Free Born in Sin by Kinley MacGregor

hadn’t found Jamie? What if he had gotten hurt or killed or…
    It would have been all her fault. She closed her eyes as pain swept through her. The last thing she wanted was to tell Morna she’d let something happen to Jamie. It would be the death of the poor woman who had been a mother to her as well.
    Nay, she’d take no more chances with his safety.
    But then what was she to do?
    Her thoughts turned to the man who would be her husband. Could she trust him?
    For an Englishman, he seemed reasonable enough. As did Simon.
    Perhaps, if she allowed them to go home with her, her clan might see that not all Englishmen were beasts. Perhaps they could win them over….
    What are you? Daft? Get your head out of the dream world, lass, and put it on earth where it belongs. There’s little to no chance of the MacNeelys ever accepting an Englishman into their midst .
    It was a long shot, no doubt, but it was the only one she could see.
    If she married Sin, they could go home safely.
    Like it or not, she would submit to this marriage and trust in the Lord above to see her through it and to know what was best. Surely it must be His will, otherwise she and Jamie would have succeeded by now and been on their way home. This day had been an omen, and Callie believed wholeheartedly in omens.
    Tomorrow Sin would be her husband.
    She watched Sin mount his horse. He slid gracefully into the saddle like the born warrior he was and sat proudly on the back of his horse with his long hairshining in the daylight. He was a fine sight there, handsome, strong. The kind of man a woman dreamed about at night and hoped to see just once in the flesh.
    And he could be hers….
    The hand he extended to her was both powerful and tender. He might not be her first choice for husband, but there was kindness in him. Fairness, too.
    If only he were of Scots blood.
    Still, there were far worse men to be married to.
    “Milord?” she asked as he settled her before him. “What will you do to my people when you take me home?”
    Sin clenched his teeth at her question. The very idea of returning to Scotland made him ill. If he had his way about it, he’d never again venture there.
    Of course, he did have his brothers there, and while he was with her, he would make a point of seeing them. They alone made the idea of leaving England tolerable.
    “I will ensure Henry’s peace is kept,” he told her. “So long as your men refrain from raiding his people, I will do naught.” What he didn’t tell her was that he intended to find the so-called Raider, put an end to the man’s mischief, then get himself out of their marriage as quickly as possible.
    But even as the thought swept through his mind, he became aware of the woman before him. The way she smelled and felt in his arms. She was warm and soft, a gentle balm to soothe him.
    He’d never held a woman like this. Never even dared hope for any kind of comfort in his life.
    Comfort. He sneered at the word. Comfort was forweak-minded fools. He didn’t need it and he damn sure didn’t want it.
    He would do what he had to for Henry’s sake and then he would be back to fulfill his oath of loyalty. That was his life and he had no desire for it to change. He had fought too long and hard for his peace of mind to let this little bit of baggage in his lap come along and rattle him.
    “So,” he said quietly as he looked down at her. She had her head tilted to study his hands. “You’re going through with this marriage, then?”
    She glanced at him over her shoulder and he caught a whiff of her light lavender scent. The smell of her stirred him furiously. His arms were pressed against her rib cage and her red lips were parted just enough so that he could easily claim her mouth for a passionate kiss.
    The thought fired his body even more. The devil preserve him, he wanted this woman in a way most desperate.
    She stared at his lips as if she felt the heat between them. As if she, too, were dreaming of the kiss he longed