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Yet the idea that I might not have to get rough with her was so enticing that I let myself believe maybe it wasn’t a ruse after all.
Her fingers tugged impatiently, encouraging me to follow. “It’s okay if you didn’t. I can probably strap the pack to my back and drag it along behind me, if need be.”
I stopped again, forcing her to halt, too. Seriously, none of this made sense. Maybe there was an army nearby, waiting to ambush me. Crouching, I eased my hatchet from its scabbard at my side, once again preparing to fight.
“Farrow,” she said impatiently, trying to tow me along. “What’re you doing? We need to hurry. I don’t think anyone followed me, but I left a note on my bed, telling everyone goodbye, so if someone does check my room before morning, they’ll realize immediately what I’ve done. They’ll probably try to follow us. And you really shouldn’t be caught here. Since you’re from Far Shore, I can’t guarantee my brother won’t have you killed on sight before I even had the chance to argue for your survival.”
I shook my head. “So you actually want to return to Far Shore with me?”
“Of course,” she answered, sounding almost exasperated by my confusion. I jumped in surprise when she stepped close and wrapped her arms around me in a comforting hug. “That’s the very reason you’re here, isn’t it? To take me home with you?”
“Um. Yes?” I said uncertainly. “Actually, that is the very reason I’m here. But how did you—”
“I knew it,” she murmured on a happy sigh. “I knew you’d come for me. Someday. And here you are. I’ll never lose faith in the mark again. I swear it.”
Mark? What was she—
When she rested her cheek on my collarbone, just under my chin, and cuddled comfortingly closer before smoothing her fingers up my spine and humming out her pleasure, I gulped.
Ah, hell.
Guilt sliced down the back of my neck with an icy chill as I realized she thought my presence was some kind of grand, romantic gesture.
Not a kidnapping.
Hugging her back as my way to silently apologize for deceiving her, I rasped, “And here I am, come just for you.” Just not for the reason you think.
“This is so exciting,” she murmured. “I’d invite you in and i
ntroduce you to my family before we left—I really would—but I’m too worried for your safety. I don’t think they’d receive you very kindly.”
“Aye,” I said. “I’ve a feeling you’re right.” Especially if they knew why I was really here.
She stroked my arm as if thanking me for understanding. “I would never put you in that kind of danger.”
Closing my eyes, I lifted my face toward the night sky and gritted my teeth. This had to be the worst kind of trickery ever devised. I wasn’t sure if I could lie to her like this and let her think I was taking her on a romantic getaway, all the while, I was absolutely certain I couldn’t tell her the truth of my plight, either.
She groaned out a pleased sigh. “You’ve no idea how often I prayed for this very moment.” Her voice was low and warm, meant for an intimate paramour. It caressed my ears in such a way that caused prickles of physical awareness to spark through my extremities. I shuddered, feeling how soft and female she was against me.
She smelled clean and fragrant, like flower petals and honey.
“It feels so good to finally hold you,” she whispered.
Aye, I wanted to agree as my eyes nearly rolled up in my head. The pillow of her breasts was incredibly warm and voluptuous against my frame. I couldn’t seem to concentrate on anything else.
Heat blazed through my groin. My face tipped down to breathe her in just as she rose up, and our mouths collided awkwardly, probably accidentally, but she seemed to like it. She exhaled breathily before her fingers suddenly cupped my cheeks, and she kissed me for real, trailing light, wet pecks over my mouth. When her lips brushed against the side of my jaw and then my throat, the pleasure was so immense and awakening that I clenched my teeth as if splashed in the face with cold, reviving water.
Kissing her back would be bad. It would make me the worst sort of villain.
“I…” Jerking away in shame for being tempted into letting her kiss me in the first place, I turned my face aside and swallowed hard. “I shouldn’t.”
She was quiet a moment before saying, “You’re right. I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. There’s no time for that right now. We need to make haste and gain as much space between you and this castle as possible. Let’s get my things, shall we?”
I nodded stupidly and let her lead me along, slipping the axe back into my belt holder as we went.
“I hope I didn’t bring too much. But I wasn’t sure when I’d be back, or if I would. Brentley might not allow me to visit after you and I marry.”
Marry?
