[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
and left. She was the type of woman a man married.
You could&
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Braden wouldn t even let his mind finish that thought. He could never marry. Especially not a woman
with whom he could see himself falling in love.
Chapter 11
Maggie spent the entire evening trying to avoid Braden as best she could. But how did a woman manage
to avoid someone who meant so much to her?
Even now, as he sat across the fire beside Sin, not even looking at her, she could feel his presence as
acutely as if he sat directly next to her. The firelight played across his face, making his eyes appear a
midnight black like Sin s.
His mood had been so serious since their discussion, and she missed his lighthearted teasing. And more
than ever she wished she were the type of woman who could just walk over there, seduce him for the
night, and be content with his leaving her come morning.
Perhaps her brothers were right. She did ask too much of a man.
But then, didn t she have a right to ask for the same commitment and devotion from a man that men
demanded of women?
Oh, it just didn t seem fair to her.
Unaware of her thoughts and sidelong glances, Braden licked the grease from his lips in a way that made
her body yearn.
How could any man be so scrumptious? And why, oh, why couldn t she get him out of her mind?
She averted her gaze.
But what was the use? She could still see those wonderful greenish brown eyes teasing her. Hear him
calling her little blossom, and feel his strong hands roaming over the most private parts of her body.
The man was simply too gorgeous for her own good. And in that instant, she wished she had never seen
him. She could only imagine the years of peace she would have known had she not been trying to gain his
attention.
Sin rose as soon as he finished eating. I ll take first watch again.
Her own dinner forgotten, Maggie stood in a hurry as memories of the night before coursed through her.
The last thing she needed was to awaken once more in Braden s arms.
She had to do something to put distance between them. Perhaps I should take a turn at watch?
Both men stared at her as if she d lost her mind.
She had, but that was beside the point. Worse, Braden gave her a knowing, rakish smile.
No offense, Sin said dryly, but I prefer tolive through the night.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
I was just trying to be helpful, she said.
Then get plenty of sleep, Sin said, turning his back to her.
Maggie wished she possessed some of Sin s sarcasm to come up with an appropriately biting retort, but
all she could do was sit back down and return to her food.
Braden ran his tongue wickedly over his bottom lip as he leaned to one side and stared at her over the
fire. She looked down and tried not to notice how delectably long those legs of his were stretching out.
He propped his head on his hand and looked invitingly at her. Ready for bed, my love?
And you had missed that teasing?
Whatever had she been thinking?
Maggie fought the childish urge to stomp her foot at him. How dare he tease her likethat , knowing how
much she wanted him, as well as the fact that there could be nothing between them.
By the light in his eyes, she could see he was doing it on purpose just to nettle her.
It was then another urge possessed her. One to return the gesture to him. Twas time he was on the
receiving end of such tactics.
Aye, she said.
Then slowly, seductively, she smoothed her hair to rest behind her right ear and gave him an inviting,
taunting smile of her own as she leaned forward. And you?
He didn t speak. His eyes bulged ever so slightly as his gaze fastened on the small amount of cleavage
her position afforded him.
You have no idea what you re playing with, he said, his voice an octave lower.
Aye, but I do. She wrinkled her nose at him as she playfully bit her lower lip, imitating his earlier
gesture. You d never force yourself on an unwilling woman, now, would you?
Of course not, he said, his tone offended.
She sat back on her heels and trailed one hand slowly over the laces of her shirt. Then look all you
want, for that s the only pleasure you ll ever get from me.
To her dismay, he threw his head back and roared with laughter.
Oh, Maggie, he said after he sobered. If I dinna know better, I d swear you were an experienced
little minx. Now go to sleep. I already told you, I have no interest in tupping with you in the woods. But
when I find a bed&
She d run as fast as her legs could carry her. After what had already happened, she knew she couldn t
resist him for long once he touched her.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
And his kisses&
It was enough to make a woman forget herself, for sure.
Realizing the virtue of retreat, she settled herself down before the fire. She had just begun to relax a bit
when Braden joined her.
What are you doing? she asked hurriedly as she remembered the way his body had felt shielding her
from the ground.
I m bringing you an extra plaid, he said, draping it over her.
