***
Becca had arranged for her wedding reception to be held in the ballroom at the Palace Hotel. The reception would also be a Christmas party and have a Christmassy theme to it. Sasha entered the ballroom with Issy and Vivien at her sides. She was soon ditched, however, when Issy caught sight of her husband, Tristan, and Vivien caught sight of her fiancé, Levi.
Sasha took this opportunity to admire the way the ballroom had been decorated. Flower arrangements made up of red and white flowers were everywhere - on the round tables draped with white tablecloths situated about the room, and in windowed alcoves. Lit candles had been added to the arrangements in the center of the tables for a romantic effect.
Glittering, golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling shedding a warm glow about the room. The tables had been arranged around a polished, wooden dance floor. A long buffet table had been set up on the left side of the room, and there was a variety of delicious looking food on it. There was also a bar where a flair bartender was mixing drinks with incredible skill as he flipped bottles then poured liquor into a stainless steel cocktail shaker.
An enormous, Blue Spruce Christmas tree had been set up, and had been decorated spectacularly in a blue and silver theme. Sasha walked over to the Christmas tree to take a closer look, and admired it. It was so beautiful.
Sasha couldn’t remember if she’d ever decorated a Christmas tree before. There were hundreds of silver, Celtic ornaments with blue knotwork and swirls on them. A lot of the ornaments were animal-shaped which Sasha loved.
“It’s a cool tree, huh?” A deep voice with a Scottish brogue questioned casually.
Sasha glanced to her side to see Garth standing right next to her. She hadn’t even sensed his presence. She smiled though. “Definitely. I can’t remember if I’ve ever decorated a Christmas tree before.” She admitted softly.
“Well, I know for sure that I never have.” Garth spotted a box of candy canes and got an idea. He picked up the box of candy canes and showed it to Sasha. “But maybe now’s the time. Sasha, will you decorate this tree with me?”
Surprise flickered across Sasha’s blue eyes, but then she beamed at Garth’s touching suggestion. “Of course.”
He grinned roguishly at her. “Let’s make new memories together.”
Sasha and Garth began to add candy canes to the Christmas tree together. When Garth noticed Sasha standing on her tiptoes to place a candy cane on a high branch he moved behind her, placed his hands on her waist, and lifted her up effortlessly.
“Eek!” Sasha squeaked as Garth lifted her up off the floor. But then she reached out and placed the candy cane on the branch she’d wanted to so easily. Alright!
Garth slowly set her down, and in such a way that her body slid down his torso. Sasha swallowed nervously. And wondered if it was true about men not wearing any underwear when they wore kilts.
Garth still had his hands on Sasha’s waist, and then he was nuzzling her neck. “You know…you smell like sugar. Has anyone ever told you that before?”
“No.”
“Sugary sweet and good enough to eat.”
“Uh…” Sasha laughed nervously to hide her unease.
The sound of someone hitting a spoon against a champagne glass broke the strange sexual tension that had developed between Sasha and Garth.
“Attention everyone!” Becca’s loud authoritative voice filled the ballroom. “It’s time for the bouquet toss! All single women are to gather on the dance floor, and that means you, Sasha!”
Sasha’s cheeks flushed pink at Becca’s words and she automatically made her way to the dance floor in a stiff manner. Sasha hung towards the back of the group of enthusiastic and excited single young women, and sighed. There was no point in her trying to catch the bouquet. She had awful luck.
Becca turned her back to the group of young women and glanced over her shoulder to see where Sasha was. Okay. There she is. This would need a little bit of magic to work. Becca tossed the bouquet as hard as she could and in Sasha’s direction.
Unfortunately, Sasha wasn’t really paying attention to where the bouquet was going and was looking at the Christmas tree instead with a wistful expression on her face.
The bouquet hit Sasha right between the eyes and knocked her right off her feet. She was knocked out cold instantly. Sasha felt someone patting her cheek gently as he or she tried to rouse her. “Ugh.” Sasha groaned as she regained consciousness, and blinked up to see Garth crouched by her side with a worried expression on his face. “G-Garth…?” His golden eyes filled with relief.
