Scotland's history, foods, customs, dress, etc, are woven
throughout my Highland Moon Series, and I hope I've succeeded in showing my readers a wee bit of Scotland's past.
My new release, "Chasing a Highland Moon"
book 3, is the story of the handsome Laird of Dunvegan Castle, Cinead MacLeod, or "Cin" for short, and Lady Claire Cameron. Claire is posing as a servant called Jenny, at Dunvegan and the attraction between the two is undeniable. Here is an excerpt from
"Chasing a Highland Moon":
The
following morning, balancing a stack of platters from the morning meal, Claire left
the great hall and headed for the stairs leading down to the kitchen. On the
landing, a movement outside the window caught her eye and she stopped to look.
Cin
led his horse out of the stables, and swung onto his back, then rode out across
the frosty moor. The wind whipped the horse's mane and Cin's long hair about,
he and the animal seemingly one, as Cin urged him faster and faster. The sight near
stole her breath away. How could she bear to never see him again? Tears welled
up in her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away.
"He's
a bonny lad, to be sure," Mistress Murray said from behind Claire,
startling her.
She
turned around to find an odd smile on the woman's face as she looked out the
window past Claire.
"Aye,"
she whispered, heat rising in her face at being caught spying on the laird. She
hurried down the stairs with the platters.
A
short while later, Claire was on her way back from taking two buckets of
leavings to the midden pile near the stables, when Cin returned from his ride. He
saw her, and a grin spread across his face, lifting her spirits as always.
He
drew his horse up a few feet away. "Morn, Jenny."
His
handsome smile was contagious. "Morn, laird," Claire said, with a
smile of her own. Her gaze traveled over the horse. "He's beautiful."
She took a couple of steps toward the stallion, but stopped when he whinnied
and tossed his massive head.
"Gabh socair. Calm yourself." He
patted the horse's thick neck. "The wee lass means you no
harm," he said,
his eyes never leaving her face. "You may touch him, if you wish."
Claire
stepped closer and gently stroked the horse's velvety nose. "Ye're a
handsome lad, Shadowmere."
"You
ken his name." The fact that she did both surprised and pleased him.
"When
I first arrived here, I was near the stables when ye rode out. I asked Jamie,
the stable lad, what the horse was called."
"I
see," he said, watching her delicate fingers stroke the horse, aching for
her touch upon his own skin. "Do you wish a ride?"
She
shook her head. "Oh, I cannae, m'laird." Her eyes were bright with
excitement.
"Of
course you can."
"What
about Mistress Murray? She will skin me alive for neglecting my duties."
"Let
me handle Mistress Murray." He leaned over and held out his arms. "Grab
hold of my wrists."
She
did as he asked and he pulled her into the saddle. She settled her hips between
his thighs, igniting a flame of desire. He slipped an arm around her small waist,
and pointed the horse once again in the direction of the moor.
Jenny
held onto the saddle with both hands, as they raced across the frozen ground,
her laughter filling his heart to near bursting with joy.
He
swallowed hard and drew her back against his chest, savoring the intoxicating
feel of her in his arms. "I want to show you something." He turned
the horse and they raced along the cliffs high above the sea. Cin brought
Shadowmere to a stop a few feet from the edge. This was the place where he had sought
solstice as a child, and still did at times. He did not know why he wanted
Jenny to see it, but he did.
"Oh,
Cin." His name fell from her lips in a breathless whisper, and his heart
skipped a beat.
"'Tis so
beautiful," she said, her gaze on the scene before her. "I could stay
here for the remainder of my days and never tire of looking at the mountains
and sea before me."
Her
words pleased him, filled an empty place in his soul. He slipped his finger
beneath her chin and tilted her face toward his, then he kissed her, kissed her
in a way he had never kissed a woman—with love. Cin had finally admitted it to
himself. He was in love with Jenny.
Her
lips parted and he growled against her mouth. Cin tasted her, feeding a hunger
that, until Jenny came along, he had not even known existed. He lifted his head
and looked into her dark eyes, surprised by the play of emotion he saw there. "I
care for you, Jenny, and want you more than I have ever wanted anything."
He
swallowed hard, and she realized how difficult it had been for him to expose himself
to her in such an open manner. Before, when he had kissed her, she had fled.
This time, she would not. "Then ye shall have me," she whispered.
He
kissed her again, then turned the horse toward Dunvegan. "Tonight, I will
come for you." He kissed the top of her head.
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I hope you've enjoyed reading about my new release!
Gwyn
