Sleepless Night: A Highlander Time Travel Read online

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Ebook Offer

  Sleepless Night

  A Highlander Time Travel

  By

  Vanessa Vale

  ©2016 by Blushing Books® and Vanessa Vale

  All rights reserved.

  No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Published by Blushing Books®,

  a subsidiary of

  ABCD Graphics and Design

  977 Seminole Trail #233

  Charlottesville, VA 22901

  The trademark Blushing Books®

  is registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.

  Vale, Vanessa

  Sleepless Night

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-68259-437-7

  Cover photo: Jenn LeBlanc/Illustrated Romance

  This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as Blushing Books' or the Author's advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.

  PSSST..... AMAZON CUSTOMERS.... FREE STUFF

  Do you love Blushing Books and our spicy stories by your favorite authors, Breanna Hayse, Vanessa Vale, Maggie Ryan, Zoe Blake, Yasmine Hyde, April Hill, Carolyn Faulkner, Alta Hensley, Stevie MacFarlane, Mariella Starr, Maren Smith, Misty Malone, Maddie Taylor, Bella Bryce and dozens of others?

  We have our own store, but we know many of you prefer to buy from Amazon, and now we’re making it much easier for you. We’ve started a new newsletter, aimed at just our Amazon customers.

  We’ll be sending out one newsletter per week, letting you know about our most recent releases. In addition, everyone on this newsletter is guaranteed TWO free stories per month, and to sweeten the deal, we’ll be giving one person on the list

  A $25.00 AMAZON GIFT CERTIFICATE

  every week. Nothing to buy... just stay on our list and you’re eligible for the drawing.

  Signing up is easy. Just text blushing2 to 22828

  OR use this link.

  WOULD YOU LIKE FREE STORIES ON YOUR KINDLE EVERY MONTH?

  That's right. FREE. And we're not talking about some short “throw-away.” Every month, Blushing Books gives our customers two novel or novella-length stories (typically at least 15,000 words) completely free. You can always download our current month's stories at our website, located at http://www.blushingbooks.com.

  But we're offering an additional service for Kindle customers - we'll send the monthly free stories directly to your Kindle device. They will also come automatically if you’re using a Kindle app on your smart phone or tablet. You don't need to do anything, pay anything or remember anything. Every month, free stuff will just magically appear.

  Here’s how:

  1. Email us at [email protected], and put FREE KINDLE STORY in the subject line of your email. The email address you mail FROM will not be kept or mailed in any way unless you also sign up for our newsletter with that address.

  2. In the body of your email, you will need to provide your KINDLE's email address. Your Kindle email will end with @kindle.com. If you do not know your Kindle email, you need to log on to your Amazon account and find it under "manage my Kindle."

  3. You’ll also need to add [email protected] to your permitted email list on Amazon (otherwise your Kindle will not accept email from us.) If you don’t do this step, you will not get the story. This is also found under the "manage my Kindle" section of your Amazon account.

  Once we get an email from you, you'll be added to our free monthly story list. You'll receive two free stories per month. And remember, if you prefer, you can always get the free material at www.blushingbooks.com.

  Table of contents:

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  About The Author

  Ebook Offer

  Blushing Books Newsletter

  About Blushing Books

  CHAPTER ONE

  Lexy

  "Hottest guy? Fireman," my friend Hannah offered without any thinking. "Hockey player. Italian race car driver."

  "That many?" Ali asked her.

  Hannah brought her finger to her chin in a gesture of thinking hard. "Gladiator. Viking. Pirate."

  "Not just pirate, space pirate," Tracy added.

  All of us oohed and ahhed over that answer. We'd spent the past ten minutes coming up with the kind of guy we'd just let ravage us. No names, no questions, just drop the panties and fuck.

  "I'd drop 'em for a cowboy," Ali replied, grinning. She poked at an olive with her fork and popped it in her mouth. "Especially if he had to chase me down, lasso me, then tie me up."

  "God, I think that's better than any of mine," Hannah said, not disappointed to have her ideas topped by a bondage loving man in chaps.

  "How about you, Lexy?"

  My three best friends stared at me across the table. We were into our second glasses of wine over lunch and by the turn our conversation had taken, it was, perhaps, one glass too many. It was more wine bar with small tapas than restaurant, so the small appetizers of food didn't do much to sop up the alcohol. I was definitely feeling the effects of daytime drinking.

  I stared at my friends, worried about my answer I stalled by spreading some hummus on a small slice of bread. Wine had softened my senses, and I worried I'd blurt out something I'd regret. "What?" I asked, trying to keep my look blank.

  Three sets of eyes rolled as I shoved the bread in my mouth to give me more time.

  "We told you our fantasy man—men," Tracy said, waving her fork in the air, then pointing it at me. "We now know that Ali likes to be tied up. Not only that, but if I can share that I want to get down and dirty with an overly dominant duke, you can spill."

  I bit my lip. "Fine." I took another gulp of wine for fortification. Lunchtime was a little early to be drinking, but it was my birthday and it was five o'clock somewhere. "But I've only got one. A Highlander."

