Free One & Only by Kara Griffin Page B

from his clan.”
    “The lass has God-given sense,” Duff
said, as he came to stand next to her. “We won’t let the MacHeths near ye,
milady. Never fear.”
    “I shall not fear now, Duff. I thank
you for your protection.”
    “Let us ride. We need to reach
Donal’s on the morrow.” Grey helped Bree atop her horse and motioned for his
men to move.
    The night grew dark, but the
warriors didn’t seem to care about the obscurity. “Do you deem to ride through
the night, Laird Gunn?” Bree wasn’t sure if she or Cait could handle sitting
atop a horse for such a long time considering how much they’d traveled that
day.
    “Nay, only until we’re away from
here. We shall get some rest before the night ends.”
    “Thank you, Laird. I shall like to
rest a bit.” Before Bree knew what he was about, his arm circled her waist and
he pulled her off her horse, onto his lap. “What do think you’re doing …?”
    “You can rest all you like.”
    “This is most indecent. I shouldn’t
be sitting … Pray, put me back on my horse. I do not need your assistance.
Truly, Laird Gunn, I can sit a horse.” Bree felt his arms tighten around her
waist. The movement caused her to jostle a little. She gripped his forearm,
feeling the strength of his hold. “Please don’t let me fall.”
    “Never. Hold me tight.”
    His words spoken by her ear tickled
and his warm breath heated her skin. She did as he asked and placed her arms
around his waist. Hugging him intimately, Bree blushed at the thought of where
her hands touched. His hard body comforted her.
    In such an awkward position, she set
her face against his chest and closed her eyes. She focused on the sound of his
heartbeat and his movement from the horse’s stride. Bree smiled, feeling happy
she did not have to contend with the MacHeths. She drifted off into the
sweetest dream.
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
     
    Grey was living a nightmare. The
woman in his arms was beyond beautiful and all he could think of was her soft
body resting against his. Sensual images kept intruding and he couldn’t get the
vision of their bodies joining out of his mind. It wasn’t like him to hold such
dishonorable thoughts about a lady, but this woman affected him.
    Aye, she was sweet and she did need
protection. Yet there was something about her which called forth every ounce of
chivalry he possessed. On the other hand, chivalry be damned. He liked the way
she held him and he wanted to move his hands to a more immodest part of her
body.
    His hands craved to touch her
everywhere. He could imagine what she looked like beneath her garments. Nice
sized breast, curvaceous hips, and long legs, all envisioned in his mind’s eye.
Never had a woman so tempted him. The ride home would be a tumultuous journey.
    Fortunately, with his guard on duty,
he didn’t have to be on alert. During the ride, he’d let his attention stray
from listening and watching – to feeling and holding. His imagination soared
with visions of her beckoning him as if she was a faerie out to torment him. It
would be a torment he would enjoy.
    He almost groaned aloud when he
imagined kissing her naked stomach, and feeling the softness of her skin as his
nose traced the contours of her waist to her breasts.
    With a shake of his head, he pulled
himself from the vision, knowing it was wrong to think such immodest thoughts.
The lady’s troubles should be his foremost concern, yet all he thought of was
taking her to bed and making sweet love to her.
    Duff and Colm took the lead, while
the others placed themselves strategically around him. Her maid seemed content
to ride ahead of them, directly in front of him. Sean took up the rear.
    They rode a good distance; at least two
hours and were leaving enemy territory. Grey more than ever wanted to reach
home. The lady in his arms needed a safe place and there was no other than
beyond the sound walls of his home. Once they reached home, he would give the
order that none other