the forest teased her nose. She kept the hedge between them, knowing full well from the look on his face that he was not a happy man.
"You've caused me enough grief for one day, woman. I suggest you hold your tongue."
She crossed her arms, hiding her wince at her injured wrist. "Ah, gee. And here I thought you'd be happy to see me."
His low growl rumbled through the tense night air, sending waves of electricity coursing down her spine. 102
Highlander's Challenge
by Jo Barrett
Not good. Not—good—at—all.
Colin's jaw clenched so tightly, he was certain he'd cracked one of his back teeth. He was too damn happy to see her alive and well with the moonlight kissing her creamy skin, and that galled him to no end.
He snagged her by the arm and jerked her through the bushes. She didn't bother to struggle, making him pause. Why did she risk her capture? Why did she not simply make off in another direction as they passed? She'd obviously circled back on him and he'd not known it. Holding her against his chest, steeling himself against the pleasure it brought, he looked into her eyes nearly black in the dim light.
"Why did you not run?" he asked, his voice low but firm. The corner of her mouth quirked up. "What, and miss all the fun?"
He lowered his face closer, barely stopping before he tasted her. "I want a real answer." Her tongue darted out and dampened her lips, leaving them glistening. A sweet, quivering breath caressed his skin as she stared up at him, her expression warm. White-hot heat surged through his body and pooled in his groin. He wanted her ... and no other woman.
A low moan split the tense silence. For a moment he thought the sound had come from him, until he noticed his men rushing through the hedge behind him.
"There are two men here," Michael, the youngest of his guard, called.
103
Highlander's Challenge
by Jo Barrett
She tilted up her chin, her look much cooler than before, but just as tempting. "I bring you a present and this is the thanks I get?"
Pulling his gaze away, he looked toward his men.
"They're not wearing any crest. I dinnae think they're MacKenzies," Michael said.
All eyes focused on the unsettling female at his side.
"What do you know of them?" he asked, jerking her slightly.
"They were following you, so I followed them. Once I realized who they were following, I decided you might want to talk to them."
"Aye." Abruptly releasing her, not willing to openly credit her for her sound reasoning, he spun on his heels and faced the captives. "Who are you, and what are you doing on MacLean land?"
"Our boat sank in the loch and we washed ashore. We were lookin' for a safe place tae camp for the night, when one of yer men attacked us."
"Oh, brother," Tuck muttered. "I got the jump on you, you moron."
Colin shot her a look.
She folded her arms and shrugged with a smirk so lissome, he nearly smiled. God, help him, he was beginning to actually like the woman!
He quickly turned back to the captives before he made a complete fool of himself. "I'll ask you again and I suggest you answer truthfully this time. Who are you, and what are you doing on MacLean land?"
104
Highlander's Challenge
by Jo Barrett
Their gazes darted about, nervously taking in his wellarmed men, but they said nothing more. Colin motioned in the direction of the castle. "Take them back tae the keep. We'll finish this there." Looking at the female thorn in his side, he said, "You will ride with me." Holding up her hand, she shook her head and backed away. "Oh, no, Sasquatch. You got your little present, now I'll be on my way."
She ducked to the side as quick as a hare, but he was quicker. He caught her by the collar of her odd coat before she could disappear into the shadows.
"You'll be going back tae the keep, whether you like it or no."
"I suggest you let me go, if you don't want to be embarrassed in front of your men," she said with a snarl. Whirling her around, he pinned her to his chest, his arms wrapped
"You've caused me enough grief for one day, woman. I suggest you hold your tongue."
She crossed her arms, hiding her wince at her injured wrist. "Ah, gee. And here I thought you'd be happy to see me."
His low growl rumbled through the tense night air, sending waves of electricity coursing down her spine. 102
Highlander's Challenge
by Jo Barrett
Not good. Not—good—at—all.
Colin's jaw clenched so tightly, he was certain he'd cracked one of his back teeth. He was too damn happy to see her alive and well with the moonlight kissing her creamy skin, and that galled him to no end.
He snagged her by the arm and jerked her through the bushes. She didn't bother to struggle, making him pause. Why did she risk her capture? Why did she not simply make off in another direction as they passed? She'd obviously circled back on him and he'd not known it. Holding her against his chest, steeling himself against the pleasure it brought, he looked into her eyes nearly black in the dim light.
"Why did you not run?" he asked, his voice low but firm. The corner of her mouth quirked up. "What, and miss all the fun?"
He lowered his face closer, barely stopping before he tasted her. "I want a real answer." Her tongue darted out and dampened her lips, leaving them glistening. A sweet, quivering breath caressed his skin as she stared up at him, her expression warm. White-hot heat surged through his body and pooled in his groin. He wanted her ... and no other woman.
A low moan split the tense silence. For a moment he thought the sound had come from him, until he noticed his men rushing through the hedge behind him.
"There are two men here," Michael, the youngest of his guard, called.
103
Highlander's Challenge
by Jo Barrett
She tilted up her chin, her look much cooler than before, but just as tempting. "I bring you a present and this is the thanks I get?"
Pulling his gaze away, he looked toward his men.
"They're not wearing any crest. I dinnae think they're MacKenzies," Michael said.
All eyes focused on the unsettling female at his side.
"What do you know of them?" he asked, jerking her slightly.
"They were following you, so I followed them. Once I realized who they were following, I decided you might want to talk to them."
"Aye." Abruptly releasing her, not willing to openly credit her for her sound reasoning, he spun on his heels and faced the captives. "Who are you, and what are you doing on MacLean land?"
"Our boat sank in the loch and we washed ashore. We were lookin' for a safe place tae camp for the night, when one of yer men attacked us."
"Oh, brother," Tuck muttered. "I got the jump on you, you moron."
Colin shot her a look.
She folded her arms and shrugged with a smirk so lissome, he nearly smiled. God, help him, he was beginning to actually like the woman!
He quickly turned back to the captives before he made a complete fool of himself. "I'll ask you again and I suggest you answer truthfully this time. Who are you, and what are you doing on MacLean land?"
104
Highlander's Challenge
by Jo Barrett
Their gazes darted about, nervously taking in his wellarmed men, but they said nothing more. Colin motioned in the direction of the castle. "Take them back tae the keep. We'll finish this there." Looking at the female thorn in his side, he said, "You will ride with me." Holding up her hand, she shook her head and backed away. "Oh, no, Sasquatch. You got your little present, now I'll be on my way."
She ducked to the side as quick as a hare, but he was quicker. He caught her by the collar of her odd coat before she could disappear into the shadows.
"You'll be going back tae the keep, whether you like it or no."
"I suggest you let me go, if you don't want to be embarrassed in front of your men," she said with a snarl. Whirling her around, he pinned her to his chest, his arms wrapped
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