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  Supper was excruciating for Abbie, in a humorous sort of way. She kept her head down for most of the meal and concentrated on eating the wonderful food while each person at the table repeated the tale of her afternoon, embellishing on it as they went. By the time it was over she felt like an Amazon warrior straight out of Greek mythology. She looked down at her boobs.

  “Yep, it’s still there.”

  Gavin leaned in close. “What are you muttering about?”

  “I was just checking to see if my right breast was still attached.”

  He quickly excused himself and left the room. Moments later the howl of a lunatic could be heard coming from the kitchen area. The others seated at the table turned to Abbie, mystified, but she was already running to join him. Soon they heard her laughter amidst his.

  “Ye are a breath of fresh air, lass.” Katherine stood in the kitchen, wiping her eyes on her sleeve after demanding an explanation from them. “I canna remember when I laughed this hard as I have around ye in the last few days.”

  The warmth and security of belonging to this new family wrapped an emotional blanket around Abbie, holding her close and giving her a sense of continuity for perhaps the first time in her life. To share moments of laughter and pain with others, to never be alone again, made her want to weep with relief. She settled on giving Katherine a hug instead, but the older woman knew it for what it really was.

  “Yer not alone anymore, Abbie. Ye have family now.”

  “How did you know what I was thinking?” Astonishment must have been written across her face because Katherine sought to reassure her even more.

  “Dinna look shocked. It’s plain to see ye have lived a lonely life until now, but no more. Clan means everything and ye belong to us from this point forward.”

  Strong arms enveloped Abbie from behind as Gavin pulled her close to his chest. The slow beat of his heart soothed her fragile emotions so she wouldn’t burst out crying from the outpouring of love that she felt in the room. Others had joined them in the kitchen by this point and all formally added their welcome into the clan in soft voices, sensing the overload in her.

  “Thank you.” The whispered words were all that would squeeze past the constriction in her throat.

  Gavin turned her around, kissing her differently than he had in the past. The passion still existed – that hadn’t changed – but it was muted somehow; more like a fire that had been banked for the night. A deeper current ran at the forefront, one that embodied stronger emotions Abbie had little experience with and couldn’t put names to. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t sort out the pain/love/fierce/pride and whatever else that had been added; the effect still broke through the wall she’d built over the years. She started to cry, releasing the hopelessness that she’d held onto for so long. Abbie was home.

  “It’s been a long day, lass. Let’s get you to bed,” Gavin whispered. He picked her up and carried her upstairs for the second time that day. Secure within Gavin’s arms, Abbie fell asleep in moments.

  Chapter Fifteen

  With only two more days until Lughnasadh, every able hand was drafted into kitchen duty. The Laird provided most of the food for the guests so there was a long list of things that still needed to be accomplished. Abbie didn’t know anything about cooking but she was a quick study and willing to learn.

  Gavin had slipped out quietly before dawn to oversee the setup going on outside. Katherine directed a whirlwind of activity before Abbie even finished breakfast, stating requests and countermanding the orders of others whom she felt didn’t have a clue as to what they were doing.

  “Ye’d think they’d never been in a kitchen before.”

  Abbie saw through the exasperation though and knew Katherine was in her element, a spot she thoroughly enjoyed.

  “Careful, the twinkle in your eye will give you away.” Abbie wasn’t above teasing her a bit.

  Katherine looked at her, harrumphing in that uniquely Scottish way that Abbie couldn’t imitate, and then laughed.

  “Just so long as I can still scare them into minding my directions. Do you have any specialties that you like to cook, lass?”

  “Not a thing.” That cheery admission caused the older woman to look at her in consternation.

  “How do ye get fed in yer time?”

  “Frozen foods and microwaves.”

  Katherine shook her head. “I’m sorry I asked. Let me show ye how to knead the bread. It’s good for taking yer aggressions out on.”

  After kneading several lumps of dough, Katherine moved them both over to a quiet corner to chop turnips. Being in her company reminded Abbie how much she missed her own mother.

