Page 23 of Kilty as Sin
For not pressing her down in the soft grass and kissing her lips, her throat, her smooth belly...and lower.
For not stroking her, licking her, plunging into her.
For not giving her all the pleasure she deserved, and more.
A sainthood? Nay. This was hell.
Barclay squeezed his eyes shut, and knew he had a long night of torture ahead of him once more.
Chapter 5
“And His Majesty said,'What the hell am I supposed to do with ahead?'and Payton said, ''Twas easier than bringing ye the body as well!'”
Grace stifled her laughter against Barclay's shoulder as they rode, and noticed the way a shudder ran down his spine when her mouth touched his skin. Grinning, she shook her head. “’Tis disgusting.”
“Aye, but he was right. The King gives us authority to pass judgment on a mission. That's what the helm is all about.” Barclay patted the helmet, currently tied to the saddle. “It—and we—are symbols of his power. Payton was sent after an outlaw, caught him, passed judgment, and executed him.”
It was a fact of life, and Grace couldn't deny the King's Hunters made the Highlands—all of Scotland, really—safer for the people.
Except for ye.
Aye, but her father was a laird, who'd written to his King for help. Of course His Majesty had sent one of his best...
“So ye've met him? The King?”
Barclay shrugged, a delicious movement which made his muscles ripple in exciting ways. “Of course. My commander is the one who most usually interacts with Their Majesties, but the rest of us have reported to him.”
“Yer commander is...” She rested her chin on his shoulder as she frowned, trying to remember. “Drummond somebody-or-other, aye?”
Barclay twisted just far enough to raise a brow at her, although she wasn't sure if he was surprised or impressed she remembered. “Aye, lass, Drummond Kennedy. He's aulder than the rest of us and has seen more in his time with the King than the rest of us can imagine.”
“And the rest of ye are...Payton and Craig?”
“Well, the four of us work most closely together. There used to be more of us, but 'tis customary for a Hunter to retire when he marries, assuming he has someplace to go. Evander Oliphant was a bastard like me, and part of our team until last winter when he was sent after a lady who was accused of reiving to support her people. He proved her innocent, married her, and is now ruling at her side at Castle Watshesed.”
Well,thatwas interesting, wasn't it? Grace straightened and moved her hold to Barclay's hips. Funny how only two days ago she hadn't wanted to touch him, and now she couldn't seem to stop. Last night, he'd held her oh-so-gently as she'd fallen asleep, apparently unmoved by her not-at-all-subtle hints about experiencing pleasure.
Oh well. 'Twas likely the man just wasn't interested in her. Or that he thought her merely a mission.
He kissed ye back.
Aye, well, he was a charmer. Mayhap he kissed all the women who threw themselves at him. Mayhap he was just so good at giving pleasure thatallwomen experienced this throbbing in their cores, and aching in their breasts when he touched them...
She needed a distraction or 'twas going to become uncomfortable to sit astride
“Evander Oliphant? Did ye no' say yer cousin was married to an Oliphant?”
“Aye.” He paused to click his tongue twice, and Mayo obligingly took the left path. “Last year the Hunters lost our share of men to the Oliphant clan.”
She sucked in a breath. “That's terrible! I had nae idea they were so warlike—”
His chuckle cut her off. “No' like that, lass. Mad auld Laird Oliphant had six daughters. One of our men went missing, and when the signs pointed to him as the evildoer, Kenneth McClure—who was ready to hang up his helmet anyhow—took one of his men to investigate. They determined the clan was innocent, but both ended up marrying daughters of the laird.”
“Really?” How...romantic.Grace sighed. “I'm happy for them.”
“I am too. Kenneth is a laird and his wife rules at his side. Brodie, his man, had nae place to return to—like me—but he and his wife have made a fine place for themselves at Castle Oliphant. One of the other sisters found and married the missing Hunter, Ramsay McIlvain, and now that his father has stepped down as laird, they're ruling his clan.”
All the Hunters had found their places as they'd retired. From what little Barclay had hinted about his childhood, she knew him to be an orphan without a clan. He'd made a place for himself among the Hunters...but if he retired, he'd have no place of his own, would he?
