She understood. She had been a fool not to comprehend his intentions immediately. She saw the hot lust in his eyes too clearly now. “Get out.”
He laughed, his hand sliding to her shoulder and suddenly gripping her hard. “No, not yet.”
She struggled to free herself. “Get out!”
“I will not hurt you—at least, ’twill only hurt a bit at first. I’ve had other virgins, Katie, I am a man who knows what he does.” He pushed her onto her back, shoved his knee between hers, and mounted her.
Katherine screamed, bucking wildly, trying to strike him.
He cut off her shrill cry with his mouth, caught both of her wrists in one hand, then quickly dragged her skirts up to her waist and spread her thighs with his. Katherine fought harder, aware that he was fully aroused, terrified now. He fumbled with his hose, freeing his manhood, which flicked her belly. Katherine panted and grunted and tried to heave him off. He tore his mouth from hers. “Dammit, Katie, we are friends! Relax!” he snapped. “You will enjoy this!”
“We are not friends,” she gasped, panting heavily. Then she leaned forward and bit his forearm with all of her might.
He grunted and smacked her hard across the face. Pain crashed over Katherine and she lay still, stunned, stars exploding in the night, vaguely aware of his fingers groping the dry virgin flesh between her thighs. She knew that she must move, but her limbs felt weighted and lifeless. Her mind began to function, panic flooded her. She wasabout to be raped. She twisted…and suddenly Hugh’s body was lifted from her.
It was a blur. Hugh flying across the room and slamming headfirst into the wall. Katherine’s vision cleared and she saw Liam yank Hugh to his feet and send his fist into his face with a mighty crack. Hugh grunted, crumbling, but Liam hoisted him up again, and this time sent his fist into the man’s abdomen. The breath whooshed out of Hugh. A moment later he lay in a battered heap upon the floor.
Liam’s dagger appeared in his hand. He rolled Hugh, who was groaning and only partly conscious, with his bare foot onto his back. He turned to Katherine. “Command it and I will kill him. Or castrate him if you prefer.”
Katherine jerked her skirts down, staring. Her heart still beat wildly and uncontrollably. She was shaking. She felt close to vomiting. “N-no.”
He straightened, the dagger disappeared. He looked at her.
Katherine sagged against the wall. Then she turned and leaned across the bed and retched.
Liam retrieved the chamber pot from the corner of the room and held it beneath her. Katherine’s heaves were dry. He put the pot aside and laid a hand upon her back. She shook wildly. “Katherine,” he said harshly.
She leaned back, covering her face with her hands, telling herself she would not cry. But it was too much. She had known Hugh since birth. How could he try to rape her?
“Katherine.” Liam’s tone was sharp. He sat beside her on the narrow bed, not touching her. “Are you hurt?”
She sucked in her sobs and her breath. She managed to shake her head once, negatively.
He took her hands and pulled them from her face, holding them. “Did he hurt you?” he asked again.
Blinking back the flood of tears, Katherine moved her head again. “N-no.”
She saw Liam’s jaw flex in the candlelight. He hesitated, their gazes locked. Then he lifted his hand and very gently he touched her face. His thumb stroked her jaw.Katherine stared into his solemn gray gaze and could not move.
Then his eyes chilled. He turned her head to one side. “He hit you.”
Katherine nodded, holding herself in check very firmly. Because she was an instant away from rushing headlong into this man’s embrace.
His temple pulsing visibly, Liam studied the side of her face where Hugh had hit her. She was aware now of how her cheek throbbed and ached. She winced when he touched her jaw. Liam released her, standing.
“I think I will kill him after all,” he said.
“No!” Katherine grabbed his wrist. It was then that Katherine saw how bloody his hand was. She dropped his palm. Their gazes met again. “I…please. Enough. Enough has been done this night!”
Liam regarded her for a long, assessing moment. Finally he nodded. “You are a very brave woman, Katherine. Brave and unusual. Most women would be in hysterics by now.” His gaze searched hers.
“I am…in hysterics.” She could not look away from him.
He smiled slightly, and it was as if the sun had just cast aside black, threatening clouds. “You are hardly hysterical.” Then he sobered. “I do not blame Hugh for wanting you so badly,” he said, staring at her. “I only blame him for his lack of finesse.” Liam walked to the door, which was ajar. “I will have Lord Barry removed to his own bed. As there is no bolt on the door to your room, I shall move my pallet to the floor in the hall here. However, Barry is not going to wake again this night to torment you.”
“I know,” Katherine said unevenly. “Liam. Thank you.”
He froze, her use of his given name seeming to resound between them. How intimate it seemed. He finally moved, bellowing to wake the dead. Shortly after, Hugh was carried from the chamber by two of his men, and Katherine lay unsleeping, knowing that Liam also lay outside her door, as sleepless as she.