  They all squealed in delight and several people near us in the restaurant turned to eye us.

  Tracy patted my hand with a mixture of glee and lust in her eyes. "God, a man in a kilt?" She glanced at Ali. "Sorry, a kilt trumps chaps."

  Ali held up her hands. "I agree."

  "Who needs more than a hot man in a kilt?"

  Ali leaned in and lowered her voice. "I think I just came at the idea."

  We couldn't stop another fit of giggles. For some reason, I'd always been interested in Highlanders. All those bodice ripper books with a hot man in a kilt on the cover were the ones I always bought. It was as if I were drawn to them. Strange, but not that strange, if Ali wanted a space pirate to fuck her.

  "It's your birthday, Lex, so you win," Tracy said, topping off my glass with the last of the wine bottle. "A Highl
ander is the hottest lay of the day."

  "No hot Highlander is going to want an old lady like me," I said with a pout. "God, I can't believe I'm thirty."

  It was my birthday. My thirtieth birthday. Ugh. Where had all the time gone? It wasn't like I was on the brink of old age or anything, but when you hit the big 3-0, certain bucket list items should have been checked off. Sure, my career was taking off. I was on track for partner at the law firm. I owned my own house. That was the boring stuff. I hadn't done any of the good stuff, like travel. I'd never been out of the country, not even to Canada. I'd start simple with an English speaking country. Australia. England. No, Scotland. Definitely Scotland. Why a man in a kilt made my panties damp instead of the new James Bond guy or a tattooed motorcycle rider, I'd never know. But finding one in my Midwest hometown was pretty much impossible. At least, I hadn't found one yet. Not even a man in a kilt. Just a man.

  I certainly hadn't done one yet. I wasn't a virgin. I'd had a few men in my lifetime, but nothing memorable. Or memorable enough.

  No pushed up against the wall, headboard banging, sheet tangling, wild monkey sex. No crazy sex toys or even handcuffs. No spanking. Not even the tiniest bit of kink, and for some reason, I liked kink. Worst of all, no all consuming climaxes. Just small little O's. Not the big O. At thirty—thirty!—I damn well deserved one. Just one.

  I groaned, then took a big gulp of my drink. "You're all so much younger. Your girl parts aren't old like mine."

  Tracy was only three months younger, but Ali and Hannah were both twenty-seven. I was the first to be an official old maid. If I got much older, I'd be classified a cougar.

  "You make it sound like you're on the brink of menopause." Hannah glanced at her phone, then frowned. "I have to go. I'm sure my boss is going to be thrilled I'm tipsy at work, but maybe it will help coming up with ideas for this ad campaign I'm working on."

  Lunch on a Thursday was the only time we could all get together. We were all busy so getting together was tricky. I'd normally be sitting at my desk with a take-out container of Chinese slaving over some brief.

  "Thanks for meeting me on my birthday," I replied, smiling. Hannah came around the table and I stood for a hug.

  "I'll share a cab. I have to meet with my editor," Ali added. She finished off her glass, then stood too. "I'm so glad you're the first one, not me. You can be the first to find a man."

  Wouldn't that be nice? Totally unrealistic, but nice. All three of them were gorgeous. Tall and willowy like models. They'd all played college volleyball together and I'd been Tracy's roommate. Unlike them, I was petite and curvy with large breasts, so volleyball wasn't for me. I wasn't not pretty, some of the men who'd made it into my bed had told her me I was beautiful. Of course, every one of them commented on how spectacular my D-sized breasts were. A guy would say anything, though, as I undid the front clasp of my bra.

  "Me?" I pointed at myself. "I'm the short one. If you three can't get dates, then I'm doomed."

  "Whatever," Ali said, rolling her eyes at me before she left with a backward wave. Clearly she didn't agree with me.

  I sat down across from Tracy and finished off my wine. "I'm glad I took the afternoon off," I said. "I doubt I could stay awake through a deposition."

  She lifted her wine glass in a toast. "I'm on the four o'clock flight." As a pharmaceutical rep, she travelled for work frequently. She got to see new places. I got to see the four walls of my office sixty hours a week. "I'm sorry I have to leave you on your big day and that we can't celebrate in style this weekend."

  I waved away her concern. "It's fine." It was. I was making a big deal out of turning thirty and I shouldn't. I had a great job, I owned my own apartment and I had spectacular boobs. Plus, I had the afternoon off. "Besides, it'll be your turn soon enough and we'll party then for the both of us."

  She grinned. "Deal." Crossing her arms over her chest, she looked at me sharply and said, "You're gorgeous, you know."

  I flushed at the compliment but said nothing.

  "You are. Just because you're not giraffe tall like the three of us doesn't mean anything." She pointed at me. "I'd kill for breasts like yours. Seriously woman."

  I'd heard this before. "Fine, fine. We'll find a dominant duke who likes giraffes for you and a Highlander who likes curvy, short girls for me."

