Rescued By the Scot Read online

  “Now, this is how we will proceed. Skye you will let Lord Maxwell write a missive, in where you will approve what he inquiries in his letter. Then you will send Ewan to deliver the message and to wait for a reply. In the meantime, you two will work out a plan on how to bring my Logan home to me and this child. Your differences will be set aside, and you will go in as a united front when you confront Shears.”

  They both continued to glare at each other as they listened to Isobel’s words. Neither one of them wanting to give in before the other.

  “Do we have an agreement? Skye? Maxwell?”

  “Yes,” the Earl responded first.

  “Only for you Isobel, I will agree to this. For this plan is against my better judgement,” Skye responded.

  “All right, now this argument is settled. Let us adjourn to dinner. I must feed the babe, she is kicking up a storm.”

  Skye rose from her seat and went to Isobel. She lowered herself, setting her palm against the roundness of Isobel’s stomach. She whispered to the other woman her apologies. Isobel covered Skye’s hand and gently squeezed, whispering her forgiveness. They sat there sharing unspoken words to each other as they enjoyed the baby kicking against their hands.

  Zane turned away from lurking on their private moment. He saw the love these two women shared. One of sisterhood and a deep friendship. He envied them. For he had lost the bonds of friendship. He even destroyed his relationship with Ivy. She begged him to stop, but he wouldn’t heed her advice. His quest for revenge was more important than the friendship she bestowed on him these last few years. He didn’t begrudge her marriage to Thorn, for he knew of her deep love for him. Still, he felt abandoned when he could no longer share his thoughts and secrets with her. For she held the darkest secret of his life and never held it against him. She offered her love and support to him, and what did he do? He tried to seduce her on the eve of her wedding, then risked her life and that of her unborn baby for the ruby. He didn’t know if Thorn would answer his cry for help, but it was his only option.

  He also realized it was time for Skye to trust him, he would have to tell her about the red ruby and his connection to the lost jewel. The lost jewel which now rested in his pocket. The one every man searched for, which he held in his possession throughout the last year. For he had found the missing jewels and the red ruby, but he still hadn’t located the child. Shears knew where to find the missing heir. He was close to having Shears take him to the child before he attempted to kill the Captain. The jewels were safe from Shears and the evilness behind the Crown. The Crown was not innocent in this treason plot. There were leaders in high ranks behind the Crown that were trying to sabotage the King. It was the reason behind his entire mission that even his friends were not privy too.

  He needed to place his trust in this spitfire of a lady. After dinner he would tell her the truth. The truth of the missing heir, the red rubies, and his role in the sequence of events. Also, he would confess how these clues tie back to his family. The one person who held knowledge of the truth was lost to him. Ivy didn’t judge him, and she wouldn’t betray him to Thornhill and Mallory. While he lost the trust of one woman, he now hoped to gain the trust of another.

  After dinner, she wandered off with Isobel and Lachlan to the lad’s bedroom. As he walked by, he listened to their private family moments as he continued to his room. When he walked into the bedroom, the old lady Agatha sat next to his bed.

  “I am well, I am no longer in need of your care. I thank you for your help.”

  “That isn’t why I’m ‘ere laddie. Yi''ll need mah help more than a' body,” she cackled.

  “How so?”

  “Yi''ll need mah help wi' the lassie. A stubborn one she is, bit she haes a heart o' gold.”

  “I think I can handle her fine on my own.”

  “Nae from where ah sat today, laddie. Ye git her in too fine of a temper. Ne’er seen a’body do that afore.”

  “I find that hard to believe.”

  “Nope, usually laughs at a’body. Has a warped sense o’ humor she does. Confuses a’body wi’ her sarcasm. But not ye, ye understand her. So, she cannot use her words against ye. Ye twist her up inside. Ah ne’er imagined this day tae happen. Ye two wull make fine bairns.”

