“Ye must have been raised by a gaggle of women.” Perhaps reminding her of the roll she needed to play would help her. “But ye mentioned a brother. And a father?”
Her eyes turned dark. “Yea. I have one.”
She grabbed at the arm he extended and managed to resume her seat in one, swift movement.
“I’m impressed.”
She made a noise that reminded him of a growl. He urged his horse on. The sun was high in the sky when he decided to rest. Sean found an open field beside a brook that offered the perfect spot. He jumped down beside the water leaving the horse, and Tommy, to fend for themselves.
When he returned a short while later, Tommy didn’t hear his return. She spoke to her horse. He paused a short distance away.
“We’ll be home before ye ken it, Daisy, and then I willna let ye out of my sight.”
Perhaps she wasn’t lying about her horse being stolen—no, taken without permission.
“...surely Father will see he needs to be more particular with who he hands me off to. Look at how he treated ye! Lose ye at the first game of chance, did he? Is that what happened? Would he do any more with me?”
“And how is yer horseat conversing?” Sean continued toward the horse.
Tommy took a step away, her cheeks reddening but she said nothing. Damn. She needed to hide her emotions.
“Did I hear ye call her Daisy? What an awful name for such a fine animal.” He took the horse’s reins, standing a few feet from Tommy. “Did yer sister name her?”
A frown flashed across her face. “Ah, yea. My older sister. I… I let her name my horse. She likes flowers. Girls. Ye ken.”
“Hmm, yea, I ken.” His mouth tightened. “And yer brother?”
“Nae, he does not like flowers.”
Sean raised an eyebrow. Was she being funny now? “I asked what yer brother was like? Does he browbeat ye?”
“Browbeat me?”
“Bully ye? Boss ye about? Get his kicks at yer expense? Browbeat ye.”
“Nae! Why would ye ask that?”
“Ye’re very… girly. I wondered if mayhap he pushed ye around a lot. Making ye feel timid or afeared all the time.”
She seemed to freeze. Not a muscle twitched. Her eyes never leaving his. The intensity of that gaze worked its way into him, rippling through his arms, down to his chest, and lastly, down to his groin. He had an overwhelming urge to take her into his arms. To feel her tight up against him. His breathing slowed. Deep. Slow. Breaths. A more powerful reaction he could not remember. He gritted his teeth.
“My apologies for not being man enough for ye. I am young yet and have time to learn to be the bully I suppose I am expected to become. Saying mean things to people. Standing close enough to intimidate so they will cower beneath me. Perhaps I’ll even grow a bit to help me do just that. For now, I try to stay clear of brutish men unless I have a need for them. Then I am forced to put up with their behavior and pray that our time together will end sooner rather than later. Are we ready to continue? I hoped to be rid of ye by nightfall.”
When she finally turned away, Sean blew out a slow breath. Her passion, albeitanger, was all powerful. He yearned to unleash it and see where it would go. He would accept her fists pounding against his chest if she wanted anger. And he would accept her grinding against him as she rode him hard to her pleasure if she wanted passion. This was not an ideal situation either way. He couldn’t get to town fast enough.
She grasped the saddle and pulled herself onto the back of her mount in one smooth motion. If not for that fetching backside, he would have taken her for a lad without any problem. How would she react if he ran his hand up her thighs to grasp her bottom? Would it be anger or lust? He watched her a moment longer but she remained stiff backed, facing front, and refused to meet his gaze. Anger for certain. Outrage more than likely. He shrugged then mounted in front of her.
The horse skittered. Sean could feel the tension as well. Tommy’s breathing accelerated, her cheeks had been flushed, but no sign of tears. No. She was angry with him for his insults. He had his reasons. Reasons she was unaware as of yet. He hoped to keep it that way.
Thomasina kept her head averted and waited until the last possible moment to wrap her arms around the arrogant bastard’s middle. She’d swear he enjoyed the faster speeds just so she had to hold on tight. No doubt it made him feel all powerful.
The intimate contact grated on her nerves. Heat emanated from him. And he was so broad that when she wrapped her arms around him, her face was drawn up against him. If it had been her brother, who wasn’t nearly so broad, she would have rested her head against his back so she could be more comfortable. At present, her neck pained from the strain of holding herself up away. She was already too close. Close enough to smell his musky, manly scent.
His insults were getting hard to take. Admittedly, men teased each other. This man seemed different. This man meant to do harm. This man wanted to break her. Of course he didn’t realize she wasn’t a boy. Her life would be so much easier if she were a boy. Her father wouldn’t have used her as payment for a debt. She’d be married and bedded by some lecherous old man by now if she hadn’t snuck off. She was a person, not property. Her brother would be able to talk sense into their father and get her out of this mess. He always did.
The village came into view. A few huts scattered on either side of the road that led to the sea. A large boat made its way from the shore.
“Damn.” Sean muttered under his breath and jumped down. He yanked the lead on the horse without allowing her a chance to get down.
