Page 37 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

Noah felt a thrill as he eyed the animal. Ian was with him the last time he went hunting. When they caught up with the deer, they would sometimes let it go because the thrill was in the chase, not the kill.

Nonetheless, Noah drew his crossbow from his belt, intending to shoot close enough to scare the animal into fleeing to the safety of the trees. He raised the crossbow and loaded it with a single bolt, bending lower; his aim had to be perfect.

Scarlett's boots in the mud squelched behind him as his finger hovered over the trigger.

When she stumbled against him and lost her balance, he dropped the crossbow with a heavy thud to his back.

In frustration, Noah sighed loudly, and Scarlett simply murmured, "Revenge."

When his boot slipped in the mud and the two of them fell, he stepped to the side, intending to safely right her.

Scarlett straddled Noah's back as he landed face down, the wind knocked out of her.

“That is yer revenge?” Noah ground out, catching his breath.

“I couldnae let ye kill a defenseless deer.” She waved a hand in the direction of the escaped deer, now sheltered in the safety of the trees. She held her hands up. “I win.”

“Ye dinnae win.” He reached for her.

She tried to scramble away, but he easily grabbed a handful of her skirt and pulled her back.

“Dae ye actually intend tae run away through this mud? Ye’ll nae have an easy time of it,” he warned drolly.

“I can try!” She made to escape but he held her back and they ended up tangled together with his knee pinned against her hip. She froze instantly, staring up at him. They were closer than they’d been back in the meadow, where he teased her with the promise of a kiss.

This time he didn’t ask, so he lowered his head until his lips found hers and he lost himself in the heady nectar of her mouth.

* * *

Scarlett knew her senses had fled and thought only of the heat shared between them. Please, dinnae let this end.

Noah’s hand was in her hair, tugging her red locks, relishing the warm sensation of her lips and the fire in his blood. The touch of his tongue to hers erupted in moans at the back of her throat as she arched against him violently. Her hands frantically clutched the fabric of his waistcoat, desperately pulling him against her.

The kiss ended abruptly at the sound of snapping wood somewhere nearby. Flat on her back in the mud, she stared up at him, breathless from his kiss, his hand still threaded in hair.

“How much more dae ye intend to test me today?” she asked, struggling to catch her breath.

“Ye kent it was all a test?”

“Aye. Why else?”

“Ye didnae seem tae mind it,” he observed wryly. Noting the rather proud smile on his face, she couldn’t decide if she found it insufferable or intoxicating. “Ye didnae mind this,” he murmured, his lips above hers, about to devour her again.

Eloise—oh, in the name of the wee man above, what am I doing with my sister’s betrothed?

“We arenae married yet,” she reminded him. He halted abruptly and clambered to his feet, immediately feeling the absence of his warmth. She took his hand and regained her footing after a few attempts. She winced as she looked down at her mud-caked boots and her hopelessly muddied gown.

“We cannae return tae the castle like this. We are a mess, and rumors will fly in the castle before the sun sets tonight.”

“Ye speak the truth,” he agreed, smiling more broadly than she ever expected, given the outcome of the day. “I ken where we can wash up. Follow me.” He took a few strides before Scarlet dug in her heels and stopped short. When she made no move to follow, he halted and turned to look at her expectantly.

“Have ye heard the word please, Noah?”

He cast his eyes to the heavens as if pleading for strength from God. “Please, come this way, Scarlett,” he entreated.

“My pleasure, my laird.” She walked ahead toward the horses. She heard him muttering behind her but paid him no mind.

I let attraction defeat me once, but it willnae happen again. What sort of sister would allow such a thing?