  “I think I missed a lot, not doing chores like this with my mother and having the chance to just talk to her while working.”

  “Were ye close to yer ma?”

  Abbie shrugged. “I think we would have been, now that I’m older, but at the time when she died I was too busy trying to carve out a life for myself to spend much time with her. The life she led seemed boring to me; there wasn’t some great purpose to it. All she did was stay at home and take care of my father and me. That sounds like an ungrateful assessment now, considering how hard they saved to give me the chance to do whatever I wanted with my life.”

  “What do ye want to do with yer life?” Katherine tried to imagine a world where a woman had endless possibilities to choose from.

  “Well, I thought I wanted to study medicine and become a doctor, building my career and putting off finding romance till later. I’ve been going to school for years now. But coming here has made me realize that I’ve been marking time my whole life, planning ahead for the future but not living in the here and now.” Abbie thought for a moment before going on.

  “I’ve come to the conclusion that what I really want is to have the same type of life my mother had; the kind of life where, no matter what else I choose to do, my family is the most important aspect of my life.”

  “Yer in the right place then, lass. Family means everything here.”

  “I remember you telling me that you loved someone once and regretted not taking the chance.” Abbie spoke softly, not sure if she should be asking about that. “Didn’t you ever marry?”

  “Aye, I married – not him, mind ye – but to a good man. He was the old Laird’s captain of the guard, but he died in battle some fifteen years ago. We were nae blessed with bairns but I had Gavin to raise so I’ve had a good life.”

  Katherine pinned her down with a hard stare. “So when are ye planning on marrying? Ye never know what tomorrow may bring.”

  Abbie felt herself flush. “It’s much too soon to be talking about things like that.”

  “Nonsense, hie yerself out there and tell the man to make an honest woman out of ye.”

  “I wish it were that simple.” Abbie couldn’t even bring herself to tell Gavin she loved him yet, let alone demand that he marry her. People here didn’t necessarily marry for love, but that’s what she wanted. She would just have to wait and see if Gavin brought the subject up himself.

  Muttering in Gaelic, Katherine carried the bowl of turnips over to the counter.

  “Off with ye now and thank ye for the help. Go relax a bit before dinner and think about what I said.”

  Abbie kissed her on the cheek. “I will, I promise.”

  Wandering outside, Abbie stared in amazement. The number of people milling about had doubled since yesterday. She spotted Gavin and some others carrying what looked like telephone poles over to a clearing. Intrigued, she started toward them. Gavin saw her and came running over, picking her up and spinning about until she thought to kiss him. That stopped him from twirling her as he held her closer for full benefit.

  “What are you doing with the telephone poles?” She laughed at the blank look on his face and he grinned.

  “Are telephone poles a discussion for another time, along with your skyscrapers? Those are for the caber toss.”

  It was Abbie’s turn to look blank.
“Toss, as in you throw them up in the air?”

  “Aye.” Gavin was more interested in kissing the hollow of her throat than continuing the conversation. “It was verra hard to pull myself away from your bed this morning.”

  “I’m sure it was verra hard because I can feel that it’s very hard right now.” Abbie smirked as she stroked the hard object in question. The nice thing about wearing full skirts is they hid what she did with her hands quite well. Gavin groaned and held her tighter.

  “You’ll pay for that later.”

  “Promise?”

  “Aye, I promise, enchantress. I will tie you to the bedposts and have my way with you, kissing your beautiful breasts and trailing my tongue over your moist heat until you come over and over again. I will then push inside with my hard cock, stroking in and out and finding all your sensitive spots as you beg me to be rougher. I will give you what you want, and more – so much more.”

  Reduced to panting after hearing Gavin’s intoxicating voice deliver that threat, Abbie kissed him deeply while she melted into him. His response told her he was just as heated as she was. Lifting her off the ground while still kissing her, Gavin walked a short distance away from the crowd and into a forested area.

