The Warrior

by Kinley MacGregor

Kestrel looked at it without taking it. “What does it say?”

  Realizing the man was illiterate, which wasn’t uncommon for a knight, Lochlan read it to him.

  Kestrel nodded. “Follow me, my lords. We’re going to find the bastard who took her and kill him.”

  Why does this feel so familiar? Unfortunately Cat knew the answer. Every time she turned around, it seemed some man was tying her up to take her someplace she didn’t want to be.

  The only difference now was that these men intended to kill her and blame Lochlan for it.

  Growling deep in her throat, she worked against the ropes that held her hands together. She was getting really tired of having chafe marks and rope burns on her wrists.

  “I say we should go ahead and kill her,” Graham MacKaid said to his brother.

  “Nay, not yet. We have to give Lochlan enough time to vanish as well. If it appears she’s been murdered while he’s still in camp with those who can verify his whereabouts, they’ll know he didn’t kill her. We have to send the note to him and have him come for her, then we kill her and everyone will think he did it.”

  “Keeping her alive makes me nervous.”

  “She’s a woman. What can she do?”

  If she wasn’t bound and gagged, she’d be more than willing to show him just how far from helpless she was. As it was, all she could do was glare at them and hope she freed herself before their brother returned and told them Lochlan had left the camp.

  Graham turned toward her and scowled.

  Cat stopped moving.

  But it was too late. He’d seen what she was about. He sneered as he approached her. “You think you can untie that, Princess?”

  Honestly, aye. She’d untied a lot better knots than this one.

  But she wasn’t about to tell him what she thought. When dealing with an enemy, silence was indeed the greatest virtue. They should never know what their opponent was thinking.

  So she returned his sneer with one of her own. Not that it was probably off-putting given the fact that she was gagged, but it at least made her feel better.

  Graham scoffed at her. “She doesn’t look very regal, does she?”

  “Nay. More like a peasant. Even in finery, I’d have never guessed her breeding.”

  As if their breeding was any better. What kind of man trussed a woman up like this, then butchered her while she was helpless?

  Where were her father’s guards when she needed them?

  Graham fingered his knife while he watched her. “Have no fear, Princess. We’ll make the cut clean. There won’t be much pain before you die.”

  Well that just made her feel all better about it. But even with her inner quips, the truth was she was scared. Terribly. If she didn’t get out of this, she would die. Alone and painfully. There was no reprieve from these monsters. They were determined to end her life.

  Truthfully, she didn’t want this. There was so much more she’d wanted to do with her life. She wanted…

  Lochlan. She didn’t know why he’d be her last thought, but he was. He would agonize over this and she didn’t want to add that pain to him. He’d hold himself responsible.

  And it wasn’t just that. She wanted to see him again. To touch him. He truly was her biggest regret. She wouldn’t be here to see him find his brother.

  She wouldn’t…

  Cat stopped her maudlin thoughts and sniffed at the tears that were stinging her eyes. This wasn’t her. She would not give up or in to these cretins. Not so long as there was a single breath in her body. Lochlan didn’t deserve the fate these animals had planned for him and neither did she.

  Nay, she would survive this and as Lochlan would say, they’d both play a giddy tune over their graves.

  Her anger renewed, she kicked out against her captor. He yelped before he fell to the ground. Cat pushed herself up and tried to run, but the other one caught her about the waist and threw her down.

  She tried to kick him, too, but he was smarter than Graham.

  “You do that again, lass, and I’ll cut your leg off.”

  Cat slammed her head against the ground in frustration as he moved to tie her feet. She tried to kick, but it didn’t do any good. Now she was trussed up so that she truly had no other hope.

  Closing her eyes, she prayed with renewed vigor. This couldn’t be the end of her. It couldn’t.

  Lochlan watched as Kestrel kept low to the ground and examined every part of the garden. “What is he doing?”

  “He’s reading the foliage.”

  “How so?”

