Thanks guys! Please don't forget to review. ~K

Chapter 1

New York City, 2009

She shot up in bed panting. Her tee-shirt stuck to her sweaty body as she woke up from what was probably the best dream she's ever had. No, no! Why? That was amazing, why did I wake up?! Her alarm clock went off. Great. Three hours then she'd have to be at work. How am I supposed to work when I have THAT in my head? She got out of bed, and then the phone rang.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Christine? It's Mr. Thompson. We need you to come in early today; there was a finding that is in a language only you can read." Her boss always relied on her because she was the only one who could speak and read the ancient languages. Celtic languages were her strongest points, but she also spoke Greek.

"Of course, sir; I will be in within the hour." She hung up and made to get ready for the day. But her dream! She couldn't stop thinking about it. About him. His face was not normal; yet there was something about him that made her heart race. He was amazing. His long black hair, his tanned skin, and the way it all felt against her. The dream was so vivid that she could swear that his taste was in her mouth. She could feel his hot velvety tongue against her own and his strong arms around her waist. He had been tall, probably around six and a half feet. His eyes had been the most beautiful shade of dark amber and there was a fire behind them that she ached for.

What really got her, though, was the passion in what they shared. He kissed her as though his life depended on it. He held her to him as if he never wanted to let her go; and the feel of his arousal against her stomach not only amazed her by the sheer size, it made her feel desirable. Like a woman.

"Ugh, that was an evil dream." She groaned as she was taken from her happy place. She knew it was weird, but she felt an odd connection to that man. Like he was real and apart of her somehow, she was drawn to him. She shook her head as if to shake the man out of her head, which she knew would be near impossible.

~;~

Scotland, 1475

He opened his eyes and the first thing he noticed was that his cock was painfully hard. The woman from his dream had such an effect on him, and not just his body. He threw the blanket off of his nude form and wrapped his hand around himself hoping to relieve some of the pressure, but it only made it worse.

"Christ." He groaned. He was not one for pleasuring himself; he'd get a wench to do that for him. But after his dream, real or not, the only one he wanted was her. He sat up and walked to the window and felt the cool Highland breeze kiss his skin. It was still early; the workers were just starting to wake up.

He looked out at his land; it was his land for he was Laird. The only thing that was missing was a woman by his side, one that loved him with a fierceness unlike either of them had ever known. He looked down and the desk in front of him and saw the leather covering that hid his face. He picked it up and tied it in place. That was why he didn't have a woman. None of them could stand what lay under the mask. The minuet they saw was the same minuet they screamed in horror and ran. The woman from his dream however, she had seen it, and then she had kissed it. And she kissed him with so much passion, a passion which he never knew a woman could possess for him. But who was he fooling. It was a dream, not reality. And och! she was a bonnie lass. Long wavy hair that was the softest he'd ever felt. Deep green eyes that he could get lost in. She wasn't skinny but she wasn't big. She was slim but curvy; with breasts that were the perfect size, and a round shapely ass that he would love to see and touch. But it was the passion and the acceptance he felt that made him wish she were real.

He turned away from the window and walked to the chest to retrieve his plaid which he then wrapped around his waist and threw the access over his shoulder. Topped with a sporran, linen shirt, and boots, he left his chamber made his way down the grand staircase of his beloved keep. At the bottom he ran into Glenna, the head of his house-staff, and the only woman who really knew him. She was like a mother to him.

"Morn, Milord," the little old woman chirped. Her gray hair in a bun on the top of her head had lost some of her small hairs and her gown already stained from the morning's breakfast.

"Glenna, ye ken me well enough by now, that ye' can address me by my first name." he said with a smile for the old woman.

"Well then, Erik, will ye be likin' some kippers and tatties this morn?"

"Nay, Glenna, please pack me some bread an' whiskey, I will be leavin' today and 'twill be a handsome journey." He requested softly. She smiled sweetly and nodded. "I'll be in the stable readyin' me horse, just have someone send it, please."

