Chapter 8
When the meal ended, Natalie was unsure of what to do next. Although the people did not question her place in their household as Ian’s wife, she was still a little uncomfortable.
She’d spent years dissecting history from the safety of books. But here, history had teeth—it breathed, it bled, and it kissed her with a hunger she’d never known. And despite those years of deep study, actually living in the period she’d coveted so much was completely different.
She needed to take a walk to process, to take in all that was happening. Her brain felt like it might explode.
The mist was lifting off the hills when Natalie wandered beyond the courtyard, drawn by the smell of woodsmoke and the rhythmic clang of a hammer from the blacksmith’s hut.
Frost still clung to the grass, melting under her boots in footprints that were quick to disappear.
The world was quiet, and steady, in a way she hadn’t felt in years.
A cluster of crofts stood beyond the keep’s stone wall, their thatched roofs glistening in the pale morning light.
A door stood open, and Natalie listened to the low murmur of a woman and the laughter of a child.
She hesitated near the entrance, until a woman’s voice called, warm and sure, “Ye might as well come in, lass. The chill’s no kinder outside. ”
Natalie stepped through the doorway, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the soft amber glow.
A hearth blazed at the center of the small room.
Bunches of drying herbs hung from the rafters, filling the air with the scent of rosemary and peat.
A woman stirred a pot over the fire while a dark-haired toddler sat nearby, stacking bits of wood.
“I’m sorry,” Natalie said quickly. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”
The woman smiled over her shoulder. “Nonsense. I’m Catriona. My man’s off to find the laird this morning to train the younger lads. Sit, before your teeth chatter clean from your head.”
Natalie obeyed, grateful for the warmth. The fire popped and hissed as Catriona ladled stew into a wooden bowl and handed it over. “Ye’ll need something in your belly if you’re to brave our Highland winds.”
Natalie tasted the broth, which was rich, smoky, and a little wild. “This is wonderful,” she said honestly.
“Venison,” Catriona replied. “A gift from the laird himself, after last week’s hunt.” She sat opposite, folding her hands in her lap. “Ye’ve caused a stir, ye know. Not every day a lass appears out of thin air and catches our laird’s eye.”
Natalie flushed. “I’m afraid I’ve done little to deserve his notice.”
Catriona tilted her head, studying her with kind curiosity. “Sometimes what a man needs isn’t a fine lady or a dowry, but a soul that makes him remember he’s human. Ian’s carried his grief like a wound since Donell vanished. It’s good to see him laugh again.”
Natalie looked down at her hands. The rough-spun cloak she wore smelled faintly of smoke and pine, as if it had absorbed the very scent of this land. “He’s been kind,” she said softly. “Kinder than I expected.”
“Aye. That’s his way, though he hides it behind that stern brow.” Catriona smiled. “He’s a good man, and the clan loves him. Ye’d do well to trust that.”
A gust of wind rattled the shutters, and the child squealed with laughter. Natalie smiled despite herself. It was so ordinary, so alive—a slice of life she’d only ever read about in history books. Here, it breathed. Here, it mattered.
The door creaked open, and the room changed. Ian filled the threshold, the daylight catching on his hair and the edge of his plaid. His presence warmed the space in an entirely different way. He looked from Catriona to Natalie, surprise flickering in his eyes before softening into contemplation.
“Laird,” Catriona said, rising quickly. “I was just feeding your guest. Angus went out already to look for ye, probably in the training fields if ye’ve come for him.”
Ian nodded, but his gaze never left Natalie. “Aye, thank ye, Catriona.”
Catriona took the hint, scooping up her child and retreating into the adjoining room. The air seemed to shift, quieting again, until only the fire’s crackle remained.
“Ye’ve found your way beyond the walls,” Ian said at last.
“I wanted to see more,” she admitted. “To understand what life here is really like.” She hesitated, then smiled faintly. “I didn’t mean to overstep.”
He stepped closer, the firelight painting gold along his jaw. “Ye’ve done no such thing. The people will be glad to know ye care enough to walk among them.”
“It’s beautiful here,” she said. “Hard, I’m sure—but beautiful.”
He studied her for a moment, and something like pride kindled behind his eyes. “Ye sound like one of us already.”
The words struck something tender inside her. For the first time since arriving, she didn’t feel like an intruder in a story that wasn’t hers. She felt… home.
Ian seemed to sense the shift, too. His expression softened, his voice low. “And I’m glad that my people are welcoming ye.”
For a moment, neither spoke. The wind sighed against the door, the child in the next room laughed, and the smell of stew and smoke wrapped around them like memory.
She met his gaze, steady and sure. “Then I’ll make myself worthy of that honor.”
His mouth curved into a smile—small, but sincere. “Ye already are.”
“I’m off to visit a few of the women if ye’d care to come,” Catriona said to Natalie.
Internally, Natalie wanted to leap for the opportunity to travel out to see the crofters, but she wasn’t ready yet. This was a brutal time, despite all the romanticism some historians and people generally put into it. And she was still getting used to the fact that this was even real.
Noting her hesitation, Ian was quick to say, “Actually, I was hoping to take Natalie around myself. I need to check on a few fortifications and make sure we have enough provisions for the rest of winter. I may go on a hunt. Would ye care to join me?” His gaze raked over her, lending to the possibilities such a hunt could entail.
