If You Dare(69)
“I know you’re awake,” he said.
With an exasperated sigh, she sat up. “If you knew I was awake and watching, then why didn’t you turn away instead of continuing directly in front of me?”
“I dinna hear any complaints.”
The man didn’t have a modest bone in his body! Yet she wouldn’t argue with him because complaining had been the farthest thing from her mind. “So how long have you been up?”
“Not long.”
She twined her hair, knotting it behind her.
“How many were there?”
“Three.”
“You killed them?”
“Aye.”
He didn’t look proud of the fact. She’d learned after the second attack that MacCarrick wasn’t bloodthirsty; he was blood weary. “Why didn’t you even duck?”
“Would no’ make a difference with them. But you would no’ know I dinna duck unless you had no’ been down as I told you.”
“How could I not look? Please don’t leave me like that again. I can help you.” This amused him and she bristled. “I do believe I took out one of the two on the road to Toulouse. If you gave me a pistol—”
He froze. “I never want to see you with a gun in your hand, Anna.”
“Why not?”
“You were no’ meant to,” he said simply.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
His gaze caught hers, and she saw his eyes were bleak. “It means people like me were put on the earth so people like you never have to do bad things and suffer from them.”
After tense moments, she felt a confusing sadness seeping into her and turned away.
As he finished dressing, she asked, “How long will we stay here?”
“We have to wait till the morning tide to cross, then we’ll take the train to London.”
A train. She’d always dreamed of riding one, but they were rare in France, impossible in Andorra. Now she would, and she couldn’t care less.
“I’ll go downstairs and get food for you. And a fresh bath, if you’d like it.”
She nodded absently, her mind on other things, such as how reluctant she was to see him go now, and how one might go about seducing a Scottish mercenary. Just like any other man, she supposed, which left her no better off.
Twenty-three
I thought you’d be ready by now,” Court said as he began forcing himself out of the doorway. The room was darkened but for one flickering lamp, and she was sitting at the headboard of the bed, clad in only her thin shift and a new bandage.
He’d given her plenty of time to bathe and dress, fearing he might see any part of her unclothed, and a glimpse of an ankle at this point would pain him. When he’d been assured she was safe, the memories from the coach began clawing at him. Even as he’d slept, he’d dreamed of a different ending entirely and woke heavy and aching for it. He’d even dreamed she’d said she wanted to be with him, though he’d realized on the ride back to her that she’d never meant to make love to him in the carriage. He’d pushed and had heard and seen what he wanted because he wanted her so badly.
And now to see her in nothing but a sheer piece of material, with her hair loose…
“Wait, MacCarrick. I need to speak with you.”
He swallowed hard. “We can once you’re dressed.”
“Will you please come in?”
Why had he ever wanted her to learn to ask? Probably because he hadn’t known it about himself that he couldn’t deny her. He shut the door, then sat at the foot of the bed. “What do you need?”
“I’ve had a lot of time to think,” she said softly.
He stared, dumbfounded, as she began crawling toward him.
When her breasts moved with each movement closer, he rubbed a hand over his mouth. “Uh-huh.” If he’d known this was what he’d be returning to, he’d have been quicker about his tasks.
“This is a dangerous time for us.”
She’d always had that accent that drove him mad, but when she purred the words…Her voice made him hard as hell.
“Aye, it is.” Though the urge to pull her to him and get his hands on that body was overwhelming, he remained still, breaths shallow, curious to see what she’d do next.
“And I don’t want to wish I’d experienced something. Not when I can. Now. With you.”
“With me,” he agreed mindlessly. She was in bed with him. She wanted him, a rough Highlander. This was no longer a dream.
Perhaps it should stay that way….
“Anna, if you’re doin’ this because you were afraid when I was gone or because you feel beholden tae me…then…” Court, what the bloody hell are you saying? He shook his head hard. “As if I give a damn why. Come tae me.”