“Ye took a nasty spill, lass.” She blinked, and he was glad to see her pupils were normal sized. Bumps to the head could be dangerous. Very carefully, he traced his fingers along the sides of her neck, over her shoulders and down her arms, checking for broken bones. When his hands encased her ribs, she gasped.
“Ye are in pain? Tell me where.” If Mari had broken ribs, he’d need to wrap them before trying to move her.
“Not too much,” she managed to say.
“Well, lie still until I know ye have nothing broken.”
Her eyes widened as his hands slid down her hips, thumbs stroking the pelvis bones, but she remained quiet. Jamie tried not to think about how close his fingers were to the tantalizing juncture between her thighs. He forced himself to concentrate on her legs, although his wayward cock didn’t think that was much of a distraction. Christ, he should be ashamed of himself for lusting after hernow.
“I dinnae think ye have any broken bones,” he said as Yancy and Nevin approached. If Jamie had not been so concerned about Mari’s condition, he would have throttled the both of them.
“Is she all right?” Nevin asked.
“No thanks to either of youeejits.”
Yancy cleared his throat. “Is there anything we can do?”
What they could do was go jump in the Thames, but Jamie held back the retort. “Aye. One of ye can get the carriage from the townhouse and bring it back. The other can get the doctor and have him waiting when we return.”
“I will retrieve a carriage since I live closer,” Nevin said, turning his horse.
“I will call on the doctor then,” Yancy added, as he spurred his mount to follow Nevin.
Jamie sat back on his haunches after they left. “Are ye sure ye feel all right?”
Mari nodded as he helped her to sit. “I think I just had the breath knocked out of me.”
“’Tis my fault this happened. Ye said ye were nae comfortable with the horse—”
“It is not your fault or the animal’s,” Mari interrupted. “You always tell me to pay attention, and I let the reins go slack.”
“Ye dinnae blame the beastie then?”
She shook her head. “If there is one thing Jillian instilled in me regarding horses, it is the rider is always at fault.”
Jamie gave her a look of admiration. “’Tis the mark of a horsewoman to think like that.”
“Well, I do not know I will ever be a horsewoman,” Mari answered as she stood, holding on to Jamie’s shoulders for balance, “but next time I will follow your instructions.”
He could hardly believe his ears. “Ye are finally going to follow my orders?”
“Not yourorders.” Mari paused and then gave him a tentative smile. “But I might be open toconsideringwhat you have to say.”
Her smile was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. To think the lass could have been seriously hurtor even worse… Jamie stared into the depths of her eyes, blue as any Highland loch, and he circled his arms around her waist.
Mari stared back at him. She swallowed, the tip of her pink tongue darting out to wet her lips.
Jamie drew her to him and bent to capture her mouth with his. The warm, lush softness of her lips nearly overpowered him. Mari’s hands crept slowly around his neck until she twined her fingers in his hair. When he heard her moan deep in her throat, he deepened the kiss. To his delight, she parted her lips, allowing him entrance. He slipped his tongue inside, letting himself leisurely explore the sweet taste of her mouth. When her tongue tangled with his in response, his cock swelled painfully against his breeches, and he twisted his hip away, not wanting to frighten her with the hard, thick length of him. Mari mewled softly, melding against him, and he reluctantly broke off the kiss before he embarrassed himself like a green lad.
He had promised Ian and Jillian he would protect Mari—and that meant from himself as well.
The lass really was going to be the death of him.
