Page 25 of Confessions of a Highland Assassin

“That will keep him out for a while,” Boyd said before replacing his sword and looking at her. “Are ye hurt, miss?” he asked her kindly with concern in his voice.

Ava noticed that he looked slightly inebriated, but not completely drunk. “Nae,” she breathed as she stared at him. His hair was sopping wet as if he’d just taken a bath, making his appearance even more alluring. Her heart pounded in her chest as she took in the full might of the man standing before her. He was far taller than she ever imagined. She had noticed how tall he was when he’d been laying in her cabin. But seeing him tower over her in the middle of the trees was something else entirely. His height was formidable, to say the least.

“Have we met ‘afore?” he asked as his eyes kept falling back to the torn dress barely covering her open chest and thigh.

“I dinnae think so,” she said and hurriedly covered her chest with her dark cloak that he helped her retrieve. She followed his gaze. In the heat of the moment, she’d completely forgotten about her torn clothes, only remembering as his eyes devoured her flesh. He was clearly aroused by what he saw.

“Ye are safe now lass, I will dae ye nae harm,” he said reassuringly. “I am the laird, I promise ye, ye are safe with me.”

“I ken very well who ye are, milaird,” she said quickly, noticing that the letters had fallen from her cloak and now lay strewn about the ground. Ava scurried as quickly as she could to pick them up and shove them back into her pocket, hoping and praying that he hadn’t spotted them or that he was too drunk to notice the envelopes or the writing.

“Thank ye for saving me,” she said quietly, attempting to cover her exposed skin. The fabric had split even further during her scurry to try and retrieve the papers, adding to her embarrassment as his eyes searched her flesh.

“Here,” he said, taking off his coat and handing it to her. “Ye cannae walk around with yer dress like that.”

With no hesitation, she took the coat thankfully. She felt more at ease with how considerate he was acting toward her. “Thank ye,” embarrassment colored her cheeks, and she tied the garment around her body where her cloak was failing to hide her skin.

“Are ye sure we have nae met ‘afore?” he tilted his head to the side as he looked at her.

A voice calling in the distance stopped him abruptly and he looked around. Boyd quickly stepped forward and shielded her from view as he guided her behind the tree.

Ava felt herself being guided by his hands but was far too spellbound to resist. The way his hand cupped her waist made her breath catch in her throat. He smelled of ale, but not in the sickening way that the man before him had. The ale was mixed with his natural scent and a hint of sweat from the hot summer’s day. It reminded her of hard work, and somehow lit a fire in her belly that she couldn’t quite tame.

“Are ye sure we have nae met ‘afore?” he asked her after staring into her eyes for a minute or two. The depths of his beautiful green eyes held her captive. ‘Werenae ye the healer that helped me and the men after the battle at Killiecrankie?” he asked suddenly.

“Ye-yes… that was me,” she breathed, unable to speak. The nearness of his body was doing something to her senses and clouding her better judgment.

“I thought ye were familiar, thank ye for saving me life,” his eyes fell to her lips, making the heat rise in her cheeks.

“Dinnae even mention it,” she said quietly, tilting her head back to get a better look into his eyes. He towered over her like one of the mighty oaks that surrounded them.

His warm lips were on hers in seconds. She felt surprised at how soft and gentle they were against hers, caressing her. To her even greater surprise, she felt herself kissing him back. His lips gently parted hers with a hot tongue and she gladly opened her mouth to receive his pleasure.

Boyd stopped nearly as soon as he had started and pulled his body away, leaving a void where his body had been only seconds before. Ava saw the confusion in his eyes and felt the heat creeping up the back of her neck as they stared at each other. He suddenly whipped around and walked away from her, disappearing into the trees and bushes with not even a word.

Ava gently touched her lips where the feel of his still burned. What have I done to evoke a response like that after kissing me? she wondered as her confusion grew. There was a pull toward him that she couldn’t explain. Her body reacted to his touch in a way that she hadn’t even thought possible. Straightening her clothes, Ava came out from behind the tree and stepped over the man who had almost had his way with her.

Boyd… the man who saved my life…

Her hands went to the letters in her pockets as she walked into the forest.

I have tae tak’ the life of the man who saved mine.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Ava peeked through the cabin window to see if Skye was still busy occupying their guest. Sure enough, the satchel was still on the ground laying beneath the shirt, untouched from where she had left it. She’d been gone for quite a while and wondered if they had fallen asleep after they were done.

Sneaking in, Ava picked up the satchel and replaced the letter between the others before retying the string and leaving everything just as she had found it. Walking to the kitchen, she opened the squeaky cupboard door that she knew Skye would hear and recognize. Once she heard movement coming from the room, she quickly made her way to her own and closed the door, leaving a tiny crack for her to see out of.

“That was amazing, thank ye,” she heard Bram say to Skye before he came into full view in the middle of the kitchen. He was pulling his shirt over his head and straightening his breeches. His hair was messy and needed a comb.

“Nae, thank ye,” Skye flirted and placed a small peck on his cheek with her hand on his chest. “That was a treat. Sorry for keeping ye that long. I wonder why my friend didnae show up… Maybe she got delayed with her errand,” she caressed his arms slowly. At least I got the chance to get enough o’ ye, me love.” Her long blond hair was messy and hung in tangles down her back. She wore a loose-fitting white night dress that she clutched at the neck to shield her chest.

Why she did this Ava didn’t know. She was way beyond the point of modesty with the man. But then again, Ava wasn’t as experienced in seduction techniques as Skye was. Perhaps men found it alluring when women reserved some form of modesty.

“Aye,” he smiled almost drunkenly as if he had too much ale. “I will need a good break after that, lassie,” he laughed lightly and kissed her on the forehead.

Ava knew that Skye had only slept with him for the sake of the mission. But she couldn’t help but notice the way she smiled at the affection she was being shown. Skye nearly glowed with a sweet smile across her serene face.