Awe was nothing compared to what had been building since.
She knew it.
Felt it.
And ached for it.
Galen’s hard arousal pressed into her belly as he groaned deep in his throat. His hunger for Reaghan had spread faster, intensified quicker, than he had ever expected. It frightened him, this need he had to have her. Claim her. Own her.
He wanted her naked beneath him. He wanted to cup her breasts and watch her nipples harden. He wanted to spread her thighs and see the auburn curls that shielded her beautiful sex. He wanted to be inside her, deep and hard, to bring her to fulfillment and see her face as she peaked.
His body raged, demanding he take her, but somehow, Galen found the will to bring his body under control and end the kiss. With his hands on either side of her face, he smoothed her hair back. Her lips were swollen and wet with his kiss. She tempted him with her passion-filled gray eyes.
His cock jumped, eager to have her rub against it once more. He kept control of his body and the hunger that pleaded for more of Reaghan.
She rested her head on his chest as she looked out at the sea. “My body is not my own whenever you touch me.”
“I shouldna have kissed you now. I want you too desperately.”
“Do you regret it?”
“Never,” he answered more harshly than intended.
She linked her hands behind his back and sighed. “I sense you are concerned about something. Is it my spell?”
“Nay. I worry over taking you away from Loch Awe. I worry over Deirdre attacking again. I worry over the headaches that pain you.”
She put a finger over his lips. “You told me I would be safe here. As much as I loved Loch Awe and felt safe there, there is something different about this castle. Maybe it’s the magic of the Druids who call it home, I’m not sure. But I think you’re right. I am safe here. As for the rest.” She shrugged. “What will be will be.”
“You know I will help you in any way I can.” He saw the fear she tried to hide, and he wished he could ease it. But he knew nothing of spells.
“I’ll hold you to that. Maybe you can help me break the spell.”
Galen licked his lips and pressed her head against his chest. “Do you think I will abandon you when you lose your memories?”
“Nay. The thought of forgetting who everyone is and what I’ve done in the past frightens me more than I like to admit.”
“Which is why you wish to break the spell?” Galen began to realize that was probably why no one had told Reaghan what she had done to herself before. Still, he didn’t regret his decision.
“It’s one of the reasons. I want to help you and the others against Deirdre. Whatever information I’m hiding could do that. I want to give it to you.”
She leaned back to look at him, and as Galen gazed into her gray eyes, he knew he would move heaven and earth to do whatever she wanted. Reaghan had given him what no one else could. He was able to touch her and hold her.
Galen had forgotten how much he missed that contact until he’d had Reaghan. He was lost in Reaghan, in her beauty and the solace she gave him. Now that he had found her, he never wanted to let her go.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Reaghan followed Galen as he took her around the castle wall and down a vertical path to the sea. She had found herself awestruck by the castle. It was exactly as she had seen it in her dreams. Imposing. Majestic. Stunning.
The only difference between now and her dreams were the burn marks that scorched the stones and the evidence of repairs. The castle itself perched at the edge of the cliff, the towers stretching high in the sky, almost touching the clouds.
The gray stone looked as if it had been carved there by God Himself as it sat against the startling green of the grass and the many boulders and rocks that protruded from the ground. Even the backdrop of the dark blue waters of the sea only added to the mystical and magical elements of the castle.
The castle might have been built by, and for, mortals, but it had been destined for Warriors and Druids.
Now, as Reaghan navigated the path to the water with Galen, she no longer cared about the castle or how she knew so much about it. All she wanted was to feel the sea.
Rocks ranging in all sizes littered the ground, making it tricky to walk, but she refused to turn back. Galen never let go of her hand. Once he had her safely standing on one of the large boulders the sea crashed against, he remained by her side.
Laughter bubbled inside Reaghan the first time a wave splashed her. The water was cool, and the salt thick in the breeze and on her tongue. She watched as the waves rolled into shore, capped with white at the top, before moving back into the sea.
The cliffs stood like a sentry against the sea, much like the castle stood against Deirdre. The water might take bits and pieces of the cliffs each time it slammed into them, but in the end the cliffs survived, endured.
Just as the MacLeods and the Warriors who coexisted with them would.
“Is it everything you expected?” Galen asked.
Reaghan smiled and looked at the horizon where the bright blue sky met the indigo sea. She could see the reflection of the clouds on the water, and had to shield her eyes from the sparkle of the sun as it glinted off the sea. “Everything and more.”
“You know the way down now. Come whenever you like. Just doona swim by yourself.”
She swiveled her head to him and frowned. “Why?”
“There are currents that would suck you under and not let you go. Hayden swims daily. If you want to test the waters, talk to him so he can tell you where the safest places are.”
Reaghan nodded.
“Come. I’ll show you more,” Galen offered as he held out his hand.
She took it, allowing his strong fingers to close around her hand and lead her back to the path. He steadied her as they climbed when her skirts got in the way. She had seen Larena wearing breeches, and though she had been shocked at first, Reaghan found herself wondering how it would feel not to have her heavy skirts in the way.
“This would be much easier if I wore breeches as Larena does.”
Galen stumbled and jerked his head around to her. “I doona think that is a good idea.”
“You don’t think Larena should wear breeches?”
Galen continued onward, his face turned away from her. “I didn’t say that. I doona think you should.”
“Why?”
“Because I’d never get anything done seeing those long legs of yours encased in tight breeches.”
Reaghan smiled as warmth spread through her. It made her giddy, excited. Just knowing Galen wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off her made her want to turn him around and kiss him.
As they reached the top Reaghan spotted Cara in her garden and heard laughter coming from the kitchens. Galen paused as Cara rose to her feet.
“How did you like the sea?” Cara asked Reaghan.
Reaghan grinned. “It was stunning.”
“Reaghan,” Marcail called from the door of the kitchen. “Would you like to join us? I’ve been praying someone else who knows nothing about cooking arrives so I’m not sitting alone.”
