“What are you doing?” she queried and swallowed hard, her eyes darting past him to see if someone was coming. “You should not touch a lady that way. Enough!”
His hand stopped on her thigh, and he shoved her legs together again, ignoring her words as he checked between her hips, then moved his hand down to her ankles. Lily eyed him as he pulled out the second dagger she had hidden there. Then, he got to her waist, fumbled around a bit, and put his hands under the léine she was wearing to take out the sharp stick she had hidden there after she had killed his men.
“How many weapons do ye carry around?”
“As many as I can fit on me,” she retorted. “I find the sword too heavy for my hands, and it makes me slow. I rather like to kill swiftly.”
“I see,” he murmured as he met her eyes again, but he did not pull away from her.
When she writhed beneath him again, she heard a harsh growl tear from his lips.
“Be still,” he snapped. “I knew I shouldnae have let ye out of me sight. Ye’re stubborn, and I dinnae ken what to do with ye.”
“Send me away,” she answered almost immediately. “You know I will keep trying to escape.”
“And I will catch ye every time.”
“Why have you not killed me already? Why take me captive? Except, of course, you do not have the courage to stick a knife inmy gut? You are weak!” she accused as she felt the heat of her flush reach her cheeks.
His harsh laugh shocked her as she fumed beneath him. “I am merciful. I should have killed ye instead of takin’ ye and tryin’ to keep ye safe so I can bargain yer life for yer brother’s filthy one. No other person will show ye such mercy.”
He still sat on top of her, and his hard legs pressed against her soft thighs. Lily hated the heat spiking through her. It made her uncomfortable, especially because, in this position, she was at his mercy.
Her gaze dropped to his lips when she saw him lick the lower one and harden his jaw. His words were faint now as the heavy thudding of her pulse overpowered every other sound. She could inhale his scent and feel the strength of his legs as they pinned her to the ground.
Horrified at the heat pooling through her, especially between her legs, she kicked into action again and tried to break free from him. Her brief struggle was useless. It only left her panting beneath him.
Lily was certain color rose to her cheeks when he focused on staring at her now. His eyes were unrelenting, scorching.
“Fightin’ me is useless. Yer brother might have taught ye to defend yerself, but ye cannae fight against a skilled warrior.”
Lily’s frown deepened. “What brother? It is the second time you speak of my brother. I am an orphan, and I have no brothers or sisters.”
“I dinnae have time for yer lies, lass, so keep yer mouth shut so we can continue our journey. We have much ground to cover.”
When he dragged her to her feet after he stood up, the force of his pull brought her into his arms. Lily gasped as her chest pressed against his and his right hand wrapped around her waist.
She was too stunned to move. His aura made her feel differently. She ought to be furious and aiming for his throat, but her eyes were locked on his, and she was shivering instead.
“I speak the truth. I have no brother,” Lily insisted, surprised by how shaky her voice sounded. “I am an orphan. I was saved by her ladyship’s father, in England, when I was a child, and I grew up with them. We came to Scotland together.”
“Quit lying, Lady Yvaine,” he snapped, his eyes narrowing and a deep frown marring his features. “I ken ye are Laird McLennan’s sister. I ken the woman with ye was his wife.”
His nostrils flared when Lily tipped her head back and barked out a harsh laugh. “Lady Yvaine? I’m afraid you have kidnapped the wrong lass, my laird,” she told him. “I am no lady… I am simply a maid. And now that you have started a war with Clan McLennan for no reason, you will end up dead.”
“Keep yer mouth shut for once,” he growled, then pulled her with him as he continued towards his horse.
Lily did not think he had heard her right, so she hollered again, “Look at my hands. Do they look like that of a lady who wears the best of silk and spends her days playing the pianoforte or reading some book? I speak the truth.”
“Ye will say anythin’ to make me show ye mercy.”
It was Lily’s turn to growl. “Mercy?” she thundered. “I killed your men and kept their bodies where my people can find them during their search. They will know who you are and what you have done. I took down one of your men back at the castle. My people will question him and find out who you are once he wakes up. You are doomed… Your plan is doomed to fail too. You are the one who deserves my mercy.”
The stubborn jut of his chin proved he did not listen to a word she said.
“I dinnae care,” he returned as he spared her a glance and a wicked grin. “That is what I want, anyway. Ye are still comin’ with me.”
They got to his horse, and this time, he not only tied her wrists, but he tied her body to the horse, too, so she lay astride it while he climbed the saddle.
