Loving on Borrowed Time - Lovers Leap 1

by Olivia Cunning

  “Who?” Abbot’s voice echoed around in his helmet. He effortlessly guided his horse forward at a sedate walk. The other soldiers, Lara counted five of them, were hanging back a little, either embarrassed to see a high-class lady in nothing but a blanket or their ranks required it of them.

  She tried to say Reece, knowing the true name of the knight would tumble from her lips instead, “Sir Ferguson.”

  “I’m sure he’s already dead.”

  A chill settled in Lara’s chest and it had nothing to do with the cool temperatures. “No,” she said, shaking her head. “He should not die for my sake.”

  “You should feel no responsibility for his death. He is both a cad and a coward.”

  Lara’s distress level grew incrementally by the second and she began to think she wasn’t the only one worried for his safety. This lady she shared a body with was highly distressed. And she didn’t like this tin can on a horse either. “We must go back for him.”

  “No, I don’t think so.”

  “Do you dare call yourself a chivalrous man and yet refuse a lady’s simple request? And what did Sir Ferguson do that was so terrible?”

  There was a scrape of metal as the knight shifted his head to look down at her. “You really have experienced massive trauma to your wits, milady.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Excuse me, but I do believe you have just insulted me.”

  “I would never insult a lady,” he claimed. She wasn’t sure if he was being sincere or sarcastic. Perhaps he was insinuating that she was not a lady.

  “Then go back for him. Now!”

  “I refuse,” he said, and kicked his horse into a gallop.

  Lara leaned around the metal-plated arm of the knight and gazed behind them, hoping to see Reece dashing after them on a mighty steed. No such luck. Only the five depressed looking soldiers followed them. But what of the ones who had stayed behind to finish Reece off? Shouldn’t they have caught up with the group by now? Perhaps Reece was okay.

  “But he has a piece of my jewelry,” Lara said, trying to reason with her captor/rescuer again. Or lie to him. Whatever worked. “One of your men might take it for himself and I’d be greatly embittered by its loss.”

  “We are not going back after Reginald Ferguson, Eleanor. I’m not sure why you’d want to, seeing as he left your poor sister at the altar and kidnapped you in her place.”

  Why would a man kidnap his betrothed’s sister? Lara tried to put together a feasible explanation. She came up lacking.

  “Why would he do that?” she asked.

  Lord Abbot laughed. “Because no matter how much he wants you, he cannot have you, my darling. He is beneath you and you... you belong to me.”

  A feeling of revulsion settled in the pit of her stomach and she could only conclude that Lady Eleanor had no romantic inclinations toward Lord Abbot. He made her want to hurl. “I most certainly do not belong to you,” she said emphatically, and again it was Eleanor’s strong feelings making themselves known. So it wasn’t only Lara’s concern for Reece, but also Eleanor’s concern for Reginald that had her so anxious. Eleanor’s desire to get away from Lord Abbot overwhelmed Lara with panic. “Set me down this instant,” she demanded. “I will walk.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Set me down. Now!” She moved to dismount from the moving horse, but Lord Abbot’s steel-encased arm stopped her progress.

  “Woman, you are daft,” he said. “Do you wish to fall to your death?”

  He drew the horse to a halt. Abbot dismounted, pulled her from the saddle, and set her on the ground. She tugged the blanket closer, her flesh crawling beneath Abbot’s heavy gaze.

  “You are more trouble than you will ever be worth,” he said. “If it weren’t for your dowry, I’d have refused your father’s offer. Ferguson is foolish for spurning your mild-mannered sister. You might be more beautiful than she, but she would make a dutiful wife.”

  “Then have her,” Lara said. “I won’t stop you.” She glanced around as inconspicuously as she could. How could she hope to get away from a knight and five armed soldiers? She had to think and use what she had. What did she have? A blanket. And…a blanket. She had nothing of use. And then a thought occurred to her. In one fluid motion, she stripped the blanket from her body and tossed it over Sir Abbot’s head. While he struggled to remove the blanket from his head, Lara grabbed the edge of the saddle, put her foot in a stirrup and boosted herself onto the back of Abbot’s enormous warhorse. She bounced up and down in the saddle, kicked the horse in flank, yanked on its reins, but the animal refused to budge. In fact, it merely blew an annoyed breath and shifted on its hooves.

