Victoria Roberts - [Bad Boys of the Highlands 03] (10 page)

“How about we saddle our mounts and take our leave for a wee hunt?”

“That would be delightful. I would wish to change first.” As she turned on her heel, her husband spoke.

“Ella.”

She turned around and raised her brow.

“The name suits ye.”

Smiling at Alexander’s compliment, Sybella sought her chamber and changed her gown. Her father would be proud. In a matter of days, she was able to see a subtle difference in her husband’s behavior toward her.

He was starting to trust her.

When she returned to the stables, the horses were already saddled. The animals whipped the reins with their muscular heads and pawed at the ground. Sybella approached the new gift her husband had bestowed upon her and shook her finger at the prize horseflesh.

“I am only going to say this once. We can do this the hard way or the easy way. Ye obey me and we will get along fine. If ye donna, trouble will find ye and there will be nay special treats.”

A warm voice came up behind her. “Do ye think that really works?” asked Alexander, his mouth twitching with amusement.

She shrugged. “It doesnae matter. It makes me feel better.”

“Are ye ready?”

She raised her brow. “Are ye?”

“Are ye going to spar with me if I offer to assist ye onto your mount?” he asked.

“If it makes ye feel better, I will let ye assist me.” Alexander paused and then lifted her onto her horse. “Thank ye…Alex.”

His smile was boyishly affectionate and he patted her thigh. He turned and mounted his horse, giving her a brief nod when he was ready. They left the bailey and followed the same path she had traveled on her way to Glengarry.

Sybella turned in the saddle and looked over her shoulder. “The first time I saw your home, I thought the view was quite impressive.”

“I am pleased Glengarry suits ye, lass. Ye can be comforted that
’
tis now your home as well.” His smile broadened in approval.

Alex turned his mount from the main path and entered the woods. The rays of the sun were immediately blocked by the tall pines and foliage. Sybella loved the smell of fresh pine. Unfortunately, her nose did not.

When she let out a loud sneeze, her mount took off in a startled rush through the forest. The frightened beast scraped her leg on a tree trunk as she pulled back on the reins and spoke in soothing tones, trying to calm her skittish horse.

Her husband rode up beside her. “Are ye all right?”

Refusing to rub her bruised leg, she forced her head high. “I am fine. I see the look in your eyes. It was only a sneeze. I can control him.”

He guided his mount back onto the trail. “I didnae say anything.”

“Ye didnae have to,” she said under her breath.

They traveled deeper into the wooded land and Alex stopped his mount. “We will try to hunt here. I have had much luck in the past.” He dismounted and raised a brow when he turned around to assist her.

Sybella’s feet were already planted on the ground. “We are away from prying eyes, my laird. There is nay need for such propriety.”

He shook his head and tethered their mounts to a tree. They grabbed their bows from the side of the saddles and walked a few yards into the forest. Careful not to disturb the area, they continued stealthily into the brush.

Nothing moved.

Alex gestured with his bow that he would widen the distance they hunted and moved quietly to Sybella’s far right. As she had practiced so many times with Colin, the hope was that he would encircle any small animals and flush them out toward her. She waited patiently for something to cross her path. To be truthful, she wanted to prove to her husband that she could hunt as well as any man.

Sybella glanced around and could no longer see Alex through the trees. Taking advantage of a moment to herself, she bent down and partially lifted her day dress. She spotted a trace of blood from the scrape on her leg. Damn. Leaning her bow against a tree, she licked her thumb and was bending down to wipe the blood when something whizzed over her head.

She bolted upright and came face to face with an arrow that penetrated the tree. Praise the saints. Her husband’s jesting was completely out of control. It was one thing to pretend to take aim at the man’s arse but entirely another to take aim at her head. If the arrow had struck her, she would’ve been seriously injured or…dead.

Pulling out the arrow with a purpose, Sybella went in search of her husband. “Alex!
Alexander!
” she bellowed. Fury almost choked her, and curses fell from her mouth.

As her husband approached her, she threw words at him like stones. He stared at her, puzzled, while she continued her rant.

She slapped the arrow into his chest. “How dare ye! Nay matter how skilled I am, I would
ne’er
take aim at someone else’s head. What the hell is wrong with ye?”

