Chapter 21

21

T he dreams are the call. One awaits ye, needs ye to survive and ye will need her to survive as well.

Mairi’s words echoed through his mind as he sat at the edge of the lake. Alone and in the dark, Douglas sat for hours watching the moon rise over the smooth surface. Through the pristine air and with no competition from other light pollution, the waning half-moon shone some significant moonbeams toward the ground. He only wished that those beams of light could pierce through his thoughts the same way they did the darkness.

He picked another stone and sent it skimming over the lake. The rings caused by the rock spread out larger and larger, moving slowly and after a few minutes they crossed the entire pool of water. He thought about how quietly Caitlin had affected him in just the same way, silent and deeply.

As he watched her battle her own fears and try to justify her actions to him, he’d been overcome with shame. This young woman, blessed with a gift beyond her understanding, or his, was attempting to take on his problems. He knew she was trying to bolster his faith in himself and in his abilities, all the time hiding her own.

She’d prodded him and questioned him and manipulated him into feeling good about what he was. She’d helped him find his lost sense of caring and purpose. She’d offered all that she had to help him in his quest.

Caitlin never asked for anything for herself except a share of his knowledge of the healing arts. And that was for her clan, her people. He’d never met anyone so compassionate and unselfish.

And somewhere through all of their time together, he’d fallen the rest of the way in love with her. He surprised himself by finally recognizing it for what it was—he’d been so busy trying to figure out why he was here and what his role was that he didn’t notice her sneaking up on him or into his heart.

Douglas knew he’d been half in love with the dream version of her for years, but nothing compared to how he felt about the real woman. He owed her at least an apology for hurting her, for he knew his thoughtless words about the gift she prized so much had hurt her feelings.

There was much more he’d like to give her but he only had six weeks left here. When the archway took him back to his own time on the solstice, he would leave her behind. Going home held mixed feelings for him now, for he would go back with a renewed sense of himself, but without the one woman he’d sought for these past three years. Would these emotions and desires for her lessen now that he’d fulfilled his trip to her time?

As if his thoughts of her had conjured her up, Douglas saw her. Carrying a lit torch, Caitlin made her way around the edge of the lake and walked off into the woods. Where could she be going at this time of night? And alone? Wouldn’t she learn about the dangers? He stood, stretched his cramped legs and picked his way to the path she’d taken.

It led away from the main body of the lake and followed a stream through the forest a distance and into the hilly area that was the source of the lake’s water. He’d lost sight of her for a moment and then she was gone.

He retraced his steps and was about to give up when he saw the flickering light of the torch through some trees. Ducking under some low-hanging branches, Douglas followed the weak beams and was surprised to come to the well-camouflaged entrance to a cave. This must be where Caitlin was.

Douglas quietly pulled the bushes and foliage back from the doorway and stepped inside. Then he stopped. A wave of heated humid air hit him from the next room of the cave. Then he noticed the sound of running, gurgling water. A hot spring? From the size of this room, he thought that this cave must run for some distance into the hills.

This cave... the cave.

It couldn’t be, could it? A look into the next area would prove him right or wrong. If it was the cave in the dreams, there would be a large, deep, heated pool of water that ran off into several smaller shallower ponds. The steam would rise from the surface of the water and heat the cooler air. The walls and floor of the cave would also be warm from the heat source far below the surface.

Pulling his outer cloak off and taking the few steps through this entrance chamber, Douglas felt his heart start to pump harder. His breathing increased, due to the steam and the anticipation. If this was like the dream, she would be there, too. Naked. In the water. He closed his eyes and fought the urge to go forward. Part of him knew that with each step he was coming closer to a decision that would impact both of them. Each step brought him closer to openly acknowledging his feelings for her, to her.

Could he? Knowing that he would leave in just six weeks, could he complicate this by admitting his love for her? And, if he admitted his feelings, how could he leave her untouched after the endless nights of sharing passion in those dreams?

He stood at the opening to the next room and put his hand on the wall, both for support and to test it. It was warm to the touch.

Stepping into the next room, his vision was blurred momentarily by the thick cloud of steam above the water. The water mixed and churned in the pool and briefly looked empty. Light from the torch, perched up high in a sconce dug into the wall of the cave, lit the chamber in a cascading wave that moved with the steam.

Then he saw her. Naked. In the water.

His breath caught as he saw in reality the perfection of form he thought was only a dream. As she stood in a shallow section of the water, he saw her long hair hanging in waves down her back and covering the curves of her hips and buttocks in an enticing way. She turned toward where he stood and he glimpsed the shapely curves of her breasts and waist and hips before she slipped down under the water once again. A nest of black curls at the meeting of her thighs drew his attention as she stood once more.

As she raised her arms to lift and twist her hair into some kind of knot at her neck and he saw the way it lifted her breasts even more into the light, Douglas realized he was already hard and throbbing. With her eyes still closed, she backed up a few steps until she reached the side and then slid down until only her head, shoulders and the upper curves of those pale, full breasts were above the waterline.

