Chapter 12
With her eyes still closed, Adrina snuggled closer to her heat source. But when that heat source moved, her eyelids flew open. It took her a moment to realize where she was. Almost immediately she saw that she was nestled against Duncan’s side.
His scent wrapped around her as she realized that his plaid covered her like a blanket.
Glancing down, she was relieved to discover that she and Duncan were dressed in their underclothes.
Sometime during the night he must have put her back in the shift, and covered her with the plaid so that she wouldn’t be chilled.
Her heart softened at his thoughtfulness.
He was a considerate, sympathetic man, although he took pains to hide these traits, and only showed his tough exterior.
He was different from the men she knew back home.
Finally she was able to admit to herself that he wasn’t as hateful as she first believed.
Her heart quickened as she thought about the large man lying beside her.
In the dim light that streamed through the cave opening, she could make out his features.
Raising herself up on her elbow, she took a closer look at him.
In his sleep he seemed almost boyish — far from the cynical, calculating man that she had come to know.
She was fascinated by him, and wanted to know everything about him.
There was something that had hardened him.
She was sure of it. He appeared to have a polite, relaxed charm that set the opposite sex aflutter, but there was something dark and restrained about him, something that made him keep everyone at an arm’s length.
Was it the wars that he fought, or was it the woman that he had lost that made him this way?
But he had shown no restraint last night, she thought as a blush rose to her cheeks.
While her thoughts drifted to the previous evening, two realizations hit her as abruptly as if large stones were tossed at her head.
She was no longer a virgin, and she felt no remorse over losing her innocence.
For some strange reason, she felt a sense of liberation.
Her true destiny was unknown, since that knowledge wasn’t revealed to her.
However she was certain of one thing — she had experienced pleasure and passion on her own terms. And she had made love to the man of her choice.
Neither her father nor Fingal could take any of that away from her.
Adrina traced the outline of Duncan’s rugged face with her eyes.
His eyelids were closed and his dark lashes lay across his cheek.
The fine lines that had surrounded the corners of his eyes were gone.
His mouth was opened slightly, and his breathing came out in a deep and steady rhythm.
At his jaw line dark stubble grew, and she longed to run her fingers across the rough surface, and memorize the contours of his masculine visage.
It was almost sinful how braw this Highlander was.
But an unexpected heaviness settled over her heart.
In all respects, she had used him to satisfy her curiosity, and on his part, she was only a small diversion.
Her hand clenched at the plaid. It was a bad idea to become attached to this Highlander, but she knew that it was already too late.
Perhaps there was one more day of travel.
And once he brought her to her home, he would leave, and forget that she existed.
Her father would then find a husband for her, and she would never again experience the happiness she had found in Duncan’s arms. The brooding thoughts over her hopeless prospects overwhelmed her, and she needed to get away from Duncan before she burst into tears.
She shifted slowly away from Duncan. Careful not to make any sound, she slipped out of the cave.
As soon as Adrina made it outside, she heard the thunderous roar of rushing water, and she momentarily forgot about her dilemma. When they arrived at the cave last night, the sound of the waterfall was masked by the heavy downpour. It appeared that they were now closer to the fall than she thought.
Taking a deep breath, she noticed that the air that surrounded her was surprisingly mild and balmy, while the smell of rain and damp earth lingered in the air.
It appeared more like mid-summer rather than autumn.
She looked up and saw that the sky was still a soft pink.
Turning around to glance back into the hollow, she saw that there was no movement from within.
There was enough time for her to wash up, and return to the cavern before Duncan noticed that she went missing.
She followed the thunderous sound to the back of the shelter.
And as she rounded the bend, she paused at the rocky ledge.
Looking at the steep gully, she took a moment to absorb the stunning beauty.
Above the noise of rushing water, she could hear the sweet trill and whistle of a yellowhammer perched somewhere in a nearby birch tree branch.
While the sun was starting to rise, its rays had yet to touch the loch.