The man simply stood there, blinking with confusion. “Ella, what are ye talking about?”

Sybella pointed to the arrow he held in his hands. “I donna appreciate ye taking aim at my head nay matter how amusing ye think
’
tis. If I would have moved, ye could have killed me.”

Alex stood to his full height and his eyes narrowed. He turned his head slowly from side to side and then lowered his voice. “Ella,
’
tisnae my arrow.”

Sybella’s eyes widened. “What do ye mean, ’tisnae your arrow?”

A chill ran up Alex’s spine as he turned and escorted Sybella firmly by the elbow. “The hunt is over. Walk quickly back to your mount. Now.” With senses heightened, his eyes darted around the trees, brush, anything that held even the slightest of movements.

“Ye are making me nervous. If that isnae your arrow, do ye think someone deliberately took aim for my head?”

He increased his gait. “I donna know and I will see ye safe before I find out.”

The lass almost had to run to keep up with him. “Why would someone want to…I know your clan wasnae exactly thrilled to have me as your wife, but I thought my dowry would more than make up for their uncertainties.”

The woman needed to learn when to keep her opinions to herself. How typical of a MacKenzie to blame a MacDonell. And who said the arrow was shot by one of his kin? When he did not respond, Sybella’s face clouded with uneasiness.

“I didnae mean to accuse your—
”

“Then donna,” Alex simply stated.

When they reached their mounts, he lifted Sybella onto her horse and handed her the reins. “I think the man is nay longer here, but I cannae be certain. Ye ride behind me, close, and as fast as ye can. I will nae chance another shot. Do ye understand?”

She nodded wordlessly and he left her no room for debate.

They rode through the forest cautiously, and when they reached the main path, Alex gave his mount his head. They traveled hard and fast on the trail back to Glengarry, with Alex looking back several times to make certain his wife was safe. Not much surprised him about her. The lass had managed to hold her seat throughout their hastened journey home. And she followed his commands like a seasoned warrior, without question.

As they thundered into the bailey, Alex called to John, who stood upon the parapet. Alex quickly dismounted and walked over to Sybella. He lowered her to the ground and then gestured to one of his guards.

“Escort my wife to her chamber.” He turned and placed his hands on Sybella’s shoulders. “Go to your chamber and donna come out until I come for you.
Feumaidh
mi
falbh
,” he said sternly.
I
must
go.

“
Glè mhath,
” she said, eyeing him with concern.
Very
well.
“Be safe, my laird.”

Alex watched the lass take her leave and then he whirled on John. “Someone took a shot at my wife.”

“What?”

Alex walked over to his mount and pulled the arrow out of his bag. Handing the arrow to John, he said, “Luckily, the lass had bent over, but it barely missed her head.”

John took the arrow and studied the feathers. “I donna recognize it.”

“Before the trail becomes cold, seek our best tracker and I will take ye to where we hunted.”

John’s eyes widened in surprise. “Ye took your new wife
hunting
? That was your brilliant idea to woo her?”

Alex shrugged. “The lass seemed to enjoy it before someone took aim at her head.”

As if Alex’s words brought John back to purpose, the captain of the guard took his leave. Alex mounted his horse and impatiently waited for his men to return, his mind racing.

Who the hell would want to take a shot at his wife? Granted, she was a MacKenzie, but she was merely a lass. The whole circumstance did not make sense. If his clan had wanted to do harm, they would’ve attempted something while the MacKenzie was underfoot. He shook off the idea. It was not his clan. The MacDonell men were loyal to a fault.

When John returned with Ian, Alex exchanged a carefully guarded look with John. Although Alex was reluctant to admit it, Ian was their best tracker. However, Alex could not ignore how careless the man had been with his duties of late. Between not keeping a watchful eye on the MacKenzie’s son and letting an aging woman slip through his grasp, Ian was currently not held in a favorable light. This was the man’s last chance at redemption.

The men mounted their horses, clomping hoofbeats storming through the gate. Alex led John and Ian to the same area where he and Sybella had tethered their mounts. The men dismounted and Alex nodded over his shoulder.

“We only walked but a few yards into the trees.”