  “You are crazy, old lady. I have no intention of ever being wedded, let alone to that hell-bent woman. Bed her yes, but never wed her.”

  “Och, ye wull bed her, liklie afore th’ night is finished. Bit ye mark mah wurds ye wull wed her too.”

  Zane didn’t answer the healer’s words. She was crazy. No way would he tie himself to that lady for eternity. Now he liked the old lady’s words on bedding Skye this evening. Then he could shake her from his senses and concentrate on what he needed to accomplish. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to listen to the advice of a mad woman.

  “What is your offer of help?”

  The old lady laughed as she explained to him how Skye works and how to manipulate her to his bidding. Zane listened with half an ear, anything to get this healer out of his room. She rambled on how to break through Skye’s barriers. Barriers that were a fortress.

  Finally, the old lady left, Zane settled on the bed and pulled the ruby from his pocket. He rubbed the smoothness of the stone between his fingers. Tonight, he would present the jewel to her and earn her trust. As he lay there, he pictured her lying next to him. When he closed his eyes, he remembered the kiss they shared earlier, her kiss was one of an innocent, but underneath he knew passion brimmed in her soul.

  Chapter Five

  ZANE HEARD HER IN the hallway leaving Lachlan’s room and talking quietly with Isobel. Her footsteps took her closer to him. They paused outside his door; he waited. She didn’t knock, nor did she enter, but he sensed her outside his room. He rose from the bed and moved to the door. Waiting. Then he heard her footsteps move away towards her bedroom.

  He opened the door and stepped into the hallway. She paused when she heard the door open but didn’t turn. Zane strolled up behind her and stood silently at her back. He saw her tighten her hands into fists at her side, then she unraveled her fingers and wiped them against her legs. Zane thought she was angry, but she wasn’t, she was nervous. Did he possess the same power over her that she did on him? She took off again, moving swiftly. He followed. She entered her bedchamber, trying to close the door on him. He stuck his foot inside the door, blocking her from shutting the panel in his face. She tried to pull the door close on his foot, Zane pushed the door wider, sending her behind the door. He peeled her fingers from the door as he entered the room. When he shut the door behind him, he locked the door and slid the key into his pocket.

  He wouldn’t leave this room tonight until he acquired what he came after. He came prepared to spend the entire evening in her chambers until she succumbs to him. There would be only the truth between them before this evening ended. They each held secrets to the answers that needed to be spoken.

  She pulled her fingers from his grasp and made her way to the screen in the corner. He stared as she disrobed. What game did she play? Who was seducing whom? Because he realized from talking to the old lady that seduction was the key to his success with Skye MacKinnon. From where he stood, she was doing all the seducing. Her trousers came off and she slid them over the screen. Next came her red blouse. He saw she only stood in a chemise. A chemise which did nothing to hide the curves gracing her gorgeous body. His body grew hard all over. Hard and achy. Before he could act upon his seduction, she pulled on a nightgown and walked around the screen. A nightgown meant for a nun. What the hell? Did she really think that monstrosity would stop him from her? It was long, white, and buttoned to her throat and beyond. Could she still breathe in something fastened that high?

  As he looked closer at her, he noticed the red blotches on her face. It wasn’t the blush of a rose, but from the redness of being smothered in heat. Little beads of moisture were budding on her temple. Zane laughed to himself, the crazy minx. This would be exciting. He sat in the chair by the f
ire. He lounged back, crossing his leg over his knee, and settled in to relax. She glared at him and wandered to the window. Skye leaned her head against the pane of the glass and let out a soft sigh. She then proceeded to alternately press her cheeks against the window. Zane rose from the chair and grabbed the robe lying across her bed and made his way over to her. He set it upon her shoulders.

  “You looked chilled, you better wrap yourself before you catch an illness, My Lady.”

  Skye shook off the robe and pushed the window open. A burst of bitter air leaped into the room. The wind blew the flames out on the candles by the bedside. Soon the room became washed in darkness, the only light coming from the flames dancing in the fire. The orange color danced in shadows against the wall.

