Chapter Ten
Lizzie’s pink tonguedarted out and wet her lips and he had to hold back the groan that had naught to do with his sore knuckles and everything to do with how he wanted to wrap her in his arms and capture her mouth in his.
The feeling he’d had when she called out as he scanned the woods earlier was one he did not want to experience ever again. The cretin that was aiming to strike Lizzie might live, but he didn’t deserve to.
Not after what he’d done.
He couldn’t stop stroking her cheek. The way she leaned into his fingers and closed her eyes had his cock stirring to life.
Dropping his hand he tamped his lust and pulled his other hand from her grasp.
“’Tis fine, Lass. ’Tis just a bruise. I’ve suffered much worse.”
Her brows furrowed at that, but she gave him a quick nod, and went back and settled beside Mary.
“What do we do now?”
His intuition had been right that something was amiss.
Both of the men were tied securely, and even when they woke up, they wouldn’t be able to free themselves. Once John returned with help, he would send the men back to alert the authorities.
It was just a matter of how long that would be. Mayhap he would get lucky and come across a well-stocked village that hadan extra wheel to spare along with a few men. That would be the best scenario.
“Now we wait. We canna go anywhere with the carriage in its current state.”
“Do ye think there will be others?” she asked quietly.
She didn’t have to explain who she meant. She was worried that other men with ill intentions would try to attack them.
“Nay. Men like them dinna usually share the areas they control. I am certain we are safe.”
“What if they awaken? They will attack again, aye?”
He shook his head. “They are’na getting out of the ties that bind them to those trees. They will still be there when authorities come to collect them later.”
She nodded and clasped her hands in her lap.
Not kenning what else to say, he remained silent as he watched her. Mary wrapped her arms around Lizzie’s shoulders and the lass collapsed into them, a soft sob falling from her lips, piercing his heart.
He was telling the truth about them being safe.
But seeing how frightened she’d been tugged at him. Made him want to kiss all her worries away. Promise her that he would always protect her.
All the while, that little voice niggled in his head. Reminding him she was a thief. He was just doing a job.
Minutes ticked by, then hours, until finally they heard the sounds of hooves pounding on the road outside the carriage.
Lizzie sat up, her back rigid, eyes round in fear.
“Shhhh.” He held his finger to his lips.
A familiar whistle sounded, and he smiled. “’Tis John. Let us hope he brings help.” He patted her on the leg. “Stay put for now.”
Outside, on the road, John approached, followed by four burly men.
“My lord. As instructed, I’ve brought reinforcements.” The men dismounted, and a grunt from the trees had them shifting their sights to the woods.
“My lord? What has happened?”
