Page 70 of Captured By the Highland Devil
“And what if I daenae get it on one try?” she asked.
“Ye willnae,” he said. “That is why we will be comin’ here every spare moment we get so ye can learn. Ye will survive in these lands if it takes me years to ready ye.”
She laughed. “Seems like ye also want to take me on a hunt.”
Swinging from his saddle, Ruben gave her an eye. “Daenae tempt me, lass, or ye might find yerself with a dagger in the middle of the forest. Ye may want to watch out for the wolves.”
“I prefer me wolfish Laird, thank ye.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Emerging from the bushes, clad only in her chemise, Paige watched as Ruben rose up, water running down his bare chest and arms down to the rippling muscles of his belly.
Ruben was nearly naked…or naked. Whatever he had for her, it was hidden beneath the blue waters. Just the thought of being that near to Ruben naked sent her heart beating rapidly and her breasts tingling. She swallowed and tried to look away but couldn’t. She recalled the dark gaze that hovered over her when he pleased her, and she hungered for more of those gazes. More of him.
One corner of his mouth tilted up knowingly.
“Come join me.”
With her arms folded over her chest, furtively hiding her budding nipples, she walked to the edge of the water and dipped one toe in.
It was cool but not nearly as cold as she had expected. Ruben was waiting for her, the water brushing his lower belly. Before she lost what little courage she had, she quickly marched into the water to join him—but her foot slipped on a rock.
Her breath came out in a whoosh when Ruben grabbed her. “I’ve got ye.”
The skin on her neck pebbled where his warm breath grazed her sensitive skin. Her body responded instantly to his touch and she drew in a sharp breath. Out in the open? ‘Tis not ladylike, but oh, I want him!
“How do ye plan on proceedin’?” she asked as she did not know what he planned to do, and it worried her.
“Ye need to ken how to float,” he said. “Even if ye cannae swim, floatin’ may save yer life.”
“I daenae ken how!”
“‘Tis easy. Go limp. Ye simply trust that the water will hold ye up when ye ask it.” In the next heartbeat, he turned her and with his hands braced on her neck and below her knees, urged her on her back. The sudden change of orientation made her grab at his shoulder.
“Relax, lass,” he said. “If ye are as stiff as a board like this, ye will sink to the bottom of the water, never to be seen again.”
“I daenae ken how I can—” she dipped under the water and spluttered in fright.
“And that too is a death sentence. Ye cannae panic, ye’ll drown.” He sighed. “I think this will be a long while for us.”
By the time evening drew on, Paige had much more ease in the water. Ruben had taught her how to float and how swim using the torrent to her advantage. She certainly did not mind the underwater caresses and while he fixed her posture and the playful splashes he sent her way only made her enjoy the day more.
Ruben eyed the sky as dusk began creeping in. “It’s time to go back to the castle.”
Paige nodded and waded out to the banks, the chemise now fully soaked through. As she emerged from the water, she caught sight of Ruben; his hair was dripping, and she couldn’t help but follow a drop of water as it trickled down his chest. She felt a clenching in her stomach as she remembered the way his chest had felt against her. Flicking her eyes back to his, her face warmed when she saw that he was watching her with an amused smirk.
But the way his eyes darkened as he noticed the way her chemise clung to her body made one thing clear: Ruben wanted her as much as she wanted him.
The children’s concert was happening at a church two villages over. The large kirk was easily thrice the size of the one in Choille Village, its stained glass window sending colored light over the floor.
Two other sets of children had gone already and on the last one, the girls faltered and fumbled their way through the song. Mother Etna’s children were next to take the stage. The children, clad in their best, were fidgeting but Sarah calmed them.
“Ye’ll be fine,” she told them as they stood as headed to the pulpit. Paige did her best to smile comfortingly knowing that despite the outcome of this day, Ruben had a beautiful lunch ready for them as they returned to the orphanage.
Hanna, the lead girl, of about fifteen summers, stood in the middle and started in her high soprano. The other girls joined in the harmony with their voices, while the two boys’ tenors gave contrast to the tune.
Paige was on the edge of her seat as they went through the chorus, finished the last stanza and made it to the end of the song. She shot to her feet, applauding as the children filed from the altar. She hugged a few of the girls who passed by, assuring them they did well before taking her seat.
