POSSESSED BY HIGHLANDER
Chapter 1
Caitlin stands ready to spar with her best friend Kelvin. They’ve known each other all their lives, but they have never gone beyond the friendship that they have formed. They came close several times, but there was something holding them back. They talked about it at length and they came to the conclusion that they would be ruining what they already had for something that was most likely fleeting.
“I hope that you are ready for this little one. I’m through playing with kid gloves. We’ve been doing this dance for a long time and I’ve been holding back in hopes of not hurting you. I’ve seen some remarkable progress and you have a real knack of predicting somebody’s moves. You also have this uncanny ability of using a man’s obvious weight advantage against him.” Kelvin could never get over his infatuation of Caitlin. He wanted, so much more, but he knew the writing on the wall. They were friends and that was all that they were going to be. He accepted that and was glad to still have her in his life.
“I’m ready for whatever you have to dish out. I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you again that I’m not very happy with the way that my people are treating me. I want to be in the thick of things, battling beside them, until there is blood soaking into the ground. I want to stand victorious with my sword raised in the air with the rest of the warriors.” “I’ve known for quite some time that he has been holding back, but I was afraid of what would happen if I allowed him to unleash the full force of his skills. I wanted to be one of those that are able to stand and tell their stories of battling to the finish. I look at Kelvin and I see that he’s grown into quite the specimen of man.”
“You claim that you are better than most men and I am inclined to believe you little one.” He had always called her that from the moment that they met when they were children. He could never get out of the habit, having no idea that Caitlin liked the idea that he found her to be pure, as the driven snow. His moniker of little one was meant as a compliment. He had no idea how close to the truth he was. Nobody really knew what lie underneath the bosom of a woman the looked like you could break her into a million pieces. “I’m through giving you lessons. It’s time that we put this to the test.” Kelvin had on his family colors of a red and black tartan. He also had the crest of the wolf head in gold around his waist.
As for Caitlin, she wore a frumpy frock that she had altered to make it easier to fight. Her parents had been lost at sea and she had one brother that was never the same after he came back from battle. He muttered underneath his breath constantly, swinging widely in the night with nightmares that made her realize that he had seen things that nobody should.
It took awhile for her to actually pick up a sword and be able to carry it with the grace of a warrior. She practiced every day, putting her body through its limits and beyond. She liked having power in the palm of her hand, but she knew that they would never accept her, as an equal on the battlefield. It didn’t matter. What mattered the most was what she thought about herself. Those that knew her felt that she was a woman of independence. What they didn’t realize was that she had no desire to care for a man. She wanted something else, but what that could be was still a mystery. She did crave everlasting love, but that was, as mythical as the unicorn.
“I’ve been training for this day for, as long as I can remember. I’ve been waiting for the moment that I can finally show myself and not be ridiculed for carrying a sword. There are very few women that know how to fight.” “I may not want a man to cower to, but I would like somebody that I can stand with against overwhelming odds. I don’t want a man to think that they need to take care of me, when I am more than capable of taking care of myself. I looked at Kelvin and I see regret for not taking the bull by the horns and doing something about this attraction.”
“Don’t say that I didn’t warn you. What I’ve taught you already is enough to keep yourself from being killed. Unfortunately, in battle there are too many variables that you have to account for.” They were away from the prying eyes of others. In the field, they were able to let themselves go and enjoy the thrilling moment where one of them would be supreme over the other. “I know that you have the tools, but let’s see if you can truly utilize them when you need them the most.” He had to admit that he enjoyed sparring with Caitlin. He swung the sword and was quite amazed that she was able to lift such a heavy object on her own.
The clang of the metal felt like they were really fighting to the death. He moved to thrust forward, but she swung her sword around to deny him his target. They were enjoying the early morning hour, taking solace in the fact that everybody else was most likely sleeping. They had never been discovered and they hoped that they never would be. The sound of healthy competition was in the air. Those wildlife that were around came to witness the spectacle in front of their eyes. They did not interfere. It was not lost on either Kelvin or Caitlin but they had garnered an audience once again.
“Is that the best that you’ve got? You’re supposed to be this big strong intimidating man. Show me what you would do if somebody was about to try to kill you.” She was breathing heavy, taxing her lungs with the exertion of what she was putting herself through. “I really don’t know how much more I can take of this. We’ve already surpassed the 10 minute mark that we usually do. I know that he’s testing me, but I think that he’s waiting for a chink in my armor.” Every time she moved, that slit up the side of the grayish white dress would show off her porcelain and creamy skin.
Kelvin was looking at her, but not as an enemy, but as a potential love conquest. He would have enjoyed making her succumb to his baser instincts, but this was, as far as he was going to get with physical contact. It did distract him from the object of his desire, as she wielded that sword with a speed that did not seem possible by a female form. She may have been breathing heavy and her face was flushed, but she did not give up.
“I’ll let you know when I’m ready to give up, but I think that it will be a cold day in hell when that happens. Little one, you show potential and I believe that you would surprise many. The way that you have been drawn to the sword is a testament to your late father Shamus. I had the fortune of standing with him on the battlefield and his blood lust for vengeance was very much evident in his eyes. I see that same fire in yours.” What he didn’t want to say was that he could translate that into the bedroom. He could make her yearn for his touch, but he was not going to take the risk of alienating her.
Licking his lips and staring at her naked thigh was his final downfall. He had stopped all momentum, unable to take his eyes off the prize. Her sword swung his around and before he had a chance to counterattack, his sword was flying and landing near a tree several feet away. She stepped forward and swept him off his feet by moving her leg to the back of his and collapsing his knee. He was down at her mercy with that sword and the steel of the blade digging into his skin. There was a trickle of blood that landed on the blade. Caitlin took it away and used her fingers to smear it across her face.
“I don’t think that it’s fair that you look like that. I will say that others will have the same problem. They won’t know how to take you and the element of surprise is going to be your best weapon of all.” He touched the wound, but it was merely a nick and nothing to really worry about.
“I see your point. They will never suspect that I have skills with a sword. They will laugh heartily at my expense and that will be the last thing that they ever do. They will pass on to another life, cursing themselves for allowing their misconceptions to get the best of them.” I had heard through the Grapevine that there was something going to happen a few miles to the west. It was only ravings of the drunk, but I’d learned that there is always a semblance of truth in any story.” Caitlin felt bad that she had bested Calvin and did not want to be the cause of bruising his delicate male ego. She also felt exhilarated and that adrenaline pumping through her veins was enough to make her want to do it again.
“You do know that I’m going to want a rematch, as soon as possible. I’m not suggesting that we do it right now, as we need to get back to the village, before they know we are missing. We’ve been gone a little longer than our usual time. I blame myself for that. I wanted to push you past your own endurance and I think that I accomplished that.” He was a little hurt that he had allowed her to step inside his private space. He had always prided himself on knowing his surroundings. The one thing that he was good at was knowing how the other man was going to think. That was the main problem. Caitlin was not a man and she had those feminine curves and sexual openness that made it impossible not to want more than just a passing glance.