  “I have no idea. ’Twas a game his uncle would play with him and his brother. He taught them to track better than any hound or hawk I’ve ever seen.”

  Simon smiled as he came up behind them. “Kestrel. I should have known.”

  Kestrel looked up with a feral grimace. “Would you old maids stop your chattering? I’m trying to concentrate.”

  Lochlan wasn’t sure he believed in the man’s abilities, until he rejoined them. “There were three men who took her.” He held out a piece of plaid and velvet. “They left this behind to be found.”

  Lochlan cursed at the sight. “’Tis a plaid my brothers and I use.”

  Simon cursed. “They’re setting you up.”

  “Aye and this confirms it.”

  “Can you find their trail?” Stryder asked Kestrel.

  A slow smile spread over Kestrel’s face. “One isn’t far from here,” he whispered. “He’s waiting on us to leave Lochlan alone methinks.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I know how a cruel mind works. And I know how to make an innocent man look guilty. We need to get to the lady quickly before they harm her.”

  “Lead on,” Lochlan said.

  But Kestrel didn’t move. “We could do that, my lords. But truthfully, I have a much better plan.”

  Chapter 12

  “Where the devil is Sean?” Graham snarled, as he and his brother waited by the fire like two unholy demons plotting an attack. “Lochlan should be alone by now. I don’t understand what’s keeping him.”

  Cat let out a slow breath. She had to get away from them. The sooner, the better.

  She paused as a thought occurred to her. Smiling, she started speaking around her gag.

  The two of them glared at her. With a snarl contorting his face, Graham came forward to remove her gag.

  She forced herself to appear sweet and innocent. “I realize that this is probably an inconvenient time, but I fear you must loosen me.”

  Graham snorted. “And why would we do that?”

  “So that I don’t soil my clothing”—she glanced toward a clump of bushes—“if you take my meaning and being as intelligent as you are, I’m sure you do.”

  Graham curled his lip at her. “You deserve the death I’m going to give you.”

  Cat didn’t respond as he moved forward to loosen her feet so that she could stand. The urge to kick him was so strong, she wasn’t sure how she curbed the impulse, but kicking him would only get her feet tied again and that wouldn’t allow her to run from him.

  She held her arms toward him. “What of my hands?”

  “What of them?”

  “I can’t very well hold my gown while tied like this, now can I?”

  His brother raked her with a speculative sneer. “We could send her naked.”

  Graham laughed before he grabbed at her skirt.

  Cat shrieked in outrage and tried to push him away. He grabbed her by the hair and wrenched her head as hard as he could.

  She drew back to kick him, then paused as an arrow went whizzing past her head, straight into Graham’s shoulder. Screaming, he fell back. She ducked and headed in the opposite direction.

  But she didn’t get far before a man stopped her. She growled low in her throat, intending to fight until she looked up.

  Her heart stopped as she met Lochlan’s gaze. The relief and adoration there stole her breath. He crushed her against him before he kissed her with more p
assion than she’d known existed. She savored the taste of him for as long as she could before he pulled away and left her with a curse so profane it made her blush.

  She turned in time to see Graham coming at them with a raised dagger. Faster than she could blink, Lochlan was around her. He caught Graham’s wrist and in one fluid movement, he twisted the dagger from his hand and punched him straight in the face.

  But that wasn’t enough for him. Lochlan threw the dagger to the ground and continued to beat Graham, who was no longer able to defend himself from the forceful blows that kept him reeling. It was so uncharacteristic of Lochlan that all she could do was gape. He was always so controlled, so proper, that this side of him actually frightened her.

  “Lochlan!” Stryder snapped before he pulled him back. “He’s had enough. You’re going to kill him.”

  Still, Lochlan kicked out at Graham, catching him against the ribs before Stryder forced him away.

  Lying on the ground, bleeding profusely, Graham spat at him.

  Lochlan lunged for him, only to have Stryder and another man block his way.

  “See to Catarina,” Stryder ordered fiercely.

