“Do you?”For the space of a heartbeat hestudied her, seeing the flare of her nostrils, the set of her jaw.“And that is why you came looking for me in the darkness?”
“I was not looking for you.I was returningto my bed when you intruded.”
His voice sent new tremors through her.“Norwas I looking for you.But now that you are here, do you know whatI want?”
Before she could respond he lowered hisface.
Sensing his intentions, Lindsey’s hand wentto the dirk at her waist.As her fingers closed over the hilt, hegrasped her roughly by the hand, forcing her to drop the knife intothe grass at their feet.
“Beware, my lady.There are men who have diedfor less.”
Lindsey’s breath caught in her throat.Forone brief moment her heart forgot to beat.Then it began racing sofast she thought surely the whole camp could hear it.She wassuddenly filled with fear at the terrible feelings that swampedher.Feelings she had to deny.
She struggled to use the same tone of voicethat she often used with her brothers, when she wanted to exertauthority.“Release me at once, Jamie MacDonald.”
Against her lips he murmured, “Woman, youwould be wiser to command the waterfall to stop.”His mouth closedover hers in a savage kiss.
Heat poured through her, searing her flesh,turning her blood to liquid fire.She steeled herself against thefeelings that assaulted her.Though stunned, she managed to pullback, but her strength was no match for his.
He lifted his head.With one hand he cuppedthe back of her head, while his other slid to her back, holding herfirmly against him.
She could feel every one of his fingers alongher spine.He lowered his head and she watched him as if in atrance.As their mouths touched again, she gave a little moan andclosed her eyes.
His lips were surprisingly soft.Soft andagile.She absorbed the first shock and struggled to show noreaction.
Jamie felt the initial tremors of fear thatrippled through her and sought to soothe her.It was obvious thatshe was distraught by their kiss, and struggling to deny anypleasure in it.Impatiently he rubbed his mouth over hers until hefelt her gradual response.Her fingers curled into the front of histunic.Tension coiled through her, leaving her movements stiff andawkward.
Lindsey breathed in the distinctly masculinescents of horses and leather, and the clean fragrance of rain thatwould always remind her of him.And then, as his mouth moved overhers, she was lost in the dark, mysterious taste of him.Againsther will her body strained toward him, no longer stiff and awkward,but eager, anxious.
She heard him moan softly as he took the kissdeeper.His mouth plundered hers.His hands at her hips drew hercloser, tormenting them both.And then his hands moved along hersides until they encountered the soft swell of her breasts.
Shocked at his boldness, she tried to pullback, but her strength was no match for his.She stood very still,fighting the tremors that rocked her.“Nay.You must not....”
Lindsey felt herself tumbling into some wild,dark place she had never gone before.A place that frightened her,yet exhilarated her.She felt the sting of his breath as his lipsroamed her face, then returned to claim her lips once more.Herheart was racing, spinning dangerously out of control.
Jamie was stunned by the feelings unleashedby this little female.Since their first kiss, he had been hauntedby the taste of her.So wild.So sweet.He’d wanted to feel thethrill of desire once more, to experience the wild, soaring need.But this.This had him stunned and reeling.He knew he must end it.He must step away or be consumed by the fire.But first, he wouldsavor one more touch, one more taste.
He inhaled the fragrance of evergreen andwildflowers that clung to her.He tasted the honeyed sweetness ofher.And then, with one last burst of control, he released her.
Lindsey stood very still, fighting thetremors that rocked her.Taking a deep breath she filled herlungs.
Jamie bent and retrieved his cloak, which hadfallen from her shoulders and had dropped, unnoticed, to theground.As he did, his fingers encountered the cold steel of herknife, and he remembered the way she had struggled against him.
She had not invited his kiss.Nay.In truth,she had fought it.She seemed genuinely afraid of his touch.Hefelt a flood of remorse that he had forced himself on her.
He draped the cloak around her shoulders andhanded her the dirk.In a voice gruff with emotion he whispered,“Now you see that you must go back to the others.You are not safehere.”
For a moment she made no response, terrifiedthat her voice would betray her.When at last she dared, shewhispered, “See that this does not happen again, my lord.Or I willbe forced to defend myself.”
As if to emphasize her words she wrenched thecloak from her shoulders and tossed it into his arms.As she didso, their fingers brushed.They were both aware of the jolt.Instantly she withdrew her hand and turned, praying that her legswould not fail her.
She could feel Jamie’s gaze upon her as shemade her way to the fire.As she walked she kept her spine rigid,her head held high.When at last she lay down and covered herselfwith the plaid, she gave in to the violent tremors that shookher.
Jamie turned away and began to stalk aroundthe camp once more.He glanced at the clouds scudding across a fullmoon.Sleep, he knew, would elude him this night.
Why did thoughts of Lindsey torment him so?She was not at all the sort of woman he would choose for himself.She was neither soft-spoken, nor humble, nor shy.If truth be told,she was...prickly.Aye.She was a prickly little female.And thesooner he was rid of her, the better.
When at last he had satisfied himself thatthere was no immediate danger, he lay down beside the fire.Hisdark thoughts were of lips that tasted wild and sweet, and a litheyoung body that tormented him with promises of endless delight.
