Текст книги "My daring highlander"

Автор книги: Vonda Sinclair

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

Holding back a wicked grin, he shook his head. “I asked someone to keep her occupied.” His voice was equally quiet.

“Who?”

“MacMillan.”

Saints! Was her aunt having a tryst? Seona realized her mouth was hanging open and snapped it closed. “Do you mean… what I think you mean?”

His grin broadening, he shrugged. “Who knows what they will do? Where are your maids? I thought I saw them pass through the great hall not long ago.”

“I know not. Aunt Patience gave them the night off.”

“Well then, may I come in?” Keegan asked. “I need to talk to you.”

Her heart pounding, she glanced toward the stairwell. “What if one of the maids or someone should come along?”

“We’ll bar the door. And you can tell them you don’t wish to be disturbed.”

What he suggested… along with the smoldering look in his eyes, sent hot sparks snapping through her body. If her only joys in life were to be stolen moments with him, she would take them. She stepped back, allowing him entrance to the room. Once she closed the door, he placed the plank of wood into the metal brackets, barring anyone from entering.

He glanced around the dim room, inhaling deeply. “I smell lavender soap.”

“I had a bath a short time ago.”

“Do you mind if I light a candle?”

“Nay.” She would like to see him better anyway.

After lighting a candle from the low-burning flames of the hearth and securing it in a candelabrum on the mantel, he turned to her. His normally light eyes were darker in the meager light. “I’ve been thinking of naught but you.”

She stepped closer to him and took his hand. “I’ve been thinking of you also,” she confessed in a whisper.

He lifted her hand and kissed the back, his warm lips and beard stubble teasing her skin.

“There’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about,” he said. “The last night we were at Teasairg, when your aunt walked in on us in your chamber, I blurted out something that may have shocked you. But I meant it.” He lowered himself and knelt on one knee. “If your father agrees to it, will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?”

Chapter Twenty

Seona could not believe Keegan’s sincerely spoken words—will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?

He dangled what she longed for most right in front of her. Something that would make her life joyously worth living. Something she’d never imagined possible before she’d met Keegan. The one thing she feared she would never have.

’Twould be her dream come true. But naught was more real than the look of sincerity and intense passion in Keegan’s eyes. Her tears welled and spilled over, sliding down her face. Her knees grew weak and she knelt with him. “Keegan, aye, you ken I will. But I fear my father will never allow it.”

Keegan released a breath, brushed her tears away, then kissed her forehead. “Nevertheless… I’m going to ask him. And I wanted to be certain ’twas what you wanted.” He rose to his feet and helped her stand.

“Indeed, I wish it. More than anything.”

“I’m not a laird; I own no property. I hold no aristocratic titles,” he said, his tone a bit dismal.

“Do you think that matters to me?”

“I know not.”

She shook her head and pressed her hand to his heart. “What matters to me is what’s in here,” she whispered. “I know you will be a good husband. The best any woman could ever hope for.”

“I’m uncertain of that, but I will protect you and cherish you, Seona. I love you, lass.”

“And I love you,” she whispered, her throat tightening.

He lifted his hand to lightly stroke her cheek, then bent and kissed her lips, at first sweet and light. But with his soft moan it shifted to something deeper and more profound, a melding of their souls. She locked her arms around his neck as she poured herself into the kiss, accepting everything he would give her.

“Mmm, lass.” His hands slid to her hips, only the thin material of her smock separating their skin. When he gently caressed her derriere, carnal yearnings rushed through her. Wanting him closer, she pushed her breasts against his chest.

A low curse escaped him. His tongue teased hers, provoking, inflaming her desires to a higher level.

Gradually, he dragged her linen smock upward, wadding it into his hands. Holding her breath, she could hardly wait to feel his hands on her. When he finally reached the hem of the garment, his warm, rough hands on her bare sensitive skin felt glorious.

“Oh, Keegan,” she breathed.

“Seona, you feel so good,” he whispered against her ear, his hot breath giving her delicious chills. “I want to see you in the candlelight. Will you let me?”

“Aye.” She would’ve agreed to anything he wanted.

He pulled back and slipped the garment over her head, then tossed it. She drew in a sharp breath, shivering both from the cool air and from Keegan seeing her completely naked in the dim glow of the candle. She knew she should feel ashamed of her sinfully wanton behavior, allowing Keegan to do such a thing, but this felt right. ’Twas almost as if he was already hers. When she gave him her heart, she gave him all of herself.

Would he make love to her now? Did she want him to?

