Page 24 of A Scoundrel’s Promise

Chapter Six

“Hold tight,” Liam warned, and snapped the reins across the horse’s flanks.

Mackenzie threw her arms about his waist and pressed her temple against his chest as they galloped across open ground. He urged his horse faster, until they fairly flew over the field.

Liam glanced over his shoulder. The bloody brigands still pursued. He faced forward and hunkered down. At last, they crested the incline that bordered the road. He glanced back as they started down the hill and saw no riders. Still, Liam didn’t slow until they reached the forest bordering Newborne.

“Are they gone?” Mackenzie whispered after the horse slowed to a walk through the scant trees.

She held onto him so tightly, she stood in danger of cracking his ribs.

“They are gone,” he assured.

She exhaled, and he became aware of the soft crush of her breasts against him. An unexpected surge of protectiveness startled him with its intensity. Memory flashed of her pointing the revolver at Mallatratt. Rage swept through him anew.

“Do you think the men are dead?” she asked.

He hoped Mallatratt still lived so he could see the look in the man’s eye when the hangman slipped the noose around his throat, but said, “Aye, lass. I do.”

She shivered. Ewan looked down at her. She tilted her head up and before he realized his own intent, he tugged on the reins as he lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers. She gave a small cry and grasped his neck.

She arched and his cock hardened painfully. Liam imagined carrying her from the horse and laying her beneath one of the alders. His fingers ached to cup her breast. He started when she traced his bottom lip with her tongue. Liam thrust his tongue inside her mouth. Her tongue tangled with his and he wondered if it were possible to lift her onto his erection right there in the saddle. He cupped a breast.

“Liam,” she gasped.

He froze.

Several heartbeats passed before he pulled back and looked down at her. She stared, her parted lips swollen from his kiss, but already, her lashes began to lower once again. The wee hoyden was ripe for a man’s touch. Surely, she could feel how hard he was. Did she even know what that meant? What did it matter? He couldn’t sate his need with Lord Dunn’s daughter, no matter how much he desired to sheathe himself in her slick heat.

“We must go.”

He urged the horse into a fast walk. Liam ignored the hurt in her eyes and returned his attention to the forest.

Mackenzie remained quiet until they started down the front drive. “The stables,” she said.

He followed her gaze to the carriage standing before the front door.

“Why?” he asked.

“I would rather not see any guests.”

Any guests? Or this guest in particular?

“I must speak with your father about—”

“—my wrongdoing?” she cut in.

“I know who the cattle thieves are,” he said.

“But you will tell him what I did.”

“Lass, I dinnae think we can hide it from him—even if I thought it would be right to do so.” She didn’t reply, and he added, “Ye did not understand the danger. He will see that.”

“On the contrary, I understood the danger quite well,” she retorted. “How could I let them shoot you?”

He couldn’t prevent a small smile. “For that, I owe you my thanks.”

She looked up at him in surprise. “Truly?”