Page 306 of Wicked Highland Heroes

The man nodded his thanks. “Aye, we will.” He motioned to his companions and they dismounted.

Iain faced the lass, breaking the formation of his men around her. He tucked her beneath his arm and started toward their pallet. Her wary gaze tracked the Frasers as they led their horses to the MacPherson tether line.

“Who are they?” she asked.

“Frasers.”

“They are friends?” She looked up at him.

“We made a recent treaty with them.” He halted in front of the tartan. “No shenanigans tonight, love. Resist, and they would assume no one had claimed you.”

She blew out a short breath. “Claiming does not denote ownership, Iain McPherson.”

He gave her a gentle nudge. “Aye, love, here it does.”

“Father Brennan said I have the right to choose.”

“Not all men honor such edicts.”

She sloughed off his hand and lowered herself onto the pallet. Iain lay down beside her, slid an arm around her waist, and curved her body into his. She tried to scoot away, but he held firm.

“Make the most of this while you can,” she said.

“There will be no other such opportunities.”

“Never fear, sweet,” he whispered against her ear. “I will not need them.”

* * *

Startled, Victoria’s sleep-clouded mind slipped into consciousness when her arm bumped something hard. She reached out in drowsy curiosity, her hand closing over the defined muscles of a man’s chest. Her eyes shot open and she startled at the sight of Iain MacPherson, propped up on an elbow beside her. He rolled onto her and his dark hair fell forward on either side of her face.

“Wrap your arms around my neck,” he whispered.

She stared. “You are mad.”

“Do as I say.” Iain threw a leg over her thighs and tugged the tartan over their heads.

Victoria stiffened. “What in Hades are you doing?”

He began nuzzling her neck. “Pretending to make love to you.”

Victoria jammed her hands between them and shoved.

“Lay still,” he said in a strangled voice. “I only want our guests to think it. I am not actually doing it.”

“But you are,” she bit back.

Iain chuckled. “Nay, love. But never fear, we shall remedy that.”

Victoria shoved harder. He groaned and she opened her mouth to scream.

He clamped a hand over her mouth. “I did not mean now. Christ.”

She pushed against his shoulders and his leg clamped even tighter around her.

“Enough,” he said. “Two of them have been watching you all night.”

“Watching—” Victoria froze at the feel of his hard length pressing against her abdomen. She turned her head aside.