Chapter 16 #2
Heat stained her cheeks. “Where am I, my
lord? Where have you taken me?”
“To your sleeping chamber.” Seeing the cloud
of confusion still in her eyes he added with a smile, “In
Lochleven, my lady.”
“Aye. Lochleven.” Then the terror returned.
She sat up, pushing a tangle of hair from her eyes. “The man with
the sword...”
“Is dead, my lady.” Jamie sat up beside
her.
“You killed him?”
“Nay. It was Wolf who came to your rescue
first.”
“Wolf.” Lindsey struggled to remember. “The
sound. It was like a scream, but yet it was like nothing I had ever
heard.”
“I was screaming,” Jamie explained.
“Screaming to distract the stranger. But the sound of Wolf’s howl
may have drowned out any other sound.”
“Who was the man?”
Jamie shook his head. “No one seems to know.
Can you tell me what he revealed to you?”
Lindsey thought a moment. “He said it was a
shame I had chosen that night to ride.”
“So you were not his intended victim?”
“Nay. I just happened to cross his path.”
“Did he say anything else?”
Lindsey struggled to recall everything that
had been said. At length she shook her head. “I wish I could recall
anything of value. But I cannot.”
“It matters not, my lady. The most important
thing of all is that you are safe.”
“Thanks to you.” For the first time she
noticed that he was shirtless. His naked torso rippled with
muscles. She found herself staring at the mat of hair that covered
his chest and tapered to the waist of his breeches.
“And Wolf.” Seeing the direction of her gaze,
his voice warmed. “Do not forget Wolf.”
“Aye.” She felt herself blushing and tore her
gaze away. But as she lifted her head she found herself staring at
his lips. How close they were. How inviting. “I shall have to see
that Wolf is well rewarded for his bravery.”
Jamie wondered if she had any idea how
tempting she looked in the delicately embroidered gown that
Mistress Macnab had provided. Though it covered her modestly; he
was well aware of the perfect body beneath the pristine covering.
“Justin MacLeod assures me that the hound eats better than the
queen.”
“He has seen him?”
“Aye. I ordered him to take fresh game to the
clearing near the loch.”
“When I am stronger I will take the food
myself. And Wolf will eat from my hands.”
Jamie laughed. “You think, because he saved
your life, he will now be your pet?”
“It is not a pet I want. It is a friend who
will answer my call when I need him and sit by my side when I am
lonely.”
He brushed a lock of hair from her cheek. His
hand lingered over the softness of her skin. She saw the way his
eyes darkened as he stared hungrily at her lips.
“I think what you ascribe to Wolf should be
the task of a lover, my lady.”
She knew that he was going to kiss her. And
she knew that if he did, she would be lost in the wonder of his
kisses. She decided that it was time to test her strength. The
strength she needed to resist all the strange new feelings that
swamped her each time Jamie looked at her like this. She pushed
herself free of his arms and scrambled from the bed.
Jamie lay back among the pillows, his hands
behind his head. It was so good to see her up and about. And yet he
could not deny the slight feeling of regret. He had treasured those
hours alone with her. He loved watching her while she slept. He
loved taking care of all her needs.
She draped a shawl around her shoulders for
modesty. Then she filled a basin with water. As she washed her face
and arms and lifted the square of linen to her cheeks, he felt the
sudden tug of desire. He could joyfully spend the rest of his days
enjoying such mundane things as this. So long as they were shared
with Lindsey. How he loved being with her. He loved her. He could
no longer deny that fact. And though it complicated his life, it
was that simple, he loved her.
As she brushed the tangles from her hair, she
caught sight of him in the looking glass. The frown of
concentration made her heart contract. She was keeping him from his
duties to the queen. She must send him away. And quickly.
She turned.
“You seem exceedingly distracted this morrow,
my lord.”
“Do I?”
“Aye.” She tossed down the hairbrush and
strode to the side of the bed. “Your duty awaits you below
stairs.”
“And what of my duty to you?”
“You owe me nothing, my lord. I am grateful
for all that you have done for me. But now you must go.”
“And this is how you show your gratitude? By
throwing me out of your chambers?”
Though he was still frowning, she could hear
the hint of teasing laughter in his tone.
“Aye, my lord. You have much more important
matters to attend to in the queen’s company.”
His hand snaked out so quickly she had no
time to react. He pulled her down on the bed and rolled until he
had her pinned beneath him. With his lips brushing hers he
murmured, “Nothing is as important as this.”
The kiss was long and deep and thorough.
Jamie moved his lips over hers, thrilling to the way she responded
to his kiss. Her lips parted for his tongue and he invaded the
sweetness of her mouth. How soft her lips. How wild her taste.
She gave a little moan of pleasure and he
shifted slightly. His hand plunged into the tangles of her hair,
and he drew back a moment to study the way she looked. Clean.
Fresh. She was a breath of air in his battle-weary life.
He bent his lips again to hers and felt the
tremors that she could not hide.
“Are you afraid, my lady?” he murmured
against her lips.
“Aye. I—should not feel this way.”
“What way?” With his finger he traced the
outline of her lips and felt them tremble beneath his touch.
“As if I were on fire. As if I had just run
across a meadow and cannot catch my breath.”
He touched a hand to her heart and could feel
her thundering pulse.
“Oh, my lady. It is the most natural thing in
the world to feel this way.”
“Do you feel it too, my lord?”
In reply he framed her face with his hands
and drew her to him. His mouth came down on hers and he devoured
her with his kiss.
Lindsey’s heartbeat thundered in her temples.
Her breathing was ragged and painful. Her arms closed around his
waist, drawing him so close she could hear his heart beating as
erratically as her own.
Jamie knew that he had gone too far. Yet he
wanted more. He wanted all. As his lips plundered hers he drew on
his last ounce of willpower.
He lifted his head and studied the way she
looked, her lips warm and moist, her lids heavy with passion. He
knew he played a dangerous game. Soon there would be no turning
back.
‘“I will leave you to your rest, my lady.
Mistress Macnab will be here soon with your meal.”
Lindsey lay in the middle of the bed and
watched as he strode from the room. The taste of him still lingered
on her lips. The need for him caused an odd trembling sensation
that left her weak.