Page 32 of Taken By her Highland Enemy

“My thought exactly, lass. Now I suggest ye get that lovely rounded arse of yorn intae yer clothes and return tae yer room.” Isabelle nodded, wide-eyed, and stood to do just that. Eamon helped her with some of the laces in her bodice.

Their fingers worked quickly and a little awkwardly after being awoken in such a way. Isabelle rushed to the doorway, but Eamon pulled her back against his bare chest and took her mouth in his. Isabelle’s tense frame softened to his delight, but then he pulled away. “We must hurry, but I couldnae let ye leave without one more of those. Who knows what may happen taeday.”

Isabelle looked a little dazed, and while he hoped it was due to his kiss, he thought it was probably due to the fact that she had been woken hurriedly from a deep slumber. “Yes, who knows?” she said dreamily and then left the room, leaving Eamon alone to put on his shirt and grab his sword. He took his cloak and bag and rushed downstairs to find the other men, looking groggy and pained.

He stood before them and laughed, feeling stronger than he had in days. “Too much drink the night before?”

Lukas growled at him, and the rest of them looked back at him glumly. “Where is Sean, lads?”

“He has gone tae get the horses since we struggled tae move.” Errol groaned, and Eamon laughed anew. He knew it was not going to be a happy day, but he still felt as if the heavens had opened, and his path was laid before him. If he wanted to have another night like that with Isabelle, then he would have to fight for his life today to get that chance.

Sean returned, looking a little better after last night. He nodded in Eamon’s direction. “Come, the innkeeper has given us bread. Once the women are here, we must leave. The light has grown too strong. I know that Cutler will be on his way. I can feel it.” Sean looked grim again, and Eamon put his hand on his shoulder.

“We will find a way, brother. I know it.”

“You seem in a pleasant mood this morning, Eamon. More so than yer other men.” Sean glanced in their direction.

Eamon laughed. “Aye, I went tae bed soon after ye. I wasnae feeling well last night.”

Sean watched him critically. “But sleep has done well for ye, I see.” Both of them turned as Isabelle and Arya descended the stairs, cloaked and ready.

They passed the struggling men and walked towards Sean and Eamon. Eamon’s eyes found Isabelle’s, wondering what he would see there. There was a flash of heat and the image of her curved body under his popped into his mind for a brief moment, threatening to fill his body with desire once more. He turned away quickly and caught Sean’s eye, who watched him with a little amusement.

“Ladies. We are off tae ride now.” Sean handed them each a piece of bread. “We ride towards the village. We are too late already.”

Eamon yelled back to his men, “Come! We are off!”

They groaned in response and heaved their bodies towards the door. Sean whispered, “Here I thought these were warriors, brother? I fear for our chances with them amongst our number.”

“Dinnae worry. Once they have a chance tae plunge their swords intae Englishmen, they will remember their energy.”

Once they were ready, the group rode away towards the dark forest that Eamon remembered. He shuddered at the thought. He hoped that they would not find Cutler in there, for it would be a very horrible place to die. It was far in the distance, but since it was within their sights, he felt a little bit of hope. It was too bad that they were so exposed in the morning sun as they took the path towards the trees. But, there was no other way in which to ride.

Isabelle felt soft and wonderful in his arms. He wanted to be able to talk to her in the light of day, to question her about what last night meant. With each beat of his hurried gallop, he knew that he wanted it to happen again. And again. He wanted all of her. Last night had only piqued his desire for her, and he realized that even though his body craved for hers with every fiber, he wanted more than that. He loved her passion, her intelligence, her fire. He realized then and there as they ran from her father, and she was held captive, that he was in love with her.

* * *

Cutler stood outside of the inn, looking at Donovan with his arms crossed. “So, Highlander. You finally broke and told us they were at a camp off of the river. I told ye every man has his price, and I shall say it again. But they were not there! You had better hope that they are near, or else there will be more to do to you before the end.” He motioned to his men to watch over a battered, bruised, and heavily burned Donovan while he spoke to the innkeeper.Cutler spied the young man’s missing pair of fingers, and it filled him with grim satisfaction.

He pushed open the door with such a force that it made the occupants turn in surprise. He grinned. Just what he wanted. A captive audience. “Innkeeper, I look for Highland men on the run,” he bellowed to the innkeeper. “They will have had two women with them.”

The innkeeper put down the glass. “Aye, I have seen them. But what will ye pay for it?” The innkeeper leaned over the counter, watching him with a wizened eye. Cutler grinned again. There were these types every now and again, who were bold enough to fight against him before they knew what he was truly capable of. In a flash, Cutler had the man held by his shirt collar and had placed the tip of a blade at his throat.

His voice had grown darker, more menacing. Ever since Isabelle was gone, he felt the anger quicker to rise. “Tell me not to push this further, innkeeper. Give me the information I desire, and then you will be safe. Where did they go?”

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