"Right way, milord." She scurried going about her business. Erik shook his head at the 'milord' as he watched her depart. She had known him since he was a lad and she still couldn't address him as Erik. It was always milord or Laird MacAulay. He smiled and walked into the grounds of his keep. The morn smelled of fresh air and pine, he tilted his head up to the sky as if to kiss it.

"Milord!" Naoise walked up to the laird. "Morning, sire."

"To ye as well." Erik replied with a nod. "Walk wit' me Naoise."

"Aye, sir, is something amiss?" Naoise was his best friend and his second in command; Erik could trust him to keep order while he was away.

"Nay, I've but decided to journey north to Aberdeenshire, I have some business to take care of. I need you to stay here and keep order while I'm away." They walked through the courtyard into the stable.

"Do ye want to send someone with ye?" Naoise was confused at the sudden departure.

"Nay, this is something I must do on my own. I'm counting on you here." Erik patted the mans shoulder, and started to ready the beast of burden he called Caesar. The big black horse looked at Erik with a look that seemed to say, "I'm ready my friend, I will be your companion on this journey."

"Aye, sire. When shall ye return?"

"Look for me within a fortnight, I donna think I shall tarry longer." He needed to clear his head. A kitchen girl walked up to him and handed him a satchel of whiskey, bread, and some seasoned pork, before bowing and returning to her duties.

"What of the impending disputes?"

"I trust ye will be fair in overlooking them. I'm counting on you Naoise, donna let me down." He said as he put an extra plaid in the satchel.

"You can count on me." The strength in his friend's eyes assured Erik that his home was in good hands.

Just then, Glenna walked up carrying Erik's mighty claymore with some difficulty. Erik saw this and hastened over to relieve her of it before sheathing it on his back. He reached up and let loose his long black hair.

"Milord, I mean, Erik, be careful will ye?" Glenna said, concern filling her eyes.

"Ye needn't worry, Glenna, I willna be gone long." Erik leaned forward and kissed the old woman on the cheek, then patted Naoise on the shoulder before mounting his horse, and riding off, out of the walls surrounding Ardencaple. Once he was several leagues from his home he took off his mask and put it in the satchel. There was no one around to see him, and the air felt amazing on his sensitive skin.

~;~

Christine's heels clacked on the lobby floor as she made her way to the elevator. Mr. Thompson only called her in early when he had something good. Her fingers were itching to get a hold of what ever it was. The elevator dinged as it traveled from floor to floor. Is it just me or has the elevator slowed since yesterday? Christine thought as she impatiently waited for her floor. As the doors opened she quickly made it into the office she shared with her boss. When she entered he was sitting at his desk hunched over a scrap of parchment with a magnifying glass. He immediately looked up when she walked in.

"Ah, Miss Daley at last, I have been waiting for you." Christine could throw up every time this little English mooch pretended he liked her just so he could use her vast knowledge that his couldn't even hold a candle to; and yet he was the boss.

"I hope you haven't been waiting long, sir." She replied easily. She put her purse in her drawer and her brief case on her desk before walking over to Mr. Thompson's desk.

"Long enough, Miss Daley. Let's cut to the chase. This arrived this morning from Glasgow, Scotland. It was discovered in a preserved satchel in the middle of the Tomnaverie Recumbent Stone Circle in Aberdeenshire. I've spent the last hour trying to date it and so far I've gotten it placed at 16th century."

"In the middle of the circle? How did something that old stay preserved for that long that's amazing. May I have a look?" Christine went to stand by him to get a better look.

"Certainly. There is a language written here that I am not able to decipher I was hoping you could." Mr. Thompson glanced up at Christine before continuing on. "Why don't you take this to Larry so he can carbon dates the ink, and then come back here because I have a job for you."

"Right away, sir. I will be back in thirty minuets." She carefully picked up the parchment and walked out of the office. Once she was sure she was out of Mr. Thompson's sight she lifted the parchment to her nose and smelled it. It smelled of leather and grass. Smiling, she started for the lab. Two floors up, she walked into the lab and was spotted by Larry.

"Christine! It's my favorite person in this whole building. I'm so happy!" Larry's feminine sounding voice made her smile every time along with his friendly smile.

