She screamed.
“Get dressed and meet me by the horse.”
He walked away to provide her privacy. The woman moved so swiftly, she was a blur, and was dressed before he could turn around. He found her full-fledged blush endearing. After pulling on her gown, she gathered the covers and approached. Aye, she was angry. She thrust his neatly folded plaid at him.
Silently, he watched her. Was she embarrassed again? Lord she was lovely in the morn with her hair free. A thought occurred to him that he’d like to see it flowing down her back over her beautiful bare behind.
This morn he’d been in a lighter mood, and even his men noted his smile. Colin thought Bleeth would challenge him when he saw her lying next to him, but he hadn’t.
Shoving the plaid back, he said, “I gave ye the plaid for protection. Put it on.”
“I don’t need it. We’ll be at Sara’s keep soon and I’ll be safe forever.”
“I insist that ye wear it, and what do you mean safe forever? While we are on the subject of safety, I will keep ye safe, have no fear.”
“Oh? I was supposed to be safely sleeping last night and … you … Ye didn’t keep me safe. I cannot believe I let ye …” Her words trailed off, and she ran to the bushes.
Ah hell, she was madder than an ox, but she hadn’t been incensed when she first woke. He had pleased her last night, hadn’t he? Why wouldn’t she accept that? He had taken her aye, but he did give her a chance to stop him. She wanted him, did she forget that? He’d give her time to come to an understanding. Aye, he’d make her accept him eventually.
She returned a few minutes later to find him waiting by the horse. He grinned devilishly while leaning against a tree, crooking his finger, bidding her to come. She shook her head.
“Come here, Jules.”
“Why?”
“Just do it,” he demanded calmly.
She walked to him, stopping a foot away. Colin clenched her wrists, jerking her forward. Turning her about, he pushed her back against the tree. Her breathing rasped. Frowning, she reached to strike his face. Before her hand struck him, he grabbed it, and kissed the palm.
“Not again, lass.” Pulling her forward again, he leaned against the tree, and settled her against him. Colin tried to ease her tension by remaining silent, but what he wanted to do was to kiss her wildly and show her how much he wanted her. That would only ignite sparks of angst and she wasn’t in the mood for love play.
She seemed to calm, but still stood rigid in his arms. He’d never felt such strong feelings for a woman before. Mayhap he cared more than he realized. His thought caused him to pull back and give her an impish grin. How easy it was to gain her acceptance.
He thought about removing her gown so he could look upon her beauty, but he shook his head. He wouldn’t be so irreverent. After all, she was the woman who would bear his sons. Nay, he’d show her that he had compassion, and he’d eventually assuage his misdeeds.
The woods came alive as birds fluttered overhead, and small animals scurried from the underbrush. He swallowed his contention, wanting to worship his own faerie. Lifting her chin, he looked into her still incensed eyes. Her mouth, a short distance away, called to him, and he took advantage of his position and gently kissed her.
“I didn’t intend to ire ye, sweetheart. Don’t be mad.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist and remained quiet. He leaned his head on her shoulder, and she seemed content to stand there. After a few moments of silence, she pushed against his shoulder.
“Ye can release me now. I shan’t strike ye, even though ye deserve it. I cannot believe I acted so … I am truly wretched.”
“You are not wretched. Tell me ye enjoyed it.” Colin laughed, smiling broadly.
“Nay, I won’t be admitting such a sin.”
“I know ye did. You’re a vibrant lady, aye, ye are.”
“Colin, I told ye not to touch me, and yet you … didn’t listen. Ye made me forget myself.”
“I have wanted ye for so long, and I cannot get enough of you. I want you even now. Feel,” he said, placing her hand on his nakedness beneath his tartan.
She yanked her hand free. “Stay away from me, and we shall both survive this trek.”
“Your threat is paltry compared to what I want. How can I keep my distance when we have to ride together?” He wasn’t prepared for her reaction to his teasing.
Julianna screamed. Once her frustration was released, she swiped the blanket from the ground and walked away.
