After they’d left Kayla and Mason, Calum brought Arielle to the coast. The sun shined in the late afternoon sky, without any clouds diluting its brightness.

“Looks like we have some time to kill.”

“Indeed,” she replied. She trailed one foot through the pebbles, alternating with the opposite foot.

He toed the water. It was brisk, yet comfortable enough for shifters, who could tolerate a vast range in temperature.

“You up for a swim?”

“If I had something appropriate to wear.”

“I don’t mind if you swim in the nude,” he replied in a casual tone. The beast inside roared to encourage it.

She laughed. “Why does that not surprise me? But I don’t think us swimming together naked is a good idea.”

Calum thought it was the best idea he’d had all day. He picked up a rock and tossed it out into the ocean. “Just thinking of what we could do while we wait.”

She tilted her head and smiled. “You know what? A swim sounds like a brilliant idea.”

His eyes widened. “What?”

She shrugged. “It will be refreshing, and maybe fun. We could use it, don’t you think?” She raised her index finger. “Turn around and don’t peek while I undress.”

Calum’s mouth fell open. He snapped it shut like a crocodile. She was going to swim with him—naked? Every cell in his body perked with interest.

He turned away and focused on a silver birch tree, studying the bark to keep himself from whipping his head around for a peek. His mind went down a decadent path, picturing what her body would look like naked. He counted to ten… twenty…

A splash snapped him out of it.

“You can turn around now.”

He couldn’t spin fast enough. There she was. Only her head and bare shoulders were visible above the water. Her pale hair gleamed under the sunlight and floated around her like a veil. Ach, she was as graceful as a mermaid, as tempting as a nymph. His beast itched to jump into the water and press himself against her naked body, but he forced himself to walk slowly, casually, to the water.

Whipping off his belt and kilt, he strode naked into the waves.

This time, her mouth dropped open.

When he was submerged to his waist, she said, “You could have warned me you were about to do that.”

He swam closer to her. “And miss that look on your face?”

“You’re brutal.” She splashed water at him while her face broke out into a smile. She swam from him.

“Am I?” he teased.

He chased her through the water as she laughed.

When she turned over her shoulder to see him in pursuit, she squealed. “You’ll never catch me!”

He swam after her, but she was wily, and kept slipping out of his grasp. She turned in different directions to evade capture. The playful pursuit had a side effect—turning him on.

Finally, he caught her ankle. And then he maneuvered up to grab her by the waist.

Her naked waist.

Arielle turned to face him, her eyes sparkling with excitement—and a flicker of fear.

Why had he done that? Acted on base instinct, touching her body like that. Still, she didn’t push him away. And he hadn’t removed his hands…

“Calum?” Her voice came out dark and husky, like a fine Scotch.

His gaze caressed her face, her milky white shoulders. “What?”

“Do—do you—ah—think we should be doing this?”

Her mouth drew his attention. He moved one hand up to cup her cheek and then tipped her head back. She stared back at him, eyes half-closed and darkened with need. Placing his hand behind her neck, he whispered, “Aye.”

A small gasp escaped her, but she parted her lips. So smooth. Bolts of excitement shot through him.

She tangled her fingers through the long strands of hair at the back of his head, reaching up to kiss him deeper. They explored each other’s bodies. Tentative touches quickly morphed into frantic grasps. All Calum could think of was burying himself deep inside her. He pressed his body to hers, crushing her breasts against his chest in the water. She moaned as she kissed him back with a need as desperate as his own.

She pulled back, gasping for air. “Calum. No. We shouldn’t do this.”

It took him a moment to adjust to the sudden halt. His body pulsed with disappointment, now cold from the sudden absence of her flesh touching his.

“Why not?” he managed to say, somehow without a grunt.

“Because.” Her chest rose and fell with her escalated breaths. “Because. It will complicate things.”

Aye, it was true, to some extent. He was supposed to be taking care of her, not seducing her. “It doesn’t have to.”

She turned her head and pursed her lips. “I know. But it is for me. I don’t belong here. I’m in a strange land.”

He was a knob. “You’re right.” He clenched his hands into fists under the water. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

She touched his cheek and gave him an imploring glance. “I wanted you to.”

She dropped her hand, and the warmth on his skin disappeared with the lack of her touch.

With a more determined expression, she added, “But I need to focus on getting home.”

He unclenched his fists, trying to breathe through the sexual frustration. “Of course. That’s why we’re here.”

“Oh, stop that,” she said, nudging his shoulder.

“Stop what?”

“You’re turning all—dark and broody.”

Her words surprised him, making him bark out with laughter. “More like sexually frustrated. Swimming with a beautiful woman, being teased by a brief touch, a small taste…”

She turned sheepish. “Not that it’s any easier for me.”

His ears perked. “No?”

“No,” she admitted. “Although, I shouldn’t, I’ve been thinking about being with you. But, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

He forced a smile to lighten the mood. “A proper fankle, wouldn’t you say?”

“Indeed.” She smiled back. Then she dove under the water and emerged several feet ahead.

Resisting the urge to swim after her, he shoved his needs aside. Instead, he swam with stiff strokes, encouraging the cool water to wash away his frustration.

* * *

Back on shore, Arielle suppressed a sigh. Calum had a way of testing every fiber of resistance. How was she supposed to behave when he lay next to her on the sand, wet and chiseled like a god from the sea? Every tanned inch of muscle visible beyond his blue kilt was finely sculpted and glistening under the sun.

She’d fantasized about him. And yet, she stopped it. Ach. What was wrong with her?