  "Deal. You find them and I'll be on the first flight home." She glanced at her watch. "I've got to go. I haven't even packed yet." Raising her hand, she flagged down the waiter for the check. "What are you going to do with the rest of your day? God, I can't believe you actually took half a day."

  I never took off work. Ever. Being on track to make junior partner, I didn't dare. I'd be a stodgy lawyer the rest of my life, but I only turned thirty once, so drinking in the afternoon with girlfriends was definitely needed. "I'm going shopping."

  Instead of moping about having a little pity party about my non-existent sex life, or lack thereof, I needed a little retail therapy. A new pair of killer heels would make any woman feel better. I wouldn't go to the big mall, but intstead the trendy, boutique shops in town. One shop in particular was my favorite and it was usually dangerous for my bank account to even window shop, but not today. Today I was splurging.

  Tracy frowned. "That's not fair. I want to go, too."

  I gave a shrug. "Tough. I'll get those gorgeous red heels we've been eyeing at Charm."

  "Bitch," she muttered, signing the credit card slip.

  "You'll borrow them and you know it," I countered.

  A smile curved her lips. "True, but don't have too much fun without me."

  ***

  Two pairs of shoes—including the red heels—a new sundress and a pretty bra and panty set later, I felt much better. Stepping out onto the sidewalk from the cool air-conditioned store, I sighed at the thick humidity. It wasn't unusual for July, but my colorful tank top and bra didn't take long to stick to my sweaty skin.

  As I walked toward my car a few blocks away, I felt the jewelry store before I saw it. Yup, felt it. It was a warm, humming feeling, something that seeped into my body and made me feel good all over. Like a hot bath. My nipples tightened and my clit pulsed as if I was reading a hot erotic novel on my e-reader. Surprised at the weird sensation, I looked around. No one else on the sidewalk appeared affected, although it would be a bit odd if everyone on the street became aroused as I was. Maybe I was overheated, but I'd only been outside for thirty seconds. Maybe it was the wine. I should have stopped at one glass earlier, but I didn't feel tipsy or anything.

  Couples walked hand in hand, mothers dealt with cranky children, a man with a cane fed a parking meter. No one had stopped on the street like me. It felt like there was a force field all but pulling me toward the jewelry store. I was the only one. "What the hell?" I whispered to myself.

  I took two more steps and saw the display of period and costume jewelry in the window. The shop was a throwback to days gone by, something seen in a movie. Gold lettering arched across the glass and read Saunders Jewelry. The door was dark wood, a forest green awning provided some shade to window shoppers. The jewelry on display was all vintage, no modern pieces. Brooches, men's pocket watches, bracelets and rings attractively displayed on velvet the same color as the overhead awning. I didn't remember seeing this shop before, but it had obviously been in this spot a long time.

  My heart pumped loudly in my ears and I felt my adrenaline kick in, the quick flash of heat, the butterflies in my stomach. Was I going to faint? I brushed the back of my hand over my sweaty forehead. I was flushed from the hot weather, not lightheaded. I ran a hand over my stomach debating if I was going to throw up. No, this was a good feeling. A strange, wonderful, weird, good feeling. I clamped my legs together to stop my clit from tingling. Okay, no more wine over lunch.

  I was about to turn and walk away when I saw it. It was as if my eyes were drawn to it. The ruby ring. At the sight of it, the pleasure struck me like a thunderbolt from the heavens. My nipples hardened to sharp points beneat
h my bra. My pussy clenched and a soft moan escaped my lips. Looking at the ring had just turned me on. A lot. If I weren't on a public street, I might consider touching myself, rubbing my clit. I would come almost instantly.

  What the hell was wrong with me?

  CHAPTER TWO

  Lexy

  Menopausal hot flash? Broken clitoris? Had it been too long since I'd been with a real man and not a vibrator? I was completely freaked out. No wine again over lunch? Hell, no wine again… ever.

  I had to know why a piece of jewelry could practically bring me to orgasm on sight. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my nerves, settle my raging libido. As people passed me, I'm sure I seemed normal, but I wasn't any less turned on. There was only one way to figure out what the hell was going on. After waiting for a woman with a stroller to pass, I cut across the sidewalk and pushed the door open. A little bell above it jingled and the shopkeeper greeted me. Her hair was white and pulled back in a thick bun at the nape of her neck, loose strands sticking up every which way around her wrinkled and lined face. She was a small woman—even smaller than I—and stooped with old age. She made me look like a giraffe.

  My state of arousal hadn't changed, and I was beyond mortified. Even with the air conditioning keeping the shop somewhere in the refreshing sixties, I still burned hot all over. Flushed from the roots of my hair to the tips… of my breasts… and my toes. Feverish. Warmth seeped through my veins like heated honey. It was as if I had a man's mouth on my pussy, his tongue flicking at my enlarged clit, the tension building, building until…

  Where had that thought come from? I was definitely losing it, but I wanted that ring. Needed it. I placed a hand on one of the displays so I felt grounded. The cool glass felt good beneath my fingers.