Standing back, he trailed his gaze over her from her eyes to her toes and back again. He released a harsh breath. “Saints, Seona, you are the loveliest vision I have ever beheld,” he whispered.

She hoped he would disrobe as well. Instead, he drew her close again and kissed a leisurely trail down her neck, bewitching her with heated yearnings.

He brushed his mouth across her breast, his short whisker stubble rasping her skin. She held her breath in expectation. He kissed her nipple, then drew it into his mouth. Desire and a sharp need for him stabbed her core. She gasped, holding on ’round his neck, cradling his head closer and supporting herself.

“A ghràidh,” he murmured, his breath hot against her sensitive skin.

My love. His endearment thrilled her.

Her derriere in his hands, he lifted her and moved across the room. He laid her softly onto the bed, still lavishing her breasts with abundant kisses. Her hands tangled in his hair, holding his head.

Though she felt beyond wicked, reveling in these exciting sensations, it felt natural for Keegan to be doing these things to her.

He kissed down her stomach gradually. “You smell so good.” At her navel, he dipped his tongue inside.

Shivers covered her. She could not believe it when he moved lower still and kissed the mound at the apex of her thighs. Though she knew he should do no such thing, she hadn’t the willpower to stop him. Whatever he wished to do would be better than the last thing. He constantly surprised her with sensual wonders she had not known existed.

When he pushed her thighs apart, she grasped onto the sheets beneath her. He would make love to her, and aye, she was ready. She forced her eyes open to see what he would do. She was disappointed to see he still had not removed his plaid or his shirt. Instead, he lay half on the bed, the lower half of his tall body sprawled toward the floor.

He dropped his head and touched her in a most illicit way. Nay, not a touch. A lick… against a highly sensitive and intimate spot. She jerked in surprise, but at the same time her hips lifted, seeking more. And he gave it. Another lick that sent splendid sensations ricocheting through her.

“Oh,” she breathed. She had thought his fingers stroking that place were amazing. His wet, hot tongue caressing it was beyond description, both slick and velvety. She turned her head aside to muffle her moan in the pillow. She was shocked at herself and the way her body moved with such wanton undulations, pushing more firmly to his mouth. Surely this was a most sinful activity but she could not bring herself to make him stop. Nay, ’twas too sublime, the heat rushing through her making her lightheaded.

She felt her hips thrust upward, toward him. He groaned, vibrating her flesh, then his tongue flickered over her. At the same time he pushed a finger inside her.

Again, her body acted of its own volition, her hips shoving toward him. Her breath hissed through her teeth. “Keegan, I beg of you…”

“Aye, lass. Take your pleasure.”

He was giving her pleasure; that was a certainty. The tip of his tongue tormented her and drove her mad. Her body bowed upwards. She didn’t even try to control it anymore. Isobel had warned her about this. She had not thought it could happen. Not like this.

Seona grasped the pillow beneath her head and dragged it over her face to muffle her gasps and cries for she feared she would not maintain control much longer. Nay, the sensations were becoming overwhelming. She felt suspended, dangling from some cliff face. But there was no fear. Nay. She knew she could fly if she let go.

His fingers wiggled against her overly sensitized flesh and his tongue slid back and forth, then in a circle. A sort of pleasurable insanity seized her, just like last time. She did not understand it but she let go and rode it like a violent gale storm. The pleasure crashed and rolled.

Once the intense sensations ebbed, she dragged the pillow off and gasped for air. She was so spent she could barely lift her eyelids.

Keegan raised his head and stroked her thighs. “That was beautiful.” He kissed her knee, then placed a playful bite on her thigh.

He moved up beside her and pulled her tightly into his arms. He tucked her head beneath his chin and stroked her back and her hip. She loved being held in his arms, and the way he always smelled clean and manly.

Why couldn’t they lay this way every night? ’Twould be paradise.

“Keegan, I don’t understand what happened,” she said, hoping he would explain a few things.

“Did you enjoy it?” The smile was evident in his voice.

How could he ask such a thing? “I think you ken I did.”

“Good. That’s what I wanted. To give you pleasure.”

“Why did you want to… use your tongue?” Her face burned, but she had to ask if she wished to know the truth about sensual pleasures.

“To taste you.” He growled. “You taste damned good, lass. ’Twas a great pleasure to me.”

“I know I’m naïve, but I never imagined people did that.”

