“I want to—”
Suddenly he stilled. An icy shiver of awareness ran across the back of his neck. He’d heard something.
Helen’s hand dropped, sensing the change that had come over him. “What’s wrong?”
He was already shoving himself back in his clothes, which, as he’d been only moments from release, wasn’t easy. No doubt his bollocks were a bright shade of blue right now, but he pushed past the pain. The battle instinct had taken over. “Someone’s out there.”
Nineteen
He almost had her in the cave. A few more moments, a few more steps, and Donald would have had her in his hold.
But he couldn’t afford to make a mistake, not when he was this close to ridding Scotland of the false king. He was just waiting for the right opportunity.
Taking Helen would have been perfect. Not only would he be able to discover what she knew about Bruce’s army, it would also get MacKay away from the king.
But no matter how tempting, he couldn’t act precipitously. He couldn’t risk MacKay discovering him—or the killing team—before they were ready to attack. Like Bruce’s warriors, surprise was an important part of their strategy.
So he let her slip through his fingers. But God, he’d wanted her. Even though she’d rejected him. Perhaps more so. He liked a challenge. It made victory all the more rewarding. And he never doubted that he would defeat them both: the woman who’d rejected him and the man who’d made a fool of him on the battlefield.
Donald moved away from the cave when MacKay drew too close and watched from a distance. Watched every minute. At first he was pleased by what he saw. They seemed to be arguing. The foolish chit kept throwing herself at MacKay and for whatever reason, he kept rejecting her. But when MacKay kissed her, everything changed.
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Anger ate like acid through his chest. His blood started to burn as his body filled with rage. How could she? How could she whore herself like this?
She was giving herself to him. MacKay had his mouth on her perfect breast, his hand between her legs. He was touching her. The woman Donald had honored to make his wife was panting like a bitch in heat. The body he’d dreamed of was undulating and arching for another man’s touch. He could almost feel her pleasure wrapping around him, taunting him, humiliating him, squeezing the love from his heart.
And when he heard her cries a few moments later he wanted to kill them both. A dirk to the back of MacKay’s neck, and then into Helen’s treacherous heart.
MacKay was lifting her skirts. He would never be more vulnerable than when he was fucking her.
Fucking my woman. Damn her, she’d had her chance.
He slid the dirk from his waist, but in his eagerness the blade accidentally tinged the metal of his belt.
He swore. He saw MacKay stiffen and knew that he’d heard the small sound. Donald knew he’d made a mistake. He had to warn the others.
The haze of pleasure evaporated in a wave of panic. The heat on Helen’s skin turned to a sheet of ice. She looked around the shadowy darkness that had seemed so romantic only moments ago, but now seemed menacing and impenetrable.
If it weren’t for Magnus’s presence she would be terrified. But his presence calmed her. He wouldn’t let anything happen to them. He drew his sword, using his body to shield her, as he scanned the area.
“Where?” she whispered.
“The copse of trees on the other side of the road. But I think they’ve gone.” He steered her back into the entry of the cave and thrust a dirk in her hand. “Stay here.”
Her eyes widened to what she was sure were enormous proportions. “You’re leaving me?”
His hand cupped her cheek, and he gave her a tender smile. “Only for a moment. I need to make sure they’re gone.”
He was good to his word, never letting her out of his sight and returning only a few frantic heartbeats later, his expression grim.
“Did you find something?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Nay, but I’m certain someone was there.”
Helen shivered. “I thought I heard someone earlier.”
“What?” he roared, turning on her in not very happy-looking surprise. “When?”
She bit her lip. “When I was in the cave, I thought I heard someone by the entry. I thought it was you, trying to scare me.”
