Page 18 of Taken By her Highland Enemy

He stepped a bit closer, and Isabelle did not pull back. “Where is the boy? I didnae see him, and I thought he was going tae meet me at the stables with ye. Did he tell ye that ye would be kidnapped? Has he sent any word tae us?”

Tiny muscles flicked on the side of Isabelle’s face, telling Eamon that something was afoot. But despite his suspicions, she said. “No. I came with my maid to escape the crowd, and we know it is safest behind the stables.”

Something was amiss, and Eamon was determined to figure it out. He clasped onto the sides of her arms, and she gasped in surprise. He lessened his grip a little, hoping he did not hurt her. But he wanted to look deeply into her eyes to see where the truth lay. “There is something ye are nae telling me, lass.” He moved ever so slightly closer, trying not to become entranced by the shape of her pink lips, but he was not succeeding. He was beginning to heat, his body aching with need, reminding him of how long it had been since he had last lain with a woman. “Ye try tae fool me with yer bonny looks and yer violet eyes. But there is something, and I mean tae find out what it is.”

Isabelle crossed her arms. “I thought you meant to find a way to use my kidnapping to get back at my father. But I am happy to know that you find me ‘bonny’ as you say.’ It will make this kidnapping rather more pleasant.”Eamon had had enough. This woman was enough to make any man go mad!

He stared at her, unsure of what to say next. There was a slight smile on her lips as if satisfied that she had outsmarted him or at least not shown him her weakness. She continued speaking, “Am I not to know what my kidnapping is about? What is the purpose of taking an English lady and her lady’s maid if you are not to deflower them after all?”

The lovely evening sunlight came through the trees and cast lined shadows across her face. In the soft light, she looked practically angelic, and it was as if Eamon forgot all that was at stake. He felt under a spell. Her eyes were watching him with interest and curiosity. Despite the vehemence of her words, her eyes were not angry.

Without thinking, Eamon pulled Isabelle to him and put his mouth on hers. It was brief, but a moment of weakness, until he pulled away. They blinked at each other in surprise for a moment, and Isabelle’s expression was unreadable. He couldn’t tell if she was about to slap him or pull him to her. And he did not know who brought them together once more, but Eamon found himself back in her embrace, his lips moving over hers quickly, opening to her soft lips.

To his great delight, she responded with passion. Her arms moved slowly over his shoulders and up around his neck, and she opened her soft lips in response. He groaned once he felt the tip of her warm tongue enter his mouth, and she turned her head to the side to deepen the kiss. A soft moan escaped from her throat, and he felt his cock rise, hard and stiff underneath his kilt.

He pulled her towards it and moved his hands over her thin waist, amazed at the feel of her form under his touch. Never before had a woman lit a fire like this in him. He had been with many women before, but no kiss had touched him so deeply, and he had never become as stiff as he had just then. He was lost in a heated daze, his mind muddled with desire. He fell further and further with each movement of her lips on his.

Then, at the sound of footsteps nearby, he pulled away quickly, his mind clearing slowly. He felt the warmth fading away, being replaced by an unwelcome coolness. He held Isabelle in his arms and looked at her questioning face, her swollen lips parted in surprise. It took everything in him to not kiss her again and kiss her until they both fell to the ground and spent themselves making love on the forest floor. He had to be wise, though. He couldn’t afford to make any foolish mistakes, no matter how much he realized he wanted this woman.

If the boy had been lying to him, then this could be Cutler’s way of using him. But would a father be so brutish as to allow his own daughter to be taken? His breath was raging fast in his chest, and he stared at her, scowling. “Too bonny for yer own good, lass. Ye mean tae make a fool of me.”

Isabelle smiled back at him. “None of this was my idea, Eamon.”

Eamon pulled away, dropping his hands to his sides. “How do ye know my name, lass?”

He watched her with scrutiny, the passion of the moment still in his loins but continuing to lessen fast. Even in the fading light, he could see that she fumbled over her words, and her eyes were searching around her. She straightened up and said, “I heard it from the men, of course.”

That made sense, but it still made him suspicious. “Come, we must make camp, and I will begin thinking about what I am tae do with ye.”

“I would be happy to assist with any suggestions, Eamon.”

Eamon scowled. “Ye know, lass, one would think that it was ye who had orchestrated this kidnapping. I will think of the plans myself, thank ye very much.” He then bowed, motioning towards the path in front of them. “My Lady, I dinnae wish tae impede yer ability tae walk.” Sarcasm dripped from his tongue as he spoke, and Isabelle lifted her chin and moved forward.

“You learn quickly, sir.”

Eamon scoffed behind her, and Isabelle giggled a little. It was a light, tinkling sound, and Eamon felt his member tense again as he heard it. He struggled to focus, for what would his men say if he entered the camp with his cock rising high to greet the Heavens?

Once in the circle, he could see that a fire had been started, and the men had begun to pull the meat out of their sacks as well as the bread they had purchased at the tavern. Isabelle sat between Sean and Eamon, and Arya sat next to Donovan. They all ate their bread, and a cask of ale was passed around between them while meat began to crackle over the flames, filling their nostrils with the savory smell of rabbit.

After a time, Donovan spoke up, “What are we tae do with the women?”

The sound punctured the companionable silence, and Eamon tensed.

“Aye, what are we tae do? We got a few weapons, but we did not get any villagers from the town tae help us fight. Our numbers are still the same.” Gareth spoke a little harshly, and Eamon had expected these questions, yet he still wasn’t sure what to do next.

Sean remained silent at the words of his men. Eamon said, “We have the bargaining card, lads. We will send Cutler a message, telling him we have his daughter, and he will have tae make a deal with us. It is simple.”

Errol chimed in. “But he is English. Once he receives his daughter, he will still expect tae fight. He willnae shy away from his duty to the King.”

Fatigue had begun to settle in through the cracks of Eamon’s consciousness, and he was now ready for sleep. He wanted to lay under the stars to think about his next moves, instead of being peppered with questions from his men. I would rather lay under the stars with Isabelle by my side.

He scowled at his own thought. Focus, man! That has nothing to do with the matter at hand! He could not afford to be distracted when the lives of his men and his brother’s people were at stake.

“Ye are right. He willnae shy away if he has a chance tae kill us. Well, we have new weapons, do we nae? Once we get word tae him that his daughter is with us, I will send scouts back tae the village tae find out what happened and get people tae join our cause. Once we know Cutler’s whereabouts, we could all attack him by surprise.”

“And what of the women? If you will not use us to bargain with, then what purpose was it to have taken us? Would you not wish to prevent fighting?” Isabelle spoke out over the men, her voice loud and clear and confident. It irritated Eamon, especially since, at her words, the rest of the men scowled in response.

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