther back. Only then did his tongue find its way into her mouth to start a slow, lazy exploration there.

Warmth spread quickly throughout her body, making her completely aware of how long she’d wanted to be back in his embrace.

Lord, he felt good. Liz wrapped both arms around his firm body, avoiding the sword strapped to his waist and pulled him even closer. Under the soft fabric of her dress, her ni**les pebbled, aching for attention. Fin made no move to touch her more than what he was doing right then. He kissed her so thoroughly she literally had to break away to breathe. Only then did he move his lips to her jaw and feathered his way to the lobe of her ear. When his teeth nibbled on her sensitive flesh, Liz’s knees threatened to buckle from under her. “Oh, Fin.”

He found her lips again. More urgent this time.

His hand slid past her hip and rounded over her butt. When he pressed her into his frame, Liz knew how aroused Fin was. The hard length of him pressed against the folds of her skirt and nestled against her core.

“I want you, Elizabeth,” he managed between kisses.

Her hand swept over his back, wishing she could lift his shirt from his shoulders and touch his naked skin. “Feeling’s mutual, Finlay.”

He chuckled before reaching for her lips again.

Liz sighed and allowed Fin whatever he wanted to take. He started walking her backwards to what Liz hoped was more privacy. Although they were outside the general camp, they were still very exposed.

Before they moved far, the sound of someone calling Fin’s name stopped them. Liz opened her eyes to find Fin covering her frame with his, as if to protect her from prying eyes.

Logan strode to them, his eyes focused on Fin.

“Sorry to interrupt.”

Fin turned toward his friend, keeping Liz directly behind him. Liz glanced down at her dress, surprised to find the bodice askew. She reached down and straightened her dress.

“Yer father asked that I bring ye back.”

“Is something amiss?”

“Nothing eminent, but lairds are gathering to discuss several areas of concern. Ian asked that ye be there.”

Liz placed a hand on Fin’s arm. “You should go.”

Logan widened his smile toward her before turning on his heel and leaving them alone.

“Do you ever get the feeling that we are never going to be alone?” he asked.

“Maybe the gods don’t want us alone.”

Fin swept a hand around her waist and quickly tilted her back for one more kiss. Breathless, he pulled away and said, “Now that I’ve tasted ye more thoroughly, lass, I’ll not be gone long.”

Liz lifted an eyebrow. “Promises, promises.”

He growled, kissed her again, and then set her back to her feet. “Come, let’s find out what is happening.”

Chapter Twelve

Long tables filled the hall, reminding Fin of more warring times. Times when gatherings like this happened in the home he’d grown up in. Duncan and Todd sat to his right, Logan to his left. His father sat with Lancaster, Brisbane, and many other heads of households and lairds of the highlands. The only women in the room served ale and dodged the hands of men.

They knew by the kind of invitation sent to this event that there was more to the gathering than the celebration of a marriage.

“I’ve lost more men in the past year than in our last battle,” Brisbane told the council. “Married men with no desire to leave on their own accord.”

Brisbane’s voice boomed over the rumblings in the room.

“Where did ye find their bodies?” someone asked.

“No bodies were found. These men disappeared without a trace. I hoped to find out from you if men had joined your ranks. If anyone else is having such trouble.”

“There have been several villagers fleeing outside our home.” Fin recognized the man speaking as a distant neighbor to the Lancasters. His land was small by comparison, but his men were known as some of the bloodiest on the field.

“What of your knights?”

“Nay.”

“Two of my men are missing.”

Fin leaned over and whispered into Duncan’s ear. “Grainna.”

“Must be,” he replied.

The room erupted into many voices, all speaking at once. Several knights were unaccounted for. One had managed to disappear during their recent travel. The numbers were much larger than Fin expected.

The English in the south were suspect, but according to several of Brisbane’s friends, they too were missing men. The need to gather all the men in the room now was to keep peace and to merge their minds to find a solution.

“Something else concerns me,” Lancaster spoke over the men, quieting them down. “Other happenings have been overshadowing the happiness of my land.”

Fin held his breath, knowing where the conversation was headed.

“Last fall the water in our stream grew vile, forcing several villagers in search for a fresh source.

Some didn’t return, others did and reported a small band of men abducting the stragglers in their group.”

“What do the two things have in common?”

Laird MacClain asked.

“The villagers believe the river was poisoned.”

“An entire river?” Several men laughed.

“What of ye, MacCoinnich? Yer south of Lancaster, did ye notice a stench in your drinking supply?”

Ian squared his shoulders and replied with careful words. “Nay, yet we did have a flock of crows die a strange death close by. Perhaps victim to the rancid water Lancaster speaks of.”

Fin stroked the short beard on his chin and considered his father’s words. They hadn’t lost men, but some villagers fled because of the magical attacks from Grainna.

Lancaster turned to Ian again. “I remember tales spoken from my grandfather of a plague upon his land. Undrinkable water, animals dying, and villagers disappearing. Some said a witch was responsible.”

“A witch?” Brisbane asked. “There is no such thing.”

Fin held perfectly still. Duncan’s eyes found his.