Falling in Time #6
Rogan was nodding as if he did. “I canna say if the cave is a time portal. Though, after seeing your clothes, I’ll own they did no’ come from any world that I know.
” He stood and started pacing. “That’s why I left them in the cave.
There are cracks and crevices so deep that no man can retrieve anything that is thrown into them.
And—” he came back to the bed, once more sitting on its edge “—strange as Smoo is known to be, I couldn’t all ow my kinsmen to see such raiments.
Your shoes alone would have caused too many questions.
That is why I stripped you.” His gaze flashed the length of her, the look in his eyes burning her as if he could see her nakedness right through the thickness of the furred covering and bed sheets.
“And you’re not curious yourself?” Lindy had to ask.
His gaze burned even hotter. “All I care about, sweet, is having you with me.”
Taking her in his arms again, he kissed her thoroughly, leaving her breathless when he pulled away. “You could have come to me draped in seaweed or glittering from head to toe in twinkly starlight and it wouldn’t have made a difference. I only want you.”
“But – ”
He pressed a finger to her lips. “There are no buts in my world, Lindy-lass. Though I will tell you that, as a MacGraith, I slipped into this life knowing that there are things we canna ever hope to explain.
“MacGraiths are the hereditary guardians of Smoo Cave. Since time was, we have been here at Castle Daunt, watching always to ensure that nothing passes in or out of the cave without our knowledge.”
Lindy stared at him. “So you’re fairies?” The plots of countless paranormal romance novels came to mind. “Immortals guarding the entrance to—”
“Guarding, aye, but we’re no’ immortal.” He laughed, grinning again. “We’re flesh-and-blood men, as rock solid as any other man.” His smile turned wicked again and he pulled her back into his arms, holding her close. “You should know how solid I am, Lindy-sweet.”
She flushed, knowing indeed.
His solidness was very apparent, though neither one of them had yet acknowledged the obvious.
It was one thing to be naked together and burn up the sheets in a dream. Being naked in his arms for realwas both a wildly exhilarating thought and flat out terrifying.
And not alarming without reason.
Trying to be discreet, Lindy cast an assessing glance at her well -covered body. The sad fact was that, although Rogan was undoubtedly passionately in love with her in fantasy form, the realLindy Lovejoy might just be packing a few pounds more than the dream edition.
Sure that was true, her cheeks flamed brighter.
How sad that her love of fish and chips had kept pace with her around Scotland.
Not to mention haggis with neeps and tatties.
Or steak and ale pie.
Lindy frowned, wondering if she could just stay hidden beneath the covers forever.
A notion that brought another, equally disturbing thought. How could she think in terms of eternity when she might only be here a nano-second? She’d spent too many hours working at Ye Olde Pagan Times not to be well versed in the ins and outs of all things supernatural.
Her manifestation in Rogan’s time had surely upset the balance in her own world.
Something somewhere wasn’t right.
It was kind of like plucking a thread from a knitted sweater. No matter how carefully you pulled, a hole appeared.
“Oh, God.” Dread tightened her chest and heat burned her eyes, blurring the richly appointed room and all its lush, oh-so-realmedievaltrappings.
Rogan sprang off the bed. “What is it?” His gaze flew to her injured hands. “Are you in pain? Did I tie the bandages too tight?”
Snorribarked, sharing his master’s concern.
“Or—” Rogan jerked a glance at the door “—shall I call for the clan hen wife? Perhaps you hurt yourself worse than we know. You might be in need of—”
“No.” Lindy stood, careful to snatch a pillow and hold it strategically. “I’m fine, really. It’s just that—”
“Here—” Rogan swirled a plaid around her shoulders “—I’ll no’ have you taking a chill .” He strode across the room and yanked the shutters tight, dusting his hands as he turned back to her.
But not before Lindy caught a look at the view.
A cold drizzle was falling and she’d seen mist, lots of drifting curtains of mist. But she’d also seen endless roll ing moorland and dark, rugged hills.
A vast wilderness that stretched as far as the eye could see.
It was also a landscape covered with thick woods.
The Scotland she’d left hadn’t been anywhere near as forested.
Needing to be sure of what she’d seen, she gripped Rogan’s borrowed plaid more tightly about her and went to the window, opening the shutters he’d just closed.
She hadn’t been mistaken. She really was looking out at medievalScotland.
And if the scenery wasn’t proof enough, the deep silence was. Only a world truly empty of everything modern could be so still .
And the texture of the air! Even with the damp gusting wind and all the mist, everywhere she looked, the world seemed filled with light and colour in ways she’d never have believed possible. Almost like an uncut jewel, sparkling in its purity.
Lindy gulped, her heart splitting. It was as if she’d stepped inside her own story.
She so wanted to stay here.
“Just what, lass?” Rogan’s arms went around from behind and he pull ed her back against his chest. “Tell me what’s troubling you.”
Lindy bit her lip. She was not going to cry. “I . . . it’s just that—”
“Ho, Rogan!” The door flew open and a young man burst into the room. Big, hairy and kilted, he looked like he’d just stepped off the set of Rob Roy or Braveheart. But for all his fierce appearance, the slack-jawed, owl-eyed stare he gave Lindy made him much less intimidating.
“It’s herself!” He raised an arm, pointing. “Your dream vixen! You’ve described her so often, I’d know her anywhere.”
“You’re forgetting your manners.” Rogan scowled at him. “MacGraiths know better than to gawk at women, whoe’er they might be. This loon, if you’re curious—” Rogan glanced at Lindy “—is my cousin, Gavin.”
“My lady.” Gavin bobbed his head, the crookedness of his smile revealing a chipped tooth.
The introduction made, Rogan crossed the room in three swift strides and took the younger man by the elbow, turning him back towards the door. “Away with you now and hold your flapping tongue.”