Chapter Eighteen

Listening to her recounting the one sided fight Duncan silently rejected the demon's prediction, "That is two attempts now. Fate had intervened and she still lived!"

Then Beth asked him, "Explain to me why the Watchers want to hurt us because personally I have never felt so hunted before now."

"Maybe they know about the Gathering and fear it as well," he speculated.

Thinking about what McFadden had instructed him, he told her, "Beth I'm not going to take you to the airport right now."

"I don't understand," she asked, "What happened since yesterday."

"There is some serious dealings going on and I was instructed to bring you with me to Scotland." He explained to her, "McFadden said it's all about the gathering and you need to be there."

She questioned him, "I don't hear gathering call or feel the urge it's supposed to invoke. Why do I have to be there?"

Just as puzzled, He told her simply, "Because you've never had a quickening?"

She countered with, "All the more reason I don't need to be there."

He let out a sigh of frustration thinking of another way to put it. "Beth if the Grand Immortal requests your presence at the gathering then you can't refuse."

"Yes I can," She told him and then suggested, "Give me his number and I'll call and tell him myself."

Duncan gave a nervous laugh saying, "That might not be wise."

She insisted, "Please Duncan just take me to my hotel and I'll get my luggage. From there I'll take a car to the airport."

"If that's how you want it," he replied, "as long as you know the consequences."

A half hour later they pulled up in front of the hotel and as Beth went to open the door, Duncan grabbed her arm told her, "I'll take you."

She looked at him with a doubtful expression and said, "You promise no tricks."

He nodded his head asking, "Give me your key and I'll go get your bags. Are they packed?"

"Yes," she replied, "I packed them before I went to Richie's grave."

He put the car in park and left the engine running telling her, "If someone asks you to move it just tell them I'll be right back."

Duncan was gone almost ten minutes before he returned putting her bags in the trunk. When he got back in the driver's side he remarked, "I also paid for the damages. Why did you trash your room?"

Beth felt her face turn red. She told him quietly, "I was just venting anger. I was going to pay for it."

He chuckled and said, "The manager was very upset."

Driving down the main road to the airport Duncan asked her, "So where in the states are you going?"

She replied, "After Richie left I bought a condo in Oregon. When I get back there all of this will be a memory."

All of a sudden, Duncan swerved sharply and left the main Highway, "Damn it," he exclaimed, "I forgot to give you something."

Then looking at her closely he asked, "Were you going to board the plane in those clothes?"

She stammered, "No I was going to change when I got there."

"Where," he asked, "In a phone booth?"

"Don't be silly," she said, "Nobody does that anymore do they?"

Arriving back to the barge Duncan locked up the car. He held the door for her and took her bag out of the trunk.

She reached to take it from him but he stopped her saying, "I've got it so you can't run away."

She shook her head and promised, "I won't run now give me my suitcase."

"Not so fast," keeping it out of her reach Duncan led her up the walkway and held up his hand to get her attention. He told her honestly, "When you left and I thought I might not see you again I felt like my world was incomplete."

She gave him a puzzled look and said, "When I died the second time in two days I was beginning to think you were bad luck."

He said with triumph, "And yet you called." Seeing her moment of weakness, he bent down and kissed her capturing her lips until he felt her give in.

She felt her heart melt into the emotions that were long dormant. Beth looked up to him and with a twinkle in her eye, she kissed him again letting her passion show.

He felt his desire rising to the point of not caring who could be watching. However, he broke it off and looked in her eyes smiling.

With emotions surfacing he told her, "It wouldn't do to get carried away out here."

She gave a small laugh agreeing with him and picked up her bag. As Duncan held her arm, she made her way down the steps.

He opened the door and turned on the lights and the longings they both kept in check quickly emerged.

With their swords and coats in the way, they stopped briefly to help each other undress.

Duncan saw all the healed marks and dried blood left from her fight with Lora and real concern showed on his face.

Dropping the clothes onto the floor he asked her, "Do you want to take a shower together?"

As she reached to undress him, she smiled while asking, "How much can you do in a shower?"

His grin widened, "I don't know let's find out."

The barge's washroom was small but adequate. He turned on the water then adjusted the temperature for the shower and hoped the hot water would last.

He guided her into the small stall and they stood under the water together touching most of their bodies while trying to soap each other up.

The soap between them made the sensations of their flesh come alive with hunger. The warm water grew cooler so they had to rinse quickly just as it ended making them yell from the cold water that hit their warm skin.

He pulled her laughing back to the bed to towel her off and marvel at the perfect symmetry of her body. She began to kiss the drops of water off his chest hidden amongst the curly brown hair.

He let go of her long enough to light some candles and turn off the lamps to enjoy the soft glow.

Then kneeling in front of her, he kissed her from the navel up to her breast as she cradled his head moaning her pleasure.

Duncan became impatient now he caught her up and laid her on the bed to escalate the passion between them. He whispered to her as his hands roamed her body aching with desire as her hands touched him in return.

They kissed deeply to the point where his mind and body felt the delicious agony of what was to come.

Duncan pulled her on top of him to make himself apart of her and begin their journey to ecstasy. A small flame began deep inside as they joined their bodies and soul.

Beth gasped at the feelings that created for them alone she felt herself changing. This was something she had always waited for. To be made complete.

They collapsed together still kissing each other's bodies. He brushed back her hair to look into her face and kissed her eyes next, tasting her tears.

She smiled and whispered to him, "I feel like I love you so much. Maybe I always have."

"I love you too." He said quietly.

Duncan kissed her and pulled the covers up on top as she relaxed and soon she fell asleep. He lay next to her listening to her quiet breathing.

As much as he cared for Amanda, Duncan had not felt this kind of love since Tessa. His throat caught at the memory of the lovely mortal with whom he shared thirteen years.

They had just announced their engagement when a man kidnapped her. Duncan had managed to rescue her but a teenage mugger shot her and Richie that same night.

Richie had achieved immortality but Tessa had died in his arms.

"Richie, Tess, I love her so much. Am I doing the right thing?" Duncan's mouth moved but the words were silent.

He closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again he could see the images of Tessa and Richie.

"Take care of her Mac, she's a good person," said Richie.

Tessa added, "Mac, it's time for you to go on in your life. We will always be a part of each other. Please...for me...for us...be happy. I love you."

"I love you too sweetheart," whispered Duncan.

Then they were gone and Beth was sleeping in his arms. He gently kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes, then slept.

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