Highland Dragon (The Treasure of Paragon #6) - Genevieve Jack Page 0,40

her skirts and wiped sweat from her brow. “Between the gunshots and dangling from a deadly height, I think I’ve had enough excitement for the day. Please tell me breakfast is in my near future.”

“Just beyond the stream there.” Tàirn galloped to him and he removed his breeches from the saddlebag before pulling them on again. He dropped his invisibility, tied the cow to the saddle, then mounted.

Avery reached for his hand, but he pulled it away. “Weel?”

“Well what? Help me mount so we can return to the cottage and eat.”

“Was it a glory or a pity?”

Her mouth gaped. “I was too busy praying I wouldn’t fall to my death to notice!”

He reached his hand down to her and grinned. “A question to be answered another time then.”

“In your dreams,” she said with a laugh.

He hoisted her into the saddle in front of him and pulled her firmly against his chest. He didn’t miss the soft sigh she released at the closeness or the way she smelled of clean linen and wisteria. Exquisite. To his surprise, his inner dragon whirled in approval within him.

He eased Tàirn into a slow walk and they led the cow back to the cottage.

Chapter Fourteen

She had almost gone blind from the glory of it. Avery leaned against Xavier’s broad chest and tried not to squirm in the saddle. The man had spent two years in an underground dungeon and still looked like an Adonis. A filthy Adonis who smelled like wet earth and desperately needed a bath, but still a model of the masculine form.

She pictured herself with a soapy sponge in her hand and had to close her eyes against the images her mind conjured. She was more than a little relieved when they reached the cottage and she was able to slide off the horse and put some distance between them.

“Oh!” She tipped her nose toward the door. “Do you smell that? Food!”

Just then, Glenna appeared with a bundle in her arms. “Laird Xavier, I’ve brought yer things.” She handed him the package.

“Whit took ye?” he asked kindly.

“I had to be careful. He can detect me, ye ken. Nymphs are not unfamiliar to fairies. I’ve had to hide all these years, carefully. He’s got the entire clan lookin’ for both of ye. The stable boy saw Avery. He’s avoiding the fairy hills fur now, but it’s only a matter of time.”

Xavier nodded and sighed through his nose. “Ye’ll have to go back. Spy on Lachlan. Alert us if he decides to come this way.”

Avery could tell Glenna had no desire to return to Castle Dunchridhe, but she bowed her head and disappeared. Xavier frowned, clearly hating that he had to send the oread into danger.

“Breakfast?” Avery asked, thinking a meal would do them both good.

“In a moment,” he said. “I must tend to something first.” He blinked out of sight.

She shrugged. “Suit yourself.” She ran up the steps and into the cabin, finding a banquet of food on the table. She ladled porridge into a bowl, topped it with fresh berries and cream, and dug in, nibbling on the meats and cheeses between bites. She poured herself a steaming cup of tea. She would have preferred coffee, but she hadn’t seen any since she arrived. The oats were creamy and delicious and filled her up with warm comfort. By the time she washed down the last bite, she thought she might explode.

The door opened and Xavier stepped inside. She froze, slowly lowering her teacup to the table. The first thing she noticed was the kilt, a beautiful brown-and-blue tartan kept in place by a leather belt with a dirk at the hip. His shirt was a loose-fitting linen with buttons at the neck, and over it was a vest and jacket in deep blue. But it was his clean-shaven face that arrested her, as well as his hair, which he’d tied back at the base of his neck in a sort of long, masculine ponytail.

Avery was struck speechless. The man was stunning. She rested her chin on her fist to keep her mouth shut.

“Have ye left any for me?” he asked, one blue eye winking.

She leaned back and raised her chin. “Plenty. Might not be as warm as it was.”

He sat down beside her and loaded a bowl. She fought the urge to stare as he began to eat.

“Whit does a woman such as yerself do in the outside world?” he asked. “Since ye said ye weren’t a proper lass.” The crooked smile