Page 34 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“Ye cheated.” He turned on her with narrowed eyes.

“Hardly!” she protested. “I offered a little distraction. ‘Twas naething.”

“Naething?” He stalked toward her as she moved back, unsure if she was intimidated or attracted by his movements. “Ye give a lover’s touch that is naething tae ye?”

“A lover’s touch, eh? Did it feel like that?”

“Dinnae tease me, Scarlett,” he said, his said sharply. “I dinnae take kindly tae being teased when it comes tae a touch like that.”

“Ye didnae like it then?” She stepped away and raised a dagger, taking her place. “Strange, I could have sworn from yer shudder ye liked it indeed.”

He didn’t answer but stood with his arms folded, watching through slitted eyes.

Scarlett found it impossible to resist toying with him a bit more. She pretended to aim poorly, practicing the throw incorrectly, then stood tall and raised the dagger an inch higher, adjusting her hold, her aim zeroing in on the first apple. It shot through the air and pierced the apple. The throw sank against the trunk, piercing but not flattening the fruit.

"Hmm, how intriguing," she mused. Noah was staring at the apples, agog, from the corner of her eye. “Perhaps ‘tis beginner’s luck.” She threw the second dagger exactly as she had the first. It pierced the apple perfectly against the tree once more.

“That is nae beginner’s luck!” Noah stepped forward, his face narrowly in front of her.

“Ye think nae?” she smiled. “Step back, Noah.” He moved an inch, giving her the room she needed. Tossing the blade through the air, she struck the third apple. It almost rolled off, tilting back from the impact, before the blade fixed it to the tree bark. “Three out of three. I think that means I win yer game.” She clasped her hands together happily and turned to face him.

His expression was so unreadable she stilled, not knowing what to do. His eyes darted to the apples repeatedly. She saw anger there in his heavy breathing, yet when his gaze rested on her, she was reminded of how he kissed her neck the day before.

“Do ye need help picking yer jaw up from the ground?” She reached out with a lone finger and tapped his jaw shut. His mouth closed before he snatched her hand. She tried to pull back, but he pulled her forward until she fell into him. Her other hand was splayed against his chest to keep herself standing.

“Where did ye learn tae throw a blade like that?” he hissed.

“Maybe we all have certain skills we dinnae wish tae shout about,” she demurred. “I could hardly announce it tae ye, could I? ‘Twas far too much fun tae see yer reaction instead.”

His eyes went to her lips. For a second, she thought he would kiss her. His head even tilted toward her own. All the heat, the jolting touches, even those intense gazes made her wonder what it was like. She didn’t think of the maid and his other mistresses, not even Eloise in that moment. She thought only of what a kiss from Noah would be like.

“Ye win, Scarlett. Ye win our game. Ye asked for a wish fulfilled? Is this the one ye want?” He lowered his head closer to hers, so near she could practically feel it.

What am I doing?

Her breath hitched as she considered answering aye just to know what it would be like.

Dinnae do it, ye fool, nae matter the temptation!

“N-nae,” she stammered, yet she was so close to him that she could not miss the way he smirked at hearing her hesitation. “Dinnae say it—”

“Ye stuttered.”

“Barely.”

“Ye were tempted.”

“Nae completely. I still resisted ye, didnae I?” she asked, opening her eyes to challenge him. That look had returned, suggesting he wasn’t sure whether to shout at or kiss her.

What does he want?

“Final time. Is this the wish ye want fulfilled?” he demanded, coming closer. Scarlett’s eyelids almost closed again, but she kept them open by sheer dint of will.

“Nae.” Her firm answer had him release her as he backed away, along with the warmth of his nearness. “As fun as it is tae watch ye squirm, Noah, I might keep my wish for now. I will ask it of ye another time.”

“Very well.” Noah marched swiftly to the tree trunk, moving so fast that she turned on her heel to watch him. He collected the blades and tossed the apples away; the birds would find them nearby. “That willnae be our last challenge today,” he declared.

“The near kiss or the dagger throwing?” she asked as he returned, the dagger satchel over his shoulder.