Before she knew what was happening, he laidher on the leaf-strewn ground and tugged at her skirts.
"Dugald, what are you doing?" shechastised.
"I want you, lass. I cannot get enough ofyou," he murmured between kisses. "What say you?" The infinitepassion in his dark eyes held her spellbound.
How could she refuse him when she burned forhim?
One last time.
She drew him to her. "Oui,maintenant."
"What does that mean?"
"Yes, now." She pulled at his kilt, drawingit upward until she exposed him. She slid her hand along hisfevered shaft.
He hissed a breath then quickly got onto hisknees and pulled her to sit on his thighs. Their clothing coveredthem completely. Slowly, he impaled her upon his shaft and theysighed in blissful union. He lifted and lowered her. Soon, shejoined him in the frenzied, desperate rhythm, kissing him,devouring his delectable mouth.
When the climax seized her, making her feelas if she were flying toward the heavens, a cry burst from hermouth. Dugald covered her lips with his own and clutched hertightly to him. He shuddered within her. Pressing his face to hers,he growled into her ear.
"Saints, lass," he hissed, slipping from herbody. "You will be my undoing."
He was already her undoing. She didn't knowwhat she would do without him. She'd been foolish and fallen inlove with him.
She drew back a few inches. "Dugald." Lookingdeep into his forest green eyes, she stroked his stubble-roughenedcheek. For that moment, she felt him gazing into her soul. But, asif the intensity was too great, he glanced away, helped her standand arose himself. Their clothing fell back into place. She waited,hoping he would say more, but he silently tucked her hand aroundhis elbow and led her from the wood.
Why would he not say more? She could almosthear the words he wanted to say, but only the shuffling of the dampleaves under their feet and the twittering of the birds overheadfilled the silence between them.
When they emerged, the men pretended toignore them… at least most of them did. A low murmur reached herears but she didn't understand the words. Gaelic. And then asnicker. Abruptly, Dugald yanked a man off his horse and threw himto the ground. "One more sound from you, Guaire, or any of you, andyou'll be relieved of your sword and sent on your way. Do youunderstand?" he yelled.
"Aye, m'laird," several answered.
"Good." He helped Camille mount. "Bastards,"he hissed between clenched teeth, then glared around at the men.None of them would dare make eye contact. Focusing on her again, hewhispered, "Are you well?"
She nodded, her heart pounding hard as shewatched Guaire slowly rise to his feet. The men were judging herand they had every right, but still, it hurt. Made her ashamed. Butshe could not deny Dugald or her feelings for him. He felt as rightand natural as drawing her next breath. She hoped he would realizehow good they were together.
Thank the saints he wasn't planning to marrythe MacVay girl. And Camille was thrilled he had been unable tokeep his hands off her when they went into the wood. She knew deepdown it meant naught, but she still felt she had a slight reprieve.She could make a good chief's wife. Why not? Though her father wasno Highland chief and she could bring no alliances to the marriage,she could bring other things. Passion, for one.
Did Dugald really wish to marry one of thosedull girls he had no interest in?
***
Late that afternoon, Camille heard the hoofbeats of many horses before she saw them approaching in thedistance across the moor.
"Halt!" Dugald commanded, slowing his ownmount. Staring into the distance, he said, "'Tis a garrison of twodozen."
Shielding her eyes from the sun peekingthrough the clouds, Camille nodded. Focusing on their fair-hairedleader, she realized who they were. "It is Lachlan!"
"Who?" Dugald asked.
"My cousin's husband. LachlanMacGrath-Drummagan, the Earl of Draughon." Although she was glad tosee Lachlan, dread also weighed heavily upon her, for this meantshe would have to sayau revoirto Dugald and allow Lachlanand his men to take her home to Draughon.
"What the devil is he doing out here?" Dugaldfrowned darkly.
"Mayhap searching for me? The guards andservants who were with me in Perth must have returned to Draughonand told him of my disappearance."
"Damnation!" Dugald grumbled. "I expecttrouble from him, and we are outnumbered. I only brought a dozenmen this time."
"Non!Lachlan is a fair man."
