Page 12 of Highland Flame

Chapter Four

Cam saw Yvaine falling, and shot forward, scooping her up into his arms before she could hit the ground. As he cradled her to his chest, her head rolled against him. Strands of her long hair drifted up around him in the breeze, smelling like rose-scented soap. The soft tips of her locks brushed gently against his cheek, feeling like the gossamer wings of a butterfly. It sent a delectable shiver through him.

This woman looked like a sleeping goddess in his arms. The sun lit up her smooth skin, and the rays settled upon her, almost making her glow like an angel. Rosy cheeks and full, pink lips only added to her undeniable beauty. Long, curved, dark lashes flickered, followed by her eyes slowly drifting open.

Big, round eyes, the color of chestnuts, stared up at him, holding fear and confusion. He also noticed something that surprised him, since the woman had been so mouthy and brash. He figured she was naught but a cold-hearted shrew, but now he wasn’t so sure. In her eyes, he saw desperation. It was almost like longing . . . a need to be loved, if he wasn’t mistaken. He’d been with many women in his lifetime. He could read them better than anyone, even if most of them had been whores he’d bedded who didn’t want anything from him but his money.

Yvaine was different. She was more like the lassies of the clan who’d wanted more from him than just one night of bliss. Those women wanted a commitment that he had never been able to give. It just wasn’t in his nature to do so.

In Yvaine’s eyes, he saw a deep need . . . and despair. It made him want to protect her – especially since his strong suspicions told him she might be pregnant, even though she wouldn’t admit it. His eyes shot down to her belly. If she was with child, it hadn’t been long enough to even show yet. Mayhap she wasn’t pregnant after all. He supposed it was just his imagination running wild. Besides, it wouldn’t make sense. How was the girl going to raise a child when she was about to become a nun?

The scent of a chandler’s shop – cinnamon, beeswax and honey – wafted up from her clothes, filling his senses. His gaze drifted back to her face again to find her eyes closed once more. When she wasn’t awake and threatening or chastising him, she seemed so vulnerable and tremendously fragile. Her features were delicate and feminine, calling to him, tempting him like a siren of the sea. Her lips were full . . . just the perfect type for kissing. Curiosity and want filled his being. Now, he had to know how they tasted.

Without thinking about what he was doing, he brought his face closer to hers. His lips gently brushed against her mouth in a quick and simple kiss. He licked his lips, savoring her essence. She tasted sweet and enticing. He wanted nothing more than to go back for seconds, but knew it was wrong. After all, this woman was soon to take her vows! Far be it for him to keep longing for a woman who didn’t want anything to do with men. Nay, she would never kiss or couple with a man again and, apparently, she didn’t care.

Yvaine squirmed in his arms and moaned seductively, only managing to tempt his weak resolve. With her eyes still closed, her lips quivered. Then she raised her chin slightly, as if she were extending a welcome invitation to him that he couldn’t ignore.

Cam was about to kiss her again when he heard a little voice from behind him, causing him to stop.

“What are ye doin’?” asked Avianca.

Startled, he turned with a jolt. That only managed to bring Yvaine from her unconscious state, since he still held her in his arms.

“W-what’s goin’ on?” screamed Yvaine, struggling to sit up, gripping on to his plaid. “I demand that ye put me down. Now!”

“Sorry,” he apologized, realizing the delicate goddess or angel was gone and in her place was the shrew again. “Ye fainted, and I caught ye before ye hit the ground,” he tried to explain, but she wasn’t listening. He gently placed her on her feet, hoping for a simple thank you. Instead, he was rewarded with naught but a harsh sting as Yvaine slapped him across the face.

“Damn! What the hell did ye do that for?” he grumbled, his hand going to his cheek.

“Please, dinna curse in front of the child.” She pulled Avianca away from him, as if she were protecting the girl from some sort of monster. He didn’t like the feeling at all. Especially since he was the girl’s father.

“I saw ye kissin’ her, just like ye used to do to my mathair,” said the girl, making his heart drop in his chest.

Double damn. Had Avianca seen him when he was with Isobel? He hoped not. He never even knew the girl existed. Why the hell hadn’t the whore told him they had a daughter together? His head spun from all these thoughts at once. Cam wouldn’t be surprised if he were the next one to faint.

“Y-ye kissed me?” Yvaine asked, as if she were trying to remember. Her hand went to her mouth and she stared at the ground.

“I admit, I did kiss ye,” he told her the truth. “When I did, ye moaned and lifted yer chin and puckered yer lips, wanting me to do it again.”

“I did no’!” Her tongue shot out to lick her lips.

“Ah! So, I see ye tastin’ my essence on yer lips after all, lass.”

“I – I dinna ken what ye’re talkin’ about.”

Before he could call her out on her lie, the sound of thundering hooves charging toward them caused him to turn around. Cam looked up to see his friends riding back to them with their swords drawn and raised. There was a sense of urgency about their actions, and he knew that something was wrong.

“Get the lassies to safety,” shouted Nash.

“The stinkin’ English are on our tails,” yelled North.

“Where’s Gavin?” Cam’s hand automatically went to the hilt of his sword as he scanned the surroundings for their friend.

“He’s distractin’ the English to give us a chance to protect the lassies,” announced Nash.

This is not what Cam wanted to hear. “Nay! He canna fend them off by himself. Damn it, go back and help him. I’ve got the girls covered.” Cam reached out and scooped up Avianca under one arm, then took Yvaine by the hand. “Run,” he told her. “I need ye to hide with the wee lass in the back of the wagon until this is all over.”

“Will the English try to take my guids?” asked Yvaine as they reached the wagon and Cam put the girl down, pulling back a flap of the tarp.