“She’s okay.” Garth announced to the crowd that had gathered around Sasha with concerned looks on their faces. A sigh of relief went through the crowd.
Garth scooped Sasha up into his arms and began to carry her over to an antique settee with beige and gold striped cushions. A lot of the girls giggled at this chivalrous move. Instead of setting Sasha down on the settee, Garth took a seat with Sasha on his lap.
Sasha tried to read Garth’s thoughts, but they were oddly guarded. Just what is he thinking?
Garth cradled Sasha protectively in his arms, and she couldn’t find anything to say so she just rested against him.
“That was quite the wipeout you had.” Garth said in a gravely voice.
“That was a big bouquet. I wonder what it was made out of.” Sasha wondered aloud in a rueful tone.
“That Malakye…” Garth shook his head. “He wanted to make sure the bouquet didn’t fall apart during the bouquet toss, and so he reinforced it with willow branches. He’s pretty distraught that you got hurt because of his bouquet.”
“Oh, but it isn’t his fault. I wasn’t really paying attention.” Sasha admitted. “And at least the flowers are okay. I should go tell him so.” She tried to get out of Garth’s lap but his hands on her waist stopped her from getting up.
“You can do that later.” Garth said firmly. “Rest now.”
“Okay.” Sasha’s brow furrowed in confusion. Garth was acting so strange.
Garth ran his hands up and down Sasha’s arms absentmindedly, and she could swear she heard him purring. Abruptly, Garth stood up and set Sasha down on the settee. “I’ll go get you some wedding cake. Just stay here and rest.”
He’s being so bossy all of a sudden. And I don’t really dislike it. “Sure.” Sasha watched as Garth made his way over to the table where the enormous wedding cake Issy Sweet had baked for Becca was currently being cut into pieces. It was almost a shame to cut it.
Issy’s cake was truly a work of art. It was a four-tiered wedding cake covered in white fondant icing. On top of the fondant Issy had decorated the cake with blue Celtic knotwork, symbols and swirls that were also made out of fondant icing. On each tier were real red roses.
A few minutes later, Garth returned with two plates of cake and two forks. He handed a plate to Sasha and took a seat next to her.
Sasha used her fork to cut a bite of cake and plopped it into her mouth. “Mmm. This is so delicious. Vanilla cake with a raspberry filling.”
“Aye.” Garth agreed heartily as he shoveled another enormous bite into his mouth. It had taken him only three bites to finish off an entire piece of cake. “It’s very good, lassie. Sugary sweet.” Like you.
Sasha blushed at his thoughts, and pretended to concentrate on eating her cake. Once she’d finished her cake, she looked up to see that several people were dancing together on the dance floor. Everyone looked so beautiful and they also looked like they were having a really good time. Sasha let out a wistful sigh. She wanted to dance, but…didn’t know how.
Garth noticed Sasha’s wistful expression and smirked to himself. He stood up and set his empty plate and fork on the settee. He stood in front of Sasha and held his hand to her. “Would you do me the honor of this dance, lass?”
Sasha blinked up at Garth in surprise and panicked. “Eh, I would but…I can’t. I don’t know how to dance. At least, I don’t think I know. And besides, you
know how clumsy I am. I’ll probably step on your feet a lot. I probably have two left feet.” She was beginning to ramble.
Garth took the empty plate from Sasha and set it aside. He looked at her and his amber eyes were filled with heat. “Dance with me, Sasha. You can step on my feet all you want, and if you fall or trip - I’ll be there to catch you.” The shifter rumbled in that sexy Scottish brogue of his.
Sasha’s body seemed to move on its own, and she put her hand in Garth’s big, warm, calloused one. Garth helped her up and led her to the dance floor. The other dancers were in the middle of a romantic waltz.
Sasha trembled out of nervousness. Impossible. She could never dance like that. So gracefully.
Garth put his right hand on the small of Sasha’s back and with his left hand he grabbed her right hand. Sasha put her left hand on Garth’s shoulder.