Meanwhile a soft mist hovered over the waterway, slowly drifting across the surface, alternately obscuring and then revealing the alder and rowan trees that grew on the opposite end of the bank.
It felt as if she had somehow stumbled upon a fairy haven.
Yet it puzzled her that the waterfall wasn’t as large as she had imagined.
The water rushed over a narrow path that was forged by a series of large dolerite boulders.
And as it reached the edge of the cliff, it made its rapid descent, pooling at the bottom, and combining with the crimson and golden leaves that swirled there.
From her vantage point, she saw the morning light finally rising above the trees, and beaming into the loch, and making it appear as if it was on fire.
As the minutes passed, the mist completely dispersed, and Adrina had a fine view of the stately trees that surrounded her newfound sanctuary.
To the right of her grew an old rowan tree which leaned precariously over the waterway, its burnished leaves reflecting off the crystal loch below.
Adrina felt a sudden urge to be at the water’s edge, and to wade into the clear pool. Placing one foot on a rock and then another, she made her slow, and careful descent toward the body of water.
When she finally reached the bank, she looked about her in wonder. A slight breeze blew across the watercourse, ruffling it and the long grass that grew along the edge. She didn’t know how it was possible, but up close, the sight was even more beautiful to behold.
Remembering that she needed to cleanse herself, she eagerly removed her boots. Then hiking up her skirt, she waded into the shallows. The shocking chill that met her made her want to turn back, but she stayed where she was, and quickly finished her chore.
A moment later when her task was done, she started to return to the bank. Setting a foot on a submerged rock, she glanced up, and found Duncan standing at the water’s edge, waiting for her.
“Ye scared me,” she said, pressing her hand over her heart, and willing it to slow down its pace. He seemed comfortable traversing in this terrain, and moved with surprising stealth.
“My apologies,” he said, offering his hand to assist her out of the loch. “I noticed that ye had awoken, and I was curious tae see where ye were going.”
“I needed fresh air,” she said, grabbing her boots. She looked behind him, and saw a honey-colored rock to sit on.
“We should probably eat some oatcakes before we head back tae your castle,” he said.
“Aye,” she agreed, but she made no attempt to get up from her seat. Letting out a loud sigh she said, “I dinnae want tae leave this place, Duncan. It reminds me of a fae hideaway. Can we nae stay a while longer?” Her gaze slid past his shoulder as she drank in the lovely scenery.
“Perhaps we can stay a wee bit longer.”
She gave him a bright smile. “When I was young, I used tae stare out of my window, and wonder where the fae folk lived. Unfortunately my mother frowned at imaginative lassies traipsing through the woods.” She tilted her head, and her smile turned mischievous.
“However I still found a way tae get out of the castle grounds and hunt for them.”
“I wonder what ye would have done if ye encountered a bean nighe.” He turned his head, and lazily studied the waterfall as if he was allowing himself to be lulled by the rhythmic sounds.
He bent down, picked up a pebble and tossed it into the water.
When he turned back to her, he appeared relaxed and almost friendly.
“Perhaps you would have run at meeting the washer woman at the ford.”
“Och?”
“Aye,” he said, the corners of his lips quivering. “Apparently she’s in possession of one nostril, and a large protruding tooth. Her feet are webbed, and her breasts hang low to her waist.”
“How do ye ken sae much about this fae creature?” she stared at him, uncertain what to make of him. He was a logical, calculating man, yet he seemed versed in the lore of the forest.
“My sister Kila is knowledgeable about these things,” he said, shrugging. “She also makes certain that I’m as informed as she.”
Then the expression on his features changed, becoming more serious. “’Tis curious though,” he said. He went to stand between her legs, nudging her legs apart. With his large hand, he brushed her hair to the side and hooked the loose tendril behind her ear.
“What’s curious?” she asked, the heat of his hand burning her where he touched.
“Why I dinnae want tae leave this place either.” His hand moved up and traced the outline of her jaw. “What makes me want tae forget all my troubles, and stay here with ye forever?”
“Ye must be imagining things,” she said.