The Highlander's Conquest (6 page)

Marriage wasn’t in his future, no matter what his older brother Magnus said. Taking a bride was the last thing Blane wanted. He didn’t want to be tied to any one woman, he loved all women…
Exc
ept the thought of waking up to Aliah each morning did hold a certain appeal.

Satan’s ball
o
cks, where had that thought come from?

He had to concentrate on something else besides the warmth of her body pressed up against him, two particularly plush globes warming his back…

Wool. He would think about wool. They’d had a great run prior to his leaving to fetch the lass.
Enough coin to pay for part of the castle’s renovations and supplies for the clan. Even enough to upgrade their weapons and armor, with still more left for Sutherland coffers. Sutherland wool was unmatched.

When he returned to Dunrobin, he’d have to begin planning for their next trip, which might have to wait until spring depending on the weather.
There were rumors of King Edward of England bringing his troops to Scotland in the spring—to retaliate against the Scots victory at Stirling. If that were true, Blane and his men would have an even tougher journey.

While on his travels, he’d passed through a town that held a monthly market. They garnered a lot of merchants and buyers which in turn increased other town profits. ’Twas an idea that held merit and one he’d have to speak with Magnus about.
Their wool was in such high demand that they might be able to host their own wool market. During the winter months they could sell raw wool, yarn, and woven goods.

They kept off the main road, picking their way through the trees. Blane was careful not to let his horse trip on any fallen branches. They crept silently using only hand signals to communicate. Behind him, he could feel Aliah’s body sag more with each passing hour. He held tight to her arms
wrapped around his middle in case she fell asleep, fearing that she’d collapse.

Dawn approached and with it came the sounds of birds and insects chirping and buzzing their pleasure at another morning’s arrival.
Blane decided that it would be best to find shelter now, get a few hours of sleep and then continue on their way when the sun set that evening.

He’d found that traveling at night and sleeping during the day was the safest course of action to take. They’d already been followed by a band of outlaws, there was no telling what else would happen, and he wanted to arrive at Dunrobin unscathed and with all of his men—and Aliah—unharmed.

Ahead he spied what looked like the mouth of a cave set against a wall of solid stone. Moss and brush grew over the stones, and trees blocked his vision from discerning if it was indeed a place they could seek shelter.

“Go and see if that is a cave,” he told two of his men. At the sound of his voice, Aliah jerked behind him.

She must have dozed off and he’d woken her. His men trotted up to the cave and turned back, signaling. They continued
toward
the cave as his men checked the surrounding area and the inside for the cave for danger.

Liam, his second in command, nodded that all was well within the cave, and the men who’d ridden around the area soon returned with news that it was all clear.

They dismounted from their horses, and while his men took care of their mounts, he led Aliah into the mouth of the cave.
’Twas dark inside, but warmer since they were now protected from the biting wind.

“Wait here while I make a torch.” Blane met Aliah’s gaze. Her eyes were red-rimmed from exhaustion, and she rubbed her arms as if against a chill. “I won’t be long,” he assured her.

The lass nodded, and gazed around the darkened cave, her face void of emotion. She hid her feelings well when she
needed to he supposed. What he wouldn’t give to get inside her mind and see
exactly
what she was thinking.
Blane swiftly located
a branch the size of his arm, cut slices into the end enough so he could fit some dry twigs and brush to create
a makeshift torch. When he returned to the cave, Aliah was where he’d left her, still rubbing her arms.

He lit the torch with his flint. A golden glow lit up Aliah’s face and provided a bit of light in the darkness of the cave. She looked pale, and dark circles smudged beneath her eyes. The cave was small, but big enough for everyone to sleep comfortably inside.  Finding a crack in the stone, he wedged the torch into it then turned back to Aliah.

“I’m going to get the things to make your
bedding. You look exhausted, my lady.”

