The Highlander's Conquest (9 page)

Aliah whimpered as his tongue stroked over hers and tentatively moved to mimic his caress. Blane let out an encouraging groan, tightening his hold on her body as he completely took ownership of her mouth.

Never in her wildest imaginings would she have thought a man and woman could kiss this way. It was intoxicating. Glorious. Sensual. Made her ache for something that seemed out of reach. Her insides coiled tight as though they waited for some signal to release and she found herself rubbing her body wantonly against his.
Along the plains
of
her belly, his hardened shaft pressed
against her
with obvious desire.

Aliah was both frightened and enticed.

If this was what he considered a proper kiss… What
did he consider
scandalous
?

Blane’s blood rushed through his body at the pace of a river rapid. Swirling, churning this way and that, upsetting the natural course. And yet, he couldn’t stop, he wanted more. His tongue delved into the heated, sweet velvet that was Lady Aliah’s mouth. He craved the soft whimpers coming from her dainty throat, and reveled in the tight grip she had around his waist.

When she
rubbed
her body against his, he nearly doubled over from the pleasure of it. Did she realize how passionate she was? How she stirred his blood? The church was not the right place for
her
. No, within his arms, kissing him like this was where she needed to stay.

Massaging the back of her head, he deepened the kiss, taking complete ownership of her mouth the way he wanted to take possession of her body. With a hand at her waist, he
kneaded
her curvy hip, daring to move a little lower and place his hand upon one rounded glo
b
e of her bottom. When she didn’t protest, he gripped it. Not hard, but enough that he could tug her pelvis more snuggly against his own. The deep moan that escaped her was pure seduction. He answered her moan with one of his own and pinned her against the tree, grinding his throbbing cock against the heat emanating from between her thighs.

“Oh, Aliah,” he murmured, trailing his mouth to her chin and neck. He savored her flesh, tonguing the spot where her pulse beat
rapidly
.

Aliah sighed, her fingers roaming over his lower back, and she tilted her neck to the side. He continued to tease her flesh, soaking in her gasps and whimpers.

“You are so beautiful,” he murmured, his mouth moving to the base of her throat. He pushed back her cloak so he could rub his lips over the length of her collarbone. “How could you want to spend your life in the church, when you could spend it…” He trailed off, realizing what he’d been about to utter.

He would have asked her to spend
her
life
with him. To enjoy the pleasures of the flesh instead of doing what her heart had been set upon. The only reasonable answer for such a
foolish
notion was that he was undone by desire. Placing both hands beside her, he braced himself on the thick width of the tree and pulled his mouth from her skin.

Aliah’s eyes were wide, her mouth forming a perfect, plush and thoroughly kisse
d O.

“Ballocks,” he growled under his breath. “I am a boar.”

Shoving off the tree, he turned from her, raking his hands through his hair. What had he done? He’d nearly taken her against the tree. Thrust his cock against the sweet innocence between her thighs. Thrust his tongue deep into her mouth… Good God, he was a total licentious monster. He’d nearly taken one of the Lord’s own maidens. ’Twas a sin. Or was it? He didn’t truly know.

“Blane,” came her soft call from behind him. He turned around
. She
still lean
ed
up against the tree, her face twisted into a jumble of confusing emotions which he himself felt keenly. “You’re not a boar. I…”

He waited, wanted desperately for her to say she never wanted him to touch her again. That would make his own choices easier—he’d honor her decision, wouldn’t have to war with his own conscience. For what did he have to offer a woman? Especially a woman as precious as Aliah?

W
hen she didn’t say anything, seemed to have lost her voice in fact
,
as she continued to stare at him with wide eyes, he felt the need to prompt her. “You…”

“I wanted you to kiss me. I asked you to kiss me. And I’m not sorry for it.”

Damn. That was not what he wanted to hear.

“I shan’t do so again,” he replied.
Agree with me
, he begged silently.

But she didn’t agree, she only nodded, all the while her eyes held desire for more. She wouldn’t utter words she didn’t mean, he knew that much from having spent time with her. That could only mean one thing—she wanted him to kiss her.
Mo
creach
!

He was
a
fool. An utter fool.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped closer to her, gazed with all seriousness into her eyes. “My lady, I have been a complete cad since we first met. I wasn’t truthful with you and I’ve taken liberties that are not mine to take. I’ve apologized for it and then gone back on my word and continued. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me, and although I make assurances that it won’t happen again, I know you have no cause to believe me.”

The woman had the nerve to smile. Her lip curled up on one side, a teasing li
f
t to it. “You have done so several times now haven’t you?”

How could
she
tease him when he tried to apologize? What game was she playing?

