His Lass to Protect (Highland Bodyguards, Book 9)

by Emma Prince

  He closed the distance between them, burying his face against her neck as he eased her back onto her discarded blanket. His lips teased her ear, drawing a gasp from her. She arched into him, reveling in the feel of her bare breasts rasping against the hot, hard planes of his chest.

  Yet when she rocked her hips against his, he stilled, pulling back enough to search her eyes.

  “I want all of you, Mairin. But only if you want all of me, too.”

  She held his gaze unwaveringly. “Ye already have my heart,” she whispered. “I want to join with ye completely. I am choosing this, choosing ye, Niall Beaumore.”

  His mouth fell on hers then, delving deep, communicating all the emotion that coursed between them without words.

  He reached for his breeches, fumbling with the fastening. Breaking their kiss once more, he rocked back to kick off both his breeches and boots.

  Mairin took the opportunity to look her fill. He was perfect in every way. He looked as though he were hewn from stone, all lean, hard planes of strength. Her gaze traveled down his torso to where his manhood jutted from a bed of coppery hair. He was long and rigid, and so much…more than she imagined possible for her to take.

  She brushed aside the sudden rush of maidenly embarrassment. This was her Niall, her beloved. She’d found pleasure in his touch twice now. He would never do aught to harm her. She was safe and loved with him.

  She reached for him, and instantly he was in her arms, his hands gliding over her, leaving a trail of fire everywhere he touched. His lips dragged down her chest, capturing one pearled nipple. Heat and sensation shot through her like a bolt of lightning. She arched and gasped, sinking her fingers into his shoulders.

  He moved lower, over her ribs and stomach to the curls hiding her womanhood. Knowing what pleasure his lips and tongue could bring her there, she let her knees fall apart with a groan. He spread her, the heat of his mouth closing over her sex.

  An aching began to build deep in her core, a need she now understood. She writhed beneath his caresses, but as she drew nearer to release, he eased away, kissing up her body in the same fiery path he’d taken downward.

  He settled between the cradle of her thighs, the tip of his cock nestling at her entrance.

  “It will hurt, but only this first time,” he murmured, concern tightening his blazing blue eyes.

  “I can take it,” she replied, lifting her hips toward him.

  He eased forward, entering her achingly slowly. Pressure began to build as he delved deeper, then a sharper pinch came. By the time he was seated completely within her, she sucked in a breath against the pain.

  “Easy,” he muttered through clenched teeth. She didn’t know if he spoke to her or himself, for while she fought to accept his size, he clearly battled to remain still. A muscle jumped in his jaw and his breaths were coming short.

  After a long moment, he rocked back, pulling away slightly. The pain eased with his withdrawal, and when he delved deep once more, the ache was a faint echo of what it had been a moment before.

  Experimentally, she rocked her hips with his as he drew out and drove back once more. He hissed a curse, his hands fisting in the blanket around her head as he thrust harder this time. The motion sent a ripple of pleasure through her, and a promise of more to come.

  They found their rhythm together. He drove slow and steady until she moaned and rolled against him, demanding more. Pleasure built like a fed fire deep within her. He thrust harder and faster now, losing himself in the blaze as well.

  When he ducked his head, claiming one of her nipples with his lips and sucking hard, the whole world shattered into a thousand pieces. She cried out, arching into him and riding out her pleasure. He tumbled over the edge after her, panting her name and shuddering with the force of his release.

  Mairin drifted to earth like a feather on a soft, warm breeze. Niall was heavy and slick with exertion over her, but when he began to ease away, she snaked her arms around him and clamped him to her. He settled over her, taking his weight on one elbow and lazily trailing over her shoulder with his mouth.

  Eventually, the cool touch of the air against her damp skin made her shiver. Niall slipped from her embrace and padded to their bags, where he unfurled another blanket. He stretched next to her and pulled the blanket over both of them, making a warm cocoon of tangled limbs and soft wool.

  “I love you,” he whispered, pulling her to him and burying a kiss in her hair.