She nodded, her azure gaze catching his. For a moment, his breath ceased as he was caught up in her stare. The lass was beautiful to be sure, but there was something deeper that pulled him in. She was not a typical lady
. H
e knew that she was
different—
special. If only he could be the
one
to explore her further, to unlock all of her secrets.

Wrenching his eyes away, he ducked out of the cave to retrieve their blankets and bags. When he returned, Aliah was no longer standing where he’d left her,
instead she
busily sw
ept
debris from the center of the cave floor
with her feet
.

“Will we build a fire?” she asked.

“I would like to, my lady, but alas, a fire would draw attention to us
. B
eing so close to where we left some of our enemies alive
,
I’d rather keep our location as hidden as
possible
.”

She frowned and her shoulders shook as another chill caught hold. Without thinking, Blane stepped up and stroked his hands over her arms. Through the fabric of her gown and cloak he could feel that her arms were well shaped. She jerked a little at the contact, but then sighed
. He paused in his
ministration
, reminding himself that this was the last thing he should be doing right now. Reason warred with need.

Reason won.

Blane yanked his cloak from his back and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Since I cannot light a fire, this ought to help keep you warm.”

“Thank you,” she murmured. “’Tis still warm from your heat.”

Desire
sparked through his veins and his
cock
took a particular interest in another type of heat he could give her.

“Aye, ’tis a very good wool
garment
.”

She nodded, glancing down at the shroud of cloth wrapping her in a cocoon. “Will you be cold?”

“Nay, my lady.”
Thoughts of her were sure to keep him warm the whole
day
through.

Unable to look at her any longer without giving in
to his need to kiss her, Blane set about
assembling
her a makeshift bed. She
lay
upon it
, Frosty curving his bulk against her back,
while he dug through his bag to
find
her a bite to eat
. B
y the time he found a few oatcakes and an apple, Aliah’s breathing had evened out into a soft rhythmic pattern. The poor lass had been through a lot since he’d taken her from her manor. A whole new world
,
from what she’d told him. A sheltered life had not prepared her for the harsh realities of this world. Guilt ate at him for
lying
to her, for when they reached Dunrobin and the truth about
his identity
was revealed, she would never look at him
the same way
again. She would loathe him. He wasn’t sure he could handle that.

They’d only known each other a short time,
but
in that time, he’d
learned something about himself. He liked having a woman trust him, depend on him. What a sad mess that was. Shaking his head
,
he left the cave. He would take first watch with a few of his men.

And hopefully clear his head of thoughts of a certain blonde, enticingly beautiful and enigmatic lass.

Chapter Six

A
liah gasped, her eyes popping open as she
sat straight
up from the warm nest of wool
blankets
Sir Blane had made for her. Blinking rapidly, she took in her surroundings, trying to recall everything that had happened up to this point. Everything spiraled back in minute clips behind her mind’s eye. Blane knocking on her door. Traveling into the unknown dangers of the forest. Frosty running away. Her first kiss. The outlaws. She’d killed a man.

Frosty shifted beside her, grumbling at her for
moving
. She patted his belly then pulled her knees toward her chest and stared out of the darkened cave to the light beyond. Within the cave several men slept. None of the
m
snored, but all of them breathed as though they were in
a
deep sleep.

Closing her eyes, she said a prayer once more for the life she’d taken and for her own soul.
The only consoling thought was that she’d killed a murderer and in turn saved a life.
She hadn’t killed him in cold blood, and she’d given him a warning by first shooting his arm, but the man had been
stubborn and didn’t want to back down. He’d poi
nted his knife at Blane and L
ord only knew how swift he could be with
his weapon
. Blane had been
shaken;
she’d seen it in his eyes. He’d not expected her to save him, and he’d probably been disappointed in himself for not having noticed the outlaw’s intent.
S
he’d been
stunned
too, but the overpowering surge of protective instincts that barreled through her when she’d seen the outlaw reach for his concealed weapon
had sealed his fate
.

