A Highlander's Obsession (Highlander's Beloved) Read Online Free PDF Page B

members of his clan were being killed. Earlier, when he, Kendric, and Neilan had patrolled the shoreline in search of wolves, they’d found sheep skeletons amid tracks, scat, and odors of both wolves and bears. Something very strange was going on in his community.
    “You?” She leaned toward him, her arms wrapping around her legs.
    He forced a smile, hoping he could put her at ease. “I can see how ye mistook me for a beast of some sort. My father had this long, black fur coat. On dreich nichts like tonight, I slip it on.” His hand waved toward his bare knees. “A kilt is not the warmest garment, no matter how hearty the male wearing it.”
    Her forehead furrowed, and he wished he could kiss away the tension there—everywhere. “But … but you spoke to me.”
    “Och, did the wind carry me words, then?” Christ, she
could
hear the bear’s thoughts. He needed more brandy, but her piercing stare pinned him in the chair.
    “But … I saw a bear.” She removed her glasses and rubbed her fingertips over her eyes. “I’m tired. Really tired. Maybe my eyes are too fatigued to grasp images correctly. I just don’t know.” She shook her head before putting her glasses back on. “I could have sworn I saw a bear.”
    Her tone of self-doubt bothered him. His desire to protect his shifting capabilities warred with his innate tendency toward honesty. Her gaze bore into his, and the bear within wanted to impress her.
Show her how strong we are. Let me roar, just once
.
    “Think something.” She tilted her head to the side.
    “What? A dinna ken yer meaning.” Thank goodness he’d lowered the shield. He was struggling to keep the bear buried beneath his human persona.
    Her eyes narrowed. “Humor me. The words you spoke when you were outside, standing below my window … think them.”
    Think the words? Sure, he could think them, but he could never voice them. They’d beenspoken from his bear’s soul. Something inside his chest budged, as if the bear wanted to articulate its earlier message. He struggled to repress the morphing from man to beast. While beads of sweat poured out of him, chills caused the hair on his arms and legs to stand on end. He fought for control, shuddering with the exertion, yet something inside was stronger, demanding to be heard. If the bear couldn’t rise to the surface, he would damn well raise the telepathic shield.
Ye shouldna have come, me bonnie lass. How will I ever keep me hands off ye?
    A gasp escaped Paisley’s lips. Her blue eyes widened and her chin dropped. Before he could react, she ran from the room.
    He sprung from his chair. Her footfalls lightly retreated up the steps. He bent to retrieve his plaid that had slipped to the floor when she bolted.
Bloody hell. She can hear me bear
.

Chapter Three
    Paisley closed and locked her bedroom door. Her heart thrummed in her ears and her breathing came in rapid bursts. There was no doubt about it. She’d heard the man’s thoughts. A man. A human being. Today she’d crossed the line from somebody who could communicate with animals to a freak who could read minds. Her hands shook as she poured a glass of water from the container next to her bed. After several gulps, she began pacing the room, refusing to look out the windows.
    “Think, Paisley, think. You pulled back those drapes and peered into the darkness and saw Creighton looking at you.” She wrapped her arms around herself and stilled. He said he wore a long, fur coat. What man macho enough to dress in a kilt would also wear a fur coat? She reached for more water, replaying the scene in her mind. Was the creature a bear or a man?
    The being—man or animal—was big and stood on its hind legs; Creighton was exceptionally tall. He was the tallest of the three brothers. The bear was broad; Creighton’s shoulders and chest were massive. Earlier, when he stood near her downstairs, his power and magnetism whispered to her femininity. Or was it his testosterone, for he