Free The Highlander's Reward by Eliza Knight Page A

to be a lot harder than she planned.

Chapter Seven

    Arbella woke up, warm and cozy. She snuggled deeper in the blankets and the warmth of Magnus’ body.
    Wait-his body ?
    Her eyes popped open. Indeed, she was in the little bed, her back fitted perfectly to his form. His arm was flung over her waist, his legs entwined with hers. He breathed softly on top of her head.
    And something long and hard was pressed to her buttocks. She knew exactly what it was too. The intimate contact made her skin hot and cold at the same time. Arbella tried to scoot away but he grunted and hauled her back, this time his hard member pressed even more firmly against her rear.
    She bit her lip hard, stifling both her embarrassment and the tingling sensations such a touch brought.
    How had she ended up here?
    A vague memory of shivering on the floor in the middle of the night came to the forefront of her mind. Magnus waking, picking her up and tucking her in with him. She hadn’t argued. It’d been too cold and she too tired, and the warmth of his skin had soothed her immediately. She’d fallen asleep before her argument could pass from her lips.
    But now, she felt completely different. This would only lead to a bedding and she was not ready for that.
    Arbella lifted up his hand and flung it over her hip behind her, then as quickly as she could, she disengaged her legs from his and scurried from the bed. A small bit of light filtered through the small back window, but even that wasn’t enough to light up the tiny house.
    Finding the flint, she lit the candle, relieved to see the blankets covered Magnus’ male parts. She wasn’t ready to fully view that . Wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready. If she had her way she wouldn’t have to either. As soon as they reached Dunrobin Castle she would pen a note and have it delivered quickly to her father.
    Arbella’s blood slowly ran cold. She didn’t know where her father was and if he was even alive. Sending a missive to Stirling would only invite Marmaduke to the Highlands. She shook her head and gazed out the window at the peaceful morning. The man was likely to be livid that she was stolen away. If she alerted him to her whereabouts she’d be putting everyone in the Sutherland clan in danger. That was unthinkable.
    Perhaps she should wait a few weeks and then send a note to her home in England asking about the whereabouts of her father and telling him she was safe and wanted to come home.
    But then who was to say her father wouldn’t then make haste to Stirling and bring Marmaduke with him? Sadness enveloped her. Anyway she looked at it, someone was bound to get hurt.
    She glanced back at the man who slept soundly. He would probably be killed.
    As soon as the thought entered her mind not only did it fill her with anxiety, but also a fierce doubt. The way he’d barreled down on her, and warriors both English and Scottish alike had parted for him, showed her that people were not likely to kill him. He was a fierce warrior. A man who scared the wits out of other warriors.
    She’d never met Marmaduke though. And she imagined he too was a fierce man. A cruel man. He would stop at nothing to find her and to assuage his wounded ego at having his bride taken. No one would stop to consider that Magnus had saved her. That if it weren’t for him she would have suffered a slow death at the hands of the rebels.
    “What are ye thinking?”
    Arbella startled, her eyes meeting Magnus’ as he sat up in bed.
    “What?”
    “Ye are so deep in thought. I wished ye good morning several times but ye didna hear me. Are ye all right?” He stood with the thin blanket wrapped around his hips.
    She thanked him silently for that small gesture of kindness. Walking over to the pile of his scattered belongings, he pulled a small pouch from within his sporran.
    “So, what were ye thinking about?” From the pouch he took out a tiny green leaf and offered her one.
    She glanced from his extended hand back to his face. He