Natalie refrained from clapping for joy as her body sang. “Yes, I would love to.”
“Would ye care to walk about the keep and bailey while I settle a few things?”
He caressed her face, and Natalie leaned into his rough palm.
His coarse skin rubbing against hers sent a tingle of anticipation running through her veins.
She felt like a new bride. And she was! Her knees grew weak, and she had the sensation that her feet were floating.
Natalie was unsure of how to react. Feeling light-headed, she breathed in deeply.
Her face must have registered her unease, as Ian’s expression became a mask of concern.
“Are ye feeling well?”
“I’m just a little dizzy. This is all so much to take in at once.”
Strong arms enveloped her as Ian drew her into his comfortable embrace. She breathed in his scent and was rewarded with his masculine and all too pleasant smell. Peace befell her. She was truly comforted by him.
“There is much we need to discuss, my love.”
His love?
“Ye have no idea how much ye mean to me and my people.”
Natalie turned her head to gaze into his glittering green eyes. How could she mean so much to them? They didn’t know who she was.
“My duties can wait. Shall we go for a ride now? ’Tis not snowing, are ye all right going out in the cold?”
“Actually, I could use some fresh air.”
He smiled down at her and brushed a tender kiss on her lips. “As ye wish. I’ll get ye a cloak.”
Ian returned with a wool fur-lined cloak. “This should keep ye warm.”
“Thank you.” She slipped into the thick fabric and grasped Ian’s outstretched hand.
At the stables, Natalie examined the beautiful horses and raised an eyebrow when Ian ordered only one to be readied.
He gave her a wolfish grin and a wink. Despite the thrilling chill running through her body, Natalie hoped they would actually talk on this ride. She was missing a lot of information and had some crucial decisions to make based on the facts.
Ian mounted the horse in one fluid motion and Natalie swore she caught a glimpse of his naughty parts before he sat in the saddle. Well, maybe they could talk after they played.
He reached his hand down and helped her to ease in front of him, his strong arm spanning her waist. Flicking the reins, Ian turned the horse and urged him to gallop out of the bailey gates.
They didn’t speak for several minutes, both of them just taking in the surroundings and the feel of each other’s bodies pressed close together.
Ian’s hand slipped beneath her cloak and massaged the swell of her breasts, easily bringing each nipple to a taut peak. Her sex hummed and grew slick, waiting for what she knew would come…delicious pleasure and abandon.
He nipped gently on her neck, and she turned her head to the side as he guided the horse over the expansive terrain.
“I have a story to tell ye. ’Tis no fairytale, I swear it.”
All Natalie could do was nod as Ian continued his assault on her neck and breasts.
“There has been a brooch passed through my family from laird to laird. A couple of months ago, my twin brother disappeared, only to reappear several weeks later. He told me the brooch has special powers, allowing ye to find your true love. He told me this and prepared me to be laird as his lady from the future would be calling him back to her.”
Natalie stiffened and turned her face to Ian. Although it may have seemed like a fairytale to some people, since she’d traveled through time, the reality of it was clear.
“And that is why ye are now laird?”
“Aye.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. “I didna truly believe him until he disappeared before my eyes.”
Natalie nodded. Deep inside, she sensed he was her true love.
There was a connection with him from the very beginning, something beyond fantastic sex.
Even knowing she was in a different time than her own hadn’t bothered her as much as it should have.
This was because of Ian. He made her feel so comfortable, like she belonged. She realized she wanted to be with him.
Ian told her about the story he and Lachlann had concocted to ease the people of Donell’s disappearance and how he needed to marry to secure the clan and his future.
“As I thought on my future, the brooch called to me. Next thing I know, ye’re there, smiling at me like a wee minx.”
“You weren’t exactly innocent. I remember waking up to the feel of your hands on my skin.”
Ian chuckled and tickled her ribs. “What is a man to do when a beauty such as ye ends up in his bed? And naked, too!”
Natalie laughed, imagining all the things running through his mind.
“Nothing innocent, I know that much,” she teased, rubbing her derriere against his crotch, which was suddenly swollen.
Despite their play and the sensual tension rippling in the air, the conversation turned serious.
“Ian, what am I supposed to do? I feel a strong connection to you, and I know my presence means a lot to your livelihood and that of your clan. But what about me, my friends, my family?”
Ian sighed, placing his chin on her head. The intimate gesture felt so normal, as if they were meant to spend many moments in such tender embraces.
“I know, lass, I know.” Those simple words held so much emotion, sadness, disappointment, and yearning. “If ’tis not here ye want to be, I understand. My brother did tell me how the brooch worked. I could return ye to your time.”
Did she want to return? That was the question. Could she risk returning and then not being able to get back? Was it better to have her family think she’d been kidnapped or murdered? No, she couldn’t let them panic.
“Ian, if I do decide to stay, I will have to let my family know.”
He nodded in agreement. “Let us enjoy this ride and get to know each other. No decision needs to be made quite yet.”
“All the same, I will give you my decision by tonight.”
Until then, she’d have a lot of thinking to do.