“I dinnae ken ye were such a romantic soul, Jonet,” Matthew said after a long moment.
She looked over at him. He seemed at peace, yet so strikingly handsome that it did many things to her. Her heart fluttering, her face going hot, her body responding in ways it had not in such a long time. “Consider this another token of me gratitude for what ye did for me earlier. I had become such a mess and… ye helped.”
“Ye daenae need to thank me…”
“Oh, but I do.” Against her better judgment, she crawled closer to him. She knew she should keep some distance between them if she wanted to keep her head straight, but at the same time, she could not resist. “I want ye to ken how much that meant to me and… and I also wanted to say somethin’ to ye.”
Matthew’s brows furrowed. He had been reclining back on the heels of his hands, but sat up at her serious tone, turning slightly to face her. “What is it?”
“I…” How could she say this? It had been some time since she had last confessed her feelings. With Murdock, it had become natural, borne from the innocence of first love. With Henry, she had been kind with her affection and appreciation of him, wanting to make him feel welcomed into her family.
Still, she had never felt anything like this before. So intense. So passionate. So… frightening.
Christal’s words today made her remember the woman she used to be. She had always been the kind of person who never shied away from a challenge, never allowed daunting outcomes to hinder her progress. She would not let that woman remain in the shadows any longer.
“I ken I havenae been very kind to ye when we first met each other,” she said. “I was very adamant that I would not marry and so I saw no reason for us to see each other. But yer insistence was very admirable, I must say.”
Matthew grinned, but it did not hold the shine it usually did. Jonet felt a twinge of uncertainty.
Perhaps I am bein’ too forward?
“If ye are plannin’ to apologize, then ye daenae have to. I already ken that ye regret what ye did before.”
“That’s nae what I’m tryin’ to do,” she insisted. In the spur of the moment, she took his hand in his. She noted surprise in his eyes, but she did not let it stop her next words. “I wanted to tell ye that… I have begun developin’ feelin’ for ye. And, if ye are still willin’, I would like to accept yer proposal to be yer wife.”
Jonet had never seen his eyes grow this wide. She would have laughed if she was not already riddled with anxiety.
“Do ye truly mean that, Jonet?” Matthew whispered, as if in disbelief.
She bit her lip, nodding. “I do.”
He slid his hand out of hers. Jonet’s heartbeat spiked as he slid the hand up to caress her cheek, bringing himself closer. She let out a sigh of relief as her eyes drifted close, accepting his kiss.
She had expected it to be tender, but it was so filled with overwhelming joy that it consumed them both. He banded his arms around her, and she wrapped her arms around his, deepening the kiss instantly. It was a few more moments before they pulled away, leaving her heart racing.
“I dinnae think that when ye finally accepted me proposal, I would be at a loss of words,” he murmured, still holding her in his arms.
Jonet giggled. “Well, that is certainly a first.”
He released a long shuddering breath. His eyes were cloudy with a heat that made Jonet’s loins tense.
“I think I need to cool meself down,” he smiled at the thought.
She unwrapped her arms from his neck, tilting her head to the loch. “Well then, go right ahead.”
“Do ye want to join me?”
She thought about it for a moment. She too felt hot with need, and if she stayed so close to him for any longer, she was bound to do something that she might regret. She wanted him, badly, but she also wanted to take things slowly between them, give her heart more time to heal while she continued to fall in love. She wanted their first time to be special.
“Aye,” she said after a moment. “I think that will help me some.”
“Let us make it interesting then, shouldnae we?” Matthew stood to his feet. Jonet watched, unable to tear her gaze away, as he took off his shirt to reveal the bronze chest covered in blond curls underneath. She pulled her legs closer together.
“You cannae mean…”
“I willnae look at ye,” he said quickly, but his words held little force when paired with his devilish grin. “I’ll wait until ye’re in the water before I look at ye again.”
Jonet slowly got to her feet. She pulled her shawl closer around her shoulders, as if to hide the peaking of her nipples at his suggestion. She had always gone swimming alone, not even able to coax Freya into the water whenever her maid would accompany her. To think that the first time she would swim with someone else, they would be doing it without any clothing.
Yet she did not protest. The tips of her fingers tingled with anticipation and she said nothing as she waved him off so that she could discard of her own clothing. Matthew smiled and nodded before he turned and walked off a short distance.
“Daenae ye dare to turn around,” she warned, letting her shawl fall to the floor.
“Aye, aye. I wouldnae dare incur yer wrath,” he drawled.
Jonet was trembling with excitement. She felt the flush of the wind on her skin as she left the last bit of her clothing on the blanket and she padded over to the loch. The water was chilly, causing her to shiver a little, but she went in as deeply as she could, treading the waters so that the waves bobbed over her shoulders. “All right, ye can turn around now.”