  He dropped his kilt and brought Abbie up around his hips, hiking her skirts out of his way. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he entered her, holding her in his arms as he pushed deep inside in punishing strokes.

  “You drive me wild, lass.” She bit him on the neck in reply and raked her nails through his hair, moaning as she climaxed and releasing him along with her. Gavin reluctantly set her down after a few moments, loathe to part from her but knowing they couldn’t stand in the trees all day.

  After soundly kissing him once more, Abbie whispered in his ear. “Do I still get the tied to the bedposts treatment later?” She laughed as she watched the kilt he’d just wrapped back on rise up again with her words.

  “Och, aye. You will pay dearly, lass. But for now, let’s go eat.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Dinner was loud and boisterous, with extra people crowding around the table, including Nikolai. Most of the talk concerned the ongoing efforts of the setup, but a few of the newcomers wanted to confirm the story about the wee lass who took out the Campbell. To add to the mayhem were the smoldering looks Gavin delivered as he rubbed his leg against hers under the table and the meaningful glances that Katherine kept sending her way. By the time dinner was over Abbie felt exhausted.

  She must have looked it, too, for Gavin announced that she would be napping and no one was to disturb her.

  “I don’t have time to take a nap. There’s too much to do.” Abbie’s protest fell on deaf ears.

  “You dinna have to do anything except rest. That’s why we have help here. I willna have you getting sick.”

  She was too tired to argue with Gavin and gratefully allowed him to tuck her in bed.

  “You’re not joining me?”

  “You wouldna get any rest that way, lass.” He ran his tongue across her nipple, causing it to peak.

  “That’s not fair.” Abbie reached for him and missed as he stepped back laughing.

  “I dinna intend to be fair at all. My reasons for wanting you to be rested are entirely self-serving. You willna be getting any sleep later tonight.” With that proclamation he left, chuckling softly as he closed the door.

  ***

  Abbie had to admit the rest was worth it when she woke up later with a clearer head than she’d had that morning. This century was much more physically demanding, not to mention all the hot, steamy sex she wasn’t accustomed to. Just the thought brought a smile to her face. As if summoned, Gavin walked in.

  “I’ve always had good timing.” A lascivious grin played upon his perfect lips.

  “Hmm…I have noticed that about you.” Abbie patted the bed beside her, inviting him to sit down. The moment he did, she pushed him back and spread herself on top of him.

  “Do you remember doing this to me when I first arrived here, to show your dominance?”

  “Aye and I still dream about it each night too. The she-devil bit me but her body begged me to rub against her.”

  “So you like to be bit, huh?” Abbie softly bit his lower lip. Gavin rolled her over with lightning speed, straddling her so she was once again under his control.

  “Are you planning on having your way with me now?” Abbie wet her lips in invitation, watching Gavin’s eyes burn with desire.

  “Aye, that was always my plan.”

  They surfaced just in time for supper, which seemed to be a part of Gavin’s good timing also. Maybe the rhythm of the day became an integral part of oneself after a time spent living here. Abbie hoped so. She found that her previous lifestyle of clock-watching left her ill equipped when it came to figuring out what time of day it was, especially if the sun wasn’t shining.

  Nikolai arrived right before they sat down to eat and pulled Gavin off to one side to speak with him. After a moment they returned and the older man was seated across from Abbie to join them at supper. She found the Rom very entertaining; listening to his stories of places he’d traveled to and the things he’d seen. After they finished eating, Gavin led her and Nikolai into the study.

  “I have asked the Laird for permission to talk to you about your century, if you would be willing.” Nikolai bowed low with his request.

  “Of course. What would you like to know?”

  “Anything at all, just describe it to me and let your conversation lead you where it will.” He smiled and took her hand as the three of them sat down, turning her hand palm up and keeping it within his own.

