Page 20 of The Highland Heir

They weren’t at war with the clan, but thelaird was a cruel man with a short temper, and the warriors Kieranhad known had lacked honor. It wouldn’t take much to fuel them intofighting if he was found alone.

Kieran found a clear spot near the edge of aravine. An outcropping of rocks on their other side would keep themwell hidden.

They’d brought dried meat and bannocks fortheir meal so they didn’t need to cook anything. They could sleepuntil light and move on to make it to Kildary the next day.

Ellie spread out her bedroll much too closeto his for his liking. He understood if she took a chill, it wouldbe better to share his heat, but just the thought of being so closeto her while lying down made his body stir.

Kieran pulled the meat and bannocks from hisbag, and Ella held up a bit of cheese and two tarts.

“I thought you had taken to worry over mymiddle,” he teased.

“Nay. I’ll not have to look at ye naked, sowhat do I care if you enjoy your tarts?” She surely meant it as ajest, but the thought of her looking upon him naked stole thebreath he needed to laugh.

His mind offered other thoughts unbidden.Ella’s small hand on his taut stomach and moving lower.

He cleared his throat and thanked her for hercontributions to their meal.

“We should get some rest. We’ll be leaving assoon as it’s light enough to see.”

It was a mistake. He should have givenhimself time to get his body under control before having to lay outnext to her. But it was too late to change course now.

She was so close he felt her warm breath onhis arm. She was on her side facing him, while he remained on hisback looking up at the stars rather than look at her.

“Don’t you find it strange that no one somuch as blinks an eye that we would travel alone, the two of usovernight?”

“We’ve done such many times before. Why wouldanyone blink?” he asked, though he knew why.

“Am I so unladylike you forget I’m awoman?”

He turned his head to look at her but kepthis body where it was.

“Of course, I know you’re a woman, Ellie. Ididn’t mean that,” he said, hoping to soothe her pique. “It’s justif anything were going to happen between us, I imagine they thinkit would already be too late. You know a few assume such between usalready.”

“I feel as if we might as well take advantageof the situation if others assume it happens anyway.”

He was sure her words were not meant to betaken seriously. Ella often spoke boldly with him, knowing he wouldnot judge her for it. But the moment seemed to be stuck, the wordslingering heavily between them.

Did she really want such a thing with him, orwas she just airing empty thoughts? How would he ask? To do sowould mean to admit he was interested in such a thing. Was he?

Of course, he was interested. He was a manwho had never taken the opportunity to lie with a woman before. Hethought about the act nearly every night and had to take himself inhand to keep from going mad with wanting it.

But with Ellie? Aye. On more than severaloccasions, she’d played the role of his lover in his fantasies. Itseemed to reason since she was the only woman he knew so well.

But fantasies were not meant to be lived.

As the silence wore on while he struggled forsomething to say, Kieran was distracted by the sound of a twigsnapping and the horses shifting nervously.

His instincts took over, and he pulled Ellacloser so he could whisper in her ear. “Someone is close by. I willtake the horses some distance away, you remain here by the rocks.Don’t move or make a sound until I return.”

He felt her nod, her silky hair tickling hisnose with the movement. But there was no time to dwell on the scentof her. He rose to his feet with the practiced silence of awarrior, sliding his weapons into place before he made his way tothe horses.

Untying them from the branch where they wereheld, he guided them away from where Ella was hidden.

He would not be able to leave Ella for verylong. It meant he would not be able to lead the men far away. Hewould need to head them off and face them.

Circling around the sounds of footsteps inthe forest, he made it seem as if he were coming from the otherdirection when he intercepted the four men.

Three men and one lad. If it came tofighting, he might have a chance.