He laughed at her sweet temper, but then groaned, seeing her sweet bottom as she bent to pick up the blanket. Colin mounted his horse, leaned to the side, and pulled her onto his lap. She adjusted her skirts and said nothing. His mind reeled with visions as he recanted their lovemaking. Her eyes shot daggers, turning dark as night. He grabbed her chin and shifted her face. She jerked her chin from his hand. He heard her grimace. Aye, angst flashed in her eyes. What spirit the lass had. He’d enjoy their sparring.
They rode away from the camp—the magical place where he’d taken her innocence. He would always remember it. She wasn’t married, that thought snapped in his head. No one had been with her; he’d been the only man who touched her. Who beat her then? That question nagged him.
The weather cooled, the winds much more hale than the day before. He felt Julianna shiver, and he pulled an extra plaid from behind him, wrapping it around her shoulders. They caught up with the MacKinnon men. Colin joined the group when they reached the pass.
“What are ye thinking? You’re being too quiet.”
She turned her face, but didn’t look directly at him. “I was thinking about Sara and how happy I am to see her again. I was also thinking about what you did, even though I prayed that I wouldn’t.”
“What I did? Ye know what I was thinking?”
Her chin lifted. “Nay, and I am not sure I want to know.”
He laughed. “I wasn’t thinking about what we did. I was considering the soldier who tried to harm ye. Does anyone else besides your aunt know where you are going?”
She shook her head.
“Would ye tell me even if there was? Why would the soldier try to kill ye? Those men followed us a great distance. Are ye going to answer?” He waited, but she shook her head.
The lass was stubborn. Colin didn’t press her, because they had entered hostile territory. He didn’t like that Julianna rode with them and he was possibly putting her in more danger. A noise sounded from the trees adjacent to the trail they rode. He heard the sound of rustling leaves and the breaking of twigs.
“Keep quiet, we are about to have company.”
She agreed by nodding. He reined the horse, as the others had already stopped. The Ferguson. Colin wasn’t pleased, but they had to skirt the outlying edge of his land to reach the KirkConnell’s keep, and they had almost made it through without a run-in.
“MacKinnon, thought I heard someone riding on me land.”
Colin grunted a greeting. The MacKinnon warriors moved their horses to flank him and positioned themselves to protect Julianna. They acted like ruffians, and he almost laughed aloud. He knew they had surmised what he’d done, and now there was no turning back. His men would consider Jules their lady, whether he recognized that fact or not.
“Seamus.”
“I haven’t seen ye lately, lad. What have ye been up to? What have you there, something I can take off your hands?” The aged warrior laughed briskly.
Colin whispered in Julianna’s ear, “Don’t look at them; keep your eyes downcast. I don’t want trouble.” He squeezed her arm gently to enforce his command. In Gaelic, he said, “I do have something, Seamus. She’s my woman, and ye will not ogle her.”
“Oh, ho, she be yours? MacKinnon, you’re too green to know what to do with such a woman.” Seamus nodded at his men, who agreed.
“You are insulting me, Seamus.” Colin almost jostled her when he pulled out his sword. His horse sidestepped, being too close to others. The MacKinnon w
arriors followed suit and Seamus’ men noted the hostility.
“Aye, lad, I see that ye do. Don’t look stern. I will be sure to tell the lassies you are no longer available.”
Colin wanted to flay the priss-arse to the ground, but held firm, not wanting to cause Jules an upset.
“What’s the pretty’s name?” Seamus provokingly asked.
“She’s Lady MacKinnon to ye.” This came from Brendan, whose sword directed aggression at Seamus.
“The MacKinnons are cranky today, lads. Don’t get riled, I only asked.”
“Ye have no right to question us about our lady,” Robin said stringently. The MacKinnon warriors nodded in agreement.
Colin had had enough conversation and wanted to be away. “I thank ye for allowing us through. I want to get home to me and mine,” he said curtly.
The Ferguson nodded, turned his horse, and led his men from the clearing. They’d had a bit of fun, but knew not to push Colin further. Seamus wasn’t that daring.
Colin relaxed his hold and turned to his men. “Let us get off his land in all haste. I don’t like the way he looked at Lady Julianna.”