  “Move, you stupid horse!”

  “My horse obeys only my commands. I tire of your little tantrums, Lady Eleanor.” His gaze raked over her naked body. “I will never tire of your beauty, though.”

  She was no match for his strength as he pulled her from the horse.

  “Men,” he called. “Ride ahead. We’ll catch up.”

  A feeling of dread flood Lara’s entire body. “Wait!” she called to the retreating soldiers, but they galloped off into the distance, leaving her naked and alone with the man who was apparently to be Eleanor’s husband.

  Abbot removed his helmet and she caught her first glimpse of his face. He was average in looks, his skin a bit pot marked. His only distinguishing feature was his eyes, which were nearly black and filled with malice. A shiver ran down her spine. He removed his remaining glove, his expression never changing as he glared at her. “You know better than to test me beyond my limits, Eleanor. You know I must punish you for it.”

  When he began to remove his leg armor, panic suffused her. Not again!

  She was running before she could formulate a plan, her only thought was to escape him. Before she got far, something careened into her back with the force of a battering ram and she fell forward, not even having time to catch herself before the ground came up to meet her face. Stunned, she was rolled onto her back, and staring into Lord Abbot’s livid face.

  “Why do you run?” he asked. He removed his pants, exposing how truly aroused exerting his will over a helpless gentlewoman made him. He straddled her hips to prevent her from fleeing as he continued to remove pieces of armor from his chest and arms. “You know I will have my way in the end. I am bigger than you. And stronger. Scream and cry all you like. No one will hear you. No one will care.”

  “Please,” she begged. She struggled, kicking at him and hitting him with her fists. He outweighed her by at least double. He caught her wrists in his hands and pinned them down on either side of her head.

  “Don’t struggle, Eleanor. I can be gentle. If you stop fighting me, I will try not to hurt you.”

  “No,” she said, shaking her head back and forth vigorously. “Never! You will never have me willingly.”

  Her heart was pounding so hard the entire ground seemed to be shaking. Wait. The entire ground was shaking. An earthquake? Four hooves raced by, knocking Sir Abbot sideways from her body. He landed next to her with a thud, a huge gash on his temple. She didn’t know if he was dead or merely unconscious. She didn’t have time to check. The horse had drawn to a sudden halt and a pair of armor-covered feet hit the ground. Before she could react, she was drawn against the cold, hard chest of the armored man who had bashed Abbot in the head.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, leaning away and stroking the hair from her face.

  “Reece?”

  “Did he hurt you?” he asked.

  “Well, he didn’t do me any good,” she said. “How did you get away from those soldiers?”

  “Apparently I’m an accomplished swordsman. Easy pickin’s.” He glanced over his shoulder, his expression concealed by his helmet. “Even so, I think we need to get out of here.”

  Lara laughed with no mirth. “What gave you that idea?”

  “Here,” he said. “There’s a bundle of clothes in here.” He pulled some cloth out of a saddlebag. “Get dressed.”


  “While I was about to be raped by Lord Asshat, you were searching through saddle bags?”

  “I was looking for my mace.” He held up a long black club with a spiked head on one end. “Found it.”

  Lara began to sort through the clothes Reece had provided. “These look like peasant garb,” she said. “Just how many women do you have?”

  “I think this Reg guy kinda likes you the best, Lady Eleanor. Apparently, I left your sister at the altar.”

  “I heard.” She looked at the half-naked knight sprawled on the ground. “Is he dead?”

  “Do you care?”

  She looked up at Reece who was still bedecked in his knightly helm. “No, actually, I don’t.”

  “Where to?”

  “Anywhere but that castle Asshat was speaking of.”

  The knight on the ground moaned and brought a hand up to the gash on the side of his head.

  “Looks like we’d better get going,” Reece said.

