Page 21 of Deception of a Highlander

How easy it would have been to cradle her buttocks in his hands and thrust himself inside of her. He groaned aloud at the thought.

Agitated, he began to pace. He should have gone back to his room last night when she slept. Why hadn’t he taken advantage of the opportunity when he could? Damn it, he knew exactly the reason, and it had everything to do with her soft curves pressed tight against him and the delicate feminine fragrance of her under his nose. The way she made him feel like an invincible warrior who could keep all her fears away and soothe the pain of her past. He hadn’t stayed because she’d asked him. He’d stayed because she needed him—because he wanted her to need him.

The thought of what the morning would bring had briefly crossed his mind. Not that he hadn’t had lusty thoughts the entire night he lay beside her, but he hadn’t expected to act on any of them.

She had been so damn tempting with her dark hair tumbling down her shoulders and her lips and cheeks rosy with the glow of sleep. The sheer fabric of her nightgown hugged the shape of her body and enticed him toward something he should not touch.

His attempt to leave the sensual warmth of her bed was stopped with one small word.

Stay.

The same word she had whimpered the night before when she begged him to remain. The same word, yet the meaning could not have been more different. He had wanted her badly. Hell, he still did.

But he would not allow himself to use her the way others had.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. What happened between them could not happen again. The next time he might not have the strength to stop. Letting Mariel go was better for her and better for him.

A change of clothes later, he opened the door to head downstairs when a strange thought occurred to him. Where in God’s name was Jane last night?

* * *

No matter how hard Mariel scrubbed with icy water, she could not clear the burn of humiliation from her cheeks. Though the tears had long since been blinked away, a stubborn lump sat in the back of her throat.

She tightened the lacings of her most becoming gown. The small room was absent a mirror, but she did not need one to know how well the pale lavender velvet complimented her complexion and eyes. The cut was flattering and drew attention to all the right areas while still maintaining a level of modesty. With such a gown, how could she feel anything less than beautiful?

Her gaze shifted to the crumpled night rail, and her confidence sagged.

The door to the room opened, and Jane sauntered in. Her hair was neatly combed, and she changed to a different dress than the one she’d worn the previous days.

“Where were you last night?” Mariel asked with barely suppressed irritation.

“Someplace where I wouldn’t have to sleep on the floor like a servant,” Jane sneered.

Where didn’t matter. Mariel knew exactly what her accomplice had been doing. Doubtless, the woman had delivered another grim report to Aaron.

“Kieran slept here last night,” Mariel said. If Aaron thought she was failing as badly as Jane portrayed, Jack might not survive the three months.

“Did he?” Surprise flickered in Jane’s amber eyes before the cool mask slid back in place. She marched over to the bed and pulled down the blankets. “Looks as if that’s all he did.” She let the covers fall from her hand and glared at Mariel. “Do you need instruction on how to handle a man?”

Mariel straightened her back against the insult. “I’m perfectly aware of how to handle a man.”

Jane arched her eyebrow. “Then why hasn’t he fucked you yet?”

“Kieran isn’t like other men.” Mariel pursed her lips to keep from saying more, but the smirk on Jane’s face told her she had already said too much.

“Shite,” Jane exclaimed. She slapped her hands on her hips and shook her head with obvious contempt. “You actually care about him. And here they all think you’re so damn smart when really you’re more stupid than a common street whore.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Mariel began to remove the plait from her hair to maintain control over the emotion threatening to shatter her calm exterior. “I know better than that.”

“No.” Jane crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re foolishly risking everything. I can see it in your eyes when you talk to him.” She leaned her torso toward Mariel. “Do you really think they intend to let him live?”

Mariel narrowed her eyes and said nothing to the doubt that flashed sharp in her chest.

Jane sneered, marring any beauty her face held. “He’s going to die after this is over, whether by your blade or by another’s. I don’t know why Aaron coddles you so damn much to let you think you won’t actually have to kill him yourself when all this is done.”

Mariel gave an impatient sigh, the perfect cover for a much-needed deep draw of breath to provide air to her burning lungs. “Cease this ridiculous chatter at once and pack up this room. We leave within the hour.”

Jane kicked Mariel’s discarded nightdress and sent it fluttering across the floorboards. “I won’t be your damn maid anymore. Once Aaron hears about this, he’ll see to it that you are removed back to London.” She smirked. “If you’re lucky.”