Caitriona woke with a start, beads of perspiration dotting her brow. She kicked the covers from her slender body, allowing the warm mid-morning air from the open window to dance lightly across her skin. She sucked in deep breaths of air, the remnants of her dream dissipating with the dawn. Unconsciously, she rubbed a hand across her brow, still feeling the sting of where the dream-blade found its mark. She groaned and rolled to her side. I should be used to this by now, she thought.

Her hand noted the indent in the bed where Duncan had been. It was still warm so she knew he hadn’t been gone long. At the memory of their lovemaking, a smile crossed her face. She stretched, noting the soreness in her legs—muscles I clearly haven’t used in a while, she thought, a wicked grin dotting her face. She felt the pull deep in her belly and wished that Duncan was still in bed with her. She could think of a hundred different ways to say good morning.

Rolling onto her side, she thought about the remnants of this latest dream-vision, the term she’d given to the visions that plagued her sleep. At first, she thought they were merely dreams, but as the prophecies in her dreams played out, she began to realize they were connected to her gift of second sight. She was also reminded of Dani and Duncan, their naked bodies entangled together in a lover’s dance. She pushed the thought from her mind. She didn’t want anything to ruin her good mood. Besides, it wasn’t clear what the vision meant so she refused to give in to her fear.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t hear Duncan come in.

“Ye look like ye’ve seen a ghost, Leannan,” he said, his voice laced with a hint of concern. “If I didna ken any better, I’d say ye’ve had a vision and that yer puzzling over what it means.” He sat down next to her and stroked her back, pressing soft kisses along her spine. She groaned, enjoying the feel of his hands on her body.

“Astute as ever, highlander,” she said, trying to keep the annoyance from her voice. “But we can discuss it later. Right now, there is only one thing on my mind.” She rolled over to face him, capturing his lips and enjoying the taste of him.

He pulled her tight against him, his hands tracing the curve of her breasts. She arched her back, his name a soft moan on her lips. She ground her hips against him until her need became his own. His erection grew hard as he rolled her nipples between his thumb and forefinger, watching as they grew hard and taut under his careful ministration.

Caitriona ran her hands the length of his back, reveling in the hardness of him. She was amazed at how much she needed this man, how much she ached for him and craved his touch. When they were together it was as if she was consumed by him, lost in the world they created. Nothing else mattered: her sister, Nicolas, the New World Order. All of it became inconsequential. She wrapped her legs around his body and pressed herself against his hardness. He groaned against her, capturing her lips, his passion consuming them both and bruising her tender flesh.

She became more insistent. She needed him inside her. She needed to feel the connection that only they shared. Arching her body, she reached down and freed his erection from his trues, her small hand stroking him and urging him to enter her.

“Nay, Leannan. I dinna want this to be over so soon.” Shedding his trues, he picked her up and, rolling them both, positioned her on top of him.

A wicked grin lit her face as she positioned herself over him and slid down the length of him. He moaned as she adjusted to the girth of him, his hands fisting in her hair. She began a slow circular movement with her hips that she knew would drive him mad. Her lips parted as she slowly began to increase her tempo. She could feel him give in to the sensations and his own body soon began to match the rhythm of her hips.

Increasing her tempo, she placed her hands on his chest, marveling at the well-toned muscles that were all hard lines and ridges. Even without his genetically enhanced strength, this man exuded power. Her breath hitched in her throat as he reached and found her clitoris, stroking the little nub in rhythm with their movements.

“Sweet goddess,” he groaned. She could tell he was close. She could feel her own release building as she climbed the precipice. She needed to feel that sweet release that only he could provide. His hand increased his maddening tempo and she arched her back giving him greater access to the secret places between her legs.

“Caitriona,” he gasped. “Come with me, lass.” The passion and desperation in his voice was her undoing. She came violently against him as his own release washed over her. He continued to pump her as he filled her with his seed. Her body shook as her own release shattered her completely. Collapsing, she fell against his chest, listening to the rapid beat of his heart as they both floated back from their emotional high.

In time, Duncan’s hands caressed her back, bringing tiny goose flesh to the surface as his hands rhythmically matched the beating of her heart. She sighed, not wanting to break the spell. But she knew his obligations would soon invade his thoughts once again.

As if on cue, his communication device chirped loudly, indicating an incoming audio transmission. “Ignore it,” he murmured against her hair.

“I don’t think I’m the one you need to worry about,” she quipped. She enjoyed the feel of his strong hands drifting lightly across her back. She snuggled deeper into him, hopeful that they could steal a few more hours before duty called them both back to reality. She hadn’t been this close to him in weeks and she missed the strength of his arms and the satiated feeling she derived from their lovemaking.

The chirping became more insistent. “Damnu,” Duncan exclaimed, rolling her off him.

She sighed as time and duty robbed her once again.

“Open audio,” Duncan’s deep baritone penetrated the silence of the room.

“Gawain’s asked his advisors to assemble,” Duncan’s second in command, Lee Tadeo, said in a clipped rush. “He’s asked Caitriona to join but I haven’t been able to reach her. Do you… ”

“She’s with me,” Duncan interrupted him. “We’re on our way.” He closed the communication before Lee could respond.

“Get dressed, Caitriona,” he barked as he slipped into command mode.

She sighed and rolled off the bed pulling the sheet around her. “Do I have time for a shower?” she asked hopefully.

“Quickly. Gawain wouldn’t call an unscheduled meeting unless it was important. And the fact that he’s invited you means there’s information that involves you.” He pulled his trues on and tugged his white cotton shirt over his head. “We’ll be in the day hall.” With that, he left without even a nod in her direction.