  “Underclothes!” Lara said excitedly as she put on a pair of bloomers. A chemise, dress and stockings followed.

  “You ungrateful bitch,” Abbot mumbled.

  Reece went to stand over him. “Do not speak of a lady as such, Abbot. I have a mind to finish you off.”

  “You are too much of a coward, Ferguson.”

  “Eleanor, do you think his pants will fit me?” Reece called to Lara. He retrieved Abbot’s pants from the ground and held them up as if trying them on for size.

  “Well, seeing as his arse is ten sizes bigger than his horse’s, I’d say no, but we could always use them as a vulgar tapestry.”

  “Splendid idea, milady.”

  “I will kill you, Ferguson!” Abbot bellowed, trying to get to his feet. Dazed, he managed to get one arm under himself before falling over again.

  “No, I do not believe you will. Not today. But you have lost your pants and your woman. Explain that to your men.” He turned to look at Lara, smiling when he saw her fully dressed. “Are you ready, beautiful lady?”

  “Almost,” she said. She went to Abbot’s horse and took it by the reins. “It won’t let me ride it, but I’m sure it will follow us.” She collected several discarded pieces of Abbot’s scattered armor and secured them to the horse.

  “I like your style, Lady Eleanor.”

  Reece mounted his horse, and directed it over to Lara. He tied the reins of Abbot’s warhorse to his saddle, then helped Lara mount his horse in front of him. They headed back the way they’d come, leaving Abbot to curse his fate on the ground in their wake.

  “Are you certain you’re okay?” Reece asked. “I was hoping I hit him hard enough to kill him.”

  “It’s a good thing you came when you did. I don’t think that’s the first time he’s forced himself on Eleanor. And I don’t think anyone stopped him on those previous occasions.”

  Reece pulled his horse to a halt. He turned the animal and started back towards Abbot.

  “Where are you going?” Lara asked.

  “I’m going to kill that son-of-a-bitch,” he growled.

  “Wait,” she pleaded. “Leave him. Let’s just get out of this place. I’d be happiest if I never had to see him again.”

  “But what if he comes after Eleanor again?”

  “Then you’ll have my blessing to do him in. I just don’t think we should go looking for trouble. It already follows us around like a hungry dog.”

  “Are you sure? Reg really wants to kick Abbot’s uppity ass all over the countryside.”

  “Reg can wait until we’re gone,” Lara whispered.

  Reece sighed, turned the horse again, and headed towards a copse of trees. Several miles into the forest, he tied Abbot’s horse to a branch and left the animal behind.

  “Apparently, we were prepared for this trip. We have provisions in the saddlebags, including those clothes for you. I just wonder where we were headed.”

  “Perhaps if you try to talk to Eleanor with Reg, he’ll let us know.”

  “It’s worth a shot.” He continued to lead the horse through the trees, one metal-encased arm around Lara’s waist, the other hand expertly controlling the enormous animal. “Eleanor,” he began, “let us continue on our way to… We should arrive at… If we head in the direction of…”

  “I guess that won’t work,” Lara said.

  “I guess not. Maybe the horse knows the way.”

  Lara smiled and glanced up at her knight in shining armor. “So what do you look like under that helmet? And what do I look like?”

  “You look like Lara right now,” he said. “But I caught a glimpse of Eleanor when we first arrived. She’s a gorgeous redhead with a very nice figure.”

  Reece fumbled with his helmet and then removed it. Lara caught a glimpse of Reginald Ferguson before Reece’s image took its place. “No wonder Eleanor ran away with Reg. He’s one to melt the socks off your feet. Shoulder length black hair, strong jaw, piercing blue eyes. Very yummy.”

  “Better than the real me?” Reece asked.

  “Depends on your tastes.”

  “My tastes don’t matter. What about your tastes?”

  “You can be cute,” she said. “On occasion.”

  “I see. And when would that occasion be?”

  Lara considered her words, biting her lip to keep herself from giggling. “Every other Thursday at three.”

  “Lucky break. It just happens to be Thursday.” He glanced up at the sun. “I’d estimate it to be around three.”

