The Highlander's Lady (14 page)

“Lass…”

She glanced up at him,
a
question in her eyes. How could he phrase this without giving her the wrong idea?

“For the purposes of warmth, ye might consider sharing our plaids.”

Her delicate brow rose and he had the urge to kiss the arc of it.

“Share your plaid?”

“Aye.” He nodded toward his men. “Nothing else
.
I’d never compromise ye in front of my men.”

“But ye would if they were
not
here?”

Daniel chuckled. “Ye play my words back at me. Nay, if ye recall our night in the inn. Ye slept in my arms the whole
night through and not once did I touch ye
inappropriately
.” He paused
,
watching her lick her lips nervously. “Ye however, did take a moment to quell your curiosity.”

Even in the shadows of the fire he could see the blush on her cheeks. Her mouth opened in shock and outrage and she let out a snort.

“Ye know not what ye speak,” she said with a shake of her head.

Daniel grinned wider. “Dinna I? Did ye not trace your pretty little fingers all over my arm? I tell ye, there are other parts of my body jealous of this appendage.” He raised the arm he spoke of, feeling the strokes of her fingers as though she were doing so now. He’d been shocked when he’d awoken to her touching him, exploring his muscles, the point of his elbow, but he’d not stopped her. In truth
,
he was just as fascinated as she was, but he suspected for different reasons.

Myra’s blush grew deeper. “Ye’re a bo
o
r.”

“Mayhap I am, but it was ye who touched
me
.”

“Would ye rather it was the other way around?”

Daniel couldn’t believe his ears. He scooted closer to her. “Aye.”

Myra’s face
paled;
clearly she’d not thought he’d answer in the affirmative.

“But I willna—unless ye want me too.”

She shook her head vehemently. “Nay. But I will share your warmth.”

“Good, then we shall be sure to wake in the morning,
instead of freezing to death
” he teased.

Scooting even closer, Daniel opened the plaid he’d wrapped around himself and invited her inside. Myra nestled beside him, her shoulder against his ribs. He felt the curve of her shoulder keenly, liking the pressure of her body beside his, and not only in a sexual way. It was comforting to have her with him, to feel her warmth.

“
Will ye n
ot
tell me what happened?” he asked.

“Happened?”

“Aye. What happened that ye ended up in the woods alone?”

“Oh, that.”

She stayed quiet for so long, Daniel wondered if she’d fallen asleep. But then she sighed deeply and glanced up at him. Her eyes sparkled, flickers of the fire dancing in their depths. The world around them tunnel
ed
away, leaving just the two of them. He flicked his
gaze
over her mouth, wanting to kiss her, but also not wanting to break the spell. She looked on the verge of telling him something.

“I told ye I have a message to deliver.”

“Aye.”

“’Tis a matter of life or death.”

Daniel put his arm around her, offering his warmth but a measure of comfort too.”

“Death? Whose death?”

Myra pressed her lips together, her eyes still searching his. “Can I trust ye?”

“Aye. I am your
husband;
ye shall never have to fear that I’d betray ye. I am your protector.”

“That is not the same thing.”

“What do ye mean?”

“Ye can still be my protector and betray my trust.”

“How?”

“If what I tell ye displeases ye, ye could make sure I not deliver it, all while making sure I am still protected. This message is not about myself. ’Tis about all of Scotland and Scotland’s king. If ye betray me, the entire country and everyone who lives here will feel the weight of your duplicity.”

Daniel nodded. Whatever it was she he
l
d within her beautiful head, it was heavy.

“I’ll not betray ye, lass. Never.”

“Even if ye dinna agree with it?”

“Even then.”

“Truly?” She gave him a look like he was mad.

“My word is my honor, without it, I have none. I give ye my word
, ye can trust me and I’d never betray ye
.”

“Thank ye.”

But she said no more, instead she laid her head against his shoulder and snuggled deeper within her plaid.

Daniel leaned back against the stone, resigned to fall asleep with no further information tonight. But strangely, he wasn’t upset about that. Nay, in fact he felt that they’d grown closer. He understood that trust was the foundation of a good relationship. Oddly enough, he didn’t expect her to just tell him all. While
s
he still
hadn’t told him everything
, he’d gained a lot. He was growing closer to her, gaining her trust and soon, when she was ready, she would tell him what she knew, and he’d be able to better protect her—and Scotland.

Daniel closed his eyes, leaning his head back. The cold of the mountain was dulled by the warmth of his wool plaid.

“Did ye
remember
Byron Munro?” she asked quietly.

“Aye, lass. He was a good man.”

“Was?” she stiffened.

Damn.
In his near sleep he’d said the wrong word—
was
when he should have said
is
.

Quick to reply, he said, “I was at my cousins’ when his widow arrived.”

“Oh,” she said.

He waited for her to say more
, to admit she was Byron’s sister
, but she didn’t. He was glad she didn’t pull away, that her stiffened muscles relaxed, and he remained on alert until her breaths grew even.

“I remember
ye too,” he whispered, knowing she wouldn’t hear him.