“Aye, well, not everyone does.” He leaned back a bit so she could look up into his face, dimly illuminated by the candle. “One summer’s day when I was about eighteen, I happened upon a couple on a plaid in the sand dunes and beach grass. They didn’t know I was there, of course.” Keegan smiled. “’Haps ’twas wrong of me to spy on them, but how could I resist? They were aristocratic guests of Chief and Lady MacKay—I don’t believe they were married either. They’d been swimming in the sea. I could not believe the wicked things they were doing, but I knew those were things I wanted to do one day when I found a woman I wanted to kiss every inch of.” He touched the tip of her nose with a finger.

Speaking of kissing every inch of… she wished she could do that to him. “Why do you not remove your clothes?”

He released a harsh breath. “’Tis best that I don’t. I must maintain control.”

“But you made me lose control.”

Keegan smiled. “I’m glad.” Aye, indeed he was thrilled he was able to give her such a climax. He hoped she enjoyed it. Of a certainty, he did.

His tarse was hard as stone, but he couldn’t take her. Not now. First, he had to know she would be his forever. He couldn’t risk getting her with child and then her father marrying her off to someone else. If that happened, he’d be forced to steal her away. And then clan war would follow. Though he might have indulged in too many carnal pleasures with her, he wanted to marry her first… not just to be honorable, but because he wanted her in his life forever.

When Seona’s hand trailed down his chest and stomach, between them, to his erection, arousal burned through him even hotter. Through his clothing, her fingers brushed his shaft. Though he ached for her to continue, he gently clasped her hand in his and drew it away.

“You didn’t like that?” she asked. “I was told…”

“Aye, I would love it more than I can say but…” He blew out a harsh breath. “Who has been telling you wicked things?”

In the low light, the look of guilt and embarrassment in her bewitching dark blue eyes made him want to grin.

“A friend,” she said.

He raised a brow, wondering who she meant. “Isobel?” he asked, remembering the many times he’d seen them whispering together.

“Aye.”

“Well, Dirk often has a smile on his face, so I’m certain he is well-pleased with their bed-sport. Has she told you things that singed your ears?”

Seona gave a soft giggle. “A few, but one thing she said was that men like to be touched on… certain places.”

“That we do, lass. I love it anytime, anywhere you touch me. But it makes me want you even more intensely.”

Her hand had somehow escaped his while he wasn’t paying attention, and now it brushed over his hard tarse again. Pleasure and powerful need bounded through him, urging him to roll between her naked thighs and lift his plaid. He sucked in breath and forced himself to remain still. If she wanted to touch him so badly, ’haps he’d let her… for a moment.

Her fingers traced along his rigid length through his clothing. “I don’t understand how it gets so hard.”

Her naïve interest in his body almost did him in.

“Saints, lass,” he hissed. “You drive me mad. I want to… but I cannot.”

“What do you want to do?” she whispered, still stroking lightly, tormenting him.

His body was starting to overheat. He groaned, wishing he could rip every last stitch of his clothing off. “In truth? You don’t know?”

“Lovemaking. I know that, but I don’t know anything about it.”

He muttered a curse. Though he’d known she was innocent, he couldn’t have guessed how incredibly curious she was. Or how vocal, given her usually quiet nature. But, she trusted him. His chest ached, for he treasured her trust as much as her love.

“Of a certainty, I’ll be glad to show you soon, Seona. I want to slide this…” He placed his hand around hers and squeezed his tarse, intensifying the pleasurable ache. “Deep inside you and…” He bit his tongue before he said something too vulgar for her ears.

“How on earth would it fit?”

He growled. Just imagining working on making it fit within her tight, wet heat near took his sanity.

“Och, I’ll go slowly. ’Twill fit perfectly.” Hell, he could hardly wait for what would be one of the best experiences of his life.

“’Twill hurt though… for me,” she said.

He wasn’t going to lie. “Aye. For a few minutes. But I will make it good for you before I’m done. Your pleasure is more important to me than mine own.”

“You are the most generous person I know.” She kissed his chin.

He didn’t feel generous at the moment. He felt damned greedy, wanting her to slide her hand up and down and stroke him very firmly.

His primal side threatened to override his rational side and answer all her questions by showing her exactly what he yearned to do to her—push, inch by torturous inch, into her and show her how her body could adjust to accept his.

He would kiss her and love her through the pain, then, once he was fully imbedded inside her, he’d withdraw slowly only to drive deep again. She’d beg him to go faster. He would thrust until they both lost their minds, until she cried out her pleasure and he released his seed inside her. He muttered a curse before he could stop himself.

