Page 74 of The Highlander Who Loved Me

“We will be happy together, James,” Davina said, her voice firm, her eyes filled with hope.

“I already am happy, sweetheart,” he declared, dropping a kiss on the top of her nose.

“How much longer should we stay here?” she asked.

“It would be safest to wait until nightfall to leave, to make our way back to the castle under cover of darkness.”

Davina nodded. She shifted, placing her hand over her belly. “Goodness, I’m hungry. Ye might remember that I missed breaking my fast this morning.”

Aye, he’d been so anxious to be alone with her, he hadn’t allowed her any time to eat before whisking her away from the great hall. “Dinnae ye nibble on those oatcakes ye took from the table?”

“Nay, I put them in my pocket.”

“Shall I check if they are still there?”

She burst out laughing. “If they survived our swim in the loch, then I’m going to sit here and watch ye eat every soggy crumb.”

“I should do it, just to make amends.”

He lowered his head and kissed her bare shoulder. “Yer clothes should be dry soon. Why don’t ye try and rest until then? Unless ye fear the return of yer nightmares?”

“Knowing ye are close should hold them at bay.” Smiling, she traced her finger along his arm. “Sleeping will take my mind off my grumbling stomach.”

“I shall order a haunch of venison to be roasted the moment we return home,” he replied. “’Twill be a celebration of our impending nuptials.”

Davina adjusted her position and placed her head in his lap. His manhood stirred with interest at the feel of her breath so near. She let out a wicked little laugh. “Like my promised meal, this too must wait until we return to the castle. ’Tis only fair.”

He groaned, low and deep. “Cease yer teasing, wench.”

“Aye, good sir.”

She wiggled about, then settled herself. James waited until her breathing slowed and deepened before taking the hilt of his sword in his hand. Eyes trained on the cave entrance, he sat, watched, and waited.

A while later, James heard the distinct sound of footsteps crunching on stones. An uneasy sensation gripped his gut, but he forced himself to remain calm, logical. It had been hours since they escaped their would-be attackers; ’twas impossible for them to have been followed here.

The cave was well hidden, which made the likelihood of their pursuers happening upon it a very small possibility. Nay, if someone were coming, it had to be someone who knew about the cave.

And there were very few people who fit that description.

Or so he believed.

Davina lifted her head off his lap and turned to him with questioning eyes. He nodded. She rolled off him, hastily donning her clothes. He quickly pulled on his brais and still-damp tunic, then picked up his sword. Reaching into his boot, he pulled out one of his dirks.

“Here.” James turned and handed the blade to Davina. “I hope and pray it’s a McKenna warrior making all that noise. But if not . . .”

Her eyes grew wide, but she took the weapon with a nod of thanks. James glimpsed the raw determination in Davina’s face and found a small measure of comfort. Pray God it did not happen, but if it came to it, she would not go down without a fight.

“How long before they find us?” she whispered.

James cocked his head and listened, straining to hear. “Not long. Crouch down behind that large rock and stay hidden until I tell ye to come out,” he commanded.

When Davina had done as he asked, James moved to the other side of the cave. He wanted to make certain to draw the attention of whoever stepped inside toward him and away from Davina. Fitting himself between a narrow crack in the rock wall, he watched from the shadows.

He didn’t have long to wait. A man, his sword drawn, walked through the natural archway of stone into their section of the cave. He held a torch aloft in one hand and his sword in the other, the long, sharp blade glistening in the light.

For an instant James was blinded, but then he saw the distinct colors of the McKenna plaid. Yet he didn’t relax his grip on his sword until he recognized the warrior’s features.

“Malcolm!”

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