Free Dark Sword 05: Shadow Highlander by Donna Grant Page B

ancient writing on it, writing that I can read.”
    Galen raised a brow. “I doona understand.”
    “The writing is in Gaelic. I’ve never learned it, yet I can read the parchment as well as the pillars.”
    “What did the parchment say?” he asked.
    “My family is in Foinaven Mountain. I want to find them.” She walked to the tree and squatted down beside him. “I was to leave today while everyone was occupied with you and Logan.”
    Even though he knew he shouldn’t ask, the words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. “What made you stay?”
    Her hand reached out and touched his cheek. “I’m not sure.”
    Galen bounded to his feet and stepped away from her, praying her small touch wouldn’t give him entry into her mind. Thankfully there was nothing, but he needed distance. She was too close, too alluring. Too damned beautiful.
    If he didn’t get away from her he wouldn’t be able to hold back the tide of yearning that gripped him.
    “Galen? Did I do something wrong?”
    He fisted his hands. They itched to reach out and stroke her face, to smell her hair and feel the heat of her skin. He shook with need, a burning that threatened to set him ablaze if he didn’t taste her soon.
    “Nay,” he finally managed. “You did nothing wrong.”
    He groaned when the first sounds of music reached them again. The melody was slow, the beat rhythmic, seductive. Erotic.
    It mixed with Reaghan’s strong magic and swirled around him, enticing him to give in to the yearnings of his body, urging him to heed the passion that Reaghan stirred to life.
    He burned. He desired. He needed.
    “Do you feel it?” Reaghan asked as she rose to her feet, her face tilted to the moon. “The music. It always makes me feel as though it is calling to me.”
    Galen couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was swaying again, her arms held away from her body. Her eyes were closed and she tilted her head to the side, exposing her graceful neck and skin that begged for his touch.
    He tried to keep his feet rooted, but his body had other ideas. He was powerless to fight against the lure of Reaghan’s magic. It was the music that called forth her magic.
    And Galen couldn’t fight her magic. He didn’t want to. It felt too good as it caressed his skin, heating his blood and making his heart pound in his chest.
    He stopped in front of her, awed by the pure joy on her face. Then she opened her silver eyes and looked at him. The smile faded and desire sparked in her gaze.
    “Reaghan, I cannot fight this.”
    Her head cocked to the side, auburn curls spilling over her shoulder to dance about her arm. “Cannot fight what?”
    “This attraction I feel for you.”
    “You want … me?”
    She said it with such confusion that Galen almost laughed. “Aye, but I shouldn’t. Mairi warned me to stay away.”
    “Forget Mairi. What do you want?”
    “God’s blood. I want all of you. I want to kiss you, to have you against me so I can feel every inch of you. I want to lay you down and sink my rod inside you.”
    He knew he was being crude, but he did it in the hopes she would run away since obviously he couldn’t. When she stayed her ground, her breath quickening and her pupils dilating, Galen knew he had made a dreadful mistake, but it was a mistake he couldn’t regret.
    This craving, this hunger was too strong to walk away from, and whatever might happen, Galen would endure it. He would endure it because he had to know what she tasted like, had to know what it felt like to stroke her creamy skin and hold her.
    It had been so long since he’d had contact with a woman that he was almost afraid to touch her. But he had come this far. There was no turning back now.
    He moved closer until he had her backed against the tree. The sensual melody only added to his desire, exciting him, imploring him. Teasing him.
    Reaghan was his for the taking. He could see it in the way she watched him with wide eyes, her lips parted and her pulse beating