Page 26 of Charlie

He ignores her, hot on my heels.

I reach a tall boulder and collapse against the far side, struggling to catch my breath.

"Charlie!" Isla calls out, seemingly giving up on Jay answering her. I draw in a breath to shout, but Jay materializes out of the dark, placing a warm finger against my lips.

"Shhh." He settles himself in front of me, his hooded gaze shattering my resistance.

I reach up to slide his mask off, but his fingers circle my wrists, stopping me. "Don't ruin the magic, mo chridhe."

My heart hammers against my ribs so loudly I'm sure he can hear it. I drop my gaze. His hand dwarfs my chin as he cups it and gently pushes it up so I'm looking him in the eyes. "Good girl," he murmurs. He traces his fingers across my chin, over my cheek, and into my hair, cupping the base of my skull. "May I?" he asks, wiggling one of the pins in my hair.

I nod, unable to find words. He carefully pulls the pins from my hair one by one, shaking my hair loose so it falls around my shoulders. "You shouldna wear your hair up," he says, his fingertip following a strand from behind my ear, over my shoulder, and across the upper swell of my chest. I draw in a sharp breath, his finger pressing into the top of my breast for a split second. His gaze drops to my mouth, his touch not far behind. He traces my lower lip, pulling on it gently.

"Why?" I whisper, warring against the lust pulsing through my body.

He grasps a handful of hair at the base of my skull, pulling gently to expose my neck. I moan, melting against him. "That's why," he groans, his lips against my neck.

"Jay!" Isla bellows from a few yards away. He bends and scoops me up without warning, annoyance flashing over his face.

"Look whom I found trying to get to Lallybroch!" Jay says, rounding the stone and heading toward Isla's voice.

Lallybroch? I look over his shoulder, barely able to make out the rock I had been leaning against. It was one of a dozen stones rising like giants from the earth. Goosebumps race down my arms. "If I had realized those were standing stones, I would have been paying more attention to them and less to you," I say under my breath.

"I doubt that, lass," he rumbles, his eyes twinkling behind his mask.

He sets me down on the path, his hand lingering on my back. I catch it in mine and squeeze lightly. "It was nice meeting you, Jay."

"Charlotte," he purrs, pressing a warm kiss to my palm.

Isla grabs my arm and drags me toward the door, but I can't bear to break our eye contact. His face stays in shadow as he removes his mask. I am desperate not to leave. For once in my life, I feel like I belong.

"What the heck were you doing by the stones?" Isla asks, startling me out of my fantasy as we head toward the front drive.

"I just wanted to see them," I hedge, not sure I want to talk about what has happened yet.

She looks at me askance. "Well, you're soaked. Lachlan's waiting to take you home."

"What about you?" I look at her closely, noticing the color high on her cheeks.

"A girl never tells her secrets," she laughs.

"You better tell me tomorrow," I grumble.

"You know I will. Goodnight, Charlie." She wraps her arm around my neck and gives me a quick peck on the cheek.

She hands me over to Lachlan at the front of the house. I fold myself into his car, pulling my skirts in so they don't get caught in the door. He drops into the driver's seat, wood and citrus invading my senses.

"Did you have fun?"

"Yes." I grin. "I had an amazing time."

"I hope Jay didn't scare you. He can be... intense."

"He didn't," I say quickly. Too quickly.

Lachlan cocks his eyebrow and chuckles. "He has that effect on most women." His fingers skim over my thigh as he picks up my hand, the touch sends a spark to my core, joining the blaze already there. "You're beautiful." He traces each of my fingers, his eyes on mine.

"Thank you," I whisper, the fire burning hotter.

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