Somehow her hand had sneaked beneath his plaid and long shirt. Her bare cool skin against his… “Saints.” Her hand squeezed the tip of his erection and he thought he was going to blast like a cannon.

“Your skin feels so silky and hot,” she whispered. “I cannot believe how hard you are.”

All he could do was grind his teeth, curse and struggle for control. He gasped for breath. “You’re determined to drive me mad.”

“Aye. I want to give you pleasure. Tell me what to do.”

How could he refuse that offer? Clasping his hand around hers, he showed her how to stroke up and down his rigid shaft. Damn, he was on the edge already. He’d wanted her too long. Months.

He tried to think of something else to distract himself, but ’twas no use. She filled his mind; her scent filled his head. He clasped her to him and kissed her, devouring her lips as she continued stroking without his help. Her tentative, light touch aroused him even more. And then the fuse lit, burning through his groin and exploding with a pleasure more astounding than he’d ever felt. Groaning, he dragged her tighter to him, loving the pressure of her body against his.

How he’d wanted to be inside her when he did that.

He kissed her forehead and pulled in laborious breaths, enjoying the final ripples of pleasure that reverberated through him.

“Oh, that was…” she said in a surprised tone.

“Aye?” He wondered what she’d wanted to say. He could only describe how it had felt to him. “Amazing. Spectacular.” He finally came back to himself. “And I’m guessing your hand is drenched with my seed.” He wiped her hand on the tail of his shirt. “See? That’s what happens when you take away my control.”

“I’m glad.” Her teeth flashed white in the dimness. And she actually sounded happy, not afraid or disgusted.

“You are?”

“Aye. I wanted to give you pleasure. I simply didn’t know how. I’m glad you showed me.”

To have a wife who not only enjoyed bed-sport, but wished to boldly seduce him, would surely be heaven on earth. Of course, that wasn’t the only reason he wanted to marry her, but ’twas certainly a delightful bonus.

“Hmm. Later, I’ll show you more.” Once they were married. And he was determined this would happen. He kissed her lips. “I’d best make my escape before your aunt returns. I know not what kind of stamina MacMillan has.” He chuckled.

“You are wicked,” Seona accused.

“I’m afraid I am.” Grinning, he arose from the bed.

“Keegan, wait.”

“Aye? I wasn’t leaving just yet.” He didn’t want to leave at all.

Kneeling on the high bed, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He slipped his hands down her back, over the silken skin of her hips and derriere to her thighs. “Mmm,” he purred and kissed her. How he needed her in every way… physically, emotionally, spiritually. “I love you,” he whispered.

“And I love you.”

At her words, his heart pounded harder. Aye, he was determined to have her as his wife no matter what her father said. Keegan truly did not want to start a war, but he would if he had to.

Chapter Twenty-One

“Aunt Patience, I wish to speak to you for a moment in private,” Seona said the next morn in the great hall as everyone in their party gathered to leave. “I want to ask a favor of you.”

“Aye?” Patience looked mightily impatient at the moment. She glanced toward where Hugh MacMillan stood on the other side of the large, dim room.

Seona headed to the small alcove at the back.

Only a little limp left in her step, Patience followed. “What is it?”

When they were out of view and earshot of everyone, Seona said, “I ask that you not mention to my father that I’ve been talking to Keegan MacKay.”

Patience put her hands upon her hips. “You were doing far more than talking to him.” Her voice was low but irate. “You were kissing him in your bedchamber. You’ve been disgraceful.”

“He is going to ask Father for my hand in marriage.”

Patience snorted. “A lot of good it will do him. He is far beneath you.”

Fury burned through Seona. “He is not beneath me. As you well know, he is second in line to the MacKay chiefdom.”

“Nevertheless, your father will not allow you to marry him, and he will be most displeased about your association with MacKay. Especially the kissing.”

“That’s why I ask that you not tell him.”

“Your father is my brother and I always tell him the truth.”

Her aunt’s self-righteous tone made Seona grind her teeth. How could the woman pretend to be a perfect angel when ’twas obvious to everyone she was doing the same things with MacMillan? Probably more, if the truth was known. If Patience told Seona’s father that Keegan had been kissing her in the bedchamber, he might fly into a rage and have Keegan killed. She couldn’t risk that. She would use the only leverage she had and pray it worked.

“If you tell him about Keegan, then I shall have to tell him about your tryst with Hugh MacMillan, a man Father will see as far beneath you.”

