A Gentle Feuding (11 page)

“I’m no’ obliged to explain to you, Jessie. ’Tis over and that is all you need know.”

“I’ll no’ stand for it!” the woman screeched. “You used me, Jamie!”

“No more than you did me,” he replied, his voice controlled and cold. “You’ll be paid for your trouble, if that is what worries you.”

“Curse you, Jamie MacKinnion!” Jessie hissed, her green eyes gleaming fire. “You’ll be regretting this, I swear you will. And she will, too!” Jessie turned her murderous eyes on Sheena. “You’re welcome to him, for he’ll be treating you this way as soon as a new lass catches his eye. The man is a faithless bastard!”

Jamie gripped her arms and shoved her away from him. “Gawain, if you please, take her out of here. And find someone deaf to escort her home. I wouldna wish this hagborn tongue on anyone who can hear.”

Gawain was thoroughly amused. He chuckled as he moved to take Jessie’s arm. “She just needs a little reassurance. I’m just the one to give it to her, if you can do without me for a day or two.”

“Suit yourself,” Jamie said. “As long as you know what you’re doing.”

Black Gawain laughed as he took Jessie out of the hall. She went willingly enough, her confidence restored by a new admirer. Gawain listened to her indignation with only half an ear.
Cruel, selfish, fickle
were just a few of the words Sheena overheard before the hall quieted. What had happened was unbelievable. The humiliation. The scorn. All so unnecessary.

“Sheena.”

All that she was fighting to control was revealed in the look she turned on Jamie. “How dare you subject her to that? How dare you subject
me
to that?” Her voice was but a whisper, but filled with such outrage that Jamie was taken aback.

“I didna know she would make such a fuss. Are you hurt, lass?”

“’Tis a fine time to be asking!” Sheena’s voice rose. “You had no right to insist I stay here and be put through that.”

“That isna why I asked you to stay.” His temper was wearing thin, and, quickly, she lowered her gaze. She was provoking him to the very thing she feared the most—his anger.

“I think enough has been said and done this day.” She spoke very softly.

“Now what is this?” he demanded. “So much anger canna disappear that easily. If you wish to shout at me, do so. Dinna hide your spirit behind a meek surface. I’ll no’ stand for that, Sheena. Dinna pretend wi’ me.”

“Very well, Sir Jamie,” she said stiffly. “I hate what you just did, and agree with everything that woman said of you. I asked you no’ to do it, but you wouldna listen to me. Now you’ve no one, for you certainly don’t have me.”

Jamie grinned, surprising her. “We’ll see about that, lass.”

“There’ll be no handfasting!” she snapped, infuriated by his easy humor.

“We’ll see about that, too,” he assured her. “Now come, you’ve no’ eaten.”

Sheena ignored his outstretched hand, exasperated by this new mood of his. “I’ve no appetite now. If you’ll excuse me….”

Jamie sighed. “Very well. But you’ll be riding with me today. Be ready in an hour.”

“Nay!” she gasped.

“Be ready, Sheena.”

She walked away. Another order, and one she would have to obey. She could challenge him only so often, she knew. The man misused his power cruelly. Yet how much could she do about it?

T
ight-lipped, temper simmering, Sheena glared furiously at the wide back riding before her. She had not said one word to him when he came for her at noon, or as he escorted her to the stable and helped her mount a mare. She had not acknowledged his compliments or his attempts at conversation. His high-handedness was more than she could bear.

She was, at that point, forced even to abide his charity. The gown he had given her fit her well. She and Lydia were the same small size, and only the tightness in the bosom made it apparent that the gown was not Sheena’s. It was lovely, powder blue, with full sleeves that turned back to reveal white fur cuffs. There was a matching fur-lined cloak with a pearl clasp. Under other circumstances, the gown would have been appreciated.

She hadn’t been paying attention to where he was leading her, but suddenly she realized that they were
not riding down to the valley, where flat land would allow an agreeable ride. As they rounded a steep crag, Sheena looked back. She could no longer see the castle. They were riding neither up nor down the mountainside, but following a worn pathway. There were no crofts there, no sign of life except a few trees and berry bushes.

A shiver of fright ran down her back. Out there, no one would be able to hear her cry. There were only the two of them. She was utterly at his mercy. Why, he was even holding her horse’s reins, leading her.

“Where are you taking me?” Sheena shouted, but Jamie didn’t answer. Nor did he turn around to look at her. She tried to force down her rising panic. “Sir Jamie, please! I wish to go back!”