John and Ian followed him into the brush, and then Ian stopped. “Did ye walk away from Lady MacDonell here and walk that way?” asked Ian, pointing to Alex’s right.

“Aye, that is my trail and the lass walked this way,” said Alex, gesturing to the left.

Ian continued to survey the path along which Sybella had walked. “Lady MacDonell stopped here.” He searched the small area and rubbed his fingers over the bark of the tree, discovering where Sybella had pulled the arrow out. “From the placement of the arrow, the shot was taken from over there. In order to nae compromise the signs, it would be best if ye remained here, my laird. I will encircle this section and try to pick up on the man’s trail.”

Alex nodded and watched Ian study the ground for clues to guide them.

“Who do ye think would want to take a shot at your new wife’s head?” asked John, leaning his sword against the tree.

“I donna know. Our known enemy is the MacKenzie, but God’s teeth, I wed the man’s daughter. If it was the MacKenzie, surely the daft fool would take aim for my head and nae that of his own daughter. I donna like it.”

“Alex, I donna know what ye are thinking, but our clan would ne’er plot something against a lass—even if she was a MacKenzie.”

Alex ran his hand through his hair. “And I know as much. That is what troubles me. If nae the MacKenzies or the MacDonells, then who?”

“My laird,” said Ian, returning with a disgusted look upon his face. “There is nay trail.”

Alex raised his brow in surprise. “What do ye mean?”

“There are nay signs of another man.”

***

Sybella sat confined in her bedchamber for hours. She paced, sat, slept, and paced some more. How much longer would she be made to suffer? She couldn’t for the life of her discern who would intentionally try to injure her—or worse. Granted, she wasn’t sure of the number of enemies her father had managed to gather over the years, but it couldn’t be that many. A sudden thought popped into her mind and she stilled.

Praise the saints.

She was under the roof of her father’s enemy. Could a MacDonell have enough hatred for her that he would want to kill her? That made no sense. Alex’s clan had already benefited from her dowry. Her death would serve no purpose—unless, of course, her husband found her out and wanted her removed as his wife, permanently. Sybella heard herself swallow.

What was she going to do? She was trapped here. She closed her eyes and silently prayed that Colin would hear her thoughts. Perhaps even come for her. She couldn’t imagine sleeping another night in this bed. She’d have to sleep with one eye open.

When there was a knock at her door, she stiffened.

“Ella,
’
tis me,” said Alex.

Sybella slowly opened the door and let him in. He had a strange look on his face that she couldn’t quite figure out. If he’d discovered her purpose, he did not say. When she closed the door, he turned and hesitated. In her nervousness, she blurted out the first words that came to mind.

“What did ye find out?”

He ran his hand through his hair. “Naught.”

“What do ye mean?”

“I donna understand it. Ian is my best tracker. He found my trail when I broke off from ye, and he found your trail where ye stopped by the tree, but there is nay evidence of another man. It was as if he wasnae there.”

She folded her arms over her chest. “I didnae shoot the arrow at myself, Alex.”

He reached out to touch her, and she gently pulled away from him. “I am nae saying ye did. I am saying there are nay signs of another. Do ye know of anyone who would want to see ye harmed, lass?”

“Besides ye?” Sybella couldn’t help herself. The words were out of her mouth before she had a chance to stay them.

Alex’s eyes narrowed. “
Me?
”

“If ye donna want me as your wife, I—
”

He quickly closed the distance between them, and her last words were smothered by his lips. He forced her mouth open with his trusting tongue, and she succumbed to the domination of her husband’s kiss. Blood pounded in her brain, leapt from her heart, and made her knees tremble. If not for his hands supporting her, she would have fallen.

The caress of his lips on her mouth set her aflame. He was so warm. Hot. She couldn’t miss the musky smell of him as he pressed her closer.

She tried to deny the pulsing knot that had formed in her stomach and her wildly beating heart, which was the only sound audible.

His shoulders heaved as he breathed, and his closeness was so male, so bracing. Her mind told her to resist, but her body refused to listen.

He swept her, weightless, into his arms and carried her silently to the bed. Her head fit perfectly in the hollow between his shoulder and neck.

He eased her down onto the bed and reclaimed her lips, pressing himself on top of her. She was made to endure the cruel ravishment of his mouth. His kiss became punishing, as if he scolded her for the words she had attempted to speak.