Even as his mind entertained thoughts of discreetly leaving without her knowing he’d been there, his body was preparing him for other things. His erection became harder and more noticeable with every second he spent watching her. It forced its way up and out and would be evident even in a kilt. If she opened her eyes, she’d probably pass out in shock.

Caitlin opened her eyes. He couldn’t imagine what he looked like standing aroused and lusting hungrily in the doorway. Her mouth formed an “o” and she started to stand. His rock-hard penis pulsed and throbbed, understanding the erotic sign her mouth gave even though she probably didn’t. Her gaze moved over him and at the sight of his arousal, she sank back into the water.

“Douglas,” she whispered in that voice that haunted him. He closed his eyes and let the magical tones sweep over him. “Douglas,” she said again, and it was his undoing.

“Caitlin, I, uh...” Words failed him even though he had so much to say. Where should he start?

“I hiv dreamed this, Douglas. Hiv ye as well?”

“I have, too. A cave just like this. You in the water and me...” He couldn’t voice the rest—he was afraid it would end.

“And as in the dream, will ye join me here in the pool?”

“Ah, Caitlin. I’m afraid to. I’ve waited so long and seen this happen so many times in my mind and in the dreams. If I join you there in the water, there is no turning back. ”

“Douglas, there was no turning back the moment ye answered my cry for help in the night.”

“But I answered without thought of the consequences that night. Now, I can’t do that.”

She stood up and came closer. Oh, God, why did she do that? Her breasts tempted him almost beyond reason. He’d felt them, rubbed them through her blouse that night Mildread died and his hand itched and his mouth watered for more.

“And what consequences are those, Douglas?”

“I leave here in six weeks, Caitlin. Is it fair to you to involve you in this way and then leave you behind when I go home?”

“Is it fair no’ to share this wi’ me afore ye leave? I would rather have memories of this between us than regrets that canna be changed.”

He closed his eyes again and took in a deep breath. Tell her, his heart whispered. Tell her now.

“I told you before that when this happened between us it would be for the right reason, Caitlin. I want you to know why I want this... why I want you.”

He paused and bent down to untie the straps around his shins, loosening his leg coverings and low bouts. He tugged his shirt free and pulled it over his head. Reaching for the belt holding his plaid in place, he stopped and looked at her. Caitlin smiled and nodded, and he unhooked the only thing holding up his kilt. Well, not the only thing.

Her courage appeared to desert her and she glanced away as he stepped down into the water. He took the few paces to reach her, sliding his feet along the bottom, feeling his way. The water didn’t reach the same place on his body and the proof of his feelings was visible above the water-line.

He reached her, put his hands on her shoulders and brought her to stand with him. Lifting her chin, he looked into her eyes. The flaming green that he also remembered from his dreams was there for him.

“You have helped me find myself again, Caitlin. During these weeks, you’ve given me a renewed purpose and reason to be a physician, a healer. And, you never ask anything for yourself. You give and give everything you can. And I love you for it.”

She gasped at his words. His hands drew her in until he could finally reach her mouth with his. “I love you, Caitlin, and if we only have six more weeks, I want to be with you as much as and in every way possible.”

“Oh, Douglas,” she whispered. “Aye, ’tis what I want, too.” She lifted her mouth those last few inches and offered herself to him. He touched his lips to hers and she was lost.

She felt his hands encircle her waist as their mouths joined. He lifted her against him and his heated flesh met hers. The kiss, as in the dream, went on and on. They were gasping for breath when he moved his mouth away. Caitlin wrapped her arms around his shoulders and began again this mating of the mouths.

His tongue slipped into her mouth again and she touched and tasted it with her own. Even as she met every stroke of it inside, she felt him against her, in that place that pulsed and throbbed. An ache grew there until she wanted him to ease it for her somehow. She rubbed against his hardness and moaned at the sensation it caused down there. It was wonderful.

He slid his hands under her buttocks and lifted her higher. ’Twas then she felt his fingers move into that swollen area, she tried to close her legs but his hands held her spread wide. Then his fingers touched where it ached the most and she gasped. Even if they were not in the water, she knew it would be wet there. He opened the folds of skin and slid his fingers along the sensitive area, seeking, searching for something.

He was gazing into her eyes when he touched it and she let out a long, keening moan. She had no control over the sounds or the feelings raging through her. Caitlin only knew she wanted him to touch her everywhere. His fingers continued rubbing against her, and a heavy feeling spread through her, from the tips of her tingling breasts to her core. Never had she felt anything like this before. And he showed no sign of stopping.

A tightness began inside her and she felt it winding like a spring waiting to be released. His chest against hers and his hardness teasing the spot where his fingers played made her ache even more. She moaned louder and longer as the intensity grew. She could feel something building but didn’t know what it was. She knew their mating would not be over until he was inside her but he showed no sign of doing that. He just stroked and stroked until she felt something let go.

He took her mouth and he pressed his fingers against and in her, rubbing in slow strokes until her body exploded under his hands. Nothing she knew could have prepared her for what happened to her inside her. Her body pulsed to her heartbeat and breathing became impossible. Wave after wave passed through her and still he did not stop. She arched against him over and over until the tightness lessened and she could breathe again.