  Abbie mentally shrugged. Maybe that was just his custom while talking to someone. She began to describe her world, the things in it and how she grew up. One thing naturally led to another and she found that she bounced from subject to subject, with Gavin asking occasional questions as he grew fascinated with the telling. As for Nikolai, he sat silent, absorbing it all. After a couple of hours, Abbie had to stop.

  “My voice is getting hoarse. Is there anything in particular you want to know?”

  “No, thank you. That was wonderful to hear. I felt as if I were actually there. Thank you for sharing your experiences with me.” His smile was warm and full of joy. “I must get back now, if you will excuse me?”

  “I will walk back with you.” Gavin turned to Abbie and kissed her soundly. “I, too, enjoyed hearing it all. It was extraordinary to hear you tell it. I’ll return soon.”

  The two men left, leaving Abbie bemused. Well, she was glad that she had been so entertaining for them. But now she needed to go find something to drink and relieve the scratchiness in her throat. Katherine was in the kitchen and made her a hot drink with honey in it when Abbie explained what she was looking for.

  “He asked ye to tell him about yer time? Well, he’s traveled everywhere else, why not the future?” Katherine thought the conversation might have had more to do with Abbie herself, but she didn’t say so.

  “Thank you for the drink; my throat already feels better.” Abbie gave her a hug and went upstairs to wait for Gavin.

  ***

  The two men walked in silence for a minute as their steps took them away from the castle. When Nikolai had proposed that he try to read Abbie’s future while she talked, Gavin had been of two minds about doing so. At the moment he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the outcome, if it meant that he wouldn’t be a part of it. Honor demanded that he help Abbie in any way he could though – best to get it over with.

  “What did you see?”

  “I saw her at the end of a very long life, surrounded by her children and many grandchildren. She was happy and well loved. Everything was as it should be for her.” Nikolai smiled. Her memories had been full of joy and the essence of them infused him with the emotion.

  “Was she here, in this century?” And with me, but he didn’t add that. Hope lightened Gavin’s heart. Perhaps the Fae had left her alone, to remain he
re with him. That thought turned to ashes as he watched the Rom’s face grow somber.

  “That I could not see. She stands in both times. There is a duality about her that I couldn’t interpret. It is a permanent part of her now, no matter what time she lives in. I wish I could tell you more, but at least you have the knowledge that she will be happy.”

  “I am grateful to know that much anyway. Thank you for sharing that with me.”

  Gavin left Nikolai at the door of his wagon and walked back to the castle, deep in thought. Did this mean she might not be meant to stay with him? He couldn’t accept that, but a seed of doubt began to bloom in the darkest part of his soul.

  He found Abbie waiting for him in the bedroom. His heart grew fierce as he gazed at her naked body standing before the fire. She was his destiny. He would never let her go, even when he moved beyond this world and into the next. A smile played upon her lips as she watched him.

  “You look the way I imagine you do when you’re about to go into battle.”

  If she only knew the truth to her statement, he thought. Just three words, freely given, were all that stood in the way of knowing she really belonged to him. He would not coerce them from her though. If she did not give them, it would mean that her own destiny lie elsewhere. It was a realization that filled him with misery, but the only honorable choice he could make. Speaking in Gaelic, telling her of the many emotions that flowed from his heart, Gavin stalked her as he dropped his clothes in a trail behind him.

  Abbie stood riveted to one spot, unable to tear her eyes away from this gorgeous warrior who seemed intent on collecting her as the spoils of war. There was something ancient in his bearing and tone that called forth images of his ancestors as they laid claim to conquered lands and peoples. She shivered as she watched the power within him building to a crescendo.

  Lifting her off the floor, Gavin carried her over to the bed, placing her in the middle of it. Reaching around each bedpost, he pulled a length of cloth from it that Abbie hadn’t been aware of before. He tied each wrist down, and then both ankles, leaving her totally exposed and at his mercy. In his present state of mind, Abbie wasn’t sure if mercy would enter the picture. He seemed possessed; still speaking to her in a language she didn’t understand. One touch from him was all it would take to burst into flame.