Patience’s mouth dropped open. Her eyes grew wide. “Why, you little tattle.” Though her words were low, they were sharp. When her aunt’s hand raised and flew toward her face, Seona lifted her hand just in time to stop the strike. She then locked her aunt’s wrist in a firm grip.

“Do not ever do that again,” Seona said through clenched teeth, surprising herself. She didn’t know she could be so fierce when it came to protecting Keegan. But he was the most important person in her life now.

“How dare you?” her aunt sneered, yanking her hand back. “Your father will hear about this.”

“Very well. He will also hear about how you are sleeping with one of the guards.”

“You can’t prove that.”

“I ken the truth of it and so does Keegan. Hugh is always honest with Keegan, his direct commander.”

Her aunt’s mouth opened and closed as if she would say something, but didn’t for a long moment. “You wouldn’t,” she whispered.

So, ’twas true. Her aunt really had slept with the guard. Seona was relieved. This might be the only way to keep Keegan safe. “Say anything against me or Keegan to my father and find out. He will no longer allow you to stay at Gillenmor and he will withdraw your funds. Where will your food and fancy clothing come from then?”

“You little strumpet!” her aunt hissed.

“No more than you are.”

Her aunt stood glaring daggers at her. “You are not the sweet innocent lady I thought you were.”

“I cannot say the same about you. I always knew you had a malicious streak.” Just like Father.

Her aunt’s eyes merely narrowed further.

“Do we have a deal?”

“Aye,” her aunt said through clenched teeth, then limped away as fast as her sore ankle would take her.

Hoping she’d done the right thing, Seona released a breath and stepped away from the alcove. Her gaze scanned the great hall and locked with Keegan’s. Immediately, he headed toward her.

Her heart rate spiked as it always did when he was near. She had hardly been able to sleep last night after the amazing things he’d done to her.

“Are you well?” he asked. “You appeared upset.”

“Aye.” She briefly explained the precarious deal she had with her aunt about keeping each other’s secrets.

“’Tis brilliant.” Keegan grinned. “You are more cunning than I realized.”

Truth was she’d do anything for him, to keep him safe.

“And you’ve already proven yourself a lady warrior.”

“I thank you.” She enjoyed the look of pride in his blue eyes.

Too soon, he sobered. “We’ll be heading out in a few minutes. Once we draw nearer to Gillenmor, Haldane will become more of a threat. Do you remember our knife-fighting lessons?”

A chill passed over her. “Aye.”

“And you still carry the knife I gave you?”

“Of course.” She placed her hand upon the weapon strapped to the inside of her forearm. ’Twas her most valued possession.

Keegan nodded. “I pray you won’t need it, but just in case. We suspect Haldane may increase his efforts in capturing you the closer we get to Gillenmor. He may have hired more men. We must be ready for anything.”

***

Seona, her aunt, and their two maids rode in the center of the two dozen men in their party. She was happy that Keegan rode to her left most of the way. She often watched him out of the corner of her eye. He and the rest of the guards were ever on alert. Talking was kept to a minimum, the only sounds the horses’ hooves striking the ground. She had been through this area a few times and knew they were only a mile or two from Gillenmor. Anguish weighed heavily on her heart with each step they took forward.

Up ahead, the narrow muddy road snaked through a small dark forest. Seona dreaded riding through there.

“Halt!” Keegan lifted his hand. “’Tis likely they are hiding in that wood, waiting to ambush us.”

The other men nodded, murmuring their agreement.

“I need ten or twelve of you to scout the wood and kill the outlaws if you find them,” Keegan said.

“Aye,” several of the men said, their eyes lighting with eagerness.

Fourteen men, both MacKays and MacKenzies, rode swiftly toward the wood. Everyone else waited in silence, watching. The breeze picked up, blowing the vibrant green grasses of the gently sloping meadows where cattle and sheep grazed. Crofters tended their crops in the distance, the soil rich and dark. Stone dykes and low-growing bushes divided up the fields.

’Twas a beautiful, calm area. Seona’s home. But it did not feel like home to her anymore. Nay. Now her home was the rough and craggy northern Highlands around Durness. ’Twas a wild and untamed place, filled with rocky terrain, prickly yellow gorse bushes, deep icy lochs and turbulent skies, but its beauty reminded her of Keegan. If she could be with him, she would be at home.

She glanced aside at him. His sharp gaze was fixed on the wood, as if he could almost see what was hidden in the trees. His whole body was tense, as if he was prepared to launch into battle at any moment. She prayed there would be no battle, no ambush or attacks. Why could Haldane not get it through is daft head she would never willingly marry him?

Keegan glanced at her, catching her gaze. The color of his eyes made her think of a blue flame, so intense and practically glowing with vibrant life. He gave her a faint, warm grin, then turned his attention back to the forest. How she loved his protectiveness and his strength of character.

A quarter hour later, the MacKay and MacKenzie men emerged from the forest. She counted all fourteen of them as them approached. Thank heavens no one had been hurt.

“We saw neither hide nor hair of them,” MacMillan reported.

“’Slud. Where are they hiding?” Keegan muttered. “We ride on, then. Be ever on alert.”

“Aye.”

They all urged their horses forward again, at a quicker pace than before, and were soon enshrouded by the forest. Seona had always been afraid of traveling through this area because of how dark it was, with the thick trees blocking out the sun. The air was cool and dank and smelled of rotting leaves. Some even said the wood was haunted because of the many people who had been murdered here. She had never seen a spirit, but she always got chills here.

Thankfully, the men increased their speed even more once within the wood. She was eager to leave it as well.

As they emerged from the trees, one of the guards on her far right yelled out a warning.

“There they are!” Keegan said. “The bastards.”

Haldane’s archer, Gil, was letting fly his arrows as fast as his arms would move. Two more men were shooting bows as well.

“Kill them!” Keegan shouted.

Most of the men leapt down from their horses and, with swords and targes in hand, charged Haldane’s outlaws. The MacKay archers nocked arrows and sent them soaring toward the enemies.

“Protect the women,” Keegan ordered, then sidled his horse up next to hers. “Seona, get on in front of me.” The look in his eyes was so fierce, she dared not disobey him.

She offered her arm and he dragged her onto his horse. “You hold the reins.”

His basket-hilt broadsword was in his right hand and his targe strapped to his other forearm. He locked this arm around her. She felt safer with the shield protecting her chest and Keegan at her back. But he put himself in far more danger acting as a human shield to her. Haldane would want to move the obstacle to get to her.

“Five of you stay with me and help protect Seona,” Keegan told the guards. “Haldane has a habit of attacking at the rear.”

“Aha!” Rebbie said, off to the left. “Here they are now. Guards!”

Around a dozen men charged them from the opposite direction.

“Saints,” Seona hissed. So many. Haldane must have hired more men.

Rebbie and several of the guards met the outlaws thirty feet away. Men who had been fighting the other contingent of Haldane’s gang soon joined them. Chaos erupted, swords clanged, men yelled out battle cries, vulgar names, and howls of pain.

“Come. Let’s move away from the skirmish,” Keegan called to the five guards surrounding them.

Seona glanced around, wondering where Aunt Patience was… and the maids. Behind her, MacMillan and two other guards had taken the women onto their horses with them. They all quickly moved forward along the road, further from the fighting.

Though Seona hated watching men die, she was glad to see that several of Haldane’s men fell under the onslaught of the MacKays and MacKenzies. The brigands were outnumbered. Keegan was canny to bring so many men with them.

Finally, the remaining outlaws gave up and fled, Haldane and McMurdo with them.

“Damnation,” Keegan muttered. “I should’ve killed him myself.”

Seona shook her head, not wishing to see Keegan engaged in one-to-one combat with Haldane. Certainly, she believed Keegan could best him, being five years his senior and more highly trained, but she didn’t want Keegan in that kind of danger.

“Are you well?” Keegan asked, his warm breath fanning the hair at her ear.

She shivered, relief flooding through her. “Aye. I thank you for protecting me.”

“’Tis my pleasure and a great honor.”

Six of their men were injured—cuts, stab wounds, an arrow protruding from one man’s shoulder—but they all remained on their feet.

“How far are we from Gillenmor?” Keegan asked her.

“About a mile or two. ’Tis over the next rise.”

“Does your father employ a healer?”

“Aye, there are two. I’m certain they will help your men.”

“Mount up,” Keegan called out. “’Tis about a mile or two to Gillenmor. The healer there will see to your wounds. And I thank you for your fearsome fighting skills. You have protected these ladies well.”

As they rode forward, Seona savored Keegan’s warm, hard body at her back. She prayed this would not be the last time she rode with him.

Once they’d topped the rise and Gillenmor Castle came into view in the distance, Keegan helped Seona back onto her own horse. The other women returned to their horses as well.

Seona was glad the danger from Haldane was behind them for the moment, but a new danger grew closer with each step they took toward Gillenmor—her father.