Easy for him to say. He barely even looked out of breath. “I’m fine,” she lied, her breath coming in short gasps.
As they neared the top of the hill, the ground became increasingly uneven, loose stones rolling down the way they’d come. Molly’s foot slipped and she stumbled backwards with a cry, her body tensing as she braced for the impact. But the impact didn’t come. Before she could hit the ground, Conall was there, dashing downhill and wrapping his arms around her before she could fall. Their bodies pressed together, their breaths intermingling as they struggled to regain their footing.
Finally, Molly caught her balance. She found herself looking into Conall’s piercing gray eyes. They were dark and tempestuous.
“Steady there, lass” Conall said, his voice low and husky.
“Phew. That was close,” Molly muttered, unable to tear her gaze from his. She could feel the hard planes of Conall’s chest against hers, the strength of the arms that held her. Her heart was beating so fast she felt light-headed.
Without warning, Conall leaned forward and kissed her. His lips were warm and inviting, their touch gentle yet insistent. For an instant, she went rigid with shock.
Then she ignited. Before she realized what she was doing, she was kissing him back, melting into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Something like electricity suddenly seemed to be zinging through her veins.
The kiss deepened. Her body tingled. This is what she had wanted, what she’d dreamed of, even if she hadn’t been able to admit it to herself. This was....amazing.
“Oh dear,” said a gruff voice suddenly. “Not interrupting anything are we?”
They sprang apart and spun to find themselves surrounded by a group of armed men, swords glinting. Molly swallowed hard, trying to quell the fear that threatened to choke her. The wind whispered through the swaying grass as she tried to steady her racing heart. What was happening?
Conall drew his sword with a swift, metallic ring and pushed Molly behind him.
“Stay close,” he murmured.
The leader of the armed men, the one who’d spoken, stepped forward. His eyes were fixed on Conall, unwavering and calculating. He was a tall man, broad-shouldered and had a round gut straining against his shirt.
“State yer business here,” Conall demanded, his voice low and dangerous, like the growl of a wolf defending its territory.
Molly’s eyes flicked over the armed men. Could they be the raiders who’d attacked Lanwick?
“There’s no need for that, Lord Sinclair,” the leader said, raising his eyebrow. “We mean ye no harm. We are merely here to escort ye.”
Molly blinked. These men knew Conall?
“Escort me?” Conall scoffed, his grip on his sword tightening. “Or restrain me?”
“Depends if ye resist,” the leader replied with a shrug. “Yer choice.”
Molly could feel Conall’s anger, a palpable energy crackling in the air.
“What do you want with us?” Molly demanded, her courage flaring as she faced the leader of the armed men. “We’ve done nothing to you!”
“Ye’ve got spirit, lass,” the leader acknowledged with a smirk. “But ye needn’t worry. Like I said we’re simply here to escort his lordship. It’s been too long since he’s graced us with his presence.”
“Escort?” Molly retorted. “What kind of escort surrounds a man with armed warriors?”And what do you mean, ‘his lordship’?
The man didn’t answer, turning back to Conall instead. “My orders come from the top, yer lordship. Ye ken as well as I do what that means. Neither of us has any choice. The falcon has spoken.”
Conall glowered at him for a long moment, then sheathed his sword. “Fine. We’ll come with ye but none of ye will lay a hand on Molly, or I swear ye’ll regret it.”
“Of course!” the leader replied with a disdainful wave. “What sort of men do ye think we are? Neither of ye will come to harm as long as ye dinna give us any trouble.”
“Conall, what’s going on?” Molly whispered. “Who are these men?”
“They’ll take us where we need to go,” he replied. “Trust me.”
Molly eyed the men warily. “Do I have a choice?”
Her boots sank into the damp earth as she trudged along, surrounded on all sides by the armed men. They set a harsh pace and she found herself almost having to trot to keep up with them. They’d said she was in no danger but that didn’t stop her constantly glancing at the swords strapped to their sides.