Aliah stepped closer to him, her eyes crinkling a little with her merriment. “I want to thank you, Sir Blane.” She reached up, cupped his cheek, her fingers running delicately over his stubble. He had to hold his breath to keep from issuing a pleased murmur. “You’ve shown me what I would have missed had I never met you.”

With those words she turned away from him and walked back toward camp. All he could do was stare after the delicate sway of her hips, her touch still burning his cheek.

Chapter Nine

A
whistle rent the air as Aliah stepped from the shadows of the trees into the moonlit clearing. Liam hissed and gestured fiercely for her to come closer. Behind her Blane rushed from the trees and let out a whistle of his own.

“We have company, my lady. We must ride.”

Her escort did not wait for her to respond. Blane threw her up on his horse and quickly ordered Liam
to watch their backs
. Liam nodded, and Aliah couldn’t help noticing the pure look of relief on his face. She wasn’t that bad of a riding partner. Was she?

Blane squeezed Gunner’s flanks and they took off at a dangerous pace. To her relief, he guided the horse out of the darkened woods and onto the main road where the light of the moon and stars lit their path. Blane once more increased their pace. Her bottom bounced painfully against the horse, and her already protesting muscles screeched. Fear of those who followed won out and she squeezed her arms around Blane’s middle, and pressed her face to his broad, warm
back—so much different from Liam’s. Her heart surged as she watched one of Blane’s men gather Frosty up onto his mount. She laughed a little at the sight of the
enormous
dog draped over the knight’s lap, nearly dwarfing the man.

“There are only a few types of people who travel
before the light of dawn
,” he called to her, the wind making his voice sound as though it were far away. “Those who might have an emergency. Those who run. And those who give chase. The whistle from my man meant it was a group of the latter, which makes us the runners.”

Once again.

How did Arbella ever make it to Scotland and
to
her husband unscathed?
Well, she supposed her sister had been in
the midst of
a battle. Dear God,
Aliah didn’t want to be
in a battle!

They raced at a grueling pace until dawn breached the darkness with purplish pink light on the horizon
and then
the sun
became blinding
. The horses were covered in thick lather, and foam formed at their mouths.

“We will stop now,” Blane said, his voice a low rumble that tickled her cheek resting against his back.

A short whistle had her jerking her head around to see who’d issued it.

“Why is Liam whistling?” she asked.

“He must have found a place for us to rest.” Blane urged his horse along a thin path off the main road, leading over a field of abandoned crops.

The path was
made of
worn down vegetation by horses or feet, and Aliah wondered when the last person had crossed over it. She peeked around his side to see they were headed toward a cottage.

“Is it safe to stay with someone?” she asked, worry lacing her tone.

“Looks abandoned,” he answered.

That would explain the untamed crops and gardens. The thatched
roof was caving in the middle and the entire place looked sad and forlorn. But that didn’t mean it was abandoned. Perhaps the inhabitants were too ill to tend the fields or too old. Or perhaps they’d been called away somewhere and would return soon.

“Sir Blane,” she said quietly. “I don’t know…”

“I will keep you safe from harm.”

But could she keep him safe from herself?

They came to stop in front of the cottage, several of his men
were
already inside.
One of those tending the horses
offered her a hand down but Blane shook his head, taking her down himself. She didn’t even bother to think on what that could mean. The knight smirked, then took Gunnar to join the other horses in a small roofed, wall-less
shed
, with several posts and hooks. Mayhap the previous home of the farmer
’
s own mount or mule.

“Come inside,” Blane said, holding her elbow.

They entered into a small main room
with a dirt-packed floor
, another
room fanned
off to the side and a ladder le
d
up to
a
loft straight ahead. ’Twas quaint and cozy.

The main room was furnished with a table and several stools and even a cauldron sat in the hearth. A taller table held a few bowls and spoons. Cobwebs laced the ceiling and every nook and cranny—including the stools and handle of the cauldron. The cottage was truly abandoned. What had happened to the inhabitants to make them up and leave all their possessions
behind
?

Blane climbed the ladder
,
peeking into the loft. “There’s a mattress up here, my lady.
Seems fairly clean, if not a bit dusty.
You shall sleep comfortably.”

The thought of sleeping on a mattress excited her. Although she’d not been traveling long, the way her muscles ached, she was sure if she spent another
day of rest on the ground,
she wouldn’t be able to move.

Frosty sidled up beside her, rubbing his ribs over her legs. She bent down and patted his head. Having gained her affection
,
he found a corner to curl up in and was promptly snoring loudly. Poor hound. The ride had probably been hard on him.

“What of Frosty? Will you carry him up the ladder for me?” She kept her face serious, even though she jested.

Blane turned around and winged a brow at her. “If you insist.”

“I might.”

Blane shook his head. “I’ve two sisters, my lady
. N
othing you ask will surprise me.”

