Free Onyx by Elizabeth Rose Page A

filled his senses, and the softness of her long, unbound hair rubbed up against his face.
    She was so fresh and clean. So alluring. He knew he probably smelled like woodsmoke and the earth, and he felt as if he had no right to be holding her so close and touching her like this.
    A wave of desire shot through him, and he wondered how it would feel to kiss her right now. Her lips were full and lush and her cheeks rosy. Her skin was so smooth and unblemished. And from his position hunkered down behind her, he could see the tops of her breasts and the way her chest moved in and out , as she breathed heavily, probably from anticipation of having to skin a rabbit – something he was sure she’d never done in her life.
    The desire he felt for her was driving him out of his mind. He’d only meant to show her how to prepare their food for dinner, but instead of focusing on their meal, he was focused on another hunger instead. And though it would be so easy to push her down on the ground, spread her legs apart and drive into her soft, sweet, tight wetness right now, he knew he couldn’t. His mother’s life depended upon what happened, and he couldn’t risk the fact Lady Love would tell her men he’d defiled her when they returned. One wrong move and it could seal his mother’s fate forever.
    He dropped the rabbit and t he dagger and backed away quickly.
    “Aidan, Ian, ye do it,” he said, turning away so they didn’t notice the bulge beneath his plaid.
    “ Aye, ye look like ye’re in need o’ a woman, no’ a meal,” said Aidan.
    “Still feeling t het pent up frustration from no’ beddin’ yer share of the trio, I see,” added Ian.
    Too damned late. They knew what he was feeling, and why not, as they were probably having similar feelings being around such a bonnie lassie, same as he was. Ian and Aidan laughed heartily, and picked up the rabbits to do as instructed.

“I could show ye how te do this, me lady,” said Ian, flashing Lovelle his smile that always drove the lassies mad. “After all, Dagger may be . . . busy fer away,” he said with a smirk.
    “Leave her alone,” called out Onyx, walking toward the stream to take a quick dip and cool the fires of desire threatening to consume him.
     
    Lovell e stood and brushed off her skirts, trying to get away from Onyx’s friends who were rowdy and wild, and following her wherever she went. She didn’t know where Onyx disappeared to, but she felt as if she needed to find him. She wasn’t sure if she was safe with these two fools, and though Onyx wasn’t much better, at least he had the sense to walk away instead of trying to bed her. She knew what he was feeling right now, because she had felt it too. It didn’t make sense that she’d have desire for a rugged Scot – her enemy, but when he’d put his arms around her, she had all she could do to keep from resting her head against his strong chest.
    She felt sickened by the fact he’d wanted her to clean the rabbits, but w hen he’d encircled his arms around her to instruct her, she forgot her ill feelings, and felt something else instead. His mouth had been so close to her that all she had to do was turn her head and he could have kissed her. She knew he was looking down her cleavage, and while her first instinct was to push him away, she instead let him have his look.
    It felt go od to be noticed by a man. Hugh had never even known she existed unless he wanted her in his bed. There was no foreplay, no sweet talk. No little words of endearment like ‘bonnie cailin’ or ‘Lady Love.’ Her late husband had only called her Baroness, and half the time she wondered if he had forgotten her real name.
    He was old , and the coupling had always ended before it had ever begun for her. Before she’d ever even had the chance to get excited, he was finished and fast asleep. And then when her baby, Charles, came along, they’d stopped coupling altogether. She knew it was because Hugh had found himself a mistress,