Free The Imposter by Jenna Stone Page A

enveloped by Devon’s strong arms.  The
feeling of safety overwhelmed me as he wrapped me up in his arms, held me tight
against his expansive chest and kissed the top of my head.  I knew that I should
let him go but I was so happy, so relieved that he was back safe to rescue me
that I couldn’t find the strength to pull myself away from him.
    “Why did ye move
from the place where I left ye?” he asked eyes stern, yet heavy with concern.
    “Thank God you’re
safe,” I said ignoring his question, surprised by the tears that were flowing
freely down my cheeks.  I wasn’t sure if they were tears of elation or tears of
relief that I was rescued and Devon was safe.
    He chuckled. 
“Thank God that I’m safe?  Ye amaze me woman!  Worrit about me, when ye were
the one who was dumped alone and unarmed in the forest!  I couldna get back tae
ye soon enough.”
    He pulled away
from me and held me at arm’s length in the moonlight. “Are ye well, lass?” he
questioned, brushing the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs.
    “Yes.  I’m fine,”
I sniffled, suddenly self-conscious by the tears that stained my face.  I
sniffled and resolved to stop crying at once.  My tears were replaced with a
strong surge of anger.  I was angry that Devon had left me alone in the
forest.  What  would  I have done if he hadn’t returned to collect me?
    “Now, why did ye
move from where I left ye?” Devon asked again, eyes flaming as they scrutinized
my face.
    “I umm…I went
looking for a more comfortable place to lie down,” I lied terribly, defeated
that my attempt at escape had culminated with walking in circles, then giving
up and falling asleep under a clump of bushes.
    Devon’s intense green
eyes scanned my face.  He didn’t believe my story.
    “Next time, stay
where I put ye,” he ordered with an air of challenge in his voice.  “If it was
escape that ye were after, even the smallest child could have tracked ye tae
where ye slept. Ye left a quite conspicuous trail.  Doona try that again,” he
warned.
    I crossed my arms defiantly
and looked down at the pine needles by my feet.  Admittedly, I had failed this
time, but I vowed to be more prepared when I planned my next escape.
    He continued
easily now, the anger having dissipated from his voice, “It was the Camerons. 
Relations between our clan and theirs have been strained at best for some time
now.  Their Laird and a group of men dressed for battle were spotted entering
our lands.  They came peacefully, but threatened war. Jamie knew that I was
needed, but couldn’t find me, so he sounded the alarm.  All is well for now.  Doona
worry, lass.   Let’s head home.”  He looked down at me and abruptly noticed
that the expression on my face had changed to anger.  His eyebrows to drew
together in question.
    I slapped him hard
across the face, catching him completely off guard.  “Don’t you EVER do that to
me again, Devon McClain.”
    His hand reached
up to tentatively explore the terrain of his face.  My palm hurt like hell from
the impact and I figured that his face must at the very least be stinging.
    “Next time, take
me with you.  I demand it.  I’ll not be left at the mercy of the forest hoping
for you to come rescue me.  I can take care of myself, and I do NOT appreciate
being left stranded, waiting on you.”
    “I’ll not
compromise yer safety by taking ye straight into danger.  Listen here, woman,”
he commanded, “I ken what I’m doing, and ye’d be wise tae do as I say in the
future.”  The sting of the slap resounded through his skin.  He had never in
his life been slapped by a woman.
    “No man will tell
me what to do!” I barked, seething with anger as I glared up at him, hands on
my hips.
    He smiled a
crooked smile and didn’t hide the fact that he was appraising my body as he
looked me up and down approvingly.  “Ye are a feisty wee hell kitten,” he
smiled, still rubbing the sting out of his skin where I had