  His breathing ragged, Lochlan continued to glare at Graham as if he could tear him to pieces. He pulled out a small dagger and cut the rope from her wrists.

  Her entire body shaking, Cat placed her hand on his shoulder. Lochlan turned toward her then and the feral light in his pale eyes made her shiver. Without a word, he picked her up in his arms and held her so tightly that she could barely breathe.

  An unbridled giddiness filled her at his actions. He didn’t care that the others were watching or that what he did was highly improper. He was glad she was safe and he didn’t mind showing it to all of them. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and buried her face against his neck so that she could inhale his warm scent.

  “Damn, who tore him up?” She heard Simon’s voice from behind them.

  Stryder snorted. “That would be Lochlan. Apparently he didn’t like the way they’d treated his lady.”

  Simon laughed. “Then let me mark upon my memory to always treat the fair Catarina with only the highest regard…and very gentle gloves.”

  Cat placed a light kiss to Lochlan’s cheek. “Are you going to set me back on my feet?”

  His arms tightened around her. “Nay, lass. Every time I set you loose, you find nothing but trouble. ’Tis a wonder your uncle didn’t put chains on you.”

  She laughed at his words. It was true. Bavel had threatened her with such repeatedly. “I fear your arms will eventually tire of me.”

  He pulled back from her and the look in his eyes said that he’d never tire of her. But for the first time he became aware of the other lords staring curiously at them.

  She swore she could feel his reluctance as he finally put her feet on the ground and released his hold. An inexplicable emptiness filled her.

  At least until he quietly took her hand into his. That single action brought tears to her eyes as tenderness flooded her heart and made it pound ever harder.

  Stryder cleared his throat. “We’re going to see these bastards into custody. Why don’t you and Catarina go on ahead. We’ll rendezvous at the boat in Honfleur later today.”

  She was surprised when none of the men made an effort to come with them. Rather they all followed after Stryder while Lochlan gently pulled her toward their horses.

  The men left so quickly she would have thought the devil himself was after them. “How very odd.”

  Lochlan didn’t seem as perturbed by their behavior. “More astute, I’d say.”

  “How so?”

  His answer came in the form of a kiss so hot it melted her and left her clinging to him. She couldn’t think as he literally devoured her mouth. She buried one hand in his hair to steady herself as his tongue danced with hers.

  Lochlan knew he shouldn’t be kissing her like this. She was a princess, but honestly he didn’t give a flying monk’s arse. All that mattered to him was that she was safe and in his arms.

  The terror of thinking her gone…

  Then seeing her face where she’d obviously been struck by those bastards. Never in his life had he felt such fury toward anyone. Had Stryder not stopped him, he would have knifed Graham where he lay and not even cared.

  Now to have her back…All he wanted was to taste her. To touch her skin and breathe her in.

  His heart hammering, he pulled back to look down at her. She blinked open her eyes and the passion he saw there seared him.

  He took the hand she still had buried in his hair and brought it to his lips so that he could nibble her fingers. “I want you, Catarina,” he said, his tone low and guttural. “I’ve no right to ask it of you, but I—”

  She cut his words off with a kiss of her own. Lochlan smiled as she literally assaulted his lips with her eagerness. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her away from the horses, to a secluded spot that was surrounded by thick foliage.

  Laying her down against the grass, he covered her with his body. Honestly, he couldn’t believe she was welcoming him like this. And as he reached for the hem of her skirt, he half expected her to slap him for it.

  But she didn’t. She actually lifted her hips so that he could reach beneath the voluminous fabric to touch her. He swore his mouth watered as he skimmed his hand over her smooth thigh to press her closer to his body.

  Cat shivered at the heat of his hand on her bare skin. No man had ever touched her there. Even though she was a virgin, she wasn’t naive. She knew exactly what he sought and what she was agreeing to. Her father would be furious if he ever found out. He’d most likely kill Lochlan, but she would never betray him by telling a soul what they were doing.

