“I think ye did nae tell me the whole truth when we began this lesson,” Niall said as he pulled the dagger out of the tree bark. “Ye have done this before, aye?”
“Nae with a real knife.”
“All knives are real. Ye mean with a dull blade?”
Annie shook her head. “I used to practice throwing sticks at that tree.”
Niall would have smiled, but Annie looked so serious. “Were ye pretending to be a warrior, then?”
She hesitated. “Something like that.”
He had no trouble imagining Annie playacting the part. He doubted she’d ever been a docile lass staying indoors to keep her dresses clean. “So, did ye win?”
The pause was a little longer this time. “Nae. He…that is, thetreeis still standing.”
It would have been a humorous remark, except that her tone was flat. Niall furrowed his brows. Annie had saidhebefore she changed it. Had some man in the past tried to attack her? Niall didn’t think she meant the recent attempts, since she said she’dusedto practice. He started to ask, but she was holding her handout for the blade, a determined look on her face. Niall handed her the knife. His question would have to wait.
“Try hurling it a little harder this time.”
His words were barely out of his mouth when she let fly. The aim went wide, the weapon skittering off the side of the tree. Annie muttered something undistinguishable under her breath. Niall gave her a covert glance as he went to retrieve the knife.
“A word of advice, lass. Never let emotion control your throw.”
She frowned. “What do ye mean?”
This time, he was the one to pause. “Either anger or fear will break your concentration.”
Her chin lifted and she held her hand out for the knife. This time, she took careful aim, moved her left foot slightly forward for balance and took a deep breath as he’d instructed her to. The blade hit center.
“Verra good!”
“Thank ye.” Her lips lifted in a slight smile. “Now I will ken what to do if I meet a tree I doona like.”
Niall smiled too, glad to see whatever had been bothering her seemed to have disappeared. “Now I want to show ye how to use the blade in close quarters.” He stepped forward and grasped her wrist before she realized what he was doing and then pressed his thumb in a strategic place between her knuckles that caused her hand to open. The knife clattered to the ground.
“’Tis nae fair! I dinna ken ye were going to do that.”
“Ye will nae get fair warning if a man intends to accost ye.”
“Then tell me what I’m supposed to do.”
As she bent down to pick up the blade, Niall stepped to one side and reached around her waist, pinning her arms to her sides as he picked her up. She let out a surprised squeal.
“Let me go!” She squirmed furiously against him. “What do ye think ye are doing?”
Niall set her down, all too aware of how the undersides of her breasts had grazed the tops of his arms as she wiggled. How lush and surprisingly heavy they were. And how delicious her backside had felt against his groin as she struggled to get free. This might not have been the best idea he’d ever had. He stepped away, glad for once that he was wearing breeches that at least kept his obvious reaction in check. Annie’s reaction was obvious too, only it wasn’t amorous. Her face was red and she scowled.
“Why did ye do that?”
“I wanted to impress on ye how quickly ye could be overcome.”
Her eyes shot blue flames at him. “’Tis a good thing I doona have that knife.”
“Aye, ’tis,” Niall said and retrieved it in one fluid motion and then carefully sheathed it inside his belt. “I think we’ll be using a blunt stick as I teach ye to defend yourself, since I prefer to keep all my parts attached.”
Her face went crimson and Niall hoped he hadn’t pushed her too far. He wanted her a little angry so he would be able to point out to her where her weakness lay in defense. He walked to the tree and picked up a stout twig that had fallen and then went back to hand it to her.
“Pretend this is a knife. Come at me. Give it your best thrust.” He felt his cock stir as soon as the word was out.Thrustmay not have been the best word to bring to mind.