“Just follow my lead, Sasha. Let the music guide you.” Garth directed as he began to guide Sasha across the dance floor.
“Eek!” Sasha moved to keep up and sure enough she stepped on Garth’s foot (how embarrassing!) but he didn’t even flinch or blink, so no one watching could tell she’d messed up.
The couple twirled across the dance floor elegantly while Garth skillfully guided Sasha’s movements. “Where did you learn to dance?” Sasha asked curiously.
“The female shifters of Clan MacWulver taught me. They loved to dance. They were a fiery, spirited bunch.” Garth reminisced in a wistful tone as he thought of Leslie.
“Female shifters?” Sasha murmured softly to herself, feeling a twinge of something. Women…that are like him. She shook her mind of such thoughts, and suddenly remembered about the priest at Becca and Derek’s wedding. Should I tell Garth that I was able to read his mind? She internally debated.
The song stopped abruptly, and Garth and Sasha stopped dancing. Sasha looked up and her eyes widened when she noted that a tied bundle of mistletoe had been attached to the chandelier with a red and gold ribbon. “Mistletoe.”
Garth looked up and noticed the plant tied to the chandelier. His brow furrowed. “What’s mistletoe?”
Sasha blinked, and began to explain. “Ah, mistletoe is…a popular Christmas decoration under which a couple is expected to kiss. It’s tradition. Mistletoe also plays an important role in Druidic mythology in the Ritual of Oak and Mistletoe.” Sasha’s cheeks turned pink when she realized what she’d just said.
“Ah, so it’s an important human tradition.” Garth said in a deep, sexy voice.
Nervous butterflies had begun to flutter in Sasha’s stomach and she waved her hands before her frantically. “Ah, don’t worry. Just because it’s tradition doesn’t mean you have to kiss me. After all, I’m sure you wouldn’t want to kiss a weird girl like me-”
Garth cupped Sasha’s cheek and interrupted her tirade by leaning down and capturing her lips in a tender kiss.
Sasha’s eyes widened in shock, but then she shut them and decided to savor the moment. Garth’s lips moved softly against hers as he kissed her with surprising gentleness. She would have thought that kisses from such a strong man would have been rough, bruising even.
Sasha couldn’t help but wonder what Garth was thinking about as he kissed her.
The ballroom was adjacent to a large terrace, and tall, latticed windows overlooked the terrace and garden beyond. It was a cloudy, Christmas night, and it had finally begun to snow. It also happened to be a rare full moon on Christmas.
As the gray clouds lazily drifted across the sky, the full moon was revealed, and the moon’s yellow rays shone through the windows and illuminated Garth and Sasha as they kissed.
Garth ran his tongue along Sasha’s lower lip, seeking entrance. Sasha gasped at the erotic sensation and Garth took that opportunity to plunge his tongue into Sasha’s eager mouth.
As Garth swirled his tongue around Sasha’s, her knees went weak, and she would have fallen if not for Garth putting a hand on her lower back and steadying her.
Garth pressed Sasha’s body against his own as he continued to kiss her, and his kissing grew more fervent, more passionate. Heat, desire, and passion began to build between them.
At that moment, Garth’s thoughts began to fill her mind: Sasha…looks so beautiful tonight. Who would have thought? I never noticed before but Sasha is an attractive young woman. She’s a woman. And I am a male. Two pieces that can fit together. Her lips are so soft. She tastes like sugar.
Garth imagined pushing Sasha against the wall, caging her there with his towering body. He imagined caressing her delicate, fragile body with his large, rough, calloused hands. He imagined running his hands over her curves through the red silk of her dress.
Garth imagined grinding against her hips. He could smell her arousal. She wanted him.
Garth imaged sliding her dress slowly up her legs, and caressing her thighs. He ripped her panties off and began to pleasure her with his thick calloused fingers.
He imagined sliding a finger inside of her as he prepared her to take him inside.
