Page 38 of Sins of the Highlander

Calum sucked in a deep breath, drew back his longbow till his knuckles grazed his ear. Then he pointed the arrow tip at the sky. He released the shaft with a twang of the string, along with his pent-up breath.

Lachlan shaded his eyes with his hand and followed the flight of the long shaft. The line attached to it coiled out with a whipping sound. The arrow found its mark in the big yew on the other side of the loch.

Calum gave the line a stout tug.

“Ye might pull it out!” Drummond warned.

“If it’s going to give, better to know now than when we’re trying to rescue Lady Elspeth.”

Drummond nodded his grudging approval. “This is shaping up to be a good plan. I thank ye.”

Calum glanced at him and tied the line off on a nearby boulder. “I didna do it for ye, Lord Drummond. I did it for the lady.”

***

Elspeth no longer felt like a lady. She knew enough about the business of losing a maidenhead to know she still possessed hers, but even so, she wasn’t the same.

Rob MacLaren had seen her naked.

Not just without her clothes. He’d glimpsed her soul at its neediest.

She had no language to describe what he’d done to her. She’d had no idea a mortal was capable of such shattering pleasure, no inkling that her body would so thoroughly become his willing ally.

She knew what they were doing was wicked, but she didn’t feel soiled till after. When he simply rolled over without saying a word.

Now, judging by his deep, rhythmic breathing, the smug brute was enjoying the sleep of the just.

Elspeth rolled onto her side, giving Rob her back, and pulled her knees up to her chest.

He’d been so tender and giving while he played her body, his touch as sure and exquisite as a bard plucking his harp. How could he be so cold when he was done?

His kisses had brought something to life in her. She no longer felt like a pawn, only one item in a long list of goods to be exchanged. When he touched her intimately, she felt as if he knew her.

And she mattered. Not for whatever cattle and agreements came with her. Just for herself.

How could what they’d done together mean so little to him?

She gnawed her lower lip. Maybe that was it. They hadn’t done anything together. He did something only to her.

She had certainly kissed him back. Merciful heaven, she’d even kissed him first. But aside from running her hand over his hair, she hadn’t touched him.

Maybe she should have reached beneath his kilt after all.

But he knew she was a maiden. How could she be expected to know what a man wants?

She drew a deep breath. When he first abducted her, she’d caught a few glimpses into his heart through the Sight. She’d felt his deep sadness, and it kept her from fearing him as much as she should have.

Now she sensed nothing from him.

Perhaps she’d been listening to her body so intently, it drowned out all the other, less-forceful voices. She’d never been able to call up her Gift at will, but if she concentrated mightily, maybe…

She rolled over and laid a hand lightly on Rob’s shoulder. He didn’t stir. She closed her eyes, matched the rhythm of his breathing, and tried to empty her mind of the riotous clamoring of her body.

Nothing came to her but the steady roll of the boat and the lap of water on the hull.

No vision flashed behind her eyes, but she remembered suddenly that she’d been given a brief impression when they were in the cave. In her glimpse into Rob’s mind she’d Seen a willowy, red-haired woman. Elspeth didn’t know who she was, but she was obviously important to him.

Perhaps that woman was why Rob turned away from her.