  “I love ye, too.”

  For the first time in years, Mairin slipped into the darkness of sleep unafraid.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Niall stirred awake as bright, intense light began to rise in the cave.

  He and Mairin were curved together before the now-dead fire, she with her back pressed to his chest and her bottom nestled against his groin, and he with his arm slung around her beneath their shared blanket, his hand gently cupping her breast.

  Slowly, so as not to disturb her peaceful slumber, he lifted his head. The mouth of the cave was ablaze with brilliant light. The rising sun refracted nigh blindingly off the fresh white snow coating everything—which lay nearly a foot deep.

  Their ride in pursuit of Lancaster and his army would be difficult and slow—if they could set out at all this morn. Undoubtedly, Lancaster’s progress north would be hampered by the same storm, but knowing the Earl, he would push his men ruthlessly onward nevertheless.

  Niall had no fear that they could catch up to them before they reached Dunstanburgh. Even still, every moment that passed drew Lancaster farther away—and put their mission to keep him alive in jeopardy.

  Yet he couldn’t bring himself to rouse Mairin. Instead, he gazed down at her, drinking in her beauty.

  The rising light had begun to catch her hair, illuminating its lustrous mingle of colors. Some strands appeared almost the same polished copper as her brother Logan’s, but they were tempered by warm honey and soft brown shades.

  Her skin was like the purest cream, her dark lashes a stark contrast where they fanned over her rosy cheeks. In sleep, her mouth was a soft, supple rosebud.

  His mind flew to their kisses the night before. The words of love that had fallen from those perfect lips. The moans and gasps and cries of pleasure that had slipped from her.

  He couldn’t help it. Desire flamed in him like a stoked fire. Her breast was so damn soft and warm in his hand. His cock awakened against her sweet backside. The heat between their bare bodies seemed to blaze like an inferno.

  She must have noticed the way his body had pulled taut, for she stirred and nestled her bottom more firmly into his rapidly hardening manhood.

  Niall muttered a curse, beginning to ease away from her so as not to disrupt her rest. But he stilled when her hand clamped over his on her breast, holding him in place.

  “You’re awake.”

  “Nay, I think I’m still dreaming,” she murmured, stretching against him like a contented cat.

  He lowered his head and kissed her ear, then drew his teeth over the lobe. She shivered, and against his palm, her nipple drew into a tight knot.

  She cast him a glance over one milky shoulder, her hair sliding like silk around her. Her eyes were smoky with desire.

  “You will be tender from last night,” he said. His body practically hummed with the need to be inside her once more, but he would never hurt her.

  “I dinnae care,” she replied, holding his gaze. “Take me, Niall.”

  With a low groan, he kissed her mouth—hard. While he worked his thumb over one beaded nipple, his other hand slipped between her legs. She was already wet for him between the delicate folds of her sex. His cock surged in response, drawing painfully hard with need.

  Instinctively, she lifted one leg over his, giving him complete access to her womanhood. When he circled that spot of her pleasure, she moaned and rocked against his hand.

  Heaven help him. She may have been an innocent just last eve, but there was a deep well of passion beneath Mairin’s nor
mally restrained, flinty exterior.

  Aye, this was who she was beneath the scars, the fears, the proud reserve. A woman who burned brighter and hotter than the sun itself. This was the same Mairin he’d first fallen in love with—the girl whose fire could not be snuffed, even when she’d seemed naught more than a shell for a time. The woman who sparked to life despite all odds.

  This was the woman he loved. And the woman who loved him.

  The need to be inside her rushed over him, but it was more than the blaze of lust that burned hot between them. He longed to join with her body, heart, and soul. To be one forever.

  “Niall,” she moaned urgently. Mayhap she felt the same yearning, to entwine themselves and never let go.

  He drew his hand from between her legs and gripped himself. She made a sound of protest at his absence, but when he guided his cock to her entrance, she exhaled and angled her hips to encourage his penetration.

