The clip-clop of their horses’ hooves on the rocky path echoed through the night. They rode in single file now, keeping close to the scree-covered slope to the south, and away from the edge.
“About earlier,” Alar said finally. His voice had lowered now, so that only Lara could hear him. “I meant what I said … I wasn’t trying to manipulate you.”
She stiffened. “Can wenottalk about this?”
“Aye, we must.” An edge crept into his tone. “If you continue to misunderstand me.”
Heat washed over her. “What’s to misunderstand?”
“That I’m trying to crawl back into your good favor. I’m not.” Her heart started to punch against her ribs, but he wasn’t yet finished. “We agreed to be allies, remember? That means you need to stop snarling at me.”
Her cheeks started to burn, and she was glad he couldn’t see her face.
Was her estranged husband—the man who’d dealt her a savage blow—telling her off?
Angry words surged up her throat, but she choked them down. No. She wouldn’t engage.
Even so, her temper simmered, looking for an outlet.
But there was another problem. Their proximity. With each stride, she slid farther off Bracken’s withers and straight back against Alar’s crotch. Her cheeks started to burn. The fever hadn’t returned though. Instead, embarrassment pulsed like anember in her breast. It was ridiculous, really. They’d lain together. He’d parted her thighs and feasted on her sex. He’d sunk his teeth into her shoulder as he spilled deep inside her. She’d nearly passed out as ecstasy pulsed through her womb.
Lara squeezed her eyes shut.Gods. She couldn’t go there. Why was she thinking about those lewd things when she was so angry with him? She had to stop. But curse her, the memories kept intruding. Her breathing grew shallow, warmth kindling in her lower belly.
She was aroused now, painfully aware of him. Her fury melted away like spring snow; she couldn’t hold onto it.
The musky scent of his skin, the smoky smell of leather, and that hint of wild mint that was uniquely him made her pulse quicken. His nearness overwhelmed her senses.
She tried to slow her breathing, tried to think of something else, yet when Bracken stumbled again on the rough road, he caught her once more to stop her from toppling over the mare’s neck. She slid back against him, their bodies flush.
Alar made a strangled noise and grabbed her hips, pushing her away from him. But it was too late. She’d felt it.
Something thick and hard was pressing against her backside.
Lara bit down on her lower lip. Even as desire jolted through her.Fuck.
The journey down to the ledge Cailean had mentioned was the longest ride of Alar’s life.
Every jolting stride brought Lara’s delicious arse up against his groin. The chafing was unbearable. His prick had turned to wood, straining against the tight leather of his breeches. Much more of this, and he’d humiliate himself.
The feel of her soft body against his, the tickle of her hair against his face, was driving him mad. Like him, she hadn’t bathed in a few days, yet he could still smell a hint of lavender on her.
Lara perched rigidly in front of him, no doubt horrified by his erection.
He hadn’t wanted her to know. She already thought he was an animal—and now she’d think him a degenerate beast.
And he was.
His body cried out for her. He longed to halt their horse, let the others go ahead, while he pulled Lara to the ground, spread her out under him, and sank into her heat. He’d make her his again.
You wouldn’t get that far. She’d knee you in the balls.
The reminder punctured his heated thoughts like an iron spike through a bladder.
All the same, he’d had to make things clear earlier. He wasn’t Lara’s adversary. He never had been, not really. Her hostility had gotten under his skin. What was he supposed to do? Prostrate himself before her. Tell her he was a maggot that deserved to be ground into the dirt?
No. He’d made mistakes—ones there was no coming back from—but he had his pride. They were equals on this journey.
And yet, she now knew he wanted her. Badly. It was humiliating. Her nearness was a cruel punishment, a reminder of everything he’d cast aside. Everything he’d lost.