How did knights live with themselves when they had to go to war and take lives? Aliah knew they had no choice, didn’t feel disdain for them because of it, she actually felt admiration. She took in a shuddering breath. How did they keep their sanity?
Perhaps she should ask Blane what he did to cope. Part of her understood that she would be forgiven for taking a life, but for a simple woman headed for a life of peace within the church, having done
such a deplorable deed
weighed on her mind.

Her shoulders hunched and she pressed her chin to her knees. Blane was not among those sleeping in the cave. He’d told he
r
he
was taking first watch and if she wasn’t afraid of going out into the forest alone, she would seek him out now and gain his opinion on her dilemma. As it was, she had Frosty, and trusted him to help her
. Staying put would be best. S
he didn’t want to bring any further complications onto the party who would
strive to
keep her safe until she reached her sister and father.

When she was about to force herself to sleep
again
, Blane appeared at the entrance to the cave. His intense gaze fell on her and immediately she felt tingly. He didn’t j
ust look at her, it was almost as if
he absorbed her, memorized her, touched her with just his heated gaze.
Blane broke their
stare
by scowling and
motioning
for her to join him outside the cave.
Shucking her blankets, she was c
areful not to disturb anyone
as
she tiptoed out.

“My lady, why
do you not rest?”

“I just woke.”
She handed him his cloak, now completely warmed.

He shook his head. “Keep it.”

“I am warmed through, and my own cloak
suffices
just fine now.”

Blane shrugged, taking the cloak from her.
“
Suit yourself.
Why
aren’t you sleeping
?”
He swung the cloak around his broad shoulders.

Aliah did not like the way he stared at her as though she were keeping something from him.

She shrugged. “Mayhap ’tis because I am in a foreign place. Or ’haps ’tis even because I killed a man
last night
.”

Blane’s expression changed with her admission, softening. By the
slight lift
of his arm, she wondered if he’d thought about comforting her and then decided against it. Oddly, she was disappointed that he didn’t. She rather liked the way he’d warmed her hours before by rubbing her arms. Objection would not pass her lips if he tried to do so again.

“Taking a man’s life is no little thing, my lady. You were very brave to have done
it
, and you saved my life. I will be forever in your debt.”

Aliah shook her head. “I don’t want you to be in my debt forever.”

“How can I repay you?”

Any number of ideas came to mind, most of them involving a sinful kiss, which made her blush and wish they’d already reached their destination so she could seek confession for such
wanton
thoughts. Good thing she would seek absolution from a priest in another country, for she feared what would happen if word were to get back to Mother Superior about her less than innocent behavior. Not that any priest was allowed to share what was confessed, but they could perhaps put a bug in Mother’s ear that Aliah was not exactly
what the church was looking for in a nun
.

“There is no need. Simply get me to my sister and father quickly.”

“That I can promise you.”

She titled her head a little to the side, taking in his square jaw dusted with a day’s growth of beard. Her fingers itched to touch him. “There is one other thing…”

“Anything, my lady.”

“Is there anything…special that you do when you’ve taken a life? That helps you heal quickly from such a tragedy?”

He smiled and for the first time she noticed a slight dimple in his cheek when he did so. His smile was contagious and she found herself grinning despite the dark topic.

“Remembering the cause is always helpful. The man was an outlaw, intent on harming you if he got past me, which he was dead set on ending my life
to do so
. You saved my life and in essence saved your own. Trust me when I say he would not have been kind to you.”

Aliah nodded. “That does make me feel a little better.”

His grin deepened, taking on a roguish glint. “There is also…” He reached for the wineskin draped on his shoulder. “The drink of the angels.”

“Water?”

“No, water is the drink of the gods. The gods keep us alive and thriving. The angels keep us sane.” He took a long
draw
then passed it to her.

What game was he playing? She too took a long swig, only to regret it a moment later as
the
liquid burned a path down her throat. She spit out what was left in her mouth, the fire-filled liquid spewing from her lips—too late she realized—right at Blane.

Aliah’s mouth fell open in mortification as she stared at him, his face covered in droplets of the liquor and the front of his cloak
soaking
wet.

