Ravished by a Highlander by Paula Quinn Page B

steps. Damnation, why did she ever bother
     to lie when she was so poor at it? “Rob”—she reached for his sleeve and tugged it—“it doesn’t matter what you believe. Edward
     cannot go back. He is part of this now.”
    He stopped, and when he shook his head, she balled her fists at her sides. He simply couldn’t be this stubborn!
    “I’ll no’ bring an English soldier to Camlochlin. ’Tis bad enough I’m bringin’
ye.
”
    “Well, I’ll remedy that for you right now!” she promised through clenched teeth. No man had ever made her this angry and she
     needed to get away from him before she would have to spend a fortnight in confession. “You have my thanks for bringing me
     this far,” she said, turning on her heel, “but I’m staying with Ed—”
    His fingers closing around her wrist and yanking her back to him put a quick end to her tirade. Pressed against his hard chest
     and looking up into his even harder gaze, she found it difficult to breathe, let alone speak when he plucked her veil from
     her head and let it drop to the floor.
    “Ye’re stayin’ with me, lass.” His mouth descended on hers like a brand, hot and possessive, filling her senses with the taste,
     the feel, and the scent of him. He molded her to his unyielding muscles, kissing her until she went soft in his arms.
    Davina had never been kissed before, and never in her life could she have imagined it to be like this. Her body felt like
     it was going up in flames, melting away all her defenses, sapping her will to defy him and tempting her to lift her fingers
     to his face and clutch him to her forever. For a part of her craved the safety of being held in his arms. Protected, not because
     of who she was, but for another reason entirely. But Robert MacGregor simply wanted her to comply with his decision, and he
     hoped that kissing her senseless would achieve his goal. As much as she would like to keep kissing him, she wasn’t about to
     give up on Edward. So, with the last trace of strength she could muster, she gripped him by the shoulders and rammed her knee
     into his groin—just as Edward had taught her.
    Stepping back, she watched Rob sink to his knees. “I would ask your forgiveness,” she said, staring down at his bent head,
     her breath falling hard, “but you would likely refuse that as well.”
    Leaving him alone with his pain, she returned to the Refectory. Instead of going to Edward though, she sank into the nearest
     chair and prayed forgiveness for putting any part of her trust in a man, and for the strength to face the days ahead without
     Robert MacGregor at her side.
    *   *   *
    Rob wasn’t aware that Davina had left him, and when he heard the soft chuckle above his head he thought her not only spirited
     as all hell, but heartless, as well.
    “Dinna’ get up, I beg ye.” Thankfully—or, mayhap not—’twas Will. “This may be the only time in m’ life that I get to see ye
     on yer knees. Let me take pleasure in it a moment longer.”
    Rob glanced up at him as he straightened, grimacing at his throbbing shoulder and his aching groin. “
May
be?”
    “If ye stick around her, aye,” Will laughed, offering no aid to his injured cousin. “I’m guessin’ ye, bein’ the stubborn bastard
     that ye are, didna’ give in to her request to take her captain wi’ us.”
    Rob didn’t like the way his faults were being tossed about before him today, but he didn’t like how Will called Asher “her
     captain” even more. But it was true, wasn’t it? Hadn’t she just chosen her captain over him? “Yer guessin’ correct,” he said
     stiffly, rubbing his lower abdomen one last time.
    “So we’re leavin’ him then?” Will asked as Rob turned and headed for the Abbey doors.
    “Aye, and she’s stayin’ with him.”
    Davina stood alone in the bell tower watching Rob and the others leave Courlochcraig. She did not weep, for tears did not
     bring people back, or keep them away. Why should Robert