Page 33 of Laird Of Her Heart

Indeed, the idea had merit.

Especially since she insisted they were headed for an ambush.

That thought sent a cold bolt through his gut. If they were walking into some violent clash of clans, he did not want her there. He could not guarantee her safety should a melee erupt.

Aye. Perhaps he should send her back to the castle.

Where she would be safe.

With this decision made, his soul ceased its churning, and he turned his mind to other things. Part of her story resonated within him. He’d never trusted MacPherson. Something about his beady eyes, his flickering attention, that half smile that never seemed sincere.

He’d been voluble about his disgruntlement when Dougal Dall, chief of the clan, had not included him in the initial meetings. There were rumors of his efforts to form a competing confederation amongst the clans who had been excluded from the alliance. That part of her story held water. Indeed, it validated the concerns that had been swirling in his mind about MacPherson. And her assertion that the bastard was collaborating with their enemy? That rang true as well.

And such familiarity of the political underpinnings of the clan was not common knowledge. He had no idea how she had come to have this information, but he could not deny that her warnings made sense.

“Dominic.” His brother’s voice behind him scuttled this thoughts.

He turned with a sigh. “Aye?”

“What are you thinking?”

He scrubbed his face with a palm. “I’m thinking you may have been right about her.”

To his credit, Declan did not smirk. “I’m sorry.” A simple statement, it should not have wounded him as it did.

“I do believe she’s telling the truth about MacPherson, though. I do believe danger awaits us at the meeting.”

Declan nodded. “Aye.”

“I think it would be wise if we take all the men, except for Ewan and Harry. They can return to the castle with the cart and…”

“And?”

“And Maggie. She canna come with us.” Not only was it unsafe, he couldn’t take the chance that she might, indeed, be an agent of the enemy. The thought slayed him.

“I think that is wise.” His brother clapped him on the shoulder.

“We need to prepare the men.” This was no longer a political mission. They were now in battle mode.

“Aye.”

And as for Maggie? Tomorrow he would say his farewells to her. But tonight?

Tonight he would indulge in her.

If she was right about the ambush, it might well be their last night together.

* * *

Maggie didn’t understand Dominic’s expression when he pushed into the tent. He stood there and stared at her as though he could not stare at her enough. The intensity, the harshness in his gaze sent a shiver of excitement through her.

Without a word, he pulled off his jerkin and his tunic. They fell to the ground. His breeks followed. He stood before her—magnificent, beautiful, irresistible—gaze aflame. Though the sight discombobulated her, she rushed to follow suit, unbuttoning her blouse and wriggling out of her bra and jeans.

When she was naked she went up on her knees before him. Her attention was locked on one thing and one thing only.

His cock.

It stood high before him, though with its weight—fully engorged as it was—it leaned a little to the left. It was perfect. Long, hard, ready. A bead of dew glistened at the tip.