  “How do you know it’s Thursday?”

  “Because you let me kiss you, so my cuteness must be at its peak.”

  Lara’s brows lifted at him. “I let you kiss me? When?”

  “Now.”

  He lowered his head and kissed the corner of her mouth. The rush of desire that flooded her, surprised her. Should her heart be thudding like this? And why did he have to be wearing that soup can of an outfit? She wanted the warmth of his body to surround her.

  “Well, it’ll be another two weeks before I let that happen again,” she murmured.

  “Uh-huh,” he agreed, using his thumb to tilt her chin slightly. His lips brushed hers again and the horse eased to a stop, tossing its head. Reece dropped his helmet and it landed on the ground with a loud clang. He then drew her across his lap, bending to feast on her lips like a starving man. She wasn’t sure how her fingers got tangled in his hair, or why her lips parted to deepen the mating of their mouths. Those little sounds of pleasure could not possibly be coming from the back of her throat.

  “Lara,” he groaned into her mouth.

  She tugged him closer, lost in the feel of his mouth on hers, the heady taste of his kiss. She was scarcely aware of the cold, hard metal pressed against her side and supporting her back. He drew away, breathing hard as he gazed down at her.

  “God, woman, do you know what you do to me? I want to devour you whole.”

  “I feel pretty safe as long as you’re trussed up in this steel,” she said, thumping the chest plate. It made a pleasant ringing sound.

  “Well as long as you feel safe,” he murmured, before lowering his head to kiss her again.

  She couldn’t seem to stop her body from pressing up against him. She was disappointed to find unyielding metal instead of a hard muscled chest. She moved her kiss to his jaw, his day’s growth of beard rough against her sensitive lips. Her mouth found the side of his neck just beneath his earlobe and she suckled the flesh there. He groaned, his gloved hands clutching the fabric of her dress. She was pretty sure she’d discovered another one of his spots.

  “Okay, we have to stop,” he breathed. “I don’t think horseback riding and blue balls go well together.”

  “Reece,” she whispered in his ear. He tensed as if she’d shot him. “Thank you for stopping that man earlier.”

  “It was nothing,” he said breathlessly.

  She nipped his earlobe playfully.

  “No thanks necessary!” He pulled her away and looked down at her. “What are
you trying to do to me?”

  “I’m not sure,” she admitted. “Maybe I have a previously undiscovered metal fetish.”

  “Or maybe Eleanor and Reg have a very intimate relationship.”

  “Could be,” she agreed, though she had no sense of Eleanor’s influence at the moment. “Don’t you want to take advantage of it?”

  “That’s a baited question, Miss Kensington,” he said. “If I say yes, you’ll think I only want you for your delectable body and if I say no, you’ll make it seem as if I’m rejecting you.”

  She grinned at him. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  He took a deep breath. “Well, right now my dick is so hard, I think it’s dented Reginald’s armor.”

  Chapter 9

  Near dark, Lara and Reece stumbled across a seemingly abandoned cabin. The sinking sun allowed a chill to creep into the air. They were pleasantly surprised to find the cabin fully stocked with food, water and firewood. The small lean-to next to the cabin was perfect stabling quarters for the horse and even had fresh water and grain.

  “Do you think the owners will return soon?” Lara said. “I feel sort of bad just barging into the house like this.”

  “This is Reg’s hunting cabin,” Reece said.

  “Are you certain?”

  He pointed to a shield that hung on the wall and then the chest plate of his armor. They had the same crest. “Pretty sure. Let’s get a fire going and you can find us something to eat while I figure out how to take all that gear off the poor horse.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  They worked together to start a fire and then Reece began to remove his armor. Lara watched, breathless with desire. He truly was a fine specimen of a man, even swathed in the quilted pads he wore beneath his armor.

  “They might come looking for us here,” he said. “Actually, I can guarantee it. I predict that Abbot will be pretty pissed when he shows up.” He found a pair of boots near the door and pulled them on, stomping to settle his feet in the calf-hugging leather footwear. “I’ll be back shortly.”