Free Broken Highlander's Blood Oath by Missy Strom Page B

grin. “And you and your lass should make Saint Helen’s Abby and the Glenncannon men easily from here by midmorning.”
    “Aye, tis true,” Donan agreed heavily.
    “What about mounting Xavier?” Shancy asked suddenly. “Mayhap, I should just prop you up there this night.”
    “I can manage, you bloody rascal,” Donan snapped, then he gathered his temper. “I found a way to do it myself,” he finished.
    Shancy raised an arched brown eyebrow at him, as Analise said, “Then he’s going, Donan? You are going to let him fetch my sister?”
    “I am, imp.”
    “Oh thank you, Donan!” Analise instantly pelted him with little kisses, while he groaned.
    “Och well, I’d best be haring from this lovely scene.” Shancy chuckled.
    Donan groaned again.
    “Shancy,” Analise said. “You will need to tell Cheval something only I would know so that she’ll come with you and not be afraid. I only know of one thing, but you must swear on your own mother's head ... both of you must swear never to tell another what I say.”
    Analise looked so serious that Donan stilled his urge to chuckle, wondering what a lovely innocent like she was, could have so secret, as he said solemnly, “I swear.”
    Shancy followed with his own vow, and then Analise said, “Tell Cheval I have found the man I’ll cry for. Tell her, two nightingale tears, twin hearts beating together, one Brenin king’s song binding them together, to ere, to life, to love, you shall be the judge.”
    “I will remember, my lady,” Shancy vowed solemnly as he bent to take Analise’s hand and he kissed it. “What does she look like, lass, your sister Cheval?”
    “They say tis eerie, Shancy, for we look exactly alike. Accept Cheval has a cupid's mole right below her bottom lip.”
    Donan was startled by this as Shancy bid him goodbye and strode to his mare. It was curious, nearly as if Analise and Cheval were twins, just as in the song. He knew it was a song Analise repeated for Shancy to tell Cheval. It was the same song she'd hummed all day. What was this about twin hearts and a Brenin king? It was nearly as if the song had a purpose.
    “Well, we are alone then,” Analise hummed near his ear, right before she started kissing it.
    “Now, lass,” he chided, trying to pull away, although reluctantly. “Tis bed for you now,” he finished as sternly as he could with the lingering impression of lover's kisses tingling in his ear.
    “I believe so too,” she quipped. “Where shall we lay, Donan? Right here? Shall I undress or do you want to undress me?”
    “ There , Analise.” He pointed aggressively. “You will be sleeping dressed, there on the other side of the fire!”
    “But I cannot,” she murmured with a pretty pout.
    Donan forgot all about needing to be gentle with her. All he could think of, in mounting frustration, was the aching bulge of his erection tight behind his breechcloth and the aggravation of trying to go forth with commonsense.
    “You will be going and sleeping there now, woman, or I vow I will take you over my knee and spank you until, I swear, you will be seeing wee brownie fairies!”
    “Oh, Donan, would you really,” she gushed with a twinkle in her eyes and a breathlessness that dumbfounded him.
    Donan grunted nearly in a growl and grabbed Analise’s waist pulling her down beside him, then he grabbed the rough wool blanket to pull over both of them.
    “You lie down and sleep, woman, and not another notion else, just as your lord commands you. This is not a game. I expect obedience or I will be very angry!”
    “Yes of course, Donan,” Analise murmured obediently, snuggling into his side.
    But then she had the good grace to lay blessedly still to his command, while he lay trying to fathom why the threat of spanking Analise’s bare bottom did not put the fear of God into her. It was nearly as if she had gotten a wee bit excited ... mayhap. Images of her lovely bare bottom displayed over his thighs assaulted him and he