“You know what ye did, don’t ye?”
Colin turned to look at Robin. “Nay, what, send the priss-arse on his way?”
Robin tilted his head to Julianna. Colin hunched his shoulder. His warriors grinned.
“Ye damned well admitted it, Colin, aye, in front of witnesses. It’s as good as being married to our way of thinking.”
Colin thought his men lost their minds. They looked at each other then jumped off their horses. He wondered what they were about until they knelt on the ground with their swords raised and their free hand covering their hearts.
Chants of Lady MacKinnon followed.
He was about to tell them to rise when he felt Julianna pinching his arm. She looked at him, then at Bleeth, then at his men. Her scowl didn’t intimidate them at all.
“I am not Lady MacKinnon,” Julianna said stiffly.
“They believe ye are. They honor you, and have vowed to protect ye with their lives.” He smiled when she shook her head.
“That’s ridiculous. You got all that from their chanting Lady MacKinnon? You will have to correct them.”
“If they want to believe you are Lady MacKinnon, I will not dispute it. Nothing will sway them now.”
“You’re being ridiculous, too.” Julianna scoffed. “Pray, I want ye to tell them not to call me that.”
“Nay.” Lady MacKinnon. The name reverberated in his mind and to him sounded quite agreeable.
“Faith, save me from mindless shanties. Cease squeezing my arm. Ye shall not command me, Laird MacKinnon.”
“What did ye call me?”
“A shanty?”
Colin grinned. “Nay, Laird. I am your laird for now, and I alone command ye.”
“I shan’t listen.” Julianna covered her ears.
Colin burst out laughing at her childish act. She was becoming more and more likeable by the minute. They reached the top of a hill and stopped. Looking ahead, he smiled at the view. He raised his hand and pointed to the far-reaching glen.
“Sights behold, the bonny Highlands.”
She breathed a loud sigh. “Oh my, ‘tis breathtaking.”
He had to agree, seeing the slope hues of green, blue, purple, and yellow meshing together, weaving a scene of beauty. The view of the mountain peaks and valleys cleared of its mist, made the day brighter. He pressed onward, down the slope, and Julianna’s body pitched toward his. Holding her tightly around the waist, he felt her squeezing his arm. When they reached the bottom, she let out an unladylike screech.
She turned to him and before she could speak, but he tilted her chin, and kissed her before she could stop him. He wanted to keep kissing her, but he pulled away.
“We’re here.”
Her beautiful blue eyes held him captive, and he couldn’t look away. Something about the way she looked at him made him want to kiss her again—and so he did.
He lowered his mouth, setting it firmly on hers. Her cool tongue touched his timidly at first, but then his became wild with the need to duel. She became as demanding, her tongue jabbing his in a fight he would surely lose on purpose. Using his arm, he kept her pressed against him, and he used his free arm to touch her face. He heard someone clear their throat and he knew his men watched. They were probably smiling like lads.
“Colin, don’t ye think we should get to Steven’s before ye woo Lady MacKinnon?”
Rumbling low in his chest, he couldn’t tear his mouth from hers. She excited him; he wanted her again. His hand cupped her jaw, not allowing her to pull away. He didn’t want to end the kiss, but his men began whooping and cat-calling.
He broke off the kiss; so much for trying to intimidate her. Each one of them continued to stare. Her lips wet from his kiss made him grin at his men. His men shared his smile, except of course for Bleeth, who seemed to want his blood. Aye, his look was severe, almost murderous.
He lowered his eyes to hers. “There lies the Clan KirkConnell.”
Chapter Seventeen
The keep appeared before her eyes and towered to the sky. Opened wooden gates led to a busy lower bailey. The stone castle looked like a fortress—impenetrable. People scurried, allowing their party entrance. Julianna sought her friend amongst the soldiers, women, and children. She heard the squawk of a rooster, the sheep’s baas, and smelled them, too. Colin stopped his horse and seemed to be waiting, for some reason.
“Colin, back so soon?” Steven KirkConnell shouted, walking toward them. He stopped a few feet from where they waited and glanced at her, then back at Colin.