“Dinna sound so frightened, lass. You’ve no reason to be,” he replied calmly, still without looking around.

If Jamie had seen Sheena’s expression, he might have relented. Then again, he might not have. His very purpose in taking her away from the castle to where they could be alone was to prove to her that she could trust him. Also, he wanted to give her a way of enjoying herself. He knew she liked to swim. Of course, he was not going to tell her he had seen her swimming in a glen!

Jamie grinned. He couldn’t deny his motives were selfish. He hoped for gratitude, at the very least, a smile from her or a lighter mood. And he could try his damnedest to see again the girl who had laughed and giggled only the night before.

Sheena devoted herself to silent prayer. Her only hope was for a miracle, something extraordinary to save her from—

Jamie stopped his horse suddenly, and Sheena’s mare stopped, too. Sheena held her breath until Jamie turned at last and looked at her. Her breath escaped in a long sigh then, for the look he gave her lacked evil intent. She had never seen a more winsome smile. Remarkably, even her anger disappeared, along with her fears. A shyness came over her then, so unlike her. She became flustered when Jamie dismounted and lifted her to the ground. “I came here often when I was a wee lad,” he said simply.

“Did you?” she responded, as though they were accustomed to normal conversations.

She saw sparkling water, a lovely little pool on the other side of a burn, next to what appeared to be a man-made dam. A high pile of boulders below the pool hid the water from the valley side.

“Did you make the dam?” Sheena asked.

“Nay. It has been here longer than I can remember. ’Tis a peaceful place. Many’s the time I’ve sat on the rocks there and watched the day pass on the surface of the water. But the rocks form a good base for jumping, too, if you’ve a mind to dive.”

“’Tis deep?”

“Aye, the deep slope is what caused the pool to form easily. To be sure, it makes a fine swimming place.”

Sheena was looking at the water wistfully. It did
indeed seem a fine swimming hole. Not as secluded as her glen at home, yet private enough, and lovely. She tried to picture Jamie swimming there but couldn’t. Imagining him as a youth was impossible. This man surely had never been a boy!

“Do you still come here sometimes?” Sheena ventured softly.

“No’ for many a year. I canna seem to find the time anymore. Then again, I only swim in the warm months, and ’tis too cold for it already this year.”

Sheena could have laughed. She was used to swimming in the early spring and late autumn, and in weather much colder than this. Oh, how she would like to swim now! If only she were alone. She sighed. To feel the cold water surrounding her, caressing her. She hadn’t had a decent bath since being brought to Castle Kinnion, only sponge baths. If only she were alone, she thought again.

“Why did you bring me here?” Sheena asked bitterly.

Jamie turned away. “I thought you would appreciate the tranquillity. Apparently, I was mistaken.”

“But I
do
,” she assured him, sorry she had sounded so ungrateful.

He turned back, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. “Then I’m glad I took the time to bring you here. But alas, we canna stay.”

“Why?”

“There are others who require my time, lass. But mayhap I will bring you back here, if that is your wish.”

“Today.”

He laughed. “Mayhap.”

“Then could you leave me here?” she asked hopefully. “I’ve a great need to be alone…for a while.”

He gazed searchingly into her eyes. “If I thought I could be trusting you no’ to set out for Aberdeen, I just might grant your wish, lass.”

“Take the mare then. I canna get far without her.”

“Aye, I could do that, but you could still wander off and lead me the devil’s time finding you.”

“And if I swore to stay here, to be here when you returned?” she ventured.

“Would you?”

“Aye,” she answered quickly, and waited, breathless.

He made her wait several long moments, his expression betraying nothing. Finally he sighed.

“I suppose ’tis a matter of trust—my trusting your word. And as I’m wanting you to trust me, too, the trusting between us must start somewhere.”

Sheena’s eyes gleamed. “I can stay then?”

“Aye.”

“For how long? I mean, how long before you return?”

He grinned. “I’ll give you at least an hour, whether I finish ’afore then or no’.”

Sheena turned away so he couldn’t see how much this small gesture meant to her. “I thank you,” she said softly.

“It pleases me if I have made you happy, Sheena.”

He sounded so serious that she turned around to
look at him again, worried over what he might be making of this. But she found him grinning.

He mounted his horse and grabbed the mare’s reins. “I’ll be taking your mare, as you suggested,” he explained. “Just so you’re no’ tempted.”