Chapter Twelve

M
yra woke with a start, but was soothed by the warm
th of Daniel’s
strong body,
where she
nestled in the crook of his arm. The weight of his hand on her hip, the steady sound of his breaths
were
soothing. She blinked her eyes open, finding herself once more studying him as he slept,
and feeling completely at ease
.

She didn’t dare explore him this time—not only because his men were within view, but because he’d woken last time and
had
not stopped her.

Oh, the humiliation at realizing he’d been completely aware of every touch, stroke, squeeze. Her face flamed once more with the memory of it and how much she wished to do so again.

Slowly she picked up his hand and removed it, then with just as much stealth she climbed from the beneath the plaid they’d shared. Myra stretched her arms up over her head and studied what bit of the sky above she could see through the thin mountain gap. Clouds still covered up the blue of the sky, but instead of grey, they were now white. Snow no longer fell, but the air was frigid.

Not wanting to wake Daniel to escort her to the giant fir for the privacy she required, Myra picked her steps carefully to the edge of the gap. The grounds outside of their shelter were covered completely in a blanket of thick white snow. Thank goodness they’d found a place to rest. As it was, the snow dusted onto the floor of their refuge rising in a slow arch, she guessed at least six inches deep.

Myra contemplated returning
to
the warmth of Daniel’s sleeping embrace instead of having to stick her feet into the deep snow. Granted, she wore thick leather boots, but they weren’t very high, rising just a couple inches above her
ankles.
Her bladder however was not willing to contemplate returning to bed. With a heavy sigh and a muttered oath, Myra plunged her foot into the snow, instantly feeling the cold through her boot.

She shivered and rubb
ed
her arms beneath her cloak but trudged ahead. Half walking, half running she made it to the fir tree. After finishing her business
,
she stood to return, but a sound stopped her.

Sounded like a snort or growl.

“
Oh…” she said under her breath, praying it wasn’t a wolf or wildcat.

There was nothing in sight, but the snorting sound was ominous and echoed off of every surface.

Eyes on the cave she walked slowly back toward it, praying that she made it before whatever animal warned her of its intent to attack actually did so. Then came the distinct roaring squeal that tore her heart from her chest and had panic setting in deep.

A boar.

Boars were fast as devils and mad as demons. If one caught up to her
t
here would be no escape, she’d be speared through and through by one of its deadly tusks. Fear like she’d never known set in. Myra lifted her skirts, let out a scream and ran.
From behind, pounding, angry snorts followed her. Blood
rushed
in her ears and her breaths came so fast she nearly choked on them.

As she ran, her feet sinking deep into the snow, her toe caught on something
sending her flying forward. Myra landed hard on her hands and knees
, sinking into the snow,
but
that
didn’t stop
her from
moving. To stop meant certain death. She scrambled on all fours, her hands stinging with the cold until she was able to gain her footing. Men spilled from the mountain gap
,
weapons drawn. The roar that split the air from Daniel’s lips was more chilling than the sounds of the wild boar that chased her.

“Daniel, help me,” she squeaked, throat tight.

Sword drawn,
Daniel
searched the area. His
eyes immediately me
t hers, then looked behind her.

“Myra!”
Daniel ran toward her, his long legs stretching over more ground than hers could ever manage. He lifted her into the air, his arm around her waist, and ran back to the cave, thrusting her inside. He didn’t say anything, didn’t look at her again, but whirled back around to fight off the enraged wild beast that was charging at first one of his men and then another.

Myra leaned against the cold stone, pressing her cheek against the hardness and allowing the cool to calm her somewhat. But it didn’t work. Her heart still pounded
,
her breaths were hitched and fear raced through her veins. She was no longer afraid for her own life, but for Daniel’s and his men. But mostly Daniel.

Not allowing herself to blink, she stared wide
-
eyed as the men all shouted trying to distract and confuse the boar. They waved their arms, and when the boar charged, they swung their swords, some slicing, some missing.

Myra pressed her hand to her heart, fearing she might
faint
. Daniel too arched his sword and swung, his feet leaving the ground
as he leapt
with the force of his assault. Time
stood
still as he swung downward just as the boar leapt into the air, its sharp, long tusks aimed right at Daniel’s chest.

“Daniel!” she screamed, the sound cracking the air. N
ay
! She couldn’t lose him.

Daniel’s sword struck home, slicing through the boar’s neck, just as the animal’s
own daggers skimmed his chest. Daniel and the beast
both fell to the ground in a heap of heaving breaths. Myra ran
toward him
.

She couldn’t lose him now. Not when she’d just found him…
Not when she was starting to feel…
Even if he’d broken her heart before, she still
—

“Daniel,” she sobbed, dropping beside him in the snow.

Myra grabbed onto his thick arms
,
rolling him onto his back. Two streaks of red stained the front of his leine shirt.

“Oh, God… Ye’re hurt.”

He gazed up at her, his eyes filled with some unexplained emotion, and he shook his head. “Nay, not too bad.”

“Ye’re bleeding.”

“I’ve bled many times.”

