Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

W hen they were well out of sight of the Lady Anne , with the coast near Oban visible slightly to their left, Bosco came over to them and said, "We've upset some dangerous folk today. Me and the lads have decided tae head north and stay out of the way for a while until the fuss dies down. I strongly suggest ye dae the same. Ye're welcome tae come with us, or we can set ye down somewhere safe, so ye can continue yer journey."

Arne and Raven talked about it for a few minutes. Then, Arne said to the waiting captain, "We were supposed tae get a birlinn tae Tarbert tomorrow. We're headin' fer MacNeil lands, between there and Clachan. Could ye set us down somewhere where we can continue south?"

"Aye. There's a headland nae too distant from here," Bosco replied with a nod. "There's plenty of cover and naebody goes there. There's a cave in the rocks there we sometimes use to hide stuff. Look fer the two ash trees close together, and ye'll find it easily. Ye'll be safe there if ye need tae make camp and rest fer a night or two. There's a freshwater burn nearby, and we'll give ye some vittles tae keep ye goin'. Ye can carry on south towards Tarbert from there, though if ye're goin' on foot, it'll likely take ye about two days, and another two tae reach Clachan."

"Four days," Raven breathed, her disappointment clear.

Four days of walking sounded like a lot to Arne as well, but what choice did they have? "'Tis nae ideal," he told her, "but at least we're alive and together, eh? We can make it. We may even be able tae come by some horses and cut the journey time down that way. I have a little money in me coat." That was the sum of their possessions apart from the clothes on their backs.

Raven nodded. "All right," she said.

Arne looked at the captain. "Thank ye, Bosco, that would be grand. We're very grateful fer all yer help."

"Aye, thank ye, Captain," Raven put it, smiling up at the man. "I hope one day I can repay ye for what ye did."

Bosco's weathered face broke into a smile as he gazed upon her. "Nay repayment needed, lassie. I was glad fer the chance tae stick that bastard Maddox, fer murderin' me braither. I'm hopin' that what with me blade in his shoulder and Arne's here in his belly, the vicious pig'll be bleedin' out. That thought puts me in a good mood, so I'm feelin' generous."

The three of them chuckled at that before Bosco added, "I'm awful glad ye're safe though, lassie, and I wish ye both well."

He left them to give the crew their new orders, and a while later, they were beaching the birlinn in small sandy cove in a remote headland, hidden from view from the open sea. Bosco made good on his word, leaving them a bag of provisions sufficient for a few days, two water bottles, as well as some blankets for warmth.

Having pointed out the twin ash trees to help them locate the cave, the Kelpie Lass finally departed. Arne and Raven stood on the sandy shore waving her off, filled with gratitude for the all the help and kindness the captain and crew had shown them.

They picked up the things Bosco had left them and walked up the beach together, quickly locating the cave. It was large and dry, and showed signs of former occupation. They were delighted to find firewood already cut and stacked by a well-used makeshift hearth, as well as an iron box containing flints and tinder and a few cooking pots and utensils. It was the work of a few minutes for Arne to get a fire going. The interior of the cave soon brightened with the reddish glow of the dancing flames, looking almost cozy.

Arne insisted that she accompany him to the nearby burn to fill the water bottles, not willing to take any chances with her safety. After that, they returned to their hideaway and settled in for the night, intending to set off on the next leg of the journey the following morning.

Raven busied herself making tea and assembling a small feast of hard black bread, cheese and dried meat. Before long, they were sitting side by side, wrapped in blankets, and eating and drinking as they warmed themselves by the fire.

"That was very frightening," Raven said eventually, feeling very emotional as she put a tentative hand to her tender scalp and recalled Maddox's mistreatment.

Aye, ye can say that again," Arnie agreed, his chiseled features creasing into a frown that Raven thought made him look even more adorable than ever. "There were one or two moments there when I thought I was gonnae lose ye," he added, gazing into her eyes.

"If it hadnae been fer ye, Arne, I would have been halfway tae Barra by now. I can never tell ye enough how grateful I am fer ye riskin' yer life tae come and rescue me."

"Aye ye mad? I love ye. Of course, I was gonnae come," he told her, feigning offence. "I'm nae gonnae let that bastard MacDonald get his hands on ye again, nae while I live and breathe." He opened his blanket and smiled enticingly at her. "Come on in here with me and have a cuddle. Ye'll feel better, I promise."

"Arne Macleod, I'm the luckiest lass in the world tae have ye love me," she said with a smile as she shuffled over on her behind and nestled beneath his sheltering arm, putting her arms around his torso and squeezing him tightly. She could feel the muscles flexing beneath his skin. He felt so solid, warm, and powerful, her literal tower of strength.

"There now, that's better, eh?" he said, pulling the blanket back around them and cuddling her close. "Aye ye warm enough?"

"With ye next tae me, I'm always lovely and toasty," she told him, the memories of their recent ordeal starting to fade as they snuggled even closer. "How about ye?"