As he rode away, back toward the castle, she smiled. Was that charming, agreeable man really her enemy? she asked, then chided herself. He
was
. She would have to guard against that charm. It mattered not at all that he was devilishly handsome, or that he could dispel her fears with a smile. He was still James MacKinnion, sworn enemy of her clan. He might trust her all he wanted—but she would never trust him.

S
heena lay stretched out on a smooth rock, basking in the sun slanting through low-lying clouds. The water had indeed been cold, but that had not diminished her delight in the least. She had enjoyed herself thoroughly. Now she was warming her chilled body. It had been much too long since she had enjoyed herself so.

Sheena’s hour of privacy was drawing to an end, and she could no longer lie there letting the sun caress her bare skin. She had to dress and dress quickly. She hurried into her clothes, grinning as she thought, How surprised he would have been to find me like that! I’ll wager he would have been too shocked to take advantage.

She saw him the moment he rounded the steep crag that hid the castle from view. He galloped over, pulling her mare along. Sheena frowned. Why was he in such a hurry?

“Is something wrong?” Sheena called out to him.

Jamie chuckled and slid off his horse, leaving both animals to graze on the heath. A few long strides brought him around the pool, and he climbed up the rocks to Sheena.

“Can a man no’ be eager to join a bonny lass?” He grinned. He reached her side and shoved a sack into her hands.

“What is this?” she asked.

“I recalled that you’ve no’ eaten yet today, so I brought along a wee bit of food for you.”

Sheena opened the sack and then looked up at him. “A wee bit? This sack is full.”

“Well, ’tis not
all
for you,” he replied lightly. “Come, sit with me.”

Sheena hesitated. He was in such high spirits, and he seemed so utterly pleased with himself for some reason. Why?

She turned a little, so she could sit facing him.

As soon as they were settled, Jamie grabbed the sack from her and began tossing things to her, a skin of wine, bannocks, half a roasted hen, ginger cakes. She started laughing as the food began to spill out of her lap. “Enough, Jamie!” she cried.

Jamie settled back against a rock, stretching out his long legs. Sheena relaxed, a grin on her lips as she watched him rummage through whatever else there was in the bag. He finally settled on the other half of the hen. They ate, and she watched the play of clouds across the blue sky. She watched Jamie,
too, unable to stop from looking his way every so often. Each time she did, her eyes met his and she looked away, flustered. It was ridiculous, the way her eyes were continually drawn to him, almost of their own accord. There was a sort of unreality to what was happening, enforced by the silence. Her pulse picked up its beat each time their eyes met, and she felt a warm, giddy rush. The wine, no doubt. She shouldn’t have drunk so much. It made her cheeks hot. No. She was blushing under the constant regard of those hazel eyes.

At last Sheena reluctantly broke the silence. “Should we no’ go back?”

“There’s no hurry.”

Jamie had no intention of leaving yet. He had long ago decided to devote this day to her. It had taken much willpower to leave her alone here. And as he had had no pressing business, it had meant even more willpower to stay away a full hour. But he had wanted her to have her swim.

She was certainly changed! Not one bitter word had crossed her lips since he returned, and there was no fear in her eyes when she looked at him. Instead she blushed, and most becomingly. It was all Jamie could do to still keep his distance.

Sheena got up to wash her hands, kneeling by the water’s edge. The rock was too high, and she had to lie down on it to reach the water. As soon as she ran her hands through the pool, Jamie lay down close to her, the whole length of his side pressing against
her, his hands cupping the water. She knew she should have jumped right up then, but she didn’t. For some reason she couldn’t move at all.

His hand caught hers as it trailed in the water, and he slowly raised it, holding it to his lips, his eyes on hers. Keeping his gaze on her, he began to suck the drops from her fingers. Tingling spread up Sheena’s arm and rushed down her back. All the while, he was moving closer and closer. Swiftly he closed the distance. He leaned over her, kissing her ever so softly, his tongue running along her lower lip and then slipping inside her sweet mouth.

If Sheena had thought about what was happening, she might have stopped it. But she had abandoned thought. There was no fear, either, only a strange, warm rush flowing through her. She reveled in it. Nothing that felt so good could be bad.

Jamie pulled them away from the water and gently pushed her down onto his plaid, which he had spread out on the smooth rock before joining her at the water’s edge. She had a glimpse of thick, curly hair at the opening of his tunic. Then his mouth covered hers completely, his tongue exploring, and the warmth rushed through her again. Those large, strong hands moved across her cheeks, along her neck, down her arms, while his lips clung to hers.

