“Don’t be sad,Tommy.” He brushed at the dirt on her face. “Tell me yer real name.”
“I am called Tommy.”
His look of disbelief showed in the moonlight. “So now we tell each other more lies?”
“’Tis the truth! I am called Tommy.” She rubbed at her nose. “My mother? She called me Thomasina.”
“Ah, ye do look more like a Thomasina.” He brushed her hair away from her face, his calloused fingers sweeping across her cheek. A shiver worked its way through her insides, settling down low.
Mesmerized, she watched him lick his finger and swipe at her cheek. Her mother would do just that and she’d be mad as the devil. His touch felt different… more intimate. He cupped her face with a gentle hand. “That’s better. Do ye ken where we can find yer brother?”
She shook her head, overwhelmed with the impossibility of her situation. “Not for certain.”
Taking his hand from her face, she looked into his eyes. “I will not be yer burden. I will return up the hill and wait for my brother like he told me to.”
“When was that?”
She looked away. “Four or five days ago.” A lie. “He’ll be back any time. I will be fine.”
“Who is it ye’re marrying?”
A surge of repulsion that felt like she was about to throw up forced her to her feet. “Nae one. I am not marrying anyone.”
He fell off his knees to land on his backside. His eyes wide with surprise. She offered her hand to help him up. Tipping his head to the side, he eyed her hand before searching her face. He touched his fingers to hers. Lightning flashed up her arm, making it difficult to catch her breath.
Sean entwined their fingers then tugged her down next to his lap. She felt tiny beside him, her knees bent beneath her. His face so close she could see the little lines around his eyes. He placed his arm across her chest, grabbing her far shoulder. Those arms strong enough to crush an enemy. He smiled. Then with a quick heave, she was flat across his lap. Her bottom raised in the air.
“Hey!” she said.
“Now how about an honest talk?” His tone laced with irritation. “And ye can try telling me the truth if ye even have a spot of truth anywhere in ye.”
Chapter 6
Sean had expected her to struggle which was why he had her arm tucked between his body and hers, and her other arm held tight to her side. What he had not expected was to be so affected by her. Alarm bells were sending waves of regret—and overwhelming desire—coursing through him. Not one of his finest moments. If she ever settled down, she’d certainly find his arousal as upsetting as her anticipated punishment. He had no plans to actually slap her bottom, he just wanted honest answers. He found a threat worked best.
“So before I land my hand on yer arse since ye’re so deserving—oof.” Her elbow poked into his stomach, knocking the air out of him. He pulled her closer in to him and raised his knees to keep her lodged there. “—how about ye try telling me the truth for once andthenI can be on my way.”
“Ye whoreson! Who do ye think ye are? Let me go!” She continued her struggles.
Her tempting bottom wiggling from side to side was hard to ignore. He needed to disarm her and quickly. “What? Nae clearing of yer throat to sound like a lad?”
“Let me go.” She pulled her knees in and managed to plow into his groin. The pain excruciating. He reacted with a hard slap to her bottom. She stilled. He held his breath until the sharp pain lessened then yanked her legs out straight.
He adjusted her away from him to ease the pressure on his groin. She didn’t need to know specifically what she had managed to do. “Try that again and I’ll make ye sorry.”
“I’ll makeyesorry!” she hollered back at him.
He didn’t hide the smile. She remained motionless across his lap. Her delightful bottom at his disposal but he refrained from touching her.
“I’m not an idiot. I ken when ye’re lying to me and here I’ve done nothing but try to assist ye.”
“Assist me? Was that when ye insulted me? Told me I was girly?”
“Ye are a girl!”
“And is that what ye wanted me to tell ye?” She rolled back so she could look him in the face. “Is that why ye teased me mercilessly?”
“Nae! I wanted ye to remember to act like a boy, damn it! Ye kept slipping up! How could I take ye to the village with everyone seeing ye for what ye are? They’d have been all over ye like ticks on a dog.”