Leaning her head against his chest, she panted. He removed his hands from under her and let her slide down his body. ’Twas obvious that whatever had happened to her did not happen to him. His arousal was still huge and hard against her belly.

Confused, she looked up at him. “We hiv no’ joined. Do ye stop now?”

He frowned, his brows furrowing at her words. “Have you ever done this?”

“This touching? Or mating?” This was all very strange, she never imagined speaking of it.

“Mating. We call it making love. Are you a virgin?” His eyes darkened as he asked. His hair damp from the humidity hung around his face in a dark frame.

“Aye, I am. ’Tis a problem for ye, Douglas?” Most of the men in the clan would not care or ask if she was or wasn’t. Virginity was highly prized by the noblewomen but not those of her place in the clan. “What is it that bothers ye?”

“I thought that maybe those men... the ones in the forest that night...”

“Ye thought they had taken me by force?”

He seemed to choke on the words. “Yes. I thought from your reaction in the practice yard that day that they had raped you. ”

“Oh, nay, Douglas!” She pulled out of his embrace and took a step back. “They put their filthy hands on me but didna force me to... to . ..” She couldn’t put words to that deed.

“Did I hurt you just then? Touching you like that? I never even considered that you might be tender there.” Douglas was concerned for her for no reason. There’d been no injury there.

“Ye hiv wiped away any memories of their touch wi’ yer own, Douglas. I will remember your hands there and remember the throbbing you created in me.”

Her gaze on his erection nearly undid him. She stood a pace away and stared at him, her mouth open slightly. But when she reached for him and touched his penis, it was his turn to moan.

“Did I hurt ye?” She started to pull her hand away but he placed his over hers to stop her.

“No. Please don’t stop.”

“If ye are certain?” A frown marred her brow. She licked her lips as she looked at their joined hands. From the startled look he knew she’d felt the result of him seeing her tongue move over her lips.

“Yes,” he said as he pulsed once more hard and hot against her palm, “I am very certain.”

“Oh,” she whispered yet again and that shape of her mouth gave him all kinds of ideas. Unaware of most of them, she followed his lead and began to stroke his erection. He knew he would come if she continued this so he lifted her hand from him. Keeping hold of her hand, he took several steps backwards until he felt the side of the pool at his back.

He let go of her and pulled himself up to sit on the side of the water. The stone beneath him was warm as in the dream. He pushed back a little and then reached for her, lifting her out of the water and onto his lap. Her legs straddled his and her core nestled near his erection. With his hands on her buttocks once more, he eased her closer and closer. Caitlin was panting again and so he slipped his hand between her legs and touched her once more.

Using one finger and then another, he parted her legs wider and entered her, feeling her tightness contract around his hand. He looked at her face and almost died at the look of arousal she wore. Douglas leaned over and kissed her neck and then moved his mouth ever closer to those engorged nipples. Tasting and licking his way down her breasts, he let his lingers explore the heated area between her legs. Soon he was panting too and wanting so desperately to be inside that hot, velvety tightness.

His mouth drew her nipple in and he licked it, around and around, mimicking those movements with his fingers. She tasted of salt and minerals from the water of the springs, and arousal, and something else he could not identify except that it was clearly her own. The bud grew tighter in his mouth as his tongue moved over it. He suckled harder and drew it in further. She was moaning again, inciting him to have her... now. Delaying for another moment, he moved his mouth to the other breast and teased it the same way. Then he leaned back and looked at her again.

“Are you ready?” This was her chance to say no, although he would die right now if she did.

“Join with me, Douglas. Now.”

And so he did, sliding just inside her tight sheath and letting her take him in the rest of the way at her own speed, which turned out to be an exquisitely torturous slow movement down his shaft. Then he was in her as deeply as he’d ever dreamed of being and it was all he’d hoped it would be.

For a moment, he felt complete and content as he never had in his life. This woman was always meant to be his and now she was. He moved inside her to prove to himself that he was there. Her answering moan was such music to his ears that he almost cried.

Douglas guided her with his hands until she was moving over him, easing herself up and down him, increasing the tension and tightness and heat. He slowed her for a moment and took her nipple again in his mouth, licking, stroking it with his tongue and then worrying his teeth ever so slightly on it. He’d waited to taste them and he would not miss this chance. His penis swelled inside her and together they began rocking up and down .

He could feel it coming, his testicles becoming as hard as his erection was inside her. And as she reached her climax again she dropped her back and let out a loud cry that echoed through the cave. His release began and he pulsed inside her, mixing his seed with her own moisture. He groaned at the power of it and let out his own cry into the stony chamber.

Douglas leaned back and took Caitlin with him, lying on the heated stone floor and keeping her draped over him. He needed a few minutes to recover from what was undoubtedly the most satisfying experience of his life. Physically spent, emotionally drained and fulfilled at the same time, he drifted off with Caitlin in his arms.