Page 25 of A Virgin for the Vicious Highlander
Perhaps that was why she whispered the words that she did.
“What if… I… like that notion?”
For what felt like an eternity, Murdoch lay there silently, his hand still gripping her hip. His breath caressed the curve of her neck, and though she could have twisted her head around to look up at him, she did not dare to. Her question was too wild and brazen, even for her.
She felt the change in him before he spoke. His body went rigid against her back, his hot breath almost angry as he withdrew hishand and rolled over, putting that polite gap between them once again.
“Ye shouldnae,” he said gruffly. “Now, sleep.”
With those four words, the tingly, burning sensation faded away, leaving her with her head in tangles and her stomach twisting into knots. She stared at the flickering flames, furious with herself for getting carried away, and even more furious with herself for giving Murdoch the upper hand.
He’ll think I actuallywanted him to do those things…
She swallowed thickly, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that she would never be able to get his sensual description of what he might do out of her head.
It was the most he had ever said to her, and all to toy with her, to make her feel foolish.
Well, I’ll show ye that I’m nae so easily embarrassed,she silently vowed, scooping the puppy into her arms and turning slowly to lie on her back.
She stared up at the rafters, where old cobwebs swayed in the icy breeze. And out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at that muscular back, visible above the hem of the blankets, and wondered if every scar was a memory of a mean trick.
Ye’ve taught me a valuable lesson.
She closed her eyes, stroking the puppy to calm herself.
For a brief moment, she had been beyond curious about the acts he had whispered about in her ear. So intrigued that she could very well have gotten herself into a world of trouble that no amount of pretense would solve.
I’ll be more careful of ye from now on.
CHAPTER 11
Murdoch could not bringhimself to look at Cecilia, much less speak to her. She rode in the saddle of his somewhat traitorous stallion, the puppy tucked into a sling she had made from one of the blankets, while he walked alongside, holding the reins.
It would be better if I never said a word to her again.
He kept his gaze fixed ahead on the wintry world, the snow so thick that it came up to his knees in places. It was precisely what he needed to push himself into utter exhaustion, for he had not slept a wink last night and could not afford yet another sleepless night when darkness came again.
He had lost control of himself last night. The heat of her, the feel of her in his arms, the soap-and-snow scent of her skin, the sound of her ragged breaths, the feel of her body against his—it had created a potent brew that had nearly cost him dearly,almostmaking him forget himself.
“What if… I… like that notion?”
He wanted to groan just thinking about those soft words coming out in a hesitant murmur. It was akin to a sudden and fatal fever, sweeping through him like wildfire.
And it concerned him deeply.
“Thank ye for comin’ to find me,” Cecilia said abruptly as the open moorland finally became visible through the tangle of ancient trees. “I ken it must’ve disrupted yer duties. I trust the castle hasnae fallen apart without ye.”
She was trying to provoke him again. It would not work. They had not exchanged a single word until now. When she woke up, she had been quick to get dressed, thinking he was asleep. Perhaps it was better that way.
“I expect ye to start writin’ what ye ken about Clan MacDunn when we return,” he replied bluntly. “The end of yer week here is fast approachin’.”
“Of course,” she said, her voice as flat as his own.
He wanted to look at her, to see if her expression matched her voice. Instead, he plodded on through the dense snow, grateful for the icy chill that crept up his legs and numbed him from toe to stomach.
Out on the moorland, a light flurry of snow continued to fall, but there were flashes of blue in the wintry sky above. A good sign that the snow would soon cease altogether and, in due course, what had already fallen would melt and make the roads safe to travel again.
The sooner ye are out of me sight, the sooner ye’ll be out of me head and me life can go back to normal.