He turned to the sound of her voice. Jonet flushed when his eyes landed on her, but she knew that, because of the darkness of the loch, he would not be able to see anything.
Matthew lifted a finger and twirled it. She flushed again when she realized he was telling her to turn around.
Jonet did as he asked, her heart hammering. She listened out for him, hearing nothing for a short while until the rippling of the water sounded behind her.
After a minute of silence, there was a tap on her shoulder. She faced him. “Ah, it has been some time since I last swam like this,” he was much freer in his movements, which Jonet envied a little. He had much less to show after all.
“The water is a bit cold, though,” she pointed out. “I daenae ken how much long we’ll be able to stay in here before our toes begin to freeze off.”
“Worry nae, me dear. I will keep ye warm in me tender embrace.” He lifted his arms and swam closer to her.
Jonet swam away as quickly as she could, splashing water at him in the process. “Daenae do that!” she screeched.
He only laughed in response. “Do ye want to have yer fingers and toes fall off from the chill of the loch, Jonet?”
“I can warm meself up, thank ye very much.”
“Ah, but what better way to do that than to share the body heat of someone as lovin’ and as passionate as I?”
He tried to come a little closer and Jonet held up a warning finger. She could not stop the laughter from tickling her lips. “You wouldnae dare…”
“Oh? Is that a challenge I hear?”
“Matthew, I’m warnin’ ye…”
“Ah, it is a challenge. Well, I am nae a man if I cannae accept it in good honor. Come, let us share this lovely embrace.”
Jonet squealed as she swam away from him, adrenaline coursing through her body. His hands swiped at her and her heart raced whenever she would narrowly miss it. It was reminiscent of the times she would chase the village kids around when she was younger. Laughing deliriously as she tried to escape him, she could not remember when last she had so much fun.
Matthew was a perfect gentleman. He never touched her, save for a simple pat on her shoulder to claim his victory. To which she responded with a splash of water in his face and denouncement of said victory. Which started the entire thing back up again.
They did not tire of energy. Jonet thought she could swim for the entire n
ight—as foolish as that might be—but then he grasped her by her wrist, pulling her toward him.
A squeak slipped out as she was pressed to him, her back to his chest. Suddenly, the water no longer felt so cold.
“I win,” he whispered close to her ear.
Jonet’s heart was hammering. Or perhaps that was Matthew’s heart she heard, the one she could already feel beating against her spine. His hair-covered arms banded around her midsection, holding her tightly against him as his legs drifted back and forth to keep them afloat.
Jonet could not focus on any of that. The only thing her mind could think of was the length of him pressed against her inner thigh. She could feel him. As bold and as upright as ever. She had never felt so aroused.
“Have ye given up?” he whispered again. “And here I thought ye were a fighter.”
“Ye play dirty,” she murmured, mostly to herself.
Matthew chuckled, “I daenae ken what ye’re talkin’ about, Jonet.”
It took all her energy to force herself away. Her face was hot and when she faced him, she was having a hard time looking him in the eye. She made sure the water brushed her chin, fearing that he might catch a glimpse of how much her body was reacting to him.
After a few moments, Jonet splashed water at his face, and their race started up again. This time, she was not so sure she wanted to win anymore, if that was what it meant to lose.
By the time they were finished, the sun was setting, the water had grown unbearably cold, and it was time for them to leave. As they did in the beginning, Jonet climbed out first, keeping an eye on him as she donned her clothes. After, she turned her back and waited for him to put on his.
“Ah, I daenae think I have laughed like that in a long while, Jonet,” Matthew gathered everything up and headed back to the horses.
“Aye, I suppose life has gotten in the way a little, hasnae it? It is good to play like that again.”
“Somethin’ ye are very adept at, I notice.”
“Oh, come now, nay teasin’.” She chuckled as she mounted Fenella and he climbed atop Temper. The irate horse stomped his feet, as if annoyed they had taken so long. Matthew did his usual calming ritual and Temper settled down.
“That will never fail to amaze me,” she shook her head with her eyes on the now-calm horse. They set off, the setting sun to their back.
“I daenae ken what to tell ye. I suppose I am just good with horses.”
“That is a bit of an understatement considering Temper is such a difficult horse.” Temper snorted after she said that and Jonet quickly added, “Nae that anythin’ is particularly wrong with that.”
Matthew chuckled. “We are similar spirits,” he smiled, “Temper and I.”
“Truly? I dinnae see how.”
“It is nae for ye to see, but for us to feel.” He leaned close to Temper’s ear and patted him lovingly. “She willnae understand our relationship, Temper. Daenae worry about a thing she says.”
Jonet sighed, shaking her head. The back of her dress was steadily growing wetter from her dripping hair. She would have to return quickly so that she did not catch a cold.
