The brigand narrowed his eyes. "Where are they? And how many horses?"
"Two horses. My large black warhorse and a wee chestnut mare belonging to my lady. The two are traveling north through the glen." He pointed. "The wench is a beautiful, flame-haired lass."
The man's brows shot up, and he sneered. "Aye, we'll get your horses back. But the task sounds perilous. We'll need half the pay now."
After they negotiated a payment amount, a meeting time, and a place for the exchange, Alpin climbed the stairs to wake Wilona and let her know of his exceptional fortune.
***
THOUGH TORR DIDN'Twant to stop for the night, the sun hung low in the orange-pink sky. He would shift to kelpie form soon. When he'd felt Cat's hands relax around his waist, he'd held onto her wrist, assuming she'd fallen asleep. Her head lay against his upper back.
They had taken few breaks, for he wanted this ridiculous trip over. There was no chance in hell that Lady Elsea would return to Brodie. Surely, she knew Brodie would reject her.
But Cat was determined. He could not disappoint the lass by refusing her.
"Cat?" He jiggled her arm and tried to peer back at her.
"Hmm?"
"Are you awake?"
She sat back, then glanced around. "I am now."
After bringing his leg across the horse's lowered neck, he leapt off, then helped her down. He had seen her jump to the ground earlier, but she appeared too drowsy for that kind of agility at the moment. When he released her, she stumbled, moaned, and rubbed her derriere. He wished he could do that for her.
Imagining doing just that, he almost groaned but clenched his teeth instead.
She gazed up at him, all sleepy-eyed enticement. "I'm nay accustomed to riding all day."
He nodded, for he understood. Since the curse began, he rarely traveled long distances, though he rode Hercules almost daily to exercise him.
"I thank you for allowing me to ride behind you." She sent him that coquettish grin, which he used to consider annoying, but now he regarded it as more and more captivating each time she did it. He peered beneath the grin and found her naivety charming.
"I want to make certain you're safe." He forced himself to walk away and attend to the horses.
"That's so kind and honorable of you," she persisted, following him.
He shrugged, downplaying it, but he was glad she considered him honorable. "I would never wish Brodie's wee sister to be injured."
Aye, 'twas good to remind himself why he must keep his hands off her.
"I'm nay just Brodie's wee sister; I'm a woman now." She pulled her shoulders back in a blatant show of bravery, which thrust her breasts forward provocatively.
He agreed that she had all the curves of a woman, full-grown. He could not help that his gaze drifted downward. "I noticed."
When he lifted his gaze again, her blue eyes had turned alluringly dark. Arousal curled through him in response. He was sore tempted to claim her lush lips again in a fiery kiss.
Nay!
He turned his attention to taking the saddle from her horse and then his own, still trying to ignore her. But he felt her gaze upon him, almost like a silken physical touch. She watched him in a way no woman ever had. Even when she'd been a younger lass, she had done this. She had irritated him back then with her legions of questions and useless comments. Not so now. She was beyond captivating but... out of his reach. Brodie might well run him through.
Though Torr was full aware of her every moment, he kept himself busy for the next half hour, gathering wood, building a fire, and unpacking supplies, including her bedroll.
She took out the food and set it upon a plaid on the ground. Kneeling, she cut slices of bread and cheese. Avoiding her gaze, he thanked her for the food she offered, then seated himself upon a rock on the opposite side of the fire. He would not trust himself near her. He glanced at her and, not finding her gaze upon him, he observed her for a moment. Simply watching her eat aroused him. He loved the fullness of her dark pink lips and her tongue when she licked them.
'Twould be so easy to lay her back on the plaid, kiss her, and... more. So much more. He doubted she would protest. He could so easily imagine them naked together. She would be like a magical fairy nymph from the wood, her long red curls glowing like a flame in the sunset.
'Slud!He tore his gaze from her and fastened it on the horizon. 'Twould not be long before he shifted, maybe a half hour. How would she view him then? A beast. Would she fear him? Indeed, she kenned what he was, but he didn't think she fully grasped it.