She tried to pry Colin’s arm away, which possessively held her.
“I was asked by our friends to bring the lass, a friend of Sara’s,” Colin replied.
“Ye would bring an English here? I will have none on my land, lady or not, Colin, you know that.” He stepped forward, scowling with his hands fisted.
“I promised to bring her. You’d disappoint your wife? Do we go to the field or do ye let the lass stay?”
Colin didn’t seem concerned. Mayhap Steven couldn’t best him in a fight. Steven’s chuckle indicated that he didn’t take Colin’s threat seriously.
“Cosh, Colin, if ye weren’t so hard to take, I would have your arse on the ground. I will get Sara. Who are you?” Steven grumbled to Julianna in English.
“I am Julianna Bentley. I attended your—”
“My Sara wouldn’t have invited ye without asking,” his tone curtly insisted.
“I came to visit.” She nervously bit her lip because his manner intimidated her. What if he wouldn’t let her stay? She hadn’t thought of that. Steven didn’t seem to recall meeting her at his wedding.
“Steven, guard your tongue. I’ll not have ye speak to the lass so curtly,” Colin warned.
Steven looked astounded by his remark. “Come inside and I’ll get Sara. Colin, you will explain.”
“Aye, Steven, I will.”
Julianna looked adoringly at tapestries lining the narrow window slits in the large hall. The chairs around the table were made from dark wood, and dark-green bankers matched the KirkConnell plaid. The hall smelled of spices and looked homey. Sara lived in such grandeur.
“Annie, tell Sara we have company.” Steven’s voice shook the rafters.
From the sound of it, Sara probably heard him. She ran down the steps minutes later, stopping abruptly. Her mouth hung open, holding onto the rail. “Is it really you?”
Julianna eyed her dear friend and smiled. She ran, meeting Sara at the bottom of the steps, hugging her and swinging in her friend’s arms. Laughing and crying at the same time, she was so overjoyed to see her friend again. When she looked back at the men, they watched in awe.
“Whatever are ye doing here? I cannot believe I’m seeing you. Let me look at ye.” Sara pushed her back to get a better look, when her husband cleared his throat.
“Still beautiful,
I’m jealous. Ye haven’t changed, whilst I have rounded and …” Sara looked at her husband, and clasped her hand. “Steven, this is Julianna, you remember? She was at our wedding, and I told ye …”
Nodding curtly, he said, “She looked familiar. What’s she doing here?” Steven waited for someone to answer.
“Why don’t you ladies withdraw? Julianna had a long journey and is tired.” Colin walked to the table, dismissing them in his usual brisk manner.
Steven stepped in front of Colin. “I’m laird here, Colin, I give the commands. Run along, ladies.”
Julianna kept hold of Sara’s hand, while she led her up the stairs. She hesitated telling Sara why she had come. Her friend waited for her to begin, but she didn’t know what to say. “Sara, I am …” She couldn’t get the words out.
“Julianna, why are you here? Start with that.”
“My father settled a marriage contract. He was going to marry me to a monster. I always knew it would come to this. I cannot return.”
“Nay, you definitely cannot.”
“After I ran away, my father’s knights came after me, but I was able to escape. Will Steven let me stay? He didn’t sound pleased to have me here.”
“Highlanders are not fond of outsiders, but I shall get him to agree, worry not.”
They entered a sitting room and Julianna stopped. “He won’t hurt ye, will he?”
“Of course not, Julianna. Steven’s a good husband. Tell me what happened?” Sara sat in a chair and motioned for her to do the same.
Julianna took a deep breath. “I left home and went to Aunty’s. Bleeth … I forgot him, he’s here. If it was not for Bleeth, I don’t know how I would have gotten away.”
“We shall get him later. How did ye come to be with Laird MacKinnon?”
“Aunty asked him to bring me. He um, and I ah …”
“What have ye been doing, Julianna? Do you have feelings for him? He’s very handsome. I have known him since my marriage and if ye wanted a man—”
“Nay, I don’t want a man. I won’t let myself be attracted to him.”
Kara Griffin - The Pith Trilogy Page 12