Being alone with him, naked with only the water separating them, had been too tempting. It was hardly a barrier. How could she not want to deepen the kiss, wrap her legs around his body, and beg him to take her right there?

Her rationalization was true. Getting involved with Calum would complicate matters. Sleeping with her companion who’d been protecting her should not be on her agenda. She owed it to him to focus on getting home, and getting out of his life as soon as possible.

Arielle concentrated on other things. The patterns the clouds made overhead, the sound of the waves as they approached and left the shore, the scent of the marine life—anything to distract herself from Calum.

She stole another peek at him.

Ach, it was too tempting.

He was too close. All she had to do was reach over to him and touch his skin, run her fingers over his rock-hard muscle, roll on top of his body and press her lips to his…

She stood up abruptly. “I’m going for a walk.”

He straightened, eying her with a surprised look. “Where to?”

“Just along the shore. Don’t worry. I won’t stray too far.” After all, that’s what had landed her in trouble to begin with.

“I’ll come with you.” He pulled himself to his feet.

“No, Calum,” she insisted. “I need to be alone for a few minutes.” I need to get some space before I reach out and touch you…

He squared his jaw, showing his discomfort with her decision.

“I’ll stay close,” she said.

He nodded, while his body stiffened.

She walked to the shore, skirting around broken seashells, and toeing the water. She inhaled the salty ocean air, the taste coated her tongue. Although the scent had calmed her in the past, it failed to this time. Calum was too close, distracting her thoughts.

She looked back over her shoulder. Calum watched her. He was so concerned with her safety.

Was he like this with other women? Was his reaction simply a gargoyle thing?

Or was it because of how vulnerable she was in this world?

Continuing to walk along the ocean edge, she resisted the urge to steal another glance at him. Clearly, her thoughts were scrambled around him. Not only did she depend on him; she’d developed an attraction to him that was proving difficult to ignore.

He could kiss. Amazing, toe-curling kisses…

After several more minutes, Calum called to her. “Arielle.” When she turned back, he was running toward her—chest muscles rippling under the midday sun.

Why torture her that way?

“Mason contacted me. He told us to come back to the treehouse.”

Mason? Treehouse? What was he talking about?

It took a moment to follow the conversation since she’d been too caught up in how Calum’s muscles contracted when he ran. “Oh, right.”

As they walked, side by side, up the beach, she moved her hand closer to his. Then she pulled back Sending him mixed signals wasn’t a good idea.

Sending mixed signals to herself wasn’t a good idea, either.

* * *

Calum took deep breaths, trying to center himself. His head was about to explode with all the conflicting thoughts that had slipped through it over the last several hours. Something had shifted in his relationship with Arielle, confusing him. Yet, her presence at his side was also calming.

The things she did to his brain—and body.

They didn’t say much as they trekked through the long grasses, so he used the comfortable silence to focus on the evening scene around them. The chirr of insects and small animals hiding among the blades of grass. The scents of earth and heather. The slow, endless climb of moss over clusters of rocks. By the time they reached the tree house, his heart rate had steadied.

Mason rested in stone form on his perch, soaking up energy from the sun. When he sensed Calum and Arielle approaching, he shifted to human form.

“Kayla, they’re here.”

Kayla bounced back outside from the doorway in the treehouse. Although carrying a child, she moved as sprightly as a fairy. She held two glasses of a green liquid, which didn’t smell enticing, and offered them.

Calum waved his hand away. “No, thanks.”

“It’s full of nutrients,” she said. “I’ve been drinking one every day. It’s good for the baby.”

Arielle accepted a glass and took a sip. “It tastes — healthy.”

Kayla laughed. “Mason had a few more choice words to describe it.”

Mason came up behind Kayla, wrapping his arms around her from behind and splaying his big hands over her belly. “You’re going to be an excellent mother.”

“I need all the strength I can gather, growing a child who is half-gargoyle. My appetite is ravenous. The baby needs so much. I feel like all I’m doing is eating.”

“We can’t wait to meet him. Or her,” Calum added.

“Since I’ll likely never know,” Arielle said, “Congratulations in advance.”

Right. She’d be long gone—wherever she ended up.

“Well, there’s good news,” Kayla began. “And some not so great news.”

“What is it, Kayla?” Calum asked.

“Always good news first,” she said. “I told the witches about what happened. They think they can brew a potion strong enough to open the portal.”

Arielle clasped her hands. “To be able to see my family again…” Her shoulders sagged and she cocked her head. “What’s the not so great news?”

“It’s not a simple spell. They need to work on a potion that requires many ingredients and much time to brew to its full potential.”

Calum narrowed his eyes. “How much time?”

Kayla waved her hand. “The longer we let it brew, the greater its potency. Since we’re talking about enough magic to generate opening a portal to another realm, were talking four of five days at least.”

Calum opened his mouth to protest. Then he stopped. What was the problem? He was no longer in a rush to move on with his life. Spending time with Arielle was far from the burden. Images flooded his mind of the time they’d spent exploring the island, talking, kissing…

Four or five more days of that would be welcome. More than welcome. He thought of all the kissing they could do — as well as other things.

Yet, there was one problem. Always was, wasn’t there?

“We have a show scheduled tomorrow night,” Calum said. “I’ll have to tell the others we need to reschedule.”

“No, Calum,” Arielle said.

“Why not?”

“I’ve interfered in your life enough, already—as well as all your brothers’. Go on, and do what you must do.”

Calum shook his head. “Oh, no no no. I’m not leaving you here.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

“If I’m going anywhere, you’re coming with me.”