Read Plight of the Highlander (The MacLomain Series: Next Generation Book 5) for Free Online Page B

always been when near her, the fire in his blood started to boil and his groin tightened. Well aware of his arousal, her cheeks flushed and her eyes took on a dewy quality.
    “Gods, I want you so much, Torra,” he said, a low groan settling deep in his chest.
    “Aye,” she whispered.
    While he clearly saw her mutual desire, he also saw the stark fear.
    Unable to keep hope and desire from his voice, he said, “You mentioned that one of the kings is of your dragon blood. Has he told you anything of what might happen if we lie together?”
    “Nay, but I have not asked,” she said, response wobbling some.
    “Why, lass?” He circled his palm over her back, eager to soothe.
    Her eye color teetered between green and blue as emotion churned. “I’m not sure I can handle the answer if ‘tis unfavorable.”
    “But ‘tis a question that must be asked,” Colin encouraged. “Naðr Véurr was part dragon and he had offspring so ‘tis hopeful.” He dusted the backs of his fingers down her cheek and looked deeply into her eyes. “Even if he doesnae give you the answer we seek I willnae leave your side.”
    Her brows pulled together and a small frown curled her lips. “I willnae have you live a life of abstinence because of me. ‘Tis foolish that.”
    He cupped her cheeks, forcing her to meet his eyes. “I have not lain with another lass since we met and willnae lay with another as long as you live,” he said a little sharper than intended.
    Torra drew in a rushed breath. “I would not have faulted you for taking a lass.” She rubbed her lips together tightly. Something she only did when fighting back unexpected emotion. “‘Tis unnatural for you to be without such.” Then she exhaled, determined it seemed to see her thoughts through. “I’m surprised Keir didnae force lasses on you in light of our repressed love and his desire for me.”
    “Oh, he tried,” Colin said honestly. “There was always a whore sent to my chamber.” He shrugged a shoulder. “But ‘twas not hard to turn them away. As you know, most of Keir’s whores were imprisoned as well. So like Grant did in his later years with the Hamiltons, I’d invite the whores in then spend the time simply talking with them. None complained and all became friends. ‘Twas easy enough then for us to tell all we’d lain together when in fact we’d but shared a few skins of whiskey.”
    “Ah, so yet another thing you and Grant had in common. A unified desire to free Keir’s slaves,” she said.
    “Aye, but of course.” Yet he was not quite finished with this discussion. “Besides, there are ways a lad can take care of himself.” He gave her a pointed look. “Still, I urge you to speak with Naðr sooner rather than later. Can he not hear us now?”
    “Likely,” she muttered. “It just seems so personal. ‘Tis not fair I’ve got to ask another if ‘tis safe for me to…” The rest of the words trailed away on a sigh. “But I will.”
    “‘Twill be well worth it,” he promised, voice thickening.
    “Aye, if he gives me the answer we want to hear.” She lightly traced his tattoo. “Truly terrible if not.”
    Something about the way she said those last words nearly made him come undone. She wanted it as much as he. It was becoming more and more difficult to ignore his now throbbing arousal. Yet he couldn’t help but ask, “Have you never…” He paused a moment, wondering how to convey what he meant to say without making her uncomfortable. “Have you never tried to relieve your carnal desires on your own?”
    Just the thought of her touching her own body turned his boiling blood to a raging inferno.
    Torra’s eyes widened some but to her credit she didn’t look away. When she spoke, her words were so soft he had to lean in closer to hear them.
    “Nay. I feared too much what might happen….that I might not be able to repress the dragon.”
    Before he could respond, she clenched the front of his tunic and shook her head. “We need not