Highlander's Heart (Clan Matheson #2)

“My bear could never hurt you, but I will be biting you at some point in time, and likely the first opportunity you allow it.” He backed up a step, unlaced the ties at his waist and shoved his pants off under the water then lobbed them through the air toward his discarded clothes on the sand. The leather hit the beach with a wet thump and he turned back to the only woman he would ever desire, the one and only woman who held the other half of his soul.

It was time. For both of them to accept their destiny, one he couldn’t wait to embrace. She was his mate and now no longer could she hide from him. He’d found her, and he wasn’t letting her go, not to Donnan MacDonald or any other man.



Layla should never have allowed Tor to take her from the meadow. Now, she was trapped here in this remote cavern with a determined man and his resolute bear so very close to the surface. She couldn’t be his mate, no matter his desire for her was clear to see and apparently continuing to deepen. “Wait right there, Tor.”

She needed to keep some space between them.

“My bear will want your touch.”

“I mean it.” She did, only as the moon blazed brighter, a heavy orb of golden-yellow, her very soul ached at the thought of keeping him at bay.

“There will be no marriage between you and Donnan MacDonald.” Tor surged forward, grasped her dangling legs. “This is our night, and the sooner you acknowledge it, the better.” Challenge lit his gaze and his luscious lips lifted, not that she should have noticed his lips. Except she always had, wished only to lean forward and lick them.

“What are you doing to me?” He had her thoughts in total disarray.

“It’s our bond taking form, your soul calling to mine and mine to yours.” He rubbed upward, over her knees, his thumbs swirling in a slow circle along the inside of each leg and his golden eyes heating to a smoldering hue. “When one shifts, it causes quite a lightning bright display. Close your eyes or turn away if you need to, but be warned, my other half might get a little possessive over you. He knows you’re ours and that you’re fighting to keep your distance from us. He’s also far more insistent and forceful than I am.”

“I can handle your bear. I’m rather insistent and forceful myself. Shift. Show me your other half.”

“Of course, and by the way”—he winked at her—“demanding I show you my other half is a very mate thing to demand.” He stepped back and shifted, bright lights bursting a myriad of sparks before one very large bear with silky black fur reared up onto its hind legs in the water and roared. He came back down, his paws slapping against the stone ledge either side of her, his teeth sharp and snapping together.

“Calm down.” She wriggled back, her back coming up hard against the slick stone wall and her heartbeat racing. Nowhere else could she move to get away from him.

His bear whined as if he’d not meant to scare her then he slowly closed his eyes, nudged her belly with his muzzle and plopped his head into her lap, made a soft whimpering sound that touched her very heart and pulled it closer toward him.

“Well, that is much better. Thank you.” She couldn’t help but lay her hands on his head, pat between his ears, his fur, so silky soft to the touch, tickling her fingers. Gently, she stroked down his neck and under his chin, and a sensuously hungry purr rumbled from deep within his chest. The sound caused a wicked heat to surge through her, not one she wished for but one that came all the same. ’Twas also the kind of heat she’d never experienced before. It settled between her inner thighs and made her gasp.

Tor sniffed and rumbled deeper.

“Ignore that,” she whispered.

He licked her wet shift bunched in her lap then rubbed his cheek across her belly.

“I mean it. Ignore that.” She tried to push his head away but only sank her hands deeper into his silky pelt. Touching him so freely felt so good, like she’d been given a gift she never wished to relinquish.

Rising higher, he sniffed up her torso and around her breasts before sticking his wet nose against her neck. His tongue lolled out, swiped across her chin and ear, then face to face, his golden eyes blazed in the moonlight.

“I wish you could talk to me, tell me what you’re thinking.” She patted down his back and along his sides. The need to keep stroking him comforted her and quite clearly him as well since he arched into her touch and wished only for more of it. Digging her nails in deeper, she gave him the more he seemed to want, scratched harder and when she did, one long rumble vibrated from deep within his chest, his pleasure in her touch clear to see.

Eyes closed, he flopped his head down into her lap again and her need to ensure he always remained so content rose to a fierce level within her. She bent and cuddled into him. There was naught more stunning to see than his bear and as the full moon blazed overhead, her heart and soul lifted. She craved more of this, only—oh dear, what was she thinking? She’d already given her word to wed another man. How could she turn around and go against that vow? And what of her clan if she did?