“Well, that wasn’t expected,” he said dryly, wiping his face on the sleeve of his cloak.

Heat filled her face to flaming, and all Aliah wanted to do was seep into the leaf strewn forest floor.

“Oh, my…I’m so, so sorry,” she managed to choke out.

Blane shook his head, merriment filling his eyes. Was he laughing at her? “No need to apologize, my lady. I should have warned you that ’twas a stronger drink than you might be used to.”

“Stronger is an understatement…” She glanced nervously from the ground to his sparkling eyes.

He was laughing, and soon the sound escaped him. Deep, throaty, masculine and filled with humor.

Tears
of embarrassment
stung her eyes, but he shook his head vehemently. “
I take it you’ve not had whisky before.
Do not
be upset
, my lady. I but laugh at our situation.
Look at me.” He held his hands in front of him gesturing toward his wet cloak. “I am soaked in my own brew.”

She nodded, not sure how she could not be upset when she’d been the one to
spray
the brew upon his person.

“’Tis funny. Come now, shall I do it to you?” he asked, looking quite serious.

Aliah narrowed her eyes,
imagining Blane spitting whisky on her. S
he said
with
a shocked whisper, “No, sir.”

Her response made him laugh all the harder. “Oh, Lady Aliah, I would never do such a thing. Your expression though upon hearing my question was priceless.”

Aliah huffed a breath and crossed her arms over her chest.
She was not used to being teased and wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Irritation warred with humor
. “Do you take pleasure in humiliating others? ’Tis a sin
,
”
she said with mock haughtiness.

His
brows raised
and he took a step toward her. “Do you lecture me,
my lady
?” His voice was low, underlined with a note of sensuality that worked its way up her spine. “’Tis a sin
to be so tempting.” The last of his words were said on a breath as he dipped low and captured her mouth with his.

She was
taken aback at first and gasped. Her lips parted a little and Blane’s tongue swiped for only a second at the small opening.
He tasted of whisky, but this time it wasn’t a fire that
took her breath but
rather a slow, sensual burn. H
e pulled back, abruptly in fact, and away from her, leaving her dazed and confused. Her legs shook, and she was in danger of collapsing. Her breaths came quick and her heart pounded in her ears. Not even a minute had passed since his lips brushed hers and his tongue slid enticingly over her parted mouth, but it rocked her to the core all the same. There was a blatant difference between their first kiss and this kiss.

Their first kiss had been sensual, slow
and
decadent. This was none of those things. It was hot, tantalizing and wicked. And Aliah wanted him to do it again.

Oh, Saint’s toes
… She ought to march herself to the nearest church and have the abbot send a missive straight away to Mother Superior
, explaining
that Aliah was not right for a life of servitude. She was a wicked, wanton woman, filled with a strong desire to taste the hot blooded man
standing before
her.

Aliah’s face blazed with heat, that heat searing a path down her neck to her chest and to her breasts
. H
er nipples were hard, aching buds. And…she wanted Blane to touch them.

Thank goodness for her cloak, which she tugged closer
, grasping it
like a shield. But as much as she tried, she wasn’t sure she would ever be completely shielded from this man
.

Blane raked his hands through his hair and gazed into the forest beyond. “My lady, I apologize for taking liberties that are not my own.” The way his voice was deep
and hoarse
with desire, licked its way along her wanton nerves.

What was it about this man that made her want to be
wicked
?

W
as it a blessing in disguise? Was this her path? Was this God’s way of showing her that she was meant for something different? For love?

Aliah shook her head. That couldn’t be true. While her father wanted her to marry, she’d decided long ago she would go into the church. A place where she always felt comfortable, a place where she felt closer to the mother she’d never known. Arbella had fought against marriage for years and when she’d finally be
en coerced into an arrangement
,
Aliah had seen her sister’s unhappiness
, thus
her own goal to join the church and never ha
ving
to enter the bonds of marriage were fortified.