She had her doubts, especially if she were to ask if he’d like to warm her back instead of the dog. Where had that thought come from? Oh, who was she
jest
ing? After
their
kiss… She was willing to go a little further for curiosity’s sake. To kiss him some more. Although he’d begged her forgiveness, she wasn’t naïve enough to believe he didn’t want her, that he wasn’t as
un
affected by their kiss as he pretended. The hardness of his body pressed against hers was evidence enough, if his growls and licks weren’t. Glenda
, her maid,
lamented the act was disgusting, painful and embarrassing, but if he could make her body come alive by connecting his lips to hers, massaging her hips and gripping her buttocks, she was willing to bet lovemaking was one thing her maid was wrong about.

“I shall endeavor to surprise you then, Sir Blane.”

She turned away to hide her smile as he faltered on the ladder.
A secret part of her liked that she’d flustered him. Blane hopped down the last few rungs and came to stand beside her as his men slowly filed into the cottage. The room quickly became smaller as the men took up a large expanse. They brought in all the satchels.

Blane’s men were odd to her, in that they kept to
themselves. Several pulled food and drinks
from their packs,
then meandered into the second room, leaving the main room not as crowded. They all kept silent, which Aliah found completely unnerving. They nodded as they passed her. The men were never rude, quite the opposite, but nevertheless, they made her feel awkward.

“Why do your men never speak?” she asked, turning to Blane who’d taken one of the satchels and began shuffling through it.

“They speak to me all the time,” he answered. “Do you like stew?”

She nodded. Did he have the ingredients for a stew in his pack? “Why is it, they don’t speak to me?”

“You are a lady.”

“What difference does that make?”

Blane shrugged, seemingly uncommitted or uninterested in her line of questioning. “Are you offended?”

She pursed her lips, put her hands to her hips and tapped. “No.”

“Then is something amiss?”

Aliah narrowed her eyes. How had he turned this completely around? “No.”

He broke out into a wide grin, the little dimple in his cheek creasing. “Then we are in agreement.”

“About what?”

“Stew?” He hooked his thumb to the cauldron.

Exhaustion must be eating away her ability to think straight. Blane tossed a
small packet of barley, a
few onions and
carrots
onto the table. “Let us go and hunt. I’m hungry for a warm and hearty meal.”

Aliah couldn’t agree more. “I am ready.”

Blane grinned, his energy contagious. She felt her sleepiness ebb as excitement coursed a path within her. He called to his men
telling
of their plans
to hunt
, and while he and Aliah walked off into the trees to the left, several others went right, apparently liking the idea of a meaty meal as well.

The
y
walked side by side,
and
every
few feet a hand or arm brush
ed against one another,
sending thrills
racing
alon
g
her limbs.
“Have you ever hunted before?” he asked.

“Aye.”

“Did you catch anything?” Blane’s tone was teasing, and Aliah raised a brow in his direction.

“Perhaps.”

“A wee squirrel?”

“Many a squirrel.”

“Any rabbit?”

“Aye, but only once.”

“Only once?”

“’Tis a long story…” She still recalled the look of horror on Arbella’s face as she’d come home with the bloody hare, excited
about
her accomplishment. Her sister—a devout lover of all
things
cute and furr
y—
had lamented over
Aliah’s treachery for weeks.

“I’m intrigued. Will you tell me about it as we sup? For now, we must be silent in order to catch our dinner.”

She nodded. “Rabbit?”

Blane chuckled. “’Tis a second chance for you.”

Aliah’s heart constricted. She wasn’t sure she could go through with it. Even still, she followed in Blane’s footsteps, crouching low and
nocking
her bow. She held her arms steady as she gazed
at
the newly lit forest from the dawn.

They stayed motionless and silent for some time, and then Blane picked up a small rock. He threw it against a tree some twenty feet away. Within seconds a rabbit bounded out from the brush and Bl
ane let his arrow fly, hitting its
mark. She was glad for him to have done it, because when it came down to
it
, she’d
hesitated
. Moments later a squirrel came into view and this time, she did let loose her arrow.

Blane smiled, his eyes sparkling with humor. Aliah rolled her eyes, almost hearing what sort of
jest
was running through his mind. Another squirrel scored for Aliah.
An hour
later they returned to the cottage with three rabbits and four squirrels—and Aliah could lay claim to having
shot
one of the hares. Blane skinned the animals, and while Aliah cut up the rabbits and vegetables to put in the stew, he roasted the squirrels,
then tossed
two to Frosty.

The other two, he held on a long stick toward her. “Should you like a little snack?”

She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know.”

“Frosty is devouring the squirrels you brought him.”

“Perhaps he’d like the two you brought?”

Blane chuckled. He took a large bite, closing his eyes and emitting a soft moan. “
Mmm
. These are actually quite delectable after days of jerky and oatcakes.”