  “You fool, you know I am burning up in this nightgown.”

  Zane laughed, “Fool? I am not the fool madam, you are the only fool in this bedroom. You are the one who dressed yourself for the nunnery.” He fingered the high collar of her nightwear, “Do you think this will stop me from taking what I desire?”

  Skye backed up nervously her legs hitting the back of the chair. She grasped the handles, “I think it would be for the best if you leave my room, Lord Maxwell. It is not proper for you to be in my bedchamber alone. There could be consequences, that neither of us I add, want to happen. I don’t aspire to be stuck with a stuffy Earl as a husband.”

  Zane laughed, “And you think I want a Scottish hoyden as a wife?”

  Skye’s spirit deflated at the insult he threw her way. Was she that undesirable? Would no man ever want her?

  “Then why do you persist to stay in my bedchamber?”

  “I only want a moment of your time, nobody knows I am in here alone with you.”

  “You could be caught.”

  Zane moved in closer, his fingers trailing along the buttons of her gown, “I won’t my dear. Trust me.”

  His head lowered as he placed a kiss along her cheek. Skye closed her eyes at his gentle kiss. His kiss slid lower as his fingers worked to undo the buttons along her neck. His warm mouth placing soft kisses, burning a path against her neck. When his fingers unbuttoned more, uncovering her chest, Skye pulled back away from him. She gathered the cloth in between her hands and moved away from him. His kisses were distracting her from what they needed to discuss. The sooner they talked the sooner he could retire from her room.

  Kneeling she picked up the robe and wrapped it around her body, tying it at her waist. She walked around the room, straightening items which needed no attention, but it distracted her from him.

  “What is it you wish to discuss with me Maxwell?”

  Zane brushed his hand through his hair at his frustration with himself. He says one thing but did the opposite where she was concerned. She was correct on him leaving her alone. They could discuss this on the morrow when there were others around to chaperone them. He played with fire kissing her. She was just so darn desirable.

  “You are correct, we can discuss this in the morning. Perhaps you can have Isobel join us for tea. I wish to discuss a sensitive matter with you, but as I cannot be trusted to be alone with you, it will be in our best interest to have company. I believe you hold Isobel in the highest esteem, and you trust her to hold my secrets as her own. Am I correct in this assumption?”

  Skye nodded her head, “Yes, Isobel can be trusted not to betray your secrets.”

  Maxwell bowed. “Then I bid you sweet dreams, my dear. I shall retire myself for the night. Please forgive me for my unwanted advances. I will refrain in the future, to keep my hands to myself.”

  Skye listened to his sincere apology and suffered a keen sense of loss. Did she want him to keep his hands to himself? Quite the opposite in fact, she wanted them touching her body. Should she let him leave, or should she take a chance on him? She realized they had no future, but no man ever made her burn like him. Just the brush of his fingers at her cheek sent her aflame.

  When she didn’t reply to him, he turned to exit the room. Before Skye realized what she was doing, she followed him to the door. She moved so quietly he didn’t hear her approach. When he reached for the handle, she laid her hand upon his shoulder. Lightly. Just the brush of her fingers. His hand stilled on the door knob, his fingers tightening their grip as her hand moved down his back. Her fingers drawing the path of fire on him.

  Neither one of them spoke as her fingers caressed him. Zane fought his inner demons. He understood as a gentleman she was an innocent to the ways of men. He should respect her and remove himself from this room at once. The man inside him who desired her; was fighting to turn around, wrap her in his arms, and show her how their passion could burn.

  “Skye?”

  She didn’t respond to him. Her fingers slid his shirt out from his trousers and touched his back. Her fingers caressing his skin, light as a feather they teased. Teased him into a hard position. When her fingers circled around to his front and brushed across his stomach, he hung his head against the door moaning.

