Chapter 12
They were supposed to arrive at their destination later that day, but the discovery of two more mud rivers and a completely washed-out part of the road forced Liam at a slower pace than normal.
At the rate, they would not reach their destination until tomorrow morning, so when Liam scouted a nice spot for camp, they stopped.
“Is there a reason we are stopping so early, Liam?” Amos asked quietly as he dismounted.
“We should reach the territory tomorrow morning. No need to push it now that the sun is going down.” It wasn’t quite sundown, but their visibility was dimming, and he didn’t want to risk it.
“Ah, so ‘tis not because Andrew and several of the other men have been keeping the Lady Jean’s attention all to themselves?” He teased. When Liam growled, he roared with laughter. “I will get a fire started. Perhaps a hunt is in order.”
“Aye, Andrew,” he barked out. “Take six men out for a hunt, but be sure to stray no further than half an hour out.”
Jean’s eyes lit up. “Oh, may I…”
“No,” he snapped. Amos laughed even harder, and he sighed. “I would prefer yer company here, Lady Jean.”
The other men chuckled and set about making camp.
An excellent multitasker, Jean managed to glare daggers at Liam while she helped, and Liam was just as good at ignoring her.
When camp was made, and the fire roared, the men sat around it, swapping stories while they waited for the hunting party to return.
Still, Jean managed to glare at him even while she engaged with the stories.
Finally, the hunting party returned and gave Liam something to do while he helped prep the meat. They cooked the rabbits and ate. Finally, Liam couldn’t take it anymore. As furious as he was with Jean, the space between them was widening, and it was distracting him.
He could not afford to be distracted.
“Jean, a word,” he said, quietly enough to not alert anyone else. Jean glared at him but stood and joined him on the outskirts of the camp. Instead of asking what he wanted, she just sat down next to him and glared into the camp fire.
“If ye continue to look at me that way, ye are likely to set the whole forest on fire with yer fury.”
“My fury? Ye are the one giving me orders.”
“I am in charge, Jean. ‘Tis my duty to give orders.”
“Aye, and I am happy to follow them, but ye are punishing me for my actions, deliberately keeping me from the other men, and it has nothing to do with protecting me. I dinnae know yer motives, but no one here would hurt me and ye know it.”
With a nod, he acknowledged her words. He’d observed the men, and it was clear that none of them would disobey his orders to leave her alone, even if he weren’t there.
“Ye know that our families want us to wed,” Liam said quietly. “I suspect that was the main reason for this visit.”
If the others could hear them, they gave no indication. Some of them were loudly singing while several others were throwing knives at a tree stump. Liam was surprised that Jean hadn't joined them, but he suspected she was more tired than she was letting on.
When she didn't say anything, he wondered if she'd heard him right over all the ruckus. He'd deliberately chosen a moment when everyone else would be preoccupied. No one was listening, but if she felt uncomfortable and wanted to leave, she could.
“I suppose that makes sense,” she said slowly. “Our families are close.”
Turning her head slightly, she seemed to be studying him in the firelight.
He stared back, searching for a clue in that gaze.
As much as he hated to admit it, Amos wasn't wrong.
Liam had felt some jealousy when Jean spent most of the ride with Andrew.
Their constant laughter had set his teeth on edge.
It was absurd. He hadn't really considered Jean as his. Was that because there hadn’t been any risk that she'd belong to someone else?
Now, he couldn't help but plant the seed of their future and see her reaction.
“You're here without a chaperone, Jean. There may be consequences.”
To his surprise, Jean threw back her head and laughed. “Yer concern is touching, Liam, but there are no circumstances I could fathom under which my father would force me to wed, nor my brother when he is laird. Fear not, old friend, ye shall not be saddled with me.”
As she rose, Liam stared at her, dumbstruck. Saddled? “Do you think you're a burden?”
“How could I not with the way you're treating me?”
“I am treating you the way I would treat any other daughter of an alliance laird who snuck into my travel party. I take that back. I'm giving you much more leeway.”
“So, like I said, a burden. It's not like I would change once I'm married.” she paused. “Thank you for the leeway.”
Liam watched as she joined in on the bawdy singing and tried not to wince. If her father could see her now...
Actually, Connor might be proud. Someone had to have taught her those songs.
That night, Liam made sure there was enough space between Jean and the men, with his bed roll in between.
He took the first watch yet again. With one ear out for predators, he mostly matched her.
With the extra blanket, she didn't shiver or toss and turn.
In fact, she slept as soundly as any of his other warriors.
He'd seen the Sinclair Keep. It was almost twice the size of his. If it wasn't his responsibility, he'd have spent every night in his own bed. How often did Jean, as a child, spend the night outside to toughen herself up? To prove that she was a warrior?
Liam wished he could whisk her away to a warm room and a soft bed. She'd hate it, of course, but he could quickly show her that there were perks to being in a comfortable bed.
The visceral image of a naked and moaning Jean beneath him invaded his thoughts. Try as he might, he couldn't clear his mind. The image stayed with him until he woke his replacement and settled down next to her. The urge to touch her was overwhelming.
She was beautiful. Creamy and supple; thin, smooth to the touch.
Her dark hair fanned over her shoulders, hiding her bare breasts, but he'd caught sight of them before she'd kneeled seductively on the bed.
The fire reflected from the hearth to her blue eyes, and there was nothing but hunger in them.
Slowly, he spread her knees to reveal the soft curls hiding her center.
“Ye know, that day I snuck up on ye in bed, I was thinking about when we were children, but when I straddled ye, I wasnae thinking of the boy ye were, but the man ye are.”
“Jean.” Liam's voice was hoarse as he stared at her.
“I am a woman, and I've heard stories. Stories that make me feel strange in certain places. In the taverns, the women talk about men who have been in their beds. Some men, apparently, were duds, but others, oh Liam, they say others make them feel like no other. Make them moan and scream in the darkness. That is what I want to feel.”
“Ye are an unmarried woman, Jean. I cannae…”
“Oh, Liam, I suspect ye can, I suspect that ye can make me feel so good. Just tonight. One night. We are all alone.” Sucking in her lower lip, she pulled her hair to one side, revealing her sweet pert breasts.
“Just the two of us. It'll be our secret. We dinnae have to tell anyone what we do tonight.”
His resolve weakened as he walked to the bed, nothing more than a helpless victim to her siren’s song. “Ye want to moan tonight? To learn what I can make your body do?” Standing in front of her, he touched his finger under her chin. Obediently she rose back to her knees.
“Please,” she whispered.
Skimming a finger down her throat to her breasts, he relished the tremble and the way she leaned toward him. “Are ye going to kiss me?”
“Oh, Jean. I am going to devour you.”
“Liam. Liam!”
With one hand on his dagger, he jerked upright, his whole body on alert. It was still dark, and Jean stared at him. “Sorry,” she whispered. “I didnae mean to scare ye.”
“What is wrong?”
“I woke up to relieve myself, and I heard rustling in the woods. Maddox was on watch, and he went to check it out. I'm simply letting ye know. Are ye all right?”
“Aye. Just a dream.” He rubbed his face and wished the images would disappear. Instead, they haunted him. “Go back to sleep, Jean. I will watch over ye.”