“I want to taste you,” he said between kisses, but his erection pressed closer to her moist center.

The fire in the pit of her stomach burned so hot. She simply wanted the buried deep part he’d just spoke of. “Later,” she promised. “Please, Fin.” Her hips lifted toward his, leaving no doubt as to what she asked for. “I need you now.”

He positioned himself above her, his tip slid between the folds of her sex, grazing her. “Ye’ll never need to beg me, love.”

“I’m not begging.” But they both knew that was a lie. His eyes bore into hers as he pressed his length past her swollen nub and slowly inside.

Her body opened in small degrees, accepting, until her body completely engulfed his shaft.

Once fully seated, Fin said, “Finally.”

Yes, this coupling was a long time in coming.

Neither of them had been able to deny their attraction. But Liz didn’t want to think beyond this act, at least not now.

Fin set the pace, his hips rounding over hers in just the right way to have her seeing stars long before her body started to build toward climax.

“Ye’re going to have to get used to me, Elizabeth.” His lips met hers again, not giving her time to speak. Not that she knew what to say in response. Except maybe she could get used to this, to giving her body to him to the way his body could make hers sing, just the way he was doing now.

“Oh, Fin,” she managed when he nearly drew all the way out and plunged back in. He filled her so completely she wanted to cry. Although he quickened his pace and his body shook with the force of his passion, Fin held fast to her body with such tenderness she felt frail and yet completely protected at the same time.

Months of longing fired deep in her belly with every pass of his sex inside her. Her legs wound around Fin’s hips to press him even deeper. Her cries broke the silence of the forest. He leaned down and grasped her nipple between his teeth, shooting her over the edge, and shattering her into sparkling pieces of pleasure. Every muscle tensed as wave after wave of her orgasm washed over her. Her sheath constricted around him with each spasm.

Fin’s eager thrusts lasted only seconds longer until she felt his heated seed flow deep inside her.

His head fell back and his body trembled.

When he opened his eyes, a smile lit his face before he collapsed on top of her. He moved to the side enough to keep from crushing her. Liz burrowed into his chest with a satisfied sigh.

Chapter Fifteen

Grainna soared above the gathering, her stomach churning with the revelry below her.

Merriment presented itself with laughter and raised voices. Children ran and played and even a piper played a tune.

It made her sick.

She flew to distant hill and landed on human feet. Fog meandered in from the sea at a snail’s pace.

It was time for chaos. “Time to see some self implosions,” she mused.

Grainna tucked her chin deep into her chest and closed her eyes, lifting her palms to her sides and up into the air. “Come this way,” she bid the fog. “Flood these people with doubt and fear. Make the first wish of every family come to pass. As wishes are granted, so give the remaining family the knowledge of who extracted these desires. Let friend turn on friend, lover on lover, family on family. Let no one go unscathed.”

The earth rumbled and the sky darkened. Winds blew from the west, whipping her hair behind her.

Power coursed through her body and slid past her fingers until lightning shot from their tips.

White ghosts of fog billowed toward the keep and the people in its path. Some turned toward the ocean and watched while others ducked into the useless canvas of their dwellings.

“This ought to be fun.”

With hands perched on her hips, Grainna rocked back on her heels and watched.

****

Fin refused to move from the haven within her arms. Even though the air around them stirred with a possible storm, he didn’t want to break their peace. Lizzy purred alongside him and shifted deeper against his side.

Thunder cracked over the sea.

Fin groaned.

“No,” Liz said when he started to lift himself from the ground. He drew her dress over her frame and wrapped the edge of his kilt beside him. His hand landed on his claymore.

“I don’t want to move yet,” she said.

He chuckled. “Neither do I, love, but the others will worry.”

Lightning lit the sky. The hair on Fin’s arm stood on end. Something about the energy around them felt wrong.

Lizzy’s hand came to rest on his. “This is a mighty big sword, Fin.” But he didn’t think his blade was what she spoke of. “God, I wish we were back in my bed at my apartment. Then we could make love all night and not have to worry about bad weather.”

The earth beneath them heaved. Lizzy’s eyes shot open and dumped her out of her dreamy state.

“Did you do that?”

Lightning and thunder burst above them.

“Nay.”

The ground shook again and everything swam out of focus.

****

“’Tis time to fetch them, Duncan,” Ian told his son, knowing full well what kept Finlay and Elizabeth away. He’d asked Simon to call his mother in his head some time before. Only to hear the child squeal and see the boy’s eyes pinch close. He quickly shook his head and appeared sick. “Oh, that’s just gross,” he’d said. “Are they well?” Lora questioned.

“Oh, they’re fine. I think I’m going to need therapy though.”

Todd burst into laughter.

Tara chuckled. “I guess it’s best you stay out of your mom’s thoughts from now on.”

Simon eyed all the adults in the room before finding a quiet spot in the shelter to hang his head.

Ian wouldn’t put him through the ordeal again.

Secretly, he smiled at the knowledge of Fin and Elizabeth finding each other. Perhaps now some peace could come between them.

Someone screamed beyond the tent. Ian’s head snapped up as his hand reached for his weapon.

Duncan tumbled outside along with him, Todd followed.

A woman’s lifeless body lay in a heap beside a young girl. Tears streamed down her face. She shrieked and waved an accusing finger at the man in front of her. “Ye did this. Ye wanted her dead. How could ye, father. Why?” she sobbed.

Swords clashed beyond the woman as two warriors, one half-clothed, the other with blood streaming from a cut in his arm, fought. Both hell-bent on death. A woman held a bed sheet to her naked frame, screaming for them to stop. “’Tisn’t what ye see,” she cried.