When he pulled back, Sybella tried to swallow the lump that lingered in her throat. His eyes searched her face, reaching into her thoughts.

“I would ne’er cause ye harm, Sybella.” He brushed back the hair from her face. “I am proud to have ye as my wife.”

Before she could respond, Alex reclaimed her mouth with savage intensity. She’d never dreamt that she could crave one man’s touch with so much eagerness. The wicked sensations left her burning with fire. For someone who had wanted to kill her, he certainly went out of his way to give her pleasure.

He pulled down her dress over her shoulders. She could barely sustain the gasp that escaped her as his thumb began stroking small circles over the sensitive tip of her breast. She closed her eyes, allowing the pleasure to crash down upon her. If she was going to die, praise the saints, this was the way she wanted to meet her maker—in the arms of her enemy.

His lips trailed a path down her neck, and her body turned to liquid fire, heavy warmth pooling between her legs.

“Ye are so beautiful.” Alex’s voice was tight with strain.

When his hand slid under the edge of her skirts, Sybella’s breath caught as his fingers trailed their way up along her thigh, then higher still.

She froze and could no longer return her husband’s kiss. She couldn’t think about anything other than his hand and where it was going to touch her.

“’Tis all right, Ella,” he whispered against her ear.

Nothing could have prepared her for the sweet rapture of his finger brushing against her tingling flesh. Over and over, he swept against her. She knew she should be shocked. This had to be a sin to feel so wonderful.

“God, ye are so wet for me.”

She writhed in sweet agony. Instinctively, she lifted her hips against his hand, wanting more. As if he sensed her impending need, he finally slid his finger inside her. God’s teeth! What was happening to her?

Her breathing was coming hard and fast, and she squeezed her thighs against her husband’s hand.

“Alexander…”

“Just come for me, sweet Ella.”

“Alex…”

She tensed as the force of her release hit her and Alex continued to rub her most sensitive spot. Her body ached for his touch. She could no longer control the outcry of delight as she shattered into a million pieces.

She called out his name again and he let out a guttural moan. He hastily released his kilt and moved his hard body atop hers as she caressed the length of his back. His lips brushed her nipples, and when he suckled her breast, she thought she’d died in bittersweet rapture.

Sybella snuggled against him as their legs intertwined. Sweat beaded upon his brow. Everything was so hot. So wet. And with one quick thrust, they were as one.

He slowly moved inside her and she waited for the pain to come. To her surprise, a spurt of hungry desire spiraled through her instead. She could feel the heat of his body course down the entire length of hers.

His hardness caused her whole being to flood with passion, and she was again roused to the peak of desire. She’d never dreamt she could feel so warm and secure in her husband’s embrace.

“I beg ye nae to count sheep,” he said through gritted teeth.

She spoke in between breaths. “I have nay intention…of counting…sheep.”

As if he sensed the awakened response within her, he moved faster and she completely surrendered to his masterful seduction. She wanted to yield to the burning sweetness that seemed captive within her.

Passion rose within her like the hottest of fires, clouding her brain. They both came together, exploding in a downpour of fiery sensations.

And she gasped in sweet agony—again.

***

As Alex lay next to Sybella, both of them spent, he briefly contemplated at what point he had lost all self-control. When Ian had assured him there was no trail, many thoughts had raced through Alex’s mind. Frankly, bedding his wife was not one of them.

The lass had stood defensively before him, blatantly accusing him of wanting to harm her. She had made him angry, and Alex wanted to do nothing more than teach her a lesson. He had meant every word when he spoke his marriage vows, so he was bound by duty to protect her. How could the daft female think he would deliberately cause her harm? For the first time, he had wanted to be with her—and not because it was his duty. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he was starting to care for her, and he hoped his actions showed her that.

Sybella nestled her bottom against his groin, and he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Are ye all right?” he asked softly.

“I donna know. Mayhap ye should pinch me to make certain I am nae dead.”

He chuckled in response.

She turned over, facing him. Lifting her hand, she brushed the hair from his cheek. “Ye told me before that ye want honesty between us.” Sybella looked him directly in the eye and paused. “Did ye really want me as your wife?”