Page 38 of Kidnapped By a Highland Shadow

What happened was so much worse than that.

Pippia gasped in shock, head jerking backward. Arran was left still loosely clasping her face, staring into wide, surprised eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, to formulate an excuse, an explanation, but there was no time.

Pippia dived forward, clumsily slotting her lips to Arran’s again. One of her hands splayed itself over Arran’s chest, brazenly feeling at the solid muscle underneath, and her other hand found itself into his hair, fingers pushing through the cropped curls.

Arran wrapped his arms around her, one arm sliding around her waist and pulling their bodies flush together. Pippia made a bitten-off little moan that sang through Arran’s body, tingling as it went. Arran’s hand spanned her waist, inching up her side toward the curve of her bodice, and she made no move to slap away his hand, no sign of discomfort.

They broke the kiss at the same time, gasping for air. Even in the firelight, Arran could tell that Pippia’s lips were reddened, and the pupils of her eyes blown wide. He leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to the underside of her jaw. Pippia let out a sigh, tilting her side sideways to allow him better access. Arran’s stubble grazed against the sensitive skin there, and he felt her shiver in his arms.

Sierra had always liked it when Arran kissed her there.

That was the thought that unraveled everything, like a tiny rock on a road that twisted a horse’s ankle and broke its leg, sending horse, rider, and luggage crashing to the ground.

Thoughts of Sierra naturally brought thoughts of Stewart, of why he was here, and who Arran held in his arms.

Arran pulled away as if he had been burned, scrambling to his feet and tipping Pippia off his lap. He’d forgotten that their wrists were still tied together.

“Arran?” Pippia spoke, her voice so small and confused that Arran wanted nothing more than to gather her in his arms and soothe her.

“I shouldn’t have done that.” Arran’s voice was hoarse.

“Why? What did we do wrong?”

He shook his head harder than necessary. “No. No. That was wrong. You shouldn’t have let that happen. I shouldn’t have…”

“Arran, I…” Pippia got to her feet, and Arran took an involuntary step away from her.

“Stay away from me!” he shouted, his voice echoing in the silent forest.

Pippia stood stock-still, staring wide-eyed at him. Arran drew in a breath.

“That won’t happen again.”

“I’m not angry.”

“Well, you should be. You’re just my task, nothing more. I have to bring you to the Stewart estate, then my work is done. Now isn’t the time for this kind of thing, and if you’re the intelligent woman I think you are, you’ll understand that.”

“You don’t have to take me to Laird Stewart.”

Anger flooded through Arran. Irrational anger, borne out of frustration and guilt. “We both know that I do!” he snapped. “I’ll not tell you again. Now come here. I’m going to tie you to the tree again.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I can’t trust you not to stab me with my own dirk as I sleep.”

Pippia laughed incredulously. “You’re unbelievable.”

“You know what I am, lass. You have learned by now.”

As Arran untied Pippia and retied her to the tree, he avoided looking her in the eye. There was an odd expression there, full of hurt and misery and murdered hope. Arran was not used to seeing anything except blank indifference, hatred, or occasionally fear on the face of his enemies.

Was Pippia really his enemy?

You know she is, Arran reminded himself miserably. He tested the ropes before stepping away.

“There,” he said brusquely. “I’m going for a walk.”

“In the forest, in the middle of the night?” Pippia asked, her voice dull.

“I need to stretch my legs, if you must know. I’ll be within calling distance. I won’t be far.” Arran turned on his heel and walked away from the warmth and light of the fire and into the dark, cold forest. He knew that Pippia was looking after him, but he did not look back. He stared straight ahead into the darkness that his eyes had not yet adjusted to. He would stay just beyond the clearing and wait until she fell asleep.

He would get no sleep tonight.