It was the truth. Simon held no power over her any longer. Soon he would be one more bad memory.
If only Lachlan were as easy to forget. She could still feel the heat of his kiss on her swollen lips. Still feel his hands on her breasts, the frantic quivering between her legs, and the burn of his beard on his skin.
How did he manage to devastate her so quickly and completely? To make her feel weak and vulnerable?
“I’m sorry, Bella. So damned sorry for what you had to go through.”
“Then take me to my daughter.” She knew she was playing on his guilt, but didn’t care.
He was quiet. Too quiet. His expression gave no hint of his thoughts.
She drew herself up, trying to push aside the memory of that devastating kiss and remember what was truly important. Putting aside her pride, she did what her captors had wanted her to do: she begged. “Please, Lachlan. Please, take me to Joan. I need to see my daughter.”
His stony expression didn’t move. Not one little flicker. Not one hint that her pleas might have some effect on him. Thatshemight have some effect on him. He’d kissed her as though he couldn’t live without her, but it made no difference.
He shook his head. “I’m sorry. It’s too dangerous.”
Sorry?Tears started to fall from her eyes. How could he stand there like that—after everything they’d been through—and deny her the one thing that mattered to her? The one thing she wanted more than anything else in the world.
At that moment she hated him. Hated him for his strength and her weakness. Hated him for kissing her and making her think…
What had she thought? That those foolish thoughts she’d harbored two years ago were true? That she actually meant something to him? That there was a reason other than a mission that he’d come for her?
She blinked up at him through the hot haze of tears. Stared at the handsome battle-scarred face, wanting something from him with all her soul, with every fiber of her being, but not knowing what—except that he could never give it. It seemed she always wanted something from a man who could not give it.
Suddenly, it became too much. The kiss. His refusal. The escape from the nightmare of her prison. All the emotions that she’d held in check, that pride had forbidden her from shedding, came pouring out in one torrential rush of tears.
Bella MacDuff had finally broken.
Lachlan swore. But the crude oath only made her cry harder.
She slid to her knees, holding her arms around her waist as if in pain, her shoulders wracking with shuddering sobs, tears pouring down her cheeks, and Lachlan had never felt so at a loss in his life.
He didn’t know what the hell to do. He dragged his fingers through his hair, feeling as if the rats from John of Lorn’s pit prison were crawling all over him again. The leathercotunhe wore suddenly felt too tight. He couldn’t breathe.
Jesus, he couldn’t take this. He couldn’t see her suffer like this. Each tear fell like acid on the steel of his resolve.
Not knowing what else to do, he bent down and awkwardly wrapped his arms around her. To his surprise she didn’t push him away, but grabbed onto him like a lifeline. Her tiny fingers dug into his chest like kitten claws.
After a moment of panic when he realized he didn’t know what the hell to do—he’d never tried to offer anyone comfort before—he found himself stroking her back, smoothing her hair, whispering soothing words, and eventually pleading—anything to make her stop. “Don’t cry, Bella. Please, don’t cry.”
He hated seeing her so miserable, but damn, it felt good to hold her in his arms again. It had been too long. He remembered every time he’d touched her, every time he’d held her. The memories seemed burned into his brain. But memories couldn’t replicate the silkiness of her hair or the delicate fragrance of her skin.
He savored the sensation of her tiny body pressed against him, her cheek pressed against his chest, her tiny fingers clutching him as if he were her only hope. For a moment, he could almost convince himself that she needed him. He knew he was taking far too much pleasure from it, but hell, he’d never been known for his sensitivity.
Eventually, the sobs ebbed, and she blinked up at him through the watery haze of tears. “If you won’t help me, I’ll go myself.”
Christ’s bones!So much for being needed. Even shattered, she still managed to be stubborn. He couldn’t take this anymore. “Damn it, Bella, you’re not going anywhere by yourself.”
Her eyes searched his, and the hope shimmering in the sparkling blue depths tore at the last vestiges of his resolve. “Does that mean you’ll take me?”
Could he offer her a compromise? He supposed there was a first time for everything. But he hoped to hell he didn’t end up regretting this. He could manage one short—very short—detour.
“It’s too dangerous to take you”—her face fell—“but…” She looked up at him again. “But I will see if I can get a message to her.”
The look of abject joy on her face was almost harder to take than her tears. “Oh, Lachlan, thank you—”
He stopped her. “Don’t thank me yet. I’m not making you any promises. And you must swear to doexactlyas I say. I don’t want you anywhere near danger. Where is she?”