"Aye, ye're a hot wee thing. In fact, I'm getting almost overheated. I may have tae take somethin' off," he said with mock seriousness.

Raven giggled, getting into the spirit of the game, feeling the little fire of desire igniting in her belly as she always did when he was near. "Oh? Like what?"

"Like yer clothes?"

"Arne!" She giggled again and tickled his ribs, setting him wriggling and laughing.

"Oh, so 'tis like that, is it?" he said, tickling her back. She squealed and tickled him some more, her hands traveling all over her chest and back, the memories of their recent ordeal being fading from her mind. He retaliated, and they squirmed and wriggled beneath the blanket, trying to escape each other's prying fingers, while at the same time drawing even closer. The blanket fell away. Raven ended up on her back, with Arne half on top of her, both of them panting from their tickling fight.

"Ow! Mind me head, it hurts," she muttered through her laughter, winding her arms about his neck and entwining in his short, blond hair, loving the softness of it. She gazed up at him as he hung poised above her, thinking how gorgeous he was.

"Dinnae worry," he told her, "I have just the thing tae take yer mind off it." His mouth came down on hers in a hot, passionate kiss, his tongue forcing its way between her lips and roving about her mouth.

She moaned, kissing him back with equal fervor and pulling him down to her by the shoulders. The kiss intensified, and they began pulling at each other's clothes with a shared sense of urgency. Arne pulled down the top of her gown and freed her breasts, nuzzling and nibbling at them hungrily, teasing her nipples until they stood out stiff and proud.

Even as she gasped in pleasure and excitement from his tantalizing ministrations, Raven was pushing his coat down his shoulders to get it off him. He paused to shrug it off before he carried on caressing and teasing her breasts, letting out occasional grunts of satisfaction. Only when she frantically tore his shirt from his waistband, did his lips briefly leave her as he lifted his arms so she could pull it off over his head.

"Och, Arne, ye're so handsome," she breathed, arching her back for more as his mouth returned to tease her breasts, happily running her fingers though the soft, blond, curling hairs covering his chest, sliding her palms over every part of his huge, muscular torso, its tracery of scars and tattoos filling her with lust.

"That's kind of ye tae say," he whispered back hoarsely, grazing her nipples with his teeth, while sliding his hands beneath her skirts and up her legs, sending thrills racing up and down her body. "But I think ye must be mistaken, fer 'tis ye who's the beautiful one around here."

"Well, I think ye're gorgeous," she told him, feeling cheeky as she slid her hands down inside his waistband and clutched his buttocks.

"Mmm, nae as gorgeous as ye," he breathed, his fingers parting her thighs and starting to stroke her there, making her squeal and open her legs wider, eager for this touch. "And I can prove it."

"Oh? How?" she asked laughingly, thinking she knew what he meant. He ground his hips against her belly, so she could feel his already huge erection pressing into her.

"Oh, goodness, that is very large. D'ye need hand with that?" she slipped her hands around to the front of his trews and taking his length firmly in hand. He groaned and thrust his fingers inside her. She arched her back and let out a small scream.

"Och, aye, that's very nice," he murmured thickly, lifting himself up slightly so Raven could free one hand to undo his trews. She held his growing length firmly in one hand, while with the other she undid the fastenings and pushed the trews down over his hips. She was caught up in a frenzy of growing excitement at the feel of his strength and power, and the way his fingers were delving in and out of her.

"Ah, ah!" she moaned as his thumb toyed with her bud, driving her wild with lust yet trying not to completely loose her focus on pleasuring him too. She pumped his shaft, savoring the way it grew in her hands.

Their need for each other was now so urgent that without any other communication but their bodies, they each adjusted their positions. Arne slid down, his tongue trailing hot fire as he buried his face between her legs, making her scream as it flickered in and out of her, his lips and teeth grazing her bud and plundering her already slick folds.

In an impassioned response, Raven gripped his shaft and put her lips to it, teasing him with tiny kisses, running the tip of her tongue from top to bottom, relishing Arne's groans. She cupped his balls in her other hand and stroked them, caressing them with her lips and tongue mouth before taking his whole length into her mouth and sucking on him as she pumped her hand up and down rhythmically.

Cries, moans, and deep groans echoed around the cave as they continued their sexual odyssey, completely lost in their own world of pleasure.

Driven to the edge of ecstasy by what Arne was doing to her, Raven felt the familiar waves of heat starting to build and rise up her body from her red-hot core.

"I'm comin', Arne, I'm comin," she cried, thrusting her hips against his questing mouth and fingers as the shuddering ecstasy of her climax swept over her.

Arne moved fast, his length slipping from her mouth as he switched position, his breaths ragged and heavy as he poised himself above her and thrust into her, his excitement also reaching its peak and he moved in and out, in and out, while Raven bucked against him.

"Ah, Arne that's soo…!" she cried and clutched at his shoulders as they rocked together, oblivious to all but each other, and soon reached the pinnacle of their shared ecstasy.