Garth pulled up his kilt; he wasn’t wearing boxers. Garth joined their bodies and Sasha gasped and clung to him as she trembled in his embrace. Garth didn’t care that they were being watched by the wedding reception guests. He wanted Sasha. Needed Sasha. Needed to mark her, to claim her, make her his.
Garth began to move in and out of her, their pleasure building-
A startled gasp broke through Garth’s lewd thoughts, and then Sasha was slapping him hard across the face.
Garth blinked down at Sasha in confusion. Sasha was flushed and her blue eyes were flashing with anger and fear.
Garth realized he had Sasha pinned against him. What the hell was he doing! He immediately let go of Sasha, and she stumbled backwards, away from him, her blue eyes wide.
Sasha turned around and ran. Ran from Garth and the reception. Ran from the new and unfamiliar feelings that Garth was stirring inside of her. She ran out of the ballroom and continued to run until she’d exited the hotel. She spotted a taxi and wasted no time in getting inside of it and giving the cabbie the address of her clinic.
Sasha put her face in her hands, her cheeks were hot. Her entire body felt hot. She’d read Garth’s mind…and seen his thoughts. She’d seen him imagining himself pushing her against the wall and taking her. Oh my God. He was imagining having sex with me. But…why? Why had Garth imagined that? He hadn’t been thinking about liking her, or loving her, or about romance.
No, his thoughts had been raw, animalistic, and primal. Just pure lust and desire.
In that moment, under the mistletoe Garth had desired her for some reason.
She remembered the feeling of his body pressed up against her and shivered. There had been something hard pressing into her hip. Why? Why? Why? Sasha’s emotions were a mixture of confusion, lust, anger and fear. Why Garth?
***
Garth watched Sasha run away from him like a punch to the gut, and it took all of his willpower not to chase after her. He clenched his hands into fists and his nails drew blood. He was painfully aroused. “What a woman.” He raised a hand to his red, throbbing cheek.
His inner beast wanted to hunt Sasha down, pin her down on the floor, and claim her. Sink his canines into her soft flesh. Mark her.
He’d never desired a woman as much as he desired Sasha in that moment. She just looked so beautiful that night. Nay, she was beautiful. He’d just never noticed. He really could be a thickheaded idiot.
Her nostalgic scent - sugar - drove him wild.
Garth scrubbed a hand down his face as he tried to get himself under control. The full moon had caused him to go into heat. He was incredibly horny. He wanted to mate.
And he wanted to mate with Sasha.
He wanted to make her his.
Garth had to resist the urge to go after her again. Nay, now was not the time. He’d smelled her fear. He couldn’t take her - not yet.
But he would have her…soon. He promised hi
s inner beast. Soon.
“I will make that bonny lass mine.” Garth vowed to himself, a fierce glint in his golden eyes.
To be continued in…the sequel and grand finale “Highlander Hellcat Revolution” Now available! Also for those into Audio Books I’m trying to find a man with a sexy Scottish accent to voice this book. So keep an eye out for the Audio Book of Highlander Hellcat!
###
Final note:
Other works by the author:
Rockstar Ghost PG-13 Ver
Rockstar Ghost Resurrection PG-13 Ver
His Heavy Metal Heart
Wicked Bartender PG-13 Ver
Wicked Bartender Redemption PG-13 Ver
Incubus Chocolatier PG-13 Ver
Incubus Chocolatier Retribution PG-13 Ver
Hollywood Merman PG-13 Ver
Hollywood Merman Revelations PG-13 Ver
Druid Vampire PG-13 Ver
Druid Vampire Requiem PG-13 Ver
Highlander Hellcat PG-13 Ver
Highlander Hellcat Revolution PG-13 Ver (Coming soon)
Bitch Heiress X Samurai Butler
Bitch Heiress X2 Samurai Butler
Samurai Superheroes Saga:
Cowboy Samurai X Badass Android
Geisha Assassin X Smartass Hacker
Foxy Yokai X Punkass Cyborg
Sir Genkaku Host Club
(Books 1, 2, 3, and 4)
Sanky Panky Pirate
Sanky Panky Pirate Part II
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