He crossed his arms over his chest, stifling the chuckle that threatened to erupt from his chest. “First, tell me how ye got in this predicament, lass, and I will consider it.”
“I have been up here for the better part of an hour!” she argued. “I cannae feel mah feet!”
Erik chuckled, unable to help it. She growled. “Dinnae laugh! ’Tis not funny!”
“From where I am standing, lass, it is,” he replied evenly.
She wasn’t wearing any tartan as far as he could tell, but his best guess was that she was a McPherson. “Tell me how ye got there.”
She groaned. “I was hunting, alright? I stepped intae a snare and, well, here I am, trapped here.”
“Och, lass, ye need tae watch where ye are stepping then,” he told her, enjoying her ire. It was by far the most fun he’s had in quite a while.
She narrowed her eyes, her jerky movements causing the rope to swing. “I told ye wot ye wanted. Now let me down!”
“Alright, hang ontae yer breeks,” Erik said, grabbing the first branch. Luckily the branch she was snagged on was not far up the tree, and he was able to reach the rope, swiping it with the dagger.
“Brace yerself, lass,” he called out before the rope unraveled, and she fell with an “Oof!” He would have liked to cushion her fall some way but there was nothing he could have done, watching her crumple on the ground.
Erik shimmied down the tree quickly as she was pushing herself off the ground, untying the rope from her ankles. “Are ye hurt?” he asked gruffly.
“Nay,” she grumbled, brushing her hands on her breeks. With her being upright now, she was taller than he had imagined, her hair not quite as long as he thought.
“Thanks for nothing.”
He arched a brow, not at all surprised by her words. She looked just as stubborn. “Nothing? I did cut ye out of the tree, lass.”
“Ye could have done it quicker,” she snapped, swiping the rope from the ground and gripping it tightly between her hands. “So, forgive me if I dinnae thank ye.”
“Ye arenae being vera nice, lass,” Erik countered, sheathing his dagger.
She snorted, rubbing her ankle lightly. Erik grunted as he watched the lines of her body bend and move, feeling a stirring low in his gut. He had gone far too long without a woman.
“Ye can borrow mah horse if ye need tae,” he continued, thinking it would be a nice ride with her seated against his manhood.
The moment was fleeting, and his grin died. No, he didn’t want to have her anywhere near him.
“I dinnae need yer horse,” she grumbled, straightening. “I have mah own.”
He cleared his throat, stepping back to give her room. “Then dinnae let me stop ye.”
She met his eyes. “Good day,” she growled, moving around him.
Erik let her go, watching as she moved through the woods and disappeared from sight. “Well,” he murmured as he walked to the horse. He wasn’t expecting to run into a wood nymph today, but it was a delectable one at that.
“Damn,” he told himself, grabbing the horse’s reins and swinging back into the saddle. He wasn’t a man to enjoy the company of a woman outside of a good tumble. He had no need to spend time in one’s company.
Erik had learned his lesson long ago about letting a lass into his life, into his soul. It hadn’t turned out well for him in the long run.
“Come on,” he said, turning the horse back the way that would get him out of the wood and back on the path to the keep. He needed to get the visit out of the way and head back home, to his keep, to his clan. He didn’t have time for the likes of a wood nymph, or anyone else for that matter.
