Page 11 of Kilty Plea
Payton blew out a breath. This wasn’t making any sense. “Where what?”
She was studying him. As he watched, she drew her lower lip between her teeth, worrying it as if she was considering what to say to him.
And that sight?
That sight wentrightto his cock. Reached around it and stroked.
If he closed his eyes right now, he could picture what she’d look like on her knees again, his cock between those lips, those big hazel eyes staring up at him. He tightened his hold on her to keep from reaching beneath his kilt and touching himself like a degenerate.
Flora’s eyes had darkened to almost a gray-blue as she studied him, and now she released her lower lip with apop.
He didn’t groan, but ‘twas close.
“I need to get away from the Abbey, Sir Hunter,” she whispered, almost pleading. “Please understand.”
“Och, I understand, lass.” He wanted away, too. “I’ll—I’ll take ye.”
As suddenly as that, Flora collapsed. ‘Twas as if her knees gave out, and she would’ve sunk to the ground, had he not caught her and pulled her against him once more.
And a very real part of him was screamingThat’s where she belongs!
While the logical part of his brain reminded him he’d only set eyes on her the night before.
What the hell was going on that he was reacting so viscerally, soprimally, to a woman he’d only just met?
“I’ll take ye, lass,” he murmured again. But to remind himself thiswasn’ta permanent solution, he continued, “As far as the next village. Ye’ll be safe from the Abbot there.”
He hoped.
Flora had stiffened against him when he’d added his caveat, but she didn’t pull away, didn’t argue.
Thank Christ.
He was one of the King’s Hunters. He didn’t have time for a wife, even if she neededhim.
The battle with the bandits was behind him, but the bigger war was coming: His family.
Payton needed all his wits about him to survivethatwar unscathed and return to the King’s side where he belonged. He didn’t need to be worrying about a dirty, too-thin bundle of rags who’d smiled at him as if he offered salvation.
“Please, Payton,” she whispered.
And deep within the shadows of his helmet, his eyes closed on a shudder.
She remembered his name?
Why did she look at him as if he was her hero?
Why did he want tobeher hero?
“Just the next village,” he choked out, reminding himself as much as her.
And he pretended not to hear the little sound she made which might’ve been another sniff.
He had to focus on the next mission in order to survive it. But he could take her as far as civilization and leave her there, knowing she’d be safe.
“How far will that be?” she finally asked.
How far? “Tomorrow evening,” he guessed, remembering how remote this part of Campbell land was—‘twas likely why the Abbot had chosen this location. “Tonight we’ll camp, and tomorrow there’ll be a real inn.”