  As he eased into her, he gripped her hip, forcing himself to go slow. She needed time to adjust to his size, and she was no doubt tender from last night, as he’d warned her.

  But once he was buried to the hilt, she began rolling her hips impatiently, hungry for more—which he was all too willing to give.

  His fingers sank deeper into her hip as he took control of their rhythm, driving in and out of her slowly. As he began to take her faster, her back arched away from his chest and her breaths came in short, desperate gasps.

  With a growl, his hand slipped from her hip to that point of pleasure between her legs once more. She cried out, coming undone in his arms. The leg she had slung over his trembled like a leaf in a storm, and her hands twisted in the blanket beneath them.

  At her shuddering release, he lost himself. He thrust deep and hard, holding himself within her as his own pleasure exploded.

  As they slowly spiraled down from the heavens, he groaned and cast another glance toward the cave mouth. The sun shone even brighter now, its brilliant glittering reflection off the snow impossible to ignore. It was a reminder of the duty that awaited them this day.

  “We had best set out,” Mairin said reluctantly, picking up on his thoughts. “Edward is no doubt on Lancaster’s heels now. The farther he gets from us, the greater the danger that Lancaster will find a way to further make a mess of his rebellion.”

  Niall snorted, but then sobered quickly.

  “You were right to stop Bruin from burning the village—and to end his ability to hurt others again.”

  Mairin swallowed. “Aye, but we still find ourselves serving the man who gave him his orders in the first place.”

  “All we can do is see the Bruce’s mission through,” he replied gravely.

  Guilt pricked at him as he spoke. Aye, the riding conditions yesterday night had been treacherous. It had been wise to take shelter in the cave, and to send their last missive to the Bruce about Lancaster’s plans. But he’d allowed himself to forget all about their mission—and his promise to Logan not to lay a finger on Mairin—last night. How easy it had been to set aside his duty.

  “I ken how important this is to ye,” she said, again seeming to read his thoughts. “It is important to me, too. But dinnae fash. We’ll catch up with Lancaster and return to our task. The Bruce and the others willnae have cause to doubt yer loyalty.”

  She knew not only his innermost worries, but just what to say to reassure him. His heart swelled with love for her. Unable to put words to the deep well of emotion in his chest, he settled for a swift kiss before they both rose and set about preparing to depart.

  * * * *

  As the weak winter sun began to draw toward the soft white hills in the west, Niall squinted to the north.

  “If I’m not mistaken, the village of Boroughbridge isn’t far,” he murmured.

  Mairin angled slightly in the saddle before him to assess the sun.

  “We still have an hour or so of daylight. We should use all of it we can.”

  “Aye.”

  They had set out from the cave two days earlier, but the snow had been so thick and deep that their pace had been sluggish. And with only one horse for the both of them, Niall hadn’t wanted to risk pushing the animal in these conditions.

  They couldn’t have been traveling much faster than Lancaster’s army. There had been no signs of the army, though Niall had opted to take smaller but more direct roads northward.

  With each passing hour, his nerves pulled tighter. Even trailing at a slow pace, he would have expected them to gain enough ground on Lancaster to have come across him by now. Though his force was far weaker than Edward’s, seven hundred men on the march was no small thing and would be hard to miss.

  The town of Boroughbridge would not only provide a good spot to rest for the night, but he would inquire of their innkeeper if an army had passed through earlier.

  With a huff of frosty air, their horse began an ascent up a modest rise. It gave Niall an excuse to lean closer to Mairin, his hand flattening on her stomach to bring them flush together.

  As if he needed more reason to touch her. Though the travel conditions had been trying these last two days, it was a blessing to have her bottom nestled against his groin, their hips rolling together with the horse’s gait. Her hair was never far from his nose, filling his senses with her unique scent.

  Even through their thick wool cloaks, their bodies seemed to call to one another, hungry and eager, despite the fact that they’d sated their lust just this morning in the hayloft where they’d taken shelter from the cold the night before. He would never get enough of Mairin, Niall knew. A single look or touch from her sent his heart soaring and his—

  As they topