Bridgette began to shake as fearful images built in her mind of Lachlan dead and Graham risking his life. She moaned. Or was it the other way around? God’s bones. Did it even matter? Both fates were horrible. She could not let either of these destinies befall Lachlan or Graham.
A sob ripped from her throat. “Ye only foretell what ye see in the moment ye touch me, aye?”
“Aye,” the seer whispered. “Ye have the power to change yer fate.”
“Then I will,” she vowed. She turned and fled out of the cave before the seer could say anything else.
Tears leaked in heavy streams from her eyes, nearly blinding her as she struggled to go back the way she had come. She stumbled several times on slippery rocks as she ran around the water at the entrance to the cave, a whisper in her head that warned her to get away from the Fairy Pools growing louder with each step. A voice swirled on the wind, joining the whisper, and urged her to run faster. Bridgette raced across the rock toward the embankment she needed to climb, a sense of desperation clawing at her. She rounded the corner and ran straight into a wall of rock-hard muscle.
Gasping, she looked up into Lachlan’s face, surprised at the stark relief she saw there. His corded arms circled her in an unbreakable hold, causing hot, searing lust to flow through her body. The seer’s words haunted her.
“What are ye doing here?” Bridgette whispered.
“I came looking for ye,” he said in a thick, unsteady voice. “I intended to apologize to ye for my outburst in the woods yesterday, so I searched ye out after ye fled the castle earlier. When I could nae find ye, I checked the stables and learned ye had come here alone.” She could feel his muscles tighten around her. “I have gone near mad with worry.” His eyes burned as if to confirm his words. “Ye dunnae have a care for yer safety, but I do.” His voice broke, and Marion’s words from last night struck Bridgette. Lachlandidlook defeated.
She touched her fingertips to his tense jaw before she realized what she was doing. His body jerked violently in response, and she snatched her hand away, horrified at herself.
“Release me,” she begged, her emotions spinning out of her control. When he didn’t answer or move to do as she had asked, her control snapped. “Every time ye’re near me, I kinnae even remember how to breathe. Release me!” she cried. “Release me before I kinnae remember why ye should nae!”
“Ye’ll be marrying my brother,” he said dully.
“I’m nae any longer,” she replied. “But ye are bound to Helena and—”
“’Tis false what I have with her,” he growled, and suddenly, his mouth crushed hers in a demanding, frantic kiss that she was helpless to deny. His arms unlocked around her, and he plunged his hands into her hair, groaning as his tongue pleaded for entrance, and she opened willingly and eagerly for him. All the desire that had been building for years exploded, sending her thoughts reeling and her emotions skidding and whirling.
She ran her hands over his hard chest and up into his thick hair as he ravaged her mouth like a man set on complete and utter possession. She wanted him to possess her, body and soul. She had never wanted anything but that.
