Page 71 of Highland Spy

Doubtless most other pieces of furniture had not been afforded the same reprieve.

“Get into yer dry clothes.” He looked at the small water-proofed sack in her hands and nodded toward another room. “I’ll get the fire lit.”

Ariana left with her face still swaddled in the plaid and the rest of her body little more than a huddled mass beneath.

The fire was easily lit with such dry tinder and blazed with a brilliant red-orange glow. Its heat bathed his skin and the light chased shadows from the darkness of his thoughts.

A strangled cry came from the next room.

Connor’s heart caught and he slid his sword from its scabbard on instinct. Not wasting time to call out, he ran into the adjoining room where he found Ariana’s back hunched toward him.

A quick scan of the empty room revealed nothing, save the orange flicker of the fire’s light reflecting from the room he’d just left.

His body nearly shook with the release of an explosion of energy. He’d been ready to fight.

Ready to kill.

“What is it?” he demanded in a low growl. His muscles strained as he rose from his crouched stance.

“It’s nothing.” Ariana’s voice was tight.

His body knotted with incredulous irritation. “Nothing?”

Ariana’s breath drew in slowly and then released in a long, sighing exhale.

“I’m stuck. I’m stuck and I’m frustrated because I’m so…” She spun around. “Because I’m so damn cold and wet that my fingers won’t work properly.”

The curse left her lips with the vehemence of any warrior he’d ever met, and hearing it spew from her beautiful mouth almost made him laugh.

Her brow crinkled and her lips parted. “Are you laughing at me?” she asked with a note of indignation.

Though anger flashed in her eyes, she did look a sight with her slender fingers gnarled in a twist of bodice cords.

He welcomed the change of his thoughts, altogether too eager to cast aside the slew of emotions Urquhart Castle had dredged up. He let a smile ease the tension of his face.

“I’ve no’ ever heard ye curse.”

Ariana lifted her head, still obviously incensed. “I haven’t actually done it before now.”

“And ye look a wee bit like an old woman with yer plaid wrapped around yer head like a kerchief.” He knew he shouldn’t have said it, but he couldn’t help himself.

Her mouth fell open and she propped her hands on her hips. He laughed then, for truly she did look like an old woman and it only fueled his mirth.

“Come, lass, get yerself by the fire and I’ll help ye.” He put his hand between her shoulder blades and led her from the room. The fabric of her clothing was soaked through, much as his was.

It would be good to get out of wet clothes and into the dry ones within their bags. Percy, God bless her, had devised a special mixture of wax which she rubbed upon their traveling bags and kept the contents dry despite the torrential rains they’d encountered.

Connor didn’t know where the hell she got her ideas, but he was glad she did.

Ariana stood near the fire, the plaid from her head noticeably absent. Her hair fell around her face in lank, black locks. She faced the fire with her eyes closed and her generous mouth curled at the corners in a look of pure euphoria.

He had the sudden urge to cup her face in his hands and sample the sweet warmth of her lips.

It was tempting to offer his assistance with her bodice ties. He remembered how easily the cords had given under his hands several nights before, and how silky and full her breasts had been in his hands.

The memory of her soft cry of pleasure baited his thoughts and made his cock tense.

He could lose himself in her and forget his soul-deep hurt.