Portals Of Time Read Free Page B

his bundle.
    “Did ye bring all that I asked?”
    “Aye, m’laird. I forgot naught.” Handing him the bundle and a small pouch, he turned and left.
    Lucian returned to the bench to take up his vigilance once again. Opening the pouch, he extracted a ring and examined it. It was his mother’s ring from when she had been wed. The golden lion’s emerald eye glinted at him , reflecting the candlelight in the small chamber. Replacing it in the pouch, he leaned back against the stone wall to catch a few hours rest before the wedding.

    Arianna woke slowly. Wow! What a nightmare! That was the most realistic one yet! She cracked open one eye in trepidation of what she would find. Her other eye popped open in shock as she gasped. Oh shit! It was not a bad dream at all! Leaning against the wall, slept the handsomest man she’d ever seen. The one who had always been hidden in the shadows...except for his eyes. Her tat began to warm as she backed out of the other side of the bed. The c hill air caus ing her skin to prickle alerted her to another problem .
    Where’s my clothes? I’m naked! She turned a suspicious eye at the sleeping stranger... and who removed them? She swiftly wrapped the coarse blanket about her, then frantically began searching out her clothing.
    Smooth as silk, a deep voice rumbled at her , causing her to jump.
    “If it be your clothing for which ye search...ye will nae find them.”
    Arianna spun around to confront the stranger.
    “Where are they? I need to dress and be on my way.” She had no clue of where she would be “on her way to” but he didn’t know that. Her eyes narrowed. “And who , exactly, removed them from me?”
    A slow smile spread across his full mouth as she gasped in horror.
    “You...y-you undressed me? You’re a lecherous pig!” He had seen her naked! Touched her! She blushed in embarrassment. “Give me my clothes at once!”
    His eyes bore into hers for several moments before he shook his head. “I think nae. I prefer ye as ye are.”
    This is getting me nowhere fast. Perhaps a different tactic is called for. She rubbed her tatoo as the warmth began to irritate her. Arianna glanced over at him as he sprawled casually on the bench.
    “Who are you, anyway?”
    “Why I am struck t a the bone that ye do nae remember your betrothed!” His brow arched in question. “Ye truly do nae ken me?”
    She shook her tousled head.
    “I remember your eyes from my dreams...but that is all.” Nightmare would be more accurate .
    His head jerked up. She has the “knowing” if she dreamt of me.
    “Tell me of your dreams.”
    She shook her head again. “I can never remember them...not the details, anyway. I always see that man, Malcolm ,” she shuddered, “and your green eyes. I wake up with a forboding and also...a yearning for something that I can’t explain. It’s the same every time, although it has become stronger lately.”
    Lucian watched the animation of her expressions as she answered him. He was satisfied that she spoke true. He rose from the stone bench and retrieved the bundle his squire had fetched for him.
    “Ye may wear these.” He handed the clothes to Arianna. “I will try t a explain things as ye dress.”
    “I would prefer privacy!”
    “That ye can nae have...but I vow I will nae watch if that makes ye feel better.”
    Snatching the bundle from him, she stalked over to a darkened corner muttering to herself. “What good is that vow when he’s already seen everything anyway? I should charge admission!”
    He chuckled as he overheard her. One thing was certain...their life together would not be boring!
    “Well? I’m waiting.”
    Lucian cleared his throat.
    “We were betrothed when ye was but a summer au ld...I had seen eleven summers by then. When I was ten and nine , Father sent for ye t a live in Dunbar Castle with us so ye could learn how t a run it. That is when the MacGregor came empty-handed ta inform us of your abduction when ye were two summers au ld.