Page 13 of Scandalous: Family Ties and Spies

“I wish to return to the abbey. Please step aside,” she snapped.

“Of course,” he said with a smile. If she thought he was about to let her leave without an explanation, then she was wrong. Valeran took a quick step backward, while still occupying the majority of space between her and the path leading to the foot of the cnoc beag. “Be careful on the way down, the snow is slick in spots.”

“I said, stand aside, my lord.” At her haughty command, a streak of devilment whipped through Valeran.

“I believe there’s plenty of room for you to walk around me, Amalie.”

The soft oath she muttered made him chuckle as she rushed forward, intent on hurrying past him. A small gasp escaped Amalie when she slipped on a patch of snow. The moment she careened forward, his hands caught her by the waist as she fell into his arms.

Electricity burned his insides the moment he pulled her close. The charge he’d experienced under the mistletoe yesterday evening had been powerful, but this was a thunderbolt. It slammed into Valeran as he absorbed the heat of her into his body. Amalie was almost as tall as him, and her soft, feminine curves fit his body almost perfectly.

Nestled snug against him, Valeran was grateful he’d not pulled her close last night. He would have been hard as steel in seconds, just as he was now. Her hips met his at just the right spot, his erection positioned at the apex of her thighs, and Christ Jesus, her breasts. The contour of them as they pressed into his chest was enough to tell Valeran they would be full and lush if they were bared to him.

Desire stirred inside him as he imagined his fingers and mouth exploring her voluptuous curves while he sought to memorize every inch of her. Startled by the imagery flooding his mind, Valeran dragged in a breath of surprise. The quick inhalation made the silky soft hair at her temple flutter against the side of his face, and he suppressed a groan as her intoxicating scent filled his nostrils.

Unable to stop himself, he drank in more of her delicate perfume. Sensual notes of jasmine and citrus mixed to remind him of a resplendent desert oasis. Warm and sultry like the Sahara, her soft, floral fragrance teased his nostrils in the frosty air, and Valeran dragged in another breath of her essence.

“Release me,” she exclaimed, her fist slamming into his shoulder with a force no other woman of his acquaintance possessed.

“First, tell me what terrible sin I’ve committed to make you dislike me so much,” he said with quiet sincerity. “I’d like to apologize and make amends.”

Amalie froze, her lush body becoming rigid as she jerked her head up to stare at him. Immediately, he began to memorize the shadowed contours of her face he’d not been able to define with the same precision he could now. If he’d not had years of experience interpreting the silent language people spoke with the slight movements they made, he would have missed the almost imperceptible shake of her head.

“I said, release me, ye arrogant devil.” The fierce command vibrated with outrage as her fist slammed into his shoulder for a second time.

“Answer my question, and I’ll let you go,” Valeran replied firmly, determined to make her understand he was quite sincere in his wish to make amends.

“I’ll see ye in hell first.”

“Now that, I would enjoy seeing. Somehow, I think you would intimidate Lucifer himself.” Unable to help himself, Valeran laughed. She squirmed in his embrace, and he was forced to tighten his hold on her as she almost broke free.

“If ye do nae let me go immediately, I’ll drag ye there myself.”

“Neither one of us needs to visit hell, if you’ll simply tell me why you dislike me.”

Valeran suddenly realized he’d been enjoying their verbal sparring more than he realized. The past fifteen minutes had whetted his appetite for more. It had been a long time since he’d met a woman who wasn’t falling over herself trying to capture his attention. When was the last time he’d been the hunter, not the prey? He arched an eyebrow, waiting for her to fling more of her verbal arrows.

“Fine. I think you’re a boorish, philandering ass. I find ye rude, overbearing, vain, cruel, thoughtless, unprincipled and, in a word, despicable,” she exclaimed scornfully.

“Anything else?” he murmured tightly. Annoyed he’d allowed her caustic words to sting, Valeran gritted his teeth.

“Ye need more?” she sneered.

“I happily confess to being a flawed man, Amalie, although I would contest several of the traits you just mentioned. However, I am more interested in the specifics of my transgression where you’re concerned.”

“Transgression?” Despite her haughty tone, he heard the panic vibrating through the word.

“Please, Amalie. Tell me what I’ve done to injure you,” Valeran said softly as his fingers brushed across her brow, then lightly caressed her cheek of their own accord. “I am heartily sincere in my wish to make amends as I have no wish to be enemies with any member of Jamie’s family.”

“Let me go,” she snapped. “I want nothing tae do with—”

A hard tremor suddenly rocked her body, and without a sound, she went limp in his arms. For a moment, he thought it was a strategy to lull him into letting him ease his hold on her, so she could escape. When she didn’t stir, he shook her gently, but received no response.

“Amalie.” Valeran’s hand sought the curve of her cheek, then patted it lightly. When she didn’t move, his concern deepened. “Amalie, what’s wrong?”

The silence that greeted his query made him frown. Valeran lowered his head to listen to her breathing. It held a ragged note, and the moment her head lolled to one side, a bolt of fear crashed through him. The instant he jumped, Amalie’s lush body slid further down his chest.

“Bloody hell,” Valeran exclaimed softly, before he quickly pulled her slack form up high on his chest then swung her up into his arms.