Then he kissed her, fiercely, hungrily, as if his life depended on it. Their tongues duelled, lips caressed as they whispered, moaned and sighed their desire for each other. Hamish felt as though he was about to explode, he was so ready to make love to Amanda again, and knew he always would be.
Then suddenly it occurred to him why he wanted—no, needed her—so much. It was because he loved her.
He was astounded, since this was utterly new to him. He had never expected to feel this way—ever. He had lain with many women, he knew he was a handsome man but never spoke about it lest he be thought of as vain. But none of them had ever affected him like this.
At last, reluctantly, he drew away from Amanda and smiled at her. “We have to rise from bed sometime,” he said. “We both have things to do.”
Amanda sighed and nodded. “I know you’re right,” she said sadly. “But can you wait just a little while longer?”
Hamish saw the mischief in her eyes as she reached underneath his kilt and took hold of his shaft, which hardened immediately at her touch. They had both slept in their clothes, having been in too much of a hurry to undress, and there were too many people busy around the camp for them to be lying naked.
“What would you like to do?” he asked.
“I would like to see you lying beside me absolutely naked,” she answered. “That’s something I desperately want to see. You must be magnificent.”
“I would love to see you too,” he replied, his body tingling at the thought, “but I’m afraid that’s impossible. If I could, I would stay with you for the rest of the day and all night, but we need to make plans.” He reached under his kilt to grasp her hand, which was still holding his shaft, and drew in a sharp breath. “If you keep on doing that, Amanda, you are going to make me explode!”
“Hmm.” Amanda looked mischievous. “You must teach me about all this, Hamish. I may be a healer, but there are many things about a man’s body that I don’t know and still have to learn.”
“Gladly,” Hamish murmured, then kissed her again, a kiss that was gentle, sweet, but infinitely sensual.
Amanda knew that they had to rise and start the business of the day, so she reluctantly got to her feet and smoothed down her dress, which was full of wrinkles. Still, she thought, the poor garment had earned them!
She smelled of Hamish’s distinctive male scent, and wondered if the women would notice. She sometimes imagined them to be just like feral cats, territorial and fierce—especially Fiona. She decided to keep her distance from all of them that day.
At that moment, her stomach rumbled loudly, and Amanda realised that she had neither eaten nor drunk since the previous afternoon. She was absolutely ravenous.
Hamish raised his eyebrows in amusement. “Time for breakfast, I think,” he observed. “We need to restore our strength!”
Amanda giggled, but did not ask why; she knew the answer. She crept out of the tent and circled around the trees, trying to stay out of sight until she reached her tent, where she quickly changed her dress. Then she went to fetch porridge and warmmilk from beside the fire, knowing all the time that she was being watched.
Some of the women had begun to warm to her a little after they saw and experienced her healing skills, but Fiona was not one of them. Her hostility was still evident as her eyes followed Amanda back to her tent, and she could feel Fiona’s stare like a target on her back.
Dusk was falling earlier and earlier now that winter was approaching, and Hamish was deeply apprehensive about attacking Inchkeith Castle at night, but they needed stealth, and stealth meant darkness.
The party of men Hamish had assembled was seated around a fire just outside Hamish’s tent, thrashing out a plan and refining it until it was as near perfect as it could be. When it had been crafted to Hamish’s satisfaction, he went to fetch Amanda.
She had been a bag of nerves all day, and even though she had plenty of minor scratches and ailments to treat, she found her mind wandering in spite of her trying to concentrate on her work. Amanda was quite simply terrified, and at one point almost talked herself into backing out altogether, but as she thought of the poor people in the village, she realised she could not do it. She was needed quite desperately, and she would not let them down.
Presently, Gregor appeared beside her. “Ye’re wanted, Amanda,” he told her.
Amanda nodded silently and fell into step beside him as they walked to Hamish’s tent.
“I know ye’re frightened,” Gregor said gently. “An’ I cannae tell ye there will be nae danger because that wouldnae be true, but there will be plenty o’ us there tae protect ye.”
“I know, and thank you, Gregor,” she replied. “But I would not be human if I weren’t frightened.”
Gregor put a friendly arm around her shoulders. “I know what it’s like tae be scared, Amanda,” he said soothingly. “I have been terrified many times, but ye will fight an’ overcome it. Ye are a brave woman.”
“You are very kind, Gregor,” Amanda said, smiling doubtfully. “I wish I were as confident as you are.”
They came to the circle of men sitting on rough blankets on the grass around the fire, and Amanda waited for a moment while a glass of mulled ale was poured for her.
Then Gregor began to speak. “Amanda, thank ye for what ye’re doin’, but are ye sure? If ye feel it’s too much for ye, we can find another way.”
Amanda shook her head firmly. “I am quite sure, Hamish,” she replied. “I would never forgive myself if I didn’t help those poor people. They need me.”
Hamish’s smile was warm. “Thank you.” He paused for a moment as if gathering his thoughts. “This is the plan. You will go to Struan with a cover story about being attacked and held by bandits, then tell him you’re going to treat his leg. It will be best if you can completely immobilise him. Once you’re sure that the coast is clear, you will go to the tallest tower and light a candle where you’re sure our men can see it; they will be waiting outside. When they see it, they will attack the castle, but you will not be harmed.”
