“Is it working?”
Malcolm released a breath. “You’re irritating. Go back to your wife, dragon. I’m done with you.”
“You shouldna push everyone away, Warrior. One day you’re going to need friends.”
“I doona need anyone or anything.”
“Keep lying to yourself,” Guy said as he turned and walked away.
Malcolm wanted to dismiss Guy’s words, but long after the Dragon King left his statement continued to run through Malcolm’s mind.
“Damn interfering dragons,” Malcolm grumbled.
* * *
Phelan finished his scouting on foot and hurried back to his bike. The forest wasn’t exactly the spot he expected to find Wallace, but Phelan knew firsthand what a great place it was to hide.
He was thankful he didn’t sense Wallace’s magic, but at the same time, a niggle of worry wouldn’t relent. What did it mean that he felt Wallace’s magic so keenly? And now nothing?
It was enough to make him want to haul Aisley to MacLeod Castle. At least he would find out who she was running from. Phelan smiled as he started the bike.
On the drive back to the cabin, he glanced at the sky to see the rain clouds coming in. He might not mind riding in the rain, but he didn’t want to take Aisley out on the motorbike in such weather. Anything could happen. She’d catch a chill or they could wreck and she might die.
It didn’t go unnoticed by him how he worried over Aisley now. Even before he knew of her parents kicking her out, being pregnant and alone, and then her daughter dying, he had an uncontrollable, undeniable need to protect her.
Not once had he thought to fight it. Nor did he want to.
He chuckled as he imagined what Charon would say if he knew. Phelan reached his hand to his back pocket and discovered he’d left his mobile phone at the house. He would check in with Charon when he returned.
The closer he came to the cabin the more he felt Aisley’s magic, except it was stronger than normal—as if she was using it.
Wave after wave washed over him as her magic pulsed across the land. He gripped the handlebars tightly when his body responded in an instant.
When the cabin came into view he simply followed the feel of Aisley’s magic to see her standing at the shore of the loch. As soon as she saw him, her magic dimmed to the regular hum of when she wasn’t actively calling it forth. She waved as he drove to the shed and parked the bike.
It began to drizzle as he walked to her. She started running to the house. The storm grew stronger with each step she took. Phelan met her halfway and wrapped his arm around her as they rushed to the porch.
Her laugh was rich and amazing. And he wanted to hear more of it.
“I thought the storm might miss us,” she said.
Phelan drew her into his arms and kissed away any more words she might have. At the first taste of her, he tightened his arms and deepened the kiss. She moaned into his mouth as their tongues mated.
He couldn’t get enough of her. His splayed hand ran up her back over her damp shirt and into the long, thick length of her midnight hair. He fisted his hand in her tresses and bent her back over his arm. Her nails sunk into his shoulder. The kiss turned fiery, furious as their passion ignited into an inferno.
She ended the kiss and pulled out of his arms. An impish grin showed on her face as she unbuttoned her shirt and tossed it aside.
Phelan’s balls tightened when her jeans followed. Her fawn-colored eyes danced with desire when she undid her white lace bra and let it fall from her breasts. But it was when she hooked her thumbs in her panties and, with agonizing slowness, slid them over her hips and down her legs that he moaned in need.
She threw the black-and-white polka-dot panties in his face. Her laughter filled the air as he watched her run into the rain. She threw her arms out and spun around and around in the storm.
Phelan dropped her panties and shed his clothes in record time. He followed her into the rain and jerked her against his body. “You’re a siren come to seduce and enchant me.”
“Is it working?”
“Aye, beauty. From the first moment I saw you.”
His gaze dropped to her kiss-swollen lips. He covered her mouth with his. With her bare breasts pressed against him, he couldn’t get close enough to her.
When he considered lowering her to the wet ground, he ended the kiss and drew in a shaky breath. “You’ll catch your death.”
“If I get a cold, you can heal me. Besides, I never get sick.” She reached between them and wrapped her hand around his cock. “Stop worrying about me and enjoy this.”
His lids slid shut as she ran her hand up and down his length. She paused at the tip of his arousal and ran her thumb around it.
Longing and need burned through him. Phelan dropped his head back and let her have her way with him. He groaned when she cupped his sac and gently massaged his balls.
“You’re killing me,” he murmured.
“As you did me last night. It’s time for your pleasure.”
He grabbed her wrist to halt her and looked into her eyes. “Seeing your pleasure is enough for me.”
“Why couldn’t I have met you before?”
The sadness in her eyes made him ache inside his chest. He slid his hands to her neck until he held her face in his hands. “We’re together now. For as long as you want.”
“I thought you didn’t do relationships.”
“I don’t. Teach me, Aisley.”
Aisley didn’t know who was more surprised by his statement: he or she. She blinked through the raindrops falling from her lashes. “I’m not the one for you.”
His blue-gray eyes narrowed with anger. “What?”
“I’m not the one for you,” she repeated and tried to step out of his arms, but he wouldn’t release her.
“We can no’ go into town in this weather,” Phelan said. “I’ll no’ endanger you that way.”
She let him change the subject because she knew how ridiculous it was for them to talk of a relationship. There would never be one between them. “Why are you saying that as if you’re trying to convince me?”
“Because I know you were going to leave tonight.”
She swallowed and lowered her eyes to his chest. “Phelan, if you knew the truth—”
“I doona care,” he interrupted her.
“You say that now.”
“Then tell me now, beauty. Tell me this secret you fear. Just promise you’ll stay with me.”
Aisley knew what he asked was impossible. Yet, it was what she wanted. She wasn’t ready to give up this slice of paradise she’d found with Phelan.
In the middle of the forest, it was just the two of them. No pasts, no worries. Just the pleasure in each other’s arms.
That wouldn’t stop Jason, however. He was coming for her. She knew that now. And she knew she had to stop him. Phelan hadn’t given her enough time that day. She needed several hours, and he had given her barely one.
She wanted to tell him about Jason that night, but she didn’t have all she needed. And if she was going to have a chance, she needed everything. Or Phelan might not give her the time to gather it once he learned the truth.
“Or keep your secret,” Phelan said when she hesitated. “I … I’ve never spent this long in the company of a woman I’ve made love to. This is new, and I’m sure I’m saying this all wrong.”
Aisley put her finger to his lips to silence him. “You’re saying everything right. That’s the problem. I’m not good for you.”
“You are,” he said as he moved her finger. “Why else would I want you here?”
No matter how much she knew she needed to leave, her heart had already made the decision. There was no fighting it, no denying it. No one had ever asked her to stay.
No one except Phelan.