  “If you don’t want me to turn around and carry you to your bed, it will be in your best interest to remove your fingers from my body.”

  “And what if that is what I wish, Lord Maxwell?”

  “Zane.”

  “What?”

  Zane turned around slowly, pulling her to his chest, “My name is Zane, say it.”

  “Zane,” her husky voice whispered before he took her lips in a kiss built up from the promise of her touch on him.

  Their kiss erupted into a passion that took their breath away. Passion that led him to pull her up into his arms and carry her to the bed. As he laid her on the mattress, his lips never left hers. His tongue slid across her lips, guiding them open so he could fuel the fire which burned. She didn’t deny him the taste; her tongue met his and dueled. His need for her was stronger than anything he ever experienced before. He must have her now.

  “We don’t need this anymore, do we minx?” he asked. Zane didn’t wait for her to reply as he gripped her nightgown by the buttons and ripped her gown into pieces. Buttons flew across the bed, rolling to the floor and settling where they may.

  She blushed as he ripped her gown from her body, but one look at the need in his eyes, left her no room for embarrassment. His desire flooded her senses with everything in him. His dark smoky eyes raked her body, taking in her imperfections. The only thing she saw in his gaze was that she was perfect for him. His hands trailed a blaze after his eyes, there was no part of her body he did not touch or gaze upon. When his fingers finished touching, his lips were burning a trail of fire, heating her to distraction. Skye ached and moaned for more.

  She wanted to touch him too and needed his body to press into hers. Skye slid her hands under his shirt and struggled to remove it from him. When he sensed her struggle, he removed his shirt. She stared as he threw it on the floor and moved his hands to his trousers. He stopped at the buttons, glancing to see if she changed her mind.

  Zane paused as he started to undo his pants. He had to take this slower, he should stop now. His cock ruled his brain at this moment. Now was not the time for that. His life was a chaotic mess, he didn’t need this distraction. But he could no more stop making love to her now, then he could quit breathing. When he looked at her lying vulnerable and naked on her bed, it took everything in his power to not plow into her. She deserved better than this. He was a selfish bastard and would have her this evening. His need was too strong to stop, but if she wanted him to, he would stop.

  She watched him pause. Was he changing his mind? Or was he giving her the choice to change it for him? She didn’t want him to halt. Skye rose to her knees and crawled over to him. When she reached his side, she brushed his hands away. She slid the buttons undone and peeled back the placket of his trousers. She saw his need strain against his pants. He wanted her, of that she was positive. Her fingers peeled open his trousers further, lightly brushing against his hardness. She heard him gasp. Skye looked up to see he held onto his control by a thin thread.
She wondered what his reaction would be if she slid her hand inside to make her attempt. Her hand slid in deeper, he reached lower and clamped her hand in his wrist.

  He rubbed the inside of her wrist with his thumb, tightening his hold. He didn’t want to scare her with his grip, he was barely holding onto what control he could keep. When she attempted to touch him, he almost spent himself right then and there. He needed to move slower, this woman was driving him mad with desire. His touch against her wrist became gentler. Slow, sensuous circles against the beat of her pulse. A pulse beating a fast rhythm against his thumb.

  He whispered in her ear, “While I would love the touch of your hands on me, we need to take this slower. Or it will end before we even begin.”

  She looked up in confusion.

  “I am mad with a need for you my dear. I am barely keeping it together. Another time you may explore, but for now, I need control if I am to please you.”

  “What if I don’t want you to have control?”

  “I do not want to hurt you, My Goddess.”

  “I do not hurt that easily, My Lord.”

  He growled, “Zane.”

  She smiled as she laid back on the bed stretching her body out, her long limbs sprawled out for him to view. Her arm sliding up her side, then casually through her hair. Both arms reached above her head as she stretched, raising her breasts higher. Her tight nipples beckoning his lips for a taste. His cock grew harder at the sight of her teasing him with her need.