Christine laughed. "Now, Larry, you and I both know that isn't true. Your favorite person is the lady that brings you lunch in her little cooler."

Larry squinted his eyes as if thinking really hard. "Well, you are half right. Ok, she ties with you." Larry gave a loud laugh. "So what have you got there Christine?" looking at the old scrap in her hand.

"Mr. Thompson would like you to carbon date the ink for us. And please be careful, if I am right this is 700 years old." She answered carefully putting the parchment into Larry's latex-gloved hands. He set off to work, and Christine sat down and watched. "Hey Larry, have you ever had a dream so vivid that you could feel the senses you would have felt if it had been real life?"

"One time I dreamt that my mother was making cookies, and when I woke up I could smell cookies, but she wasn't making any. Is that what you meant?" he asked.

"Well sort of. Okay if I tell you something will you promise not to tell anyone, and please don't think I'm crazy." She said as she watched Larry go back and forth in the lab.

"Of course, you can tell me anything." He replied looking at her over his glasses.

"Okay last night I had this dream that I went back in time and was standing in front of the savagely beautiful Scottish warrior complete with kilt, claymore, and war braids. And this man was beautiful, and in my dreams we kissed. It wasn't just any ol' kiss; I was so passionate and in my dream when he looked into my eyes it felt like he was staring into my soul. When I woke up this morning, I could still taste his kiss, and I could feel his arms wrapped around my waist. But it was a dream." Christine looked at Larry to see if he thought she was crazy.

"Sounds to me like someone needs a vacation." Larry said.

"No, honestly. It was the best I've ever felt, and it sucks cause it was just a dream." She said clearly unnerved by it. Larry saw this and walked over to her.

"Christine, I think that he's out there some where for you. Just give it time; and when you find him ask him if he has a brother, and send that brother my way ok? I wouldn't mind a savagely beautiful warrior in my bed." They both laughed.

"Thanks Larry, I'm pretty sure you're my best friend."

"Aw, it's nice of you to say so." He said smiling at her.

"Anything yet?" Christine asked referring to the parchment. Now she was spinning in Larry's desk chair waiting for an answer.

"Yes ma'am. According to the computers this was written in 1475." Larry said handing the parchment back to Christine.

"Oh! 15th century I knew it. I should have made a bet with Mr. Thompson; I would have won some money." She laughed. "Thanks Larry! Hey let's do lunch." She said.

"No can do, darling'. My other favorite person requires my attention." He laughed as he ran his hands through is brown highlighted hair. "But tomorrow for sure."

Christine laughed. "Ok, I'll talk to you later." She waved as she left.

1475. How does a satchel and parchment stay preserved for 700 years in the ground?

Christine inwardly groaned as she walked back into her office.

"Miss. Daley that was a lengthy thirty minuets." Mr. Thompson said sounding bored.

"I'm sorry, sir. The results came back 1475." She replied.

"I see. Have you deciphered the text yet?" he asked.

"Yes, it seems to be either lines from a poem or battle cry. It calls for Freedom, Love and Life."

"Very good. Ok, Miss Daley have a seat for what I am about to tell you will come as a bit of a shock." He said. Christine gave him an unsure look before sitting in the chair in front of his desk and placing the parchment in front of her.

"Sir?" she prodded.

"I'm going to come right out with it Miss. Daley. I'm sending you to Scotland." Christine gasped, and half rose out of her chair. "I want you to take this parchment and the satchel and I want you to go to Aberdeenshire to the stone circle and study it. See if you can find anything further. If you come back with anything good I'll give you a raise."

Christine was trying not to jump up and down in her excitement.

"Mr. Thompson I don't know what to say. Thank you so much. I won't let you down." She smiled and shook his hand.

"Well, now what I want you to do is go home and pack. You will be there for two weeks, and oh I'm sending Larry with you. You leave tonight Miss. Daley. Here are your tickets. Larry has already been informed, your flight leaves at six tonight."

"Thank you Mr. Thompson. Thank you." Christine had never liked Mr. Thompson this much before.