Thank you, she whispered, trying her best not to notice the way his scent clung to the fabric. Or
worse, the way his hands felt on her body as he smoothed the material over her.
When he left her, she could feel her entire body temperature drop.
Her heart felt torn as he settled himself across from her. The rational part of her was grateful, but her
heart ached at the loss of his comfort.
Sighing, she forced herself to concentrate on what she would say to the MacDouglas when she met him.
That was a relatively safe topic. One that diverted her thoughts from Braden.
At least for a little bit.
That night, Maggie slept from sheer exhaustion.
She came awake just after dawn to see Braden looking straight at her, his face unreadable.
Self-conscious from his attention, she brushed her hair with her hands and wondered what he had been
thinking as he watched her sleep.
Good morning, he said in greeting.
Good morning, she responded, pushing back the plaid as she stood. She glanced to where Sin slept a
few feet away. Should I wake Sin?
Not if you re of a mind to be keeping your head on your shoulders.
She frowned at his words.
Braden moved to stand between her and his brother. Instead of reaching out to touch Sin, or speaking,
he pulled his sword an inch out of the scabbard, so carefully that only a tiny, barely perceptible rasping
sound disturbed the air.
But it was enough.
Lightning quick and in one fluid motion, Sin rolled to his feet. With the toe of his left foot, Sin caught his
scabbard and kicked it from the ground into his hands, where he unsheathed his long sword in a quick,
graceful arc and whirled to face them.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
The blade came to rest a mere inch from Braden s neck as Maggie froze, too scared to breathe.
His face deadly and tight, Sin only relaxed when he realized it was she and Braden who had disturbed
him.
Sin cursed. I really hate it when you do that, he said to Braden, sheathing his sword.
Braden gave her a warning stare. Never touch him while he sleeps. Or if you do so, duck.
I will remember that.
As if unperturbed by the strangeness of his actions, Sin stretched casually, then yawned. Still no sign of
our bandits?
Braden shook his head. Not yet.
Pity. I feel the urge to kill something. Sin left them to tend to his needs.
Kill something? she asked Braden when they were alone. Is he jesting?
Most likely not, he said, matter-of-factly. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl karpacz24.htw.pl
and left. She was the type of woman a man married.
You could&
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Braden wouldn t even let his mind finish that thought. He could never marry. Especially not a woman
with whom he could see himself falling in love.
Chapter 11
Maggie spent the entire evening trying to avoid Braden as best she could. But how did a woman manage
to avoid someone who meant so much to her?
Even now, as he sat across the fire beside Sin, not even looking at her, she could feel his presence as
acutely as if he sat directly next to her. The firelight played across his face, making his eyes appear a
midnight black like Sin s.
His mood had been so serious since their discussion, and she missed his lighthearted teasing. And more
than ever she wished she were the type of woman who could just walk over there, seduce him for the
night, and be content with his leaving her come morning.
Perhaps her brothers were right. She did ask too much of a man.
But then, didn t she have a right to ask for the same commitment and devotion from a man that men
demanded of women?
Oh, it just didn t seem fair to her.
Unaware of her thoughts and sidelong glances, Braden licked the grease from his lips in a way that made
her body yearn.
How could any man be so scrumptious? And why, oh, why couldn t she get him out of her mind?
She averted her gaze.
But what was the use? She could still see those wonderful greenish brown eyes teasing her. Hear him
calling her little blossom, and feel his strong hands roaming over the most private parts of her body.
The man was simply too gorgeous for her own good. And in that instant, she wished she had never seen
him. She could only imagine the years of peace she would have known had she not been trying to gain his
attention.
Sin rose as soon as he finished eating. I ll take first watch again.
Her own dinner forgotten, Maggie stood in a hurry as memories of the night before coursed through her.
The last thing she needed was to awaken once more in Braden s arms.
She had to do something to put distance between them. Perhaps I should take a turn at watch?
Both men stared at her as if she d lost her mind.
She had, but that was beside the point. Worse, Braden gave her a knowing, rakish smile.
No offense, Sin said dryly, but I prefer tolive through the night.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
I was just trying to be helpful, she said.
Then get plenty of sleep, Sin said, turning his back to her.
Maggie wished she possessed some of Sin s sarcasm to come up with an appropriately biting retort, but
all she could do was sit back down and return to her food.
