She was an heiress, the Lady Arabella Cameron, and she would marry to bring an end to their clans’ feud.
If he carried out his plan, he would remain an outlaw, a man without a clan, without a name.
Resolved now to bring this to a close and to return her unharmed to her father, Brodie made his way back to their encampment, checking along the way for signs that they’d been discovered. His men were in place where they should be. Riding up along the mountainside, he found the entrance and gave the signal. Several guards acknowledged him as he made his way and saw to the horse’s care before heading for his chamber.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he hoped that he had worked out enough of the tension in his body to get some sleep this night. As long as he did not think about her, did not long to touch and taste her... Damn, it promised to be another very long night. The sight of Dougal standing near the entrance to his cave said only one thing—the lady waited within. His flesh surged to life and images of her flooded his mind.
Pushing them away, for all of it was impossible, he nodded to the erstwhile bard and entered.
‘Lady?’
She turned as he spoke and stared at him. Half in the shadows, he could see her shape outlined by the light given off by the brazier. Her lovely features appeared ghostly as she watched him move towards her. There was an air of skittishness about her that told him she was nervous.
‘Sir,’ she said softly. He smiled then at her attempt at formality but kept his distance. His control where she was concerned was not the strongest this night.
‘Arabella, what brings you here at this hour?’ he asked.
‘I heard you are sending me home. Is that true?’
Bloody hell! How had she learned that? Rob with his loose tongue sharing it with one or another and word got passed around the camp. And now she knew.
‘Aye. In a few days, you will be on your way home to your father.’
‘And Alan? I heard you are keeping him prisoner?’ She pressed on, never afraid to ask one more question.
‘He knows where we are, Arabella. Surely you can understand the need to keep him here.’
‘If he swore he would not reveal it? He can say he never found me, found us.’Us?His heart tore a little at the sound of it.
‘And a bit of whisky or some of the punishments your father likes to mete out and he will not only tell, he will bring them here. I need time to move everyone to a safe place.’
He watched as she thought about his words. Her eyes darkened as a hint of something passed across them and she looked away. Guilt? Pain? Regret? Then taking a breath and letting it out, she faced him. Stark desire shone from her gaze now as she took a step towards him.
‘Arabella...’ He shook his head and stepped back a pace, but she continued forward.
‘If you are sending me away and I will not see you again, then I have a question for you,’ she whispered.
‘Always questions!’ he said, laughing. She’d reached him and stood so close that if she lifted her face up, he would feel her breath against his.
‘I know you said you would not take what was not yours, Brodie...’
‘Arabella,’ he pleaded. ‘Do not do this.’ He knew what her next words would be and he would not be able to refuse her if she said them aloud. ‘Go back to Bradana’s. Now.’
But somehow his hands were on her shoulders, holding her to him. And she did lift her face to his. His honourable promise not to harm her melted away as she said the words. His eyes drifted closed as she spoke.
‘If I give it to you freely, will you have...me?’
He’d been so arrogant, believing he could control the desire that burned through him for her. Her innocence should have forced him to walk away and yet, instead, it pulled him to her. He stared into her eyes as he leaned down and touched his mouth to hers, the barest of touches, to see if he could resist.
And he could not.
She opened to him and he dipped his tongue into her mouth, tasting her relentlessly until she touched him back with hers. He withdrew and allowed her to explore, to find her way, to taste him.
Until the sound of someone outside pierced the sensual haze around them and he released her. He walked to the entrance of the chamber and looked at her.
‘This is your last chance to leave. If you do not go now, well, I will not be able to let you go later.’
She shivered, her body trembled and he recognised the arousal that was pulsing through her at his words.
