“I let you sleep those hours.”
This got her attention. She moved her arm and sighed. Then she pushed herself into a sitting position to lean back against the headboard and reached for the mug. She took several sips before she asked, “I thought you wanted to get an early start.”
“I do. I went out last night and gathered everything you’ll need for the hike.”
“You mean everything
He simply smiled at her statement. “Of course.”
She rolled her eyes. “Ah. I see. You’re a Warrior, so you don’t need the things a poor mortal does.”
“Something like that.”
“I am a Druid, you know. I do have magic. I can use it if need be.”
“I’ve seen you use it. I know.”
Aisley stilled, thinking he was referring to the battles between the Warriors and Jason. Then she relaxed when she recalled the two men attacking her in Glasgow.
“I just want you safe,” Phelan said.
She looked at the dark liquid of the tea. “Why do I keep feeling as if I need to get as far from Skye as I can?”
“I think that’s the Druids doing it.”
“You’ve seen them?” she asked as her gaze jerked to him.
He shrugged one thick shoulder. “No’ seen exactly. I’ve felt them. They’re here and watching me.”
“Us.”
“Us,” he agreed.
She scooted to the edge of the bed, careful not to spill her tea. Her feet dangled over the side. “Aren’t you worried that they haven’t approached us?”
“Nay. They’re waiting to see what we’ll do.”
“I thought you said you’d been here before.”
“I have. Several times.”
Aisley rolled her eyes when he didn’t elaborate. “All those times you didn’t sense Druids?”
“I did.” His smile was slow, telling her he knew he was being difficult.
“Phelan,” she warned.
He chuckled. “Everyone I’ve encountered on this isle has been mortal without a touch of magic. The Druids keep to themselves. I’ve felt them, but always from a distance. Whoever is watching us now has gotten closer.”
“You’re not worried.”
“Nay.”
“Nay,” she mimicked as she slid off the bed and walked to the window to look out on the mountains shrouded in mist. “You do realize with all your powers as a Warrior that a Druid can still stop you in your tracks.”
“We’ll see.”
Aisley set down her mug on the small table and glanced at the hiking shoes, thick socks, waterproof jacket, and gloves laid out for her. But that wasn’t all. Besides a lightweight, waterproof pant there were four long-sleeved thermal shirts in black and two sweaters, one a cream color made of thick wool. The other was a charcoal gray and lighter weight, but still made of wool.
“The weather can change by the hour,” Phelan said as he came up beside her. “You’ll be prepared for anything.”
She lifted her gaze to him. “And you?”
“I’m always prepared for anything.”
He gave her a quick kiss before he slapped her butt. “Hurry. I’m anxious to get moving.”
Aisley shook her head as he walked out of the room to do whatever it was Phelan did. She didn’t waste any more time getting dressed.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
Aisley held her gloves in her hand as she walked to the lobby. She wasn’t shocked to find Phelan talking with two other women who were hanging on his every word.
One of the females, a buxom blonde showing enough cleavage that Aisley could make out the red of her bra, placed a hand on Phelan’s arm.
Phelan kept talking, but he angled himself so that he moved away from the blonde’s touch. It was obvious, and it was done in such a way that if Aisley hadn’t been watching him, she wouldn’t have known what he did.
His gaze slid to her. The smile he gave slammed into her, nearly knocking her on her ass. He might be charming those other women, but his look told her he only wanted her.
Aisley fisted her hand as she recalled the way his thick, defined muscles moved beneath her hand, how warm his skin was. How wonderful his weight felt atop her as he filled her body with his arousal.
Her breath hitched and her body flushed with need. Phelan wasn’t just sex appeal and rugged masculinity, he was magnetic, hypnotic.
Irresistible.
And for the moment, he was hers.
As if he knew what she was thinking, his blue-gray eyes darkened. His desire was as palpable as her own. The invisible bonds between them strengthened, grew. They tugged at her, drawing her down the last two remaining steps.
Aisley couldn’t stop her feet from moving her toward Phelan. He was a force unto himself, and like gravity, she was powerless to resist his call.
She ignored the nasty looks from the two women as she came to stand in front of Phelan. He wore a black long-sleeve thermal shirt that molded to his bulging muscles. Instead of the same waterproof pants she wore, he had on jeans.
“Ready?” he asked.
She thought about the need pulsing within her. “No.”
“Doona tempt me, beauty,” he said in a low, seductive tone that made her heart race.
“Consider this tempting.”
He stared at her for the longest time before he shook his head. “I can no’ believe I’m no’ throwing you over my shoulder and taking you back to the room.”
“You’re not?” she asked incredulously.
“This is a first for me. Just as leaving you sleeping last night was.”
“Then you shouldn’t have let me sleep.”
His smile made her roll her eyes. “You needed your rest for today.”
Aisley decided then and there that the next chance she got, she was going to tease Phelan mercilessly. Let him writhe in need as she was then.
He handed her a backpack before he slung his own over his shoulder. “Ready?”
“Not really,” she said and followed him out of the hotel.
They were halfway to the Cuillins before she asked, “What about our stuff in the hotel?”
“I’ve paid a week in advance. Our things will be fine,” he answered from in front of her.
Aisley hooked her thumbs in the straps of the backpack and kept pace with Phelan. The sky was clear. For now. How long it would stay that way was anyone’s guess.
“They’re near,” Phelan said when he reached back to help her up over a large boulder.
“Great.”
“We’re no’ the only hikers. They willna approach us for a while.”
“I’d rather they didn’t approach at all.”
“Why do you fear them?”
