Page 10 of When a Highlander Weds a Hellion
“I’ll nae,” she interrupted, looking offended that he’d suggest such a thing.
He nodded, and without another word—he’d learned over time that warning a person you were going to seal their wound only made things worse—he set the blade to the bite while holding her leg in place with his other hand. He kept his gaze locked on her while counting to ten in his head.
Her face went white, her lips pressed into a hard, thin line, and she dug her nails into the dirt beside her, but she held her leg perfectly still. “How long?” she hissed.
“Almost there,” he said, still counting, “and done.”
He looked down, removed the dagger, and assessed his work. He smiled, pleased.
As he glanced up, her eyes fluttered shut and she started to slump sideways. He scrambled toward her and caught her just before her head hit the ground. Rolling her onto her back, he gently laid her head on the ground and looked down at her. He was unsure whether he should shake her awake or let her wake up naturally, but when her eyelids slowly opened, the decision was made for him.
For one moment, she stared at him with obvious confusion, and then a sweet crease appeared between her brows. “Please tell me I did nae scream.”
“Dunnae ye care if ye will have a horrid scar?” he asked, surprised.
“What?” Her brows knitted together. “Dunnae be a clot-heid. That scar will mark me as braw.”
“Ye’re nae like any lass I have ever encountered.” He was awed by this creature whose dainty appearance hid a warrior soul.
Her kissable lips pursed. “Is that a compliment?”
The overwhelming desire to claim her mouth again coursed through him. He leashed his yearning with a hard swallow and forced his gaze from her mouth. “It is,” he assured her and settled down beside her. “Does yer leg hurt?”
“Nay,” she said, but he could see that she was gripping it just under the wound. She was prideful and did not wish to show weakness, and that attracted him to her more than her beauty.
“Ye should try to sleep. The body heals better with rest.”
She looked at him askance. “Who told ye that? Yer mother?”
“Nay. I did nae ken my mother. She died when I was a bairn.” He didn’t bother to tell her that he wasn’t even sure if Athena was his mother. It was too complicated to explain.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice soft and her expression gentle.
“Ye dunnae need to be sorry. Nae kenning my mother made me the man I am.”
“And what sort of man is that?” she asked, yawning. Then she gave a little shiver.
“Are ye cold, lass?”
“Nay.”
He arched his eyebrows at her as he pointedly swept his gaze over her gooseflesh. “Yer skin says otherwise.”
“Fine,” she grumbled, rubbing furiously at her arms. “I’m cold. Are ye satisfied?”
He scooted closer to her, and suspicion sprang into her gaze. “What are ye doing?” she demanded.
It was a perfectly reasonable question. In truth, it was a good one. He should not be moving toward her; he should be staying well away. Yet he could not stand the thought of her being cold or in pain, both of which he knew she was experiencing right now.
“I’m going to keep ye warm so that ye dunnae lick the dust while under my care. The king would be sorely vexed at me if ye did.”
“I’m nae gonna die,” she muttered, a derisive look twisting her lips. “Ye fear the king, then, aye?”
“What?” He scowled as he slid his arm around her slender shoulders and hugged her to his side, enjoying the feel of her when he should not. She stiffened, but after a long moment, she let out a little sigh and her body relaxed. He’d been told by many a lass that he put off an amazing amount of heat. “I’m nae afraid of the king,” he growled into the top of her head.
“Nay?” Her voice sounded drowsy. “What are ye afraid of, then, Broch MacLeod? What drove ye to agree to come to the Rough Bounds and do the king’s bidding?”
“The need to prove myself,” he admitted, surprised to hear himself reveal such a thing to this woman who was a virtual stranger to him. But then again, maybe that was why it was easier to divulge secrets. They would soon part ways, and if she had judgment, he’d not have to live with it day after day.
