She sat back on her heels and trailed one hand slowly over the laces of her shirt. “Then, look all you want, for that’s the only pleasure you’ll ever get from me.”
To her dismay, he threw his head back and roared with laughter.
“Oh, Maggie,” he said after he sobered. “If I dinna know better, I’d swear you were an experienced little minx. Now, go to sleep. I already told you, I have no interest in tupping with you in the woods. But when I find a bed...”
She’d run as fast as her legs could carry her. After what had already happened, she knew she couldn’t resist him for long once he touched her.
And his kisses...
It was enough to make a woman forget herself, for sure.
Realizing the virtue of retreat, she settled herself down before the fire. She had just begun to relax a bit when Braden joined her.
“What are you doing?” she asked hurriedly as she remembered the way his body had felt shielding her from the ground.
“I’m bringing you an extra plaid.” He draped it over her.
“Thank you.” She tried her best not to notice the way his scent clung to the fabric. Or worse, the way his hands felt on her body as he smoothed the material over her.
When he left her, she could feel her entire body temperature drop to the point she really did need the extra plaid.
Her heart felt torn as he settled himself across from her. The rational part of her was grateful, but her heart ached at the loss of his comfort.
Sighing, she forced herself to concentrate on what she would say to the MacDouglas when she met him. That was a relatively safe topic. One that diverted her thoughts from Braden.
At least for a little bit.
That night, Maggie slept from sheer exhaustion.
She came awake just after dawn to see Braden looking straight at her, his face unreadable.
Self-conscious from his attention, she brushed her hair with her hands, and wondered what he had been thinking as he watched her sleep.
“Good morning,” he said in greeting.
“Good morning.” She pushed back the plaid as she stood. She glanced to where Sin slept a few feet away. “Should I wake Sin?”
“Not if you’re of a mind to be keeping your head on your shoulders.”
She frowned at his words.
Braden moved to stand between her and his brother. Instead of reaching out to touch Sin, or speaking, he pulled his sword an inch out of the scabbard, so carefully that only a tiny, barely perceptible rasping sound disturbed the air.
But it was enough.
Lightning quick and in one fluid motion, Sin rolled to his feet. With the toe of his left foot, Sin caught his scabbard and kicked it from the ground into his hands where he unsheathed his long sword in a quick, graceful arc and whirled to face them.
The blade came to rest a mere inch from Braden’s neck as Maggie froze, too scared to breathe.
His face deadly and tight, Sin only relaxed when he realized it was she and Braden who had disturbed him.
Sin cursed. “I really hate it when you do that.” He sheathed his sword.
Braden gave her a warning stare. “Never touch him while he sleeps. Or if you do so, duck.”
“I will remember that.”
As if unperturbed by the strangeness of his actions, Sin stretched casually, then yawned. “Still no sign of our bandits?”
