Highlander’s Wicked Temptation: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel by Maddie MacKenna (red novels TXT) 📗

burn?’ the man asked feeling his life slipping from him. Instantly he thought of his wife and children.

“‘I did not ask for fire, but a fireplace and a chimney,’ the beast hissed. ‘Can you not make such a thing?’

“‘On land, yes, but down here? It is impossible.’

“‘Then make it for me on land and fetch me when it is done. And I swear I will spare your life. Should you deny me this one thing, I will hunt you down and slaughter you and the family you cling to.’

Stunned the man agreed and the deal was struck. The creature returned the man to his home and he immediately started on the project. Day and night the man toiled to create the most elaborate fireplace and chimney ever constructed. When he had finished, the man called forth the beast from the loch. Charging up from the bitter depths, the beast broke the surface of the loch. He scowled at the mason.

“‘Is this that which you have promised to build me?’ the creature asked. The man nodded.

“‘It is the finest work I have ever done,’ the man exclaimed. A cold chill swept over the land and the loch, and before the man knew it, his creation was gone. Swallowing hard, the man stood at the edge of the water and watched as the top of the chimney poked through the water in the center of the lake. Before he could step away, the creature had returned.

“‘For your work,’ the beast said, ‘I will spare your life. You have eased my troubles and for that, I grant you and your family clemency. Fish here whenever you like, and I swear I will not harm you or your blood line.’”

Cleo leaned back and smiled at Hugh. Her eyes softened under the glowing fire. “To this day, you will find a spot on the loch that dos not freeze over. It is there, and if you look hard enough, you’ll spy the stones the mason built for the chimney to keep the Kelpie’s wife warm in the dark.”

Ronan howled and clapped as did the others. Jude felt the tension lift around him as Hugh dropped his shoulders and wiped his hand across his brow.

“That was a good story,” Hugh said. “Monsters of the deep, a maiden, it had it all.”

“I’m pleased you liked it,” Cleo said as she glanced to Jude.

“All right,” Jude said tapping his hand on Hugh’s leg. “To bed with ye. We’ll be home tomorrow and I’m sure Cleo needs her rest too.”

“Faither,” Hugh began to complain as Jude tucked him down near the fire. “How can I sleep after that tale?”

“Try,” Jude said pressing his lips to Hugh’s forehead. Cleo smiled and Jude could feel she was watching them as he rose to his feet and moved to her. He extended his hand. Cleo looked at it a bit confused before she placed her hand into his.

“As promised,” Jude said.

“I’m sorry?”

“I told ye I’d show ye the stars,” Jude answered as he led her away from the flickering fire light.

Cleo shivered as the wind whipped across the land. Jude quickly pulled the cloak off his shoulders and draped it around hers. She looked up to him and tucked her hair behind her ear.

It took all his strength to shift his attention to the sky as he felt her gaze still on him. “There, do ye see that one? The box in the sky? At the end, you’ll find the Northern star, the guide, as some call it.”

Jude’s heart pounded as he felt Cleo move closer to him. Her tiny body brushed against his sending every nerve of his body quaking. A lump formed in his throat as he pulled in a deep breath to take in her scent. There was a floral aroma to her. A softness about the way she stood beside him, gazing up into the curtain of night.

“And that one?” she asked pointing out in front of them to the brilliant blue bulb of light flickering against the blackness.

Jude reached his hand up and brushed against hers as he lowered his head. Her cheek rubbed against his for a moment causing them both to jump back as they realized they were gravitating toward each other.

“That is Cassiopeia,” he whispered in her ear. A smile drifted over his lips as he caught her shivering as his hot breath tickled her neck. She turned her head slightly as her lips were but a breath away from his.

With his heart beating frantically in his chest, he stared at her a moment. While the darkness tried to mask her face, he could see it clearly in the dark. She was as bright as the moon and just as soft. Her lips parted as he stared at the wonder in her eyes.

Slowly, he lowered his head, moving closer to her lips. He expected her to shift and turn away, but she held his gaze as he hesitated to crush his lips to hers. Her eyelids fluttered as she sucked in a gulp of air.

Would I offend her if I…?

Jude waited for her to exhale as he watched her body quiver from the cold. Drifting his hand up, he brushed the back of his hand over her cheek. The moment her eyes closed, he leaned in and crushed his lips to hers.

A small moan escaped her lips as their mouths molded and shifted to one another’s. His heart ached as her caress set him ablaze with a passion that he had thought had been extinguished. There was no fire in all the world that would burn hotter than the kiss they shared.

Just as Cleo wrapped her arms around his neck, he heard the ground crunching behind them. He snapped away from her. The shock in her eyes stung him.

What am I doin’? I cannae be doin’ this. What would Miriam say if she were lookin’ down on us from heaven?

Guilt crushed the joy from him as he turned his back to Cleo. Ronan stopped