Suddenly, there came the sound of hooves thudding against the ground. Matthew drew to a sharp halt, and so did Jonet. A scarred face man swerved his horse into their path, grinning wickedly. “Ye willnae go any further or else ye willnae like it.”
Jonet’s first thought was to race away. The man—the bandit—brandished a rusty looking ax. They should both be able to escape him considering they were on such speedy horses, but the sound of pounding hooves did not stop.
Her heart shot into her throat when she realized that, in a matter of seconds, they were surrounded.
Chapter 19
There were three of them, all standing in strategic locations that effectively cut off their escape route. Matthew’s eyes wandered from the one before them, to the other two on either side of him and Jonet. They all bore the same evil sneer, with battle scars marring their bronze skin.
The one in front was clearly the leader and liked to flaunt this position. He rode the largest horse, bore the biggest ax, and had a head of wild black hair that seemed to serve as his crown as he lorded over his motley band of brigands.
Matthew steered Temper closer to Jonet, wanting to shield her from whatever might be coming. She was the Laird’s daughter after all. Matthew would not be surprised if she were the reason they had approached them in the first place.
“What do ye three want?” He asked.
“There willnae be any questions from ye,” said the one on Matthew’s right. Matthew looked at him from the corner of his eye, taking care not to take his attention off the other two.
“Aye, we only wanted to see yer face before we do what we have to do,” spoke the other. They sounded a lot alike, looked alike as well. Perhaps twins?
It was the most information he could glean from them, much to his frustration. Matthew narrowed his eyes on the leader, lifting a brow in question, but the leader only barked a harsh laugh and tilted his head.
Matthew jumped off his horse. As if Temper knew what was about to happen, the horse reared back on his hind legs and stepped out of the fray while the other two brigands dismounted as well, brandishing their axes.
“Matthew!” Jonet screamed.
“Get away, Jonet!” he shouted after her, dodging beneath the lethal swing of the first ax. “Go back to the Castle!”
He was at a disadvantage. They bore weapons and all he had to rely on was his quick senses and his nimble feet. They had him on the defensive from the very beginning, but he was hoping that if Jonet escaped safely, he would be able to stop this. Just as long as he occupied their time long enough to keep them from chasing after her.
Yet she did not move.
“Jonet!” he barked.
One of the brigands lunged after him and Matthew just narrowly managed to dodge the blow. The brigand stumbled and Matthew took advantage of it by pouncing on his back and pulling the ax from his hand.
“Ye fools!” the leader bellowed andhe dismounted as well, charging after Matthew.
They all left Jonet alone, who stood on the outskirts of the tussle.
Matthew did not have any time to think on it. They pounced on him all at once, including the one who had been disarmed. He had pulled out a long dagger and swiped at him, seemingly not caring if he got hit by his own ax. They were dangerous foes from the very beginning, moving with such intent that it was difficult to achieve the upper hand during their assault, buthaving the ax now gave Matthew more of an advantage.
“Matthew, get back on yer horse!” Jonet screamed. “Ye cannae fight them!”
“Ye need to leave now, Jonet!” He shouted back. He tried not to be distracted, but the attackers did not ease up. Even though Jonet was the Laird’s daughter, the more likely target for their ambush, they did not pay her any mind. Why?
“I cannae leave ye!” Came her determined voice once again.
Before Matthew could tell her to stop, Jonet charged into the brawl with Fenella. She whisked Fenella around at the last moment and the horse kicked its leg out at the leader’s chest, sending him flying.
The other two faltered at the sudden attack and Matthew used that distraction in his favor. He swung his leg out under the brigand closest to him, and before he could crash to the ground, he punched the other twice in his jaw in quick succession. He collapsed to the ground, right next to the first. Matthew, not giving the first the chance to get to his feet, rammed the hilt of the ax into his temple and he too fell unconscious.
He whirled to face the leader, ready for anything that might be coming. Yet the leader was groaning on the ground, trying and failing to get to his feet.
Jonet rushed over to Matthew. She grasped his hands, then his arms, then his face. “Are ye all right?” she demanded to know. “Did they hurt ye?”
“Luckily, I managed to get out of that unscathed,” Matthew said. His heart was still hammering. He tossed the ax away
from him, grasping Jonet by the arms. “Why dinnae ye leave when I told ye to?”
“How could I when ye were being attacked by three men?”
He sighed. “That hardly matters. They might have stopped had ye gotten to safety.”
Jonet shook her head. “They dinnae even pay me any attention. They were only after ye. I had to do somethin’.”
He let out a shuddering breath, pulling her into him. He held her tightly, trying to comfort himself with her smell. Her presence. She was safe. She was unharmed. Matthew had not felt fear like that in a long time, and it had all been for her.
Highlander's Trials of Fire: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel Page 16