CHAPTER FIVE #4
Claire had no idea what the exchange meant. But now that her adrenaline was gone, she realized she was shaken and exhausted. She felt violated by what Sibylla had done—and what she had wanted to do.
Instantly, as if he knew, Malcolm turned, putting his arm around her and holding her upright. “Come, lass. We’ll speak inside.”
Claire nodded and they went back down the stairs. Images flashed and she saw her brief struggle with Sybilla and the woman’s pale, furious face, her black, frightening eyes. “How did I make such an enemy?”
Malcolm guided her into the chamber and directly to the bed. Claire’s insides instantly tightened and she glanced at him. His steady regard met hers. “This time, Claire, ye obey me.” He threw the fur cover aside and took her arm, guiding her onto the down pallet.
Claire jerked off her cowboy boots and slid under the covers.
He arranged the pillow behind her head, his expression deadly serious, his mind clearly not on his actions.
But he was fussing over her and something melted in her heart.
How could such a powerful, arrogant and presumptuous man reduce himself to fixing her pillows?
Maybe she should not be so quick to stereotype him, she thought.
She touched his hand. Sparks ignited, but then, they were never really extinguished, not when he was nearby. “What is it?”
He met her gaze, hesitated, then sat down by her hip. “I have vowed t’ protect ye an’ ye almost died today. Not once, but twice.”
Claire did not want to think about everything that had happened on the ramparts with Sibylla. “Why does she think I have the page? Because I own a specialty bookstore?”
“Because she didna find it in yer store.” He suddenly lifted her cap sleeve. “’Tis a scratch.”
Claire didn’t care about the scratches. “So what? Why does everyone think it’s there, anyway?”
“I dinna ken, Claire. If Moray sent Sibylla t’ yer store, I believe the page be there—or was once.”
Claire absorbed that. “How did she get into Carrick? She leaped time, didn’t she? To get away.”
“Moray dispenses the powers from the Duaisean with great care. He has made her strong so she can slay his enemies an’ she can leap time in order to serve him well. Aye, she probably vanished into the near future.”
Claire tensed. She didn’t like the fact that the bad guys could travel through time, too.
She began to realize that the woman could never be captured if she could simply leap away into another time.
However, that was suddenly the least of her worries.
She impulsively touched Malcolm’s arm. “He can dispense powers?”
“Aye. Why do ye think his armies be so powerful? They nay be ordinary men, lass.”
Claire began to breathe rapidly and shallowly. “I know you believe in the books, but I don’t. His armies are ordinary—human. She’s ordinary, even if her power was shocking.” She realized she was near tears, but her near hysteria was from overload and exhaustion.
He remained grim. “I ken ye dinna wish t’ hear the truth, but ’tis dangerous fer ye now, Claire. Ye need to ken the truth o’ the world.”
Claire realized she might lose it if he said another word. “Don’t you dare,” she cried.
His gaze was searching, then it softened. “Lass, t’morrow we go t’me home an’ we’ll discuss these matters. Ye’ll be safe there.” He smiled reassuringly at her. “Dunroch’s walls are thick an’ sure. I have affairs to attend, but I willna be gone fer long.”
It took Claire a moment. She sat up. “You intend to leave me at Dunroch? Absolutely not! I am going with you!” she cried. And she realized that she did not wish to be separated from Malcolm. The issue was one of her safety.
“Ye canna come with me, lass. I willna be gone long. A few days, a week, nay more.”
“A week,” she gasped, horrified. “Where are you going? You are sworn to protect me! Sibylla may decide to make hamburger out of me while you are away! And what about Aidan—and Moray? Does Moray think I have the page, too?”
“I must speak with MacNeil. I go to Iona, and then, t’Awe.”
She hardly cared. She seized both of his hands. “Take me with you,” she cried. “Do not leave me behind.”
His gaze locked with hers. His mouth turned down and his eyes filled with a torment she didn’t understand. He suddenly touched her throat. “I’ll be the one t’ kill her,” he said flatly.
And his fingertips stroked the exact place Sybilla had licked her. But the thick, callused pads caused a delicious shiver to arise.
Claire knew a tear fell. “She didn’t hurt me. I’m a wuss. I’m tired. And I’ll admit it—I’m in over my head.”
“Yer afraid,” he said flatly. “I’ll die afore allowin’ye to be hurt, Claire.”
Claire went still, and damn it, she felt a thrill. “Because of your vows,” she somehow whispered.
“Nay. Because o’ ye, lass. Because o’ ye.”
Her heart exploded in her chest.
Carefully, he looked from her eyes to her mouth.
So much desire made her feel faint. Claire felt the huge tension throbbing between them.
His gaze slowly lifted. And then he leaned toward her—and kissed her throat.
Claire gasped as his mouth feathered the skin where she had been violated.
And as the pulse in her sex exploded with urgency, she clasped his hard, stubbled jaw.
The promise of so much raw sex coursed in the room.
Did it matter that he didn’t love her and she didn’t love him? Nothing had ever mattered less.
He straightened and stared.
“It’s all right,” Claire breathed, wanting to encourage him.
He was silent. “We play with fire, lass,” he said quietly.
“I don’t care!”
His gaze drifted again to her mouth and she knew he was finally about to kiss her. And she could no longer think of a single reason why he should not.
“Fire,” he said harshly, “an’ evil.”