“Iwouldnae call sending ye home without collecting a ransom, thus allowing theEnglish to cut my brother’s throat, coming to my senses.”
Knowingthat she would not fight him, at least for a while out of fear of damaging hiswound, Ruari grabbed Sorcha by the arm and pulled her close. Once she felt hewas healed enough to endure a little rough treatment, he knew he would not getahold of her so easily. He intended to use his advantage to its fullest whilehe still held it. The annoyance darkening her deep brown eyes made him smile,for lurking behind it was the passion he had so briefly tasted earlier.
“Isee that ‘tis dangerous to stand too near you,” Sorcha murmured, gently tryingto wriggle free.
“Itcould be e’en more dangerous if ye get on this bed.” He curled his arm aroundher tiny waist and tried to pull her slim body on top of him, but she tensedjust enough to prevent his doing so without pain.
“Aye,verra dangerous indeed, especially for a mon with as many stitches in him asthe tapestry on yonder wall.”
Ruarilaughed softly, grabbed her thick braid, and pulled her face close to his. Hebrushed his mouth over hers, and his body echoed the faint tremors ripplingthrough her. Sorcha Hay was a passionate woman, the heat in her veins equal tohis; Ruari was certain of it. He ached to enjoy that fire in its full glory.For now he would have to satisfy his hunger with a few stolen kisses.
Sorchadid not fight him as he took her mouth in a fierce kiss. She savored the heatit ignited within her. It was a dangerous path she was allowing him to pull heralong, but she knew he did not have to pull too hard. When the kiss ended, sheremained still in his arms, fighting to catch her breath as he traced the linesof her face with tiny soft kisses.
“Iam a wee bit surprised ye wish to kiss a madwoman,” she whispered. “Are ye notafraid of catching my madness?”
“Nay,I dinnae fear succumbing to your delusions. I do wonder, howbeit, if ‘tis yourtouch of madness that gives your kisses that hot sweetness.” He touched hismouth to hers, lightly sucking on her lower lip. “Ah, lass, I wish I wasnaeinjured. I am eager to spend the night all asweat with you.”
Sorchaabruptly shook loose of the haze his kisses had plunged her into. She scrambledfree of his hold and stood by the bed, torn between hitting him for hisinsulting words and accepting his crude invitation. He was looking at her as ifhe knew her thoughts, and she cursed. Fighting the temptation to pour the jugof cider over his head, she strode out of the room, swearing to herself thatshe would fight his seduction. She viciously silenced the voice in her headthat laughed mockingly.
Chapter Six
“Thisisnae good,” muttered Neil as she moved to stand next to Sorcha in the innerbailey. “Nay, this isnae good at all.”
Sorchagrimaced, rubbing her hands up and down her arms as the evening chill began toadd a bite to the breeze swirling through the inner bailey. She had beenwatching Margaret and Beatham play with four active puppies in front of thestables for twenty minutes. The pair were so engrossed in the puppies and eachother that they had not noticed her scrutiny. They were, in truth, oblivious toeverything and everyone around them.
Shehad warned Margaret several times, the last one only two days ago, momentsafter leaving Ruari’s arms and realizing the depths of her own weakness.Margaret was not heeding the warnings any better than her own heart heeded theones she gave it. Sorcha could heartily sympathize with her cousin. BeathamKerr was a handsome, sweet-natured young man. It was also clear that, unlikehis older cousin, Beatham’s passion for Margaret was not simply a carnal one.It was difficult to know what to do or even if there was anything shecoulddo.
“Ihave warned the girl many times,” Sorcha said, sparing a quick glance up at herscowling aunt.
“Sohave I. E’en muddle-headed Bethia took the lass aside for a wee talk.” Neilshook her head. “Margaret smiles, assures us all that she kens what we mean,thanks us kindly for our concern, and blissfully carries on just as ye see hernow. Either she is more witless than I kenned she was or she is being politewhen she does that. She is simply too kindhearted and sweet to tell us to mindour own houses.”
“Ithink ‘tis a wee bit of both. Beatham is no help either. He is as sweet and aswitless as she is. I begin to think that they both believe that, despite allthat has happened and all that will happen, they will get what they want—eachother.”
“Mayhapye can speak to Sir Ruari. He may be able to knock some sense into the lad.”
“Iam sure Sir Ruari has already done so.”
“Idinnae ken how ye can be so certain when ye havenae been near the mon in twodays.”
“Ihave been verra busy. There has been no time to coddle the fool.” She scowledup at Neil when her aunt made a sharp mocking noise. “And what was that for?”
“Yeare a poor liar, child.” Neil crossed her arms beneath her ample bosom and metSorcha’s look squarely. “Ye have been hiding from that mon for most of the timehe has been here.”
“Thatisnae true.”
“Hah.If ye were animals, he would be the wolf and ye the poor trembling hare. Yehave ne’er had to be so cautious about your feelings, dearling, so ye cannaeexpect to suddenly become skilled at concealing them.”
Fora minute Sorcha considered continuing to strenuously deny what Neil—and toomany others—thought. With a sigh of resignation she decided it was useless.Neil was right. She was not used to concealing what she felt and wasundoubtedly doing a very poor job of it. It might also help to have someone shecould talk honestly with.
“Andwhat do ye suggest I do? Pin my heart to my sleeve and wave it about as abanner heralding my stupidity?”
Neillaughed, then quickly sobered when Sorcha glared at her. “Nay, lass. And justbecause your heart goes in a direction ye dinnae wish it to, doesnae mean yeare witless. When I was a young lass, I suffered from a fever of the heart.”
“Truly?”Sorcha immediately regretted her blatant surprise, afraid it would hurt Neil’sfeelings.
“Aye,truly. I ken I seem a hard woman, but as I said, I was young.”
“Yeare but three-and-twenty now. ‘Tisnae old.”
