Chapter 35

35

S he picked her way carefully across the wet floor of the first room in the cave. Steam billowed out of the next room, overwhelming her and inviting her in. She loosened her outer cloak to remove it as she walked through and into the next room where the deeper pool was. Taking the cloak off and lifting it so that it didn’t get wet, Caitlin placed it high up on one of the rock formations alongside of the pool.

The steam was so thick it was difficult to see the surface of the heated water. She untied her hair and shook it loose. A bath would feel wonderful even if it couldn’t change a thing. She walked over to one side of the pool and tugged at the laces of her blouse.

Someone cleared their throat and she froze. It had come from inside the pool itself. Someone had known about the cave? Only her parents and she used the springs—they covered the entrance to the cave to keep its existence a secret. She waved her hand in front of her face, trying to get a glimpse of who had invaded her private place.

She saw him dip under the water and rise from it as in her dream. Using his hands, he sluiced some of the water from his hair and body before standing up in the water.

Nay, it could not be! She must be dreaming or hoping but he could not be here.

“I will turn into a prune if I stay in here much longer. But I wanted to wait for you.”

“A prune?” was all she could say. It sounded real to her. His voice was the same, his body was the same one she had loved last night.

“A wrinkled but sweet piece of fruit.”

She felt the tears begin to flow down her cheeks and onto her neck. He stood in the water and walked toward her with his hands extended. Without thinking she walked off the edge and into the pool, landing on her feet in front of him.

She wrapped a hand around that part of him that stood straight up in the water. “It doesna feel wrinkled to me.”

“Ye wicked lass!” he whispered in that deep seductive voice and without warning, he pulled her close and kissed her. As she melted in his embrace, he kicked his feet from under him and took them both under the water.

A moment later he stood them back up, never releasing her lips from his. Still kissing wildly, he began peeling her soaking clothes from her until she was as naked as he. He lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist, bringing him into contact with the place that already throbbed in anticipation of joining with him. Scant seconds later he eased himself inside of her to the sound of their passion-filled kisses.

She’d thought this would never happen again. She thought he was gone from her life forever, except in her dreams. And yet, he was here. She lifted her mouth from his and looked at him. Douglas walked them over to the side of the pool where she leaned back on the edge and felt him move within her.

“I thought ye were gone.”

“I’m staying here, Caitlin. I’m not going back.”

“But how? I didna think there was a choice in this.”

He kissed her again before answering. “Your mother told me there’s always a choice.”

“She kens ye are here? That ye hiv stayed?” Her mother had never said a word, but she knew all along that he was here, in their time and in the cave.

“Yes. She told me you come here after healings to bathe.”

“She is a devious woman, Douglas. Ye will learn that about her.”

Douglas laughed and then looked at her with a serious expression. “I realized as I was about to step through that I couldn’t leave you, Cait. I knew that my life would be nothing without you in it: I couldn’t go back.”

She began to cry at his words. He’d stayed for her.

“Dinna greet, my lass. I have other things in mind for us.” He moved within her, slowly drawing out, then sliding in once more. She couldn’t cry when he did that.

Soon his motions had her gasping and her moans echoed through the steamy rooms of the cave. They reached their peak together and loudly, with the water sloshing and steam swirling around them. He eased her back in the water and they separated. He walked to the side of the pool and reached for the small bowl of soap she always left there.

The next few minutes were wonderful as he washed her from head to toes and everywhere in between. It almost led to another joining but she knew about the interruption to come. She tried to warn him but he wouldn’t listen. Her father’s yell convinced him she was not joking.

“Caitlin!” her father bellowed. That was more like the father she knew. “Is he wi’ ye in there?”

Douglas pulled her behind him and faced the doorway of the cave. She tried to move around him but he wouldn’t let her.

“Aye, Da. Douglas is here.”

“Now that yer staying I expect an offer to be made. Do ye hear?” She grimaced at the loudness of his voice. How could anyone in miles not hear him?

“I hear you, Pol.” Douglas looked a bit peaked now. She slipped her arms under his and wrapped hers around his waist, sliding her body against his from behind.

“In the great hall, before the clan, Douglas. My daughter willna be shamed by ye or anyone else! Do ye hear?” His yelling bounced off the walls and echoed around them.

“I hear you. I’ll be there.” He turned his head and whispered to her, “Is that what ye want?”

“Ye daft mon, of course!” She bit him lightly on his back.

“Craig will wed you. You don’t have to settle for me.”

She pushed on the back of his knee, sending him tumbling into the water. How could men be so stupid at times? He sloshed around, trying to regain his footing and came up sputtering .

“Are ye well, Caitlin?” Her father’s voice was concerned, he probably heard the gasping and choking going on and wondered at it.

“Aye, Da. We will see you at the cottage in a wee bit.”

“Yer clothes and his are here in this basket. Yer mam sent along some linens, too.” Her father pushed the basket in front of the opening.

“Thank ye for bringing them.” She waited for him to say more but he apparently was done with talking. She waited a minute or two and then turned to Douglas.

“Settle for ye? Are ye daft? I don’t want Craig, I want you.”

“Then you’ll marry me?”

“Oh, aye, Douglas. I’ll wed ye.”

He strode through the water to her, pulled her close and kissed her until she couldn’t breathe. She felt him hard against her belly again and laughed.

“Shall we try once more, Cait? Your mother tells me the baby girl with MacKendimen blue eyes and your black hair will be born in nine months’ time. We would not want her vision to be wrong, would we?”

Caitlin smiled at him. He would be the father of her daughter, and all the rest of her children as well. The Fates had smiled on her at last. All of her dreams had come true.