“I picked a lock at the rear,” Kenneth murmured, glancing around the room. “A handy skill.”
Standing there in the darkness, hearing him speak so nonchalantly of something she could only dream of, spiked her excitement again. This was really happening! She was a part of his adventure!
“Will you teach me?” she blurted out. Barbara felt him still, couldfeelhis gaze on her.
“There are more important things for a lass like ye to learn, I’m certain.”
Sheknewhe wasn’t speaking of watercolors and embroidery. “I havelearned so much from you already,” she quipped in a teasing voice. But remembering the way he didn’t respond to her attempts at seduction earlier, because of course he was working, and this was serious, she tried to drag her attention back to the task at hand. “But Iwouldlike to learn how to defend myself.”
Kenneth reared back. “What?”
She clutched his arms. “When they come—hopefully through the window, as planned—I know you will be here to confront them. But what if there are too many for you?”
His voice sounded oddly raspy as he said, “I have my knives. Ye’ll no’ be in danger, love.”
She smiled at the sweet endearment, wondering what it would be like to have him actually care for her the way she cared for him.Love.
“I know you will keep me safe, Kenneth.” She slid her hands up and down his arms. “But I would still like to know how. Just in case.”
Was it her imagination, or did he shudder slightly?
Kenneth pulled her hands from him, cradling them in front of her. “If ye’re ever in a situation where ye fear for yer safety, Barbara, ye throwanythingye can get yer hands on, aye? Ye scream, ye yell, shoutfire, shout anything to get attention.”
Wide-eyed, she nodded, pleased by the way his thumb was rubbing circles against her wrist, despite the seriousness of the topic. This was the Kenneth she adored.
He took another shuddering breath. “And ye run. Run, scream, and throw things. But if yemuststand and fight, then swing something at yer attacker—an umbrella, a stick. Something to make yer reach longer than his.”
She nodded as his hands slid up her forearms, lifting them.
“If all else fails and ye are left with nae other options but to get close enough to him to hit, curl yer fists like this.” He showed her. “Squeeze tight, and punch from yer shoulder. Here.”
Kenneth shifted so he stood at her side, drawing her around so he could hold her fist and demonstrate the punching method. She tried to pay attention, she really did, but was distracted by the deliciously hard and warm body cradling hers.
His breath tickled her ear as he continued. “Cock yer third finger out so that knuckle becomes a point. Aye, like that. Anywhere ye punch will bruise with that. And remember yer legs—kick a man in the bollocks, love, and he’ll go down hard. His crotch and his throat are his most vulnerable spots. Dinnae punch a man in his face—ye’ll just hurt yer hand—and ye lack the strength to do damage against his torso.”
Oh, my.
Thiswasserious.
“Throat and crotch.” Barbara rocked her hips back so she could brush against his pelvis. “Breath and balls. Yes, that makes sense.”
Except she wasn’t really paying attention any longer. That brief brush had told her Kenneth very much enjoyed having her in his arms. Suddenly the seriousness of the situation didn’t matter quite so much any longer. Barbara was only half paying attention to his instructions, while the other half of her calculated the likelihood of repeating last night’s pleasure.
Would the desk hold her? Hold them?
“I like this,” she blurted, and Kenneth interrupted what he was saying.
“The punching?”
“I like this position.” Barbara turned in his arms and lifted her hands to his stubble-grazed cheeks. “I can kiss you.”
Stretching up on her toes, she demonstrated exactly what she meant, but Kenneth seemed…distant. Stiff, yes, but not agoodkind of stiff. He was aroused, yes, but distracted.
“Kenneth?”
His hands went to her hips. “Barbie, I dinnae think?—”
“Then do not think,” she whispered against his lips.