  This night was theirs.

  Her father intended to sell her off to the highest-bidding prince and in the event she lost this one-sided fight they were having, she wanted at least one memory of being with someone she chose. And there was no man she’d rather have than Lochlan MacAllister.

  Needing to feel closer to him, she unlaced his tunic and pulled it over his head. She sucked her breath in sharply at the sight of his bared chest. Tanned and well muscled, he was magnificent.

  The sensation of his hard body on hers…

  Surely not even heaven could be better than this.

  Lochlan loosened the stays on her gown before he dipped his head to gently nuzzle the top of her breast. Moaning deep in her throat, she cradled his head against her as he finally succeeded in freeing her breasts. He laughed in triumph before he took the tip of her right breast into his mouth and suckled her gently.

  Cat trembled at the sensation of his hot tongue sweeping over her nipple. The lick made her stomach contract and the center of her body throbbed painfully. She didn’t understand the sensations she felt. They were hot and fierce. Frightening and exciting.

  And when he dipped his hand down to touch the part of her that ached most she actually gasped out loud. She wasn’t sure how to behave or what to do. All she could feel was the pleasure his fingers gave her as they swept over and into her body.

  Lochlan growled deep in his throat as he toyed with her. Her fingernails bit harshly into his biceps, but he didn’t care. The only thing he wanted was to taste her.

  Hungry for her, he kissed his way down her stomach until he reached the center of her body. She was so incredibly beautiful with the moonlight on her face and her flesh bared to him.

  He gently spread her open before he leaned down to take her into his mouth.

  Cat cried out as unbelievable ecstasy tore through her. It was raw and demanding and it made her insides contract and flutter. Never in her life had she experienced anything like the feeling of his tongue swirling around her.

  She wasn’t sure if he was supposed to be doing this, but, truthfully, she didn’t want him to stop. It was enough to make her fear for her very sanity.

  And just when she reached the point she didn’t think she could stand anymore, her body ru
ptured.

  Throwing her head back, she screamed out as her body felt like it was coming undone. Waves and waves of pleasure spiraled through her one after another. It was absolutely frightening.

  “Lochlan? What did you do to me?”

  He gave her one long lick before he nipped her inner thigh. “That is an orgasm, lass, and that is why men are willing to lay their lives down to have a woman.”

  She certainly could understand wanting to feel it. But she wasn’t so sure it was worth her life. “Did you…?”

  He laughed. “Nay, love. I’m still not sated.”

  Biting her lip, she watched as he loosened his breeches. And when he lowered them to free his shaft, she couldn’t help but stare at him. He was huge and it scared her. Surely her body couldn’t accommodate that.

  His eyes hot, he took her hand into his and guided it to him. The softness of him amazed her. He was so hard and yet it was like stroking velvet.

  But it was the pleasure on his face that pushed her fear away. Lochlan wouldn’t hurt her. She knew that.

  He pushed her skirt up to her waist before he moved himself to lie between her spread legs. The tip of him was pressed against her. He dipped his head down to seize her lips into a sizzling kiss before he pressed himself home.

  Cat hissed as a raw, burning pain assailed her. “Ow!”

  He cupped her head in his hands and pulled back to look down at her face. “It won’t hurt for long, I promise.”

  She found that hard to believe. “’Tis easy for you to say. You’re not the one hurting.”

  “Trust me, lass, I’m in pain right now, too. It’s nigh killing me to not thrust against you, but I won’t do that to you until you’re ready for me.”

  And with those words spoken, he slowly nibbled her lips. Cat closed her eyes. She loved his kisses. They were tender and sweet and they set her on fire. But the rest…

  Her thoughts scattered as he breathed against her ear and the fire inside reignited.

  Before long, she forgot the pain and focused only on their combined breaths.

  Lochlan ground his teeth as he finally felt her relaxing. He hated that he’d hurt her when he entered her. What he’d done was selfish, but he couldn’t help himself. She was the only thing he wanted.