Braden ran his tongue wickedly over his bottom lip as he leaned to one side and stared at her over the
fire. She looked down and tried not to notice how delectably long those legs of his were stretching out.
He propped his head on his hand and looked invitingly at her. Ready for bed, my love?
And you had missed that teasing?
Whatever had she been thinking?
Maggie fought the childish urge to stomp her foot at him. How dare he tease her likethat , knowing how
much she wanted him, as well as the fact that there could be nothing between them.
By the light in his eyes, she could see he was doing it on purpose just to nettle her.
It was then another urge possessed her. One to return the gesture to him. Twas time he was on the
receiving end of such tactics.
Aye, she said.
Then slowly, seductively, she smoothed her hair to rest behind her right ear and gave him an inviting,
taunting smile of her own as she leaned forward. And you?
He didn t speak. His eyes bulged ever so slightly as his gaze fastened on the small amount of cleavage
her position afforded him.
You have no idea what you re playing with, he said, his voice an octave lower.
Aye, but I do. She wrinkled her nose at him as she playfully bit her lower lip, imitating his earlier
gesture. You d never force yourself on an unwilling woman, now, would you?
Of course not, he said, his tone offended.
She sat back on her heels and trailed one hand slowly over the laces of her shirt. Then look all you
want, for that s the only pleasure you ll ever get from me.
To her dismay, he threw his head back and roared with laughter.
Oh, Maggie, he said after he sobered. If I dinna know better, I d swear you were an experienced
little minx. Now go to sleep. I already told you, I have no interest in tupping with you in the woods. But
when I find a bed&
She d run as fast as her legs could carry her. After what had already happened, she knew she couldn t
resist him for long once he touched her.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
And his kisses&
It was enough to make a woman forget herself, for sure.
Realizing the virtue of retreat, she settled herself down before the fire. She had just begun to relax a bit
when Braden joined her.
What are you doing? she asked hurriedly as she remembered the way his body had felt shielding her
from the ground.
I m bringing you an extra plaid, he said, draping it over her.
Thank you, she whispered, trying her best not to notice the way his scent clung to the fabric. Or
worse, the way his hands felt on her body as he smoothed the material over her.
When he left her, she could feel her entire body temperature drop.
Her heart felt torn as he settled himself across from her. The rational part of her was grateful, but her
heart ached at the loss of his comfort.
Sighing, she forced herself to concentrate on what she would say to the MacDouglas when she met him.
That was a relatively safe topic. One that diverted her thoughts from Braden.
At least for a little bit.
That night, Maggie slept from sheer exhaustion.
She came awake just after dawn to see Braden looking straight at her, his face unreadable.
Self-conscious from his attention, she brushed her hair with her hands and wondered what he had been
thinking as he watched her sleep.
Good morning, he said in greeting.
Good morning, she responded, pushing back the plaid as she stood. She glanced to where Sin slept a
few feet away. Should I wake Sin?
Not if you re of a mind to be keeping your head on your shoulders.
She frowned at his words.
Braden moved to stand between her and his brother. Instead of reaching out to touch Sin, or speaking,
he pulled his sword an inch out of the scabbard, so carefully that only a tiny, barely perceptible rasping
sound disturbed the air.
But it was enough.
Lightning quick and in one fluid motion, Sin rolled to his feet. With the toe of his left foot, Sin caught his
scabbard and kicked it from the ground into his hands, where he unsheathed his long sword in a quick,
graceful arc and whirled to face them.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
The blade came to rest a mere inch from Braden s neck as Maggie froze, too scared to breathe.
His face deadly and tight, Sin only relaxed when he realized it was she and Braden who had disturbed
him.
Sin cursed. I really hate it when you do that, he said to Braden, sheathing his sword.
Braden gave her a warning stare. Never touch him while he sleeps. Or if you do so, duck.
I will remember that.
As if unperturbed by the strangeness of his actions, Sin stretched casually, then yawned. Still no sign of
our bandits?
Braden shook his head. Not yet.
Pity. I feel the urge to kill something. Sin left them to tend to his needs.
Kill something? she asked Braden when they were alone. Is he jesting?
Most likely not, he said, matter-of-factly. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]