Free The Recruit by Monica Mccarty Page A

could feel it. Almost …
    Her eyes hadn’t left his, but he knew she’d guessed what he was doing because her
     mouth opened in shock. A perfect little O.
    Her breath hitched in a shocked gasp, and the erotic sound sent him over. His arse
     clenched. He let out a deep groan, jerking his pleasure in deep pulsing streams.
    When he was done, their eyes met in one long, hot moment of primal awareness. He could
     almost feel the frantic beat of her heart against his and hear the quickening of her
     breath in his ear. He would have given nearly everything at that moment to touch her.
     To slide his hand between her thighs and feel the warmth and dampness that he knew
     he would find there. How many strokes would it take to push her over?
    But the spell was broken by Lady Moira. “That was amazing. I’m glad to say this is
     one time the rumors were not exaggerated. You’re every bit as spectacular as they
     say with that long sword of yours.”
    Kenneth felt a prick of annoyance that was no doubt unwarranted. He didn’t expect
     more from her than swiving, so why would he expect a more interesting comment than
     a reference to the size of his cock?
    Lady Moira had collapsed in a well-sated heap on the hay-strewn floor when he’d released
     her, but she’d revived enough to put herself in a slightly more elegant position on
     her back.
    He’d forgotten all about her. Apparently, as had their interloper. He just caught
     the edge of her horror-stricken expression before she turned and fled out of the barn,
     the Devil nipping at her heels.
    He let her go. But part of him actually wanted to go after her.
    Lady Moira sat up. “Did you hear something?”
    He shook his head and reached for his shirt, wondering what the hell was the matter
     with him. “It was one of the horses. You’d better fix your clothes. The lads will
     be returning soon.”
    The lady babbled platitudes for another quarter hour while he helped her with her
     hair and gown before he could finally escort her out of the stables. His mind was
     on the other woman. Who was she? And more incredibly, why the hell did he care?
    He’d never done anything like that before in his life, and he wasn’t quite sure what
     had provoked him to such wickedness. He didn’t usually find himself turned on by prim
     little wrens. But something about her reaction—the innocent arousal and not-so-innocent
     hunger—had fired his blood in a way that defied explanation, turning something that
     should have been forgettable into something … different. Memorable.
    What had started out as a taunting game had taken an unexpected turn, leaving him
     vaguely unsettled. He’d gone too far, and he knew it. But he hadn’t forced her to
     standthere and watch. And he sure as hell hadn’t expected either of them to enjoy it so
     much.
    The lass intrigued him. But all his focus right now was on earning a place in Bruce’s
     secret army. A lass, no matter how intriguing, wasn’t going to distract him.

Four
 
    “I’m glad to see you have recovered, Lady Mary.”
    The king paused before her seat on the way to take his own in the stands that had
     been set up to watch the competition. Modeled on the ancient Roman amphitheater, a
     circular field had been set off by a wooden fence surrounded by tiers of wooden benches.
     The king’s party, however, watched from a special viewing platform erected especially
     for the Games. As it was a warm day, she was glad for the addition of a canvas tent
     overhead.
    Mary was seated at the far end near the stairs, with her former sister-in-law, the
     MacKenzie chief, and their three young daughters. Their two sons were competing in
     some of the events. She returned the king’s smile, hoping he mistook her pink cheeks
     for warmth and not embarrassment. “Much better, Sire.”
    For four days since that horrible night, she’d feigned illness to avoid the possibility
     of coming face to face with
him
. Aye, she was hiding like a coward and