Vaguely she realized the clasp of her cloak had come undone but dismissed the thought. The lacing on her bodice was unraveling, and Jamie’s fingers were tickling just above her breasts. Thought
pushed past the warm, rushing feeling: did he mean to undress her?

Sheena brought her hand up to push him away, but Jamie caught the hand and moved it to his cheek.

“You…must stop…Sir Jamie.”

Her voice was no more than a breathless whisper, and, looking at her, he smiled a knowing smile. His eyes moved over her face, admiring every facet of it. Then his lips followed the path of his eyes, his breath warm and caressing, mingling with hers as he licked her lips ever so gently.

“You taste of ginger, and I’ve no’ had dessert yet,” he murmured.

Dessert? Did he mean to devour her? She started to protest, but he cut her off.

“Hush now, Sheena. Let me taste of your sweetness.” His voice was beguiling. “Let me.”

His mouth closed over hers again, and again she felt herself losing control. He plundered her, sucking away her breath, her will.

He let go of her hand then, and the hand instinctively moved to his neck. This time, when she again felt his fingers working on her lacings, she didn’t move to stop the magic.

Jamie peeled back the edges of her gown, and she shivered as his hand closed over her warm breast. The large hand moving across her breasts, exploring, gently squeezing, touching where no man had ever touched before, took her beyond the point of protesting.

Jamie felt it. She was his now. He knew it, gloried in it. He was near exploding with need, hard and throbbing, and she moved against him, making it worse. With any other woman it would have been unthinkable to restrain himself. But this was Sheena. He desired her above all others. He had aroused her, and he wanted her to know the full force of that arousal. He wanted her need to be as great as his.

His lips moved to the side of her neck, and as he kissed the sensitive area below her ear, she moaned, trembling. His hands slipped under her back, lifting her, and she gasped as his hot mouth closed over her breast. She grasped his head with both hands, gripping his hair. She was on fire, and the heat moved lower, bringing an ache to her whole being.

“Jamie! Ho, Jamie!”

They both heard it. Jamie looked up, his eyes flashing dangerously when he saw his brother coming around the steep crag.

“I’ll throttle that lad, so help me I will!” Jamie swore between gritted teeth. He looked down at Sheena. She was frowning, and in an instant she released him, the color draining from her face. Her eyes widened accusingly as she gazed up at Jamie.

“Dinna look at me like that, Sheena,” he said levelly. “You’ve done nothing wrong, and I’ve done nothing I’ll apologize for. What happened was meant to happen, and we’ll be finishing it some other time. Now lace yourself quickly. I dinna want my brother seeing you.”

The color returned to her face, hot color now, her cheeks crimson. She turned away from him, mortified. Oh, God! What had she done?

She fumbled until she had her bodice tightly closed, then turned to pick up her cloak but found Jamie holding it out to her. She grabbed it, unable to meet his eyes. She never wanted to meet those eyes again.

“Are you all right, Sheena?”

Colen had reached them, stopping his horse just across the burn.

“Nothing is amiss, Colen,” she answered, her voice shaking. “We’ve been for a ride.”

Colen raised a brow. “And a swim? Do you no’ think the weather’s too cold for swimming?”

“How did—?” She caught herself. Of course, her heavy braid was still wet. Slowly, she inhaled deeply. She was suddenly fed up with both men. She started around the pool to her mare, walking quickly.

“Where do you think you’re off to, lass?” Jamie called.

“To the castle. I can find my own way, thank you,” she retorted angrily.

“Sheena!”

She didn’t look back. She swung up onto her horse, positioning herself astride, her skirt hiked to her knees. Digging her heels into the mare, she jumped the burn, surprising both men, and galloped off.

“She rides with unusual skill, and no mistake,”
Colen remarked as he gazed after her. “You wouldna think a MacEwen would possess enough horseflesh to let his women learn to ride.”

He looked back at Jamie, flinching under the murderous regard he hadn’t expected. “If you were no’ my brother,” Jamie said icily, “I would take pleasure in killing you right now. What the devil brings you here?” he finished with a shout.

“We’ve guests at the castle,” Colen explained quickly. “Will Jameson has come to look over your horses and he carries a fat purse. I thought you’d want to know.”

“He could have waited until I returned, Colen. He’ll no doubt be staying the night as it is.”

“True. But I had no way of knowing I’d be disturbing you, Jamie. I’m no’ sorry I did,” he added, then chuckled at his brother’s black scowl. “You’d best cool off with a swim now. Don’t worry. I’ll see that Sheena returns to the castle safely.”

He rode away before his brother could get his hands on him, and he didn’t try to hide his grin.