Leo and a few other men grabbed the boar by its legs and dragged it away.

“Seems we’ll have a savory meal to break ou
r
fast,” Daniel said.

Why was he being so casual? Myra wanted to strike him. He’d scared the life from her. She’d been so afraid of losing him, even come face to face with a feeling she didn’t want to confront.
An intense feeling for him that gripped her heart and squeezed.

Myra shook her head.
Nay. She wouldn’t even consider it.
She was confused. All the stress of the attack at Foulis, killing the man in the woods and nearly being skewered by a boar had made her emotional. Such stresses often put odd thoughts in one’s head, and even drew people closer because of them. Myra refused to believe she had anything more than friendly feelings for the man lying on the ground in front of her. Anything else she was feeling was purely a condition of the events leading up to this moment. Nothing more.

“Lass, ’tis all right.” Daniel brushed his fingers over her cheek and she leaned into his touch.

“I thought…” Myra’s voice broke and she took a moment to try and compose herself. “I was scared.”

Myra watched Daniel clench his teeth, his jaw muscles flexing. She met his gaze and watched as his eyes changed from nonchalant to intense. They darkened, his whole face
appearing
to do so.

“Me too.”

Her eyes widened at his confession. “Ye were?”

“Aye. Watching ye run for your life… Time seemed to stand still.”

“That was how it was for me,” she whispered.

Silence filled the space between them as the things they said, and the things that were left unsaid, sank in.
Those feelings returned, unwanted as they were. Chills snaked up and down her arms.

Without thinking, Myra leaned down, her breasts pressing to his chest as she touched her lips to his. H
is
skin was cold, his breath hot.

She shivered, gripped his shoulders, never wanting to let go. Daniel slipped one arm around her waist, holding her tight, the other threading into her hair, pulling her mouth ever closer. As one
,
their tongues touched, an instant spark of heat that had them both losing control. They kissed with desperate abandon, knowing that moments before either one of them could have been killed.

In that kiss
,
they told each other how much they needed each other, and yet, Myra knew they were not meant to be, just as Daniel must know it.
Abruptly, he
broke the kiss.
Myra
felt the loss keenly, and more so, what that meant. Kneeling back
,
she
pushed to stand. She offered him a hand, but he didn’t take it. Instead he easily stood, not even using a hand in the snow to brace himself. Another testament to his strength and dexterity.

Myra’s cheeks flamed with untamed emotion and frustration. She was glad for the cold that
had
turn
ed
everyone’s skin a tinge of red.

“We are both safe now. Dinna go out alone
,
again
.
” Daniel
’s
tone
was
a mix of fear and anger. He took her by the elbow and led her back inside the mountain crevice.

Guilt flooded Myra. She’d thought to wake him, but didn’t. If she had, perhaps he would have sensed the boar to begin with. He wouldn’t be hurt as he was now. She glanced around the men, witnessing a few others with scratches from
the boar’s tusks. No one appeared to be overly harmed. At least that was on her side, she wouldn’t be blamed for someone’s death
or ghastly injury
.

Those who’d taken the boar
to prepare
it for cooking
made a makeshift spit to roast the animal. Myra prayed the scent of cooking meat didn’t bring any hungry animals—or men for that matter. Daniel must have had the same fear as he issued orders for the men to take turns on watch.

Myra settled back against the wall within the plaid once more, trying to regain some feeling in her fingers. They were frozen through and an irritated red from being in the cold and from landing in the snow. She closed her eyes for a moment, sending prayers of thanks to the Heavens for having kept her safe and for keeping Daniel safe. Her heart finally settled, no longer paining her with its rapid beats. Tears threatened to spill but she willed them away. Now was not the time for tears.

Now was the time for contemplation.

Why had she kissed Daniel? What compe
lled her? But more than a simple
kiss, she’d hungered for his touch. Thrust her tongue against his, gripped his shoulders like she feared being wrenched away.

She just needed to get to Eilean Donan. Once there, she could unburden herself with the news for the Bruce and then she could return home. Distance herself from Daniel.
Return to where she felt safe…
o
nly, she felt safe with him. He made her not want to return to the walls of Foulis. Made her want to explore the world, to enjoy this newfound freedom, even if it meant a lifetime of not knowing what to expect.

“How long do ye intend for us to stay here?” she asked him.

Daniel turned from tending the fire to glance at her. Some unexplained emotion flashed in his eyes before he turned back to spin the boar.

“We shall stay and eat. I’m hopeful the afternoon sun will melt a bit of the snow and we can be on our way. If it doesna, we will leave in the morn.”

“I must reach Eilean Donan. ’Tis urgent. How far away are we?” She’d lost track of time, days and felt rather hopeless at having no idea where she was.

“We are only a few days away, lass. I will get ye there.” He stood from his spot beside the fire and sauntered toward her, his strong legs bared at the knee.
Flashes of masculine flesh, a sprinkling of darkened hair.
Myra wrenched her eyes away to gaze at his face. There was a spark of humor in his eyes and she cursed him all the more.