‘You can’t do that.’
His expression was suggestive of polite interest. She tried another tack.
‘It’s against the rules.’
‘I don’t play to the rules, lass. You should know that.’ Without relinquishing his hold he retraced his steps along the passage as far as his chamber and drew her inside. She heard the key turn in the lock. In no doubt now as to what he intended Ashlynn felt her heartbeat accelerate dangerously. She saw him smile and advance. Undeceived by the smile she backed away.
‘There’s no escape, Ashlynn.’
‘Is that so, villain?’
‘Aye, it is.’
Ashlynn hid a smile of her own, remembering the interconnecting door that led to her own room. If he thought he’d trap her so easily he was mistaken. Enjoying the thought of his forthcoming chagrin she turned and fled, darting through the open doorway into his bedchamber, heading for the exit. Iain watched her go and his grin widened. Then he strolled after her towards his room arriving in time to see Ashlynn reach the connecting door. Her hand closed on the handle and tugged hard. It yielded not at all. Automatically her gaze went to the lock and found it empty.
‘Is this what you’re looking for?’ he asked.
She whirled round and saw him on the further threshold. In his hand was a large iron key. Speechless she watched as he closed the bedroom door behind him and locked that in turn, the full extent of his plan now apparent. She was exactly where he had intended her to be.
‘You devious rogue.’ Her voice was low and the tone indicative of grudging admiration as she watched him advance. ‘You had it all worked out, didn’t you?’
‘In any campaign one must have a plan.’
Then his hands were on her shoulders and suddenly his face was much closer, the dark eyes burning into hers.
‘Kiss me, Ashlynn.’
Annoyed with herself for falling so neatly into the trap and even more annoyed for enjoying it, she made a token attempt to resist. His hold tightened. He took the kiss at leisure, a knowing and insistent embrace that ignored resistance until resistance was abandoned. Then he carried her to the bed.
* * *
Later as they lay together beneath the furs Ashlynn glanced up at his face and seeing him smile returned it.
‘That was quite a forfeit, my lord.’
‘No,’ he replied. ‘The forfeit was only a kiss.’
‘A kiss!’ She pushed herself up on one elbow. ‘Why you utter…’ Words failed her in the face of that blatantly unrepentant grin. Then she launched herself at him. Iain guffawed. There followed a short unequal struggle before he grabbed her wrists and pinned them to the bed.
‘All’s fair in love and war, lass.’ He was still holding her lightly enough, but still leaving no possibility of escape for the blue eyes held a militant light. ‘And now I have you captive I’m not about to let you go.’
Reluctantly she laughed. ‘We can’t stay here, Iain. What about the game?’
He bent and kissed her again. ‘Do you know, lass, I have a feeling you’re going to be the undisputed winner.’
Chapter Eleven
After two days of rain the sky cleared and, as the snow had melted away from the lower lying areas of ground, Hamish suggested that the men might go out for a ride. It was an idea that met with instant favour. Ashlynn looked at her brother.
‘Will you join them?’
He shook his head. ‘I’d love to, but I’m not sure if my shoulder would stand the pace just yet. I need to put the matter to the test—on my terms.’
‘Let’s go out by ourselves then, and we can set the pace to suit.’
‘I’m game if you are,’ he said, ‘and it has been a while after all. If I don’t get back on a horse soon I’ll forget how.’
She laughed. ‘Very well, but I think we should not go too far at first. You are like to be sore else.’
Iain, who had followed the exchange, surveyed them with a smile. ‘I’ll have a groom go with you since you’re not familiar with the country hereabouts.’
They went down to the courtyard together and mounted up. For a little way their paths lay together and Iain rode beside them to the fork in the trail where he and his men were to leave them. He bade farewell to Ban and then leaned down to drop a kiss on his wife’s cheek.
‘Until later, Ashlynn.’
He smiled and turned his horse’s head. For a moment or two her gaze followed the dark-clad figure on the grey stallion. She was regretting his absence already. Telling herself not to be so foolish she brought her mount alongside her brother’s.
They kept the pace steady but Ashlynn could see that Ban was enjoying the excursion and it pleased her to see him smile in the old way. Their guide led them through the length of Glengarron, intending to ride a wide loop round the valley. While it was good to get some fresh air again, the damp cold was penetrating and Ashlynn wasn’t at all sorry that they’d opted for a shorter excursion this time around.