Highland Jewel (Highland Brides) by Lois Greiman Page B

shivered.
    Nothing happened.
    "Lass," he whispered.
    "Mmm?" She shouldn't allow him to kiss her, of course, but he was so much larger than she. The Lord could not expect her to hold such a giant of a man at bay.
    "We're here, lass," he murmured.
    Her eyes snapped open. There, not fifteen feet away, stood Colin.
    "Good Lord!" she breathed, not failing to notice the young man's obvious amusement.
    "So ..." Colin said, making no effort to control his grin. "Ye are safe."
    "Aye, lad," answered Leith, and in outraged dismay Rose realized he too was grinning.
    Well, hell!
    "I trust the thieves didna die too soon," added Colin, sobering a bit.
    "They wouldna have," said Leith, "if it were na for the wee nun's bloodthirsty nature. It seems she could na wait and decided to hurry the death of the last of them."
    Rose's jaw fell and she muttered a few incoherent words that well might set any saintly ears to burning, if there had been any saintly ears about.
    “Truly?" Colin raised his brows, setting his arms akimbo and canting his head.
    "Aye." Leith nodded. "Beneath her homely robes she hides a verra passionate nature."
    "And ye are determined to stoke that passion?" quipped Colin.
    "Aye," Leith agreed. "That I—"
    Rose's elbow caught him just below his lowest rib. It was not a tentative love tap, nor a teasing admonishment, but a full-scale effort to wound.
    Leith drew a startled breath and attempted to tighten his grip on her, but her temper was at full tilt and she scrambled from the stallion, arms and legs flailing in all directions.
    Her bulky robes, however, snagged beneath his heavy thighs, so that she dangled in midair like a misbegotten puppet.
    Hot embarrassment colored her cheeks and she squirmed more violently, legs bare to the thighs where her robes swept across her bottom to hold her aloft.
    From the stallion's back, Leith chuckled at her predicament. "Need help, wee lass?" he asked, amused that he could hold her captive without raising a hand.
    "Let me go, you black-hearted heathen," she demanded, damning his devil's soul with scalding rage.
    "Ye want to go?" Leith questioned innocently, leaning toward her slightly. "All ye need do is ask nicely."
    "I hope you die with your guts strewn from here to the Holy Land," she hissed, slapping auburn hair from her face and thumping poor Beinn with her knees.
    Leith's smile broadened. "Na exactly what I wished to hear, wee nun," he said finally, "but surely such a creative curse deserves some reward. Ye may go," he said, and, lifting his heavy thigh, released his hold on her robes.
    She slipped, and clutched frantically at his arm to keep from falling.
    Wincing at the pain in his chest, Leith nevertheless grasped her arm to keep her safe from Beinn’s heavy hooves.
    For a moment their eyes met. Heat sparked between them, igniting some tinder-dry place in their hearts, stopping their breath in their throats.
    "Wee lass," Leith murmured, feeling the hot pull of her on his senses, "some women might be flattered by me interest in them."
    Rose gasped, shocked by his arrogant gall, and found the unearthly spell he had on her was well broken. With rage fully restored, she gathered all her strength, wedged her knees up against Beinn's solid side, and yanked—jerking Leith along with her.
    She hit the ground only a moment before Leith did, but while she was afoot in a moment, he remained in a prone position with one clawed hand holding his wound.
    Rose skittered away like a frightened hare, then stood at a safe distance to watch him.
    His face was ashen, his eyes closed, his teeth gritted.
    Pain! It was stamped across his features.
    Rose bit her lower lip. Of course he deserved it. But...
    Contrition seeped rather slowly into her being. She clasped her hands finally and took a step nearer. After all, he had saved her life. Of course she wouldn't have needed saving if it hadn't been for him. Then again ...
    A single moan escaped his lips. In a moment she was on her knees beside