Page 44 of A Flower for Angus

Within a few minutes, Angus was pulling off road and following a bumpy track until he finally came to a stop. “Grab the burgers and I’ll get the bag from the back,” he instructed as he helped her out of the truck.

“Aren’t we a long way from the loch here?” Poppy asked, shading her eyes from the bright sun.

“We’ll walk down a bit from here,” he threw over his shoulder before grabbing a canvas bag out of the back. “Ye ready? It’s this way.”

Poppy followed him down a well-trodden path among the brush and small trees until they came out much closer to a pretty area where water flowed over small rocks and pebbles before merging back into the larger body of water. “This is lovely,” she exclaimed, her eyes darting around to take in the grassy bank and the soft gurgle of the flowing water.

“One of my favorite places to avoid the tourists,” he replied with a chuckle, opening his bag. He began taking out blankets and pillows, plus another smaller bag, and spreading things out.

“Did you bring the tent too?” she teased. “You have enough blankets and pillows for a harem there.”

“Always prepared for a lass’s comfort,” he quipped.

Poppy wondered how comfortable she was supposed to get in this secluded spot? They’d had so few chances to be alone...really alone...since she got here that she had no idea what Angus might have on his mind. Watching his muscles ripple in his arms and thighs she decided if it was the same thing her mind was turning to, they might be in trouble.

“We should have brought swimsuits,” she said, as he took his shoes off and stepped onto the blanket.

He took the food out of her hands so she could take her shoes off. “Nay, ye don’t swim wild in Loch Ness,” he replied, shaking his head. “It’s the coldest and deepest loch in all of Scotland. Most of the sides are cliffs and if ye are brave enough to get in, ye might not be able to get back out. The undercurrents can move ye and the risk of hypothermia from the water is too great. If ye want to swim, I’ll take ye to Loch Duntelchaig sometime. Ye can snorkel there too.”

Poppy took her sandals off and stepped onto the blankets where they both sat down cross legged to eat their burgers and chips.

Angus opened a small soft-sided cooler and took out a bottle of cold ice tea and handed her one. “Nothing like cold ice tea on a hot day,” he added with a lazy grin.

Hot was one word for it, she thought as their knees and shoulders nestled close enough to touch each other. Her body was beginning to tingle, aware of his every time he brushed against her.

“Let’s wade on the rocks when we finish eating,” she said impulsively.

He nodded. “Aye, we can if ye want to. Ye can dip yer toes in where the rocks end at the darker waters and feel the differences in the temperature. But I warn ye, it’s going to be cold.”

Poppy chuckled. “I think I need something cold about now, I’m getting pretty warm.” She lifted her bottle and took a big swig of her ice tea.

“Is that literally or figuratively speakin’?” he asked, holding her gaze captive when she turned to him.

Her eyes widened and she licked her lips with her tongue. “Both?” she managed to whisper hoarsely. His soft Scottish accent was super sexy and so were his eyes as they searched her face and finally landed on her lips. Inching closer, she raised her mouth, yearning for him to kiss her...wanting him to crush her aching breasts to his hard chest.

“Ye are so lovely, lass,” he whispered just before he tenderly kissed her mouth.

“I need...more,” she demanded when he lifted his mouth mere inches from hers. She was barely aware that he’d taken the little bit of food left and set it aside. What was he waiting for? She grabbed the front of his shirt in both fists and pulled him down hard. “Kiss me like you mean it, Angus.”

He pulled her closer, one strong arm around her back as he pressed her into his body, the other in her hair as he controlled her mouth in a searing kiss that had her throwing caution to the wind. Nothing mattered in that moment. Angus would make her forget her terror, make her forget the horror of Adrian’s awful death, make her forget everything but the overwhelming desire setting her body on fire.

“What do ye want, lass?”

“I want you,” she begged. “Make me forget, Angus.”

***

ANGUS STARED DOWN ATPoppy’s flushed face, her desire echoing his own. He could see the deep shadows in the pale skin beneath her eyes indicating her lack of sleep. He was afraid her nerves had her teetering on the brink of collapse.

Lucerne told him that Poppy drove herself harder since Adrian’s death than she ever had, and she could barely get her to take a break. She was always the last one to bed and the first one up, beating even Darro. When Lucerne would wake to go to the bathroom, as her pregnancy often drove her to do, she would sometimes hear Poppy moving in the hall. To be blunt, Lucerne was really getting worried about her.

Angus could tell she’d lost some weight; he could feel her ribs more pronounced than when he held her that first day. But was this something she would regret as soon as her bodies needs were met? The last thing he wanted was to take advantage of her weakened state of mind. He wanted to be here for her and to help her, but he was also in love with her and he didn’t want to have any regrets.

As sorely tempted as he was, Angus sighed and leaned back as her eyes popped open and she stared accusingly at him, a blush creeping up her face.

“Y-You don’t want me?” Suddenly she was fighting to get out of his arms.

“Hold on there, lass,” he said soothingly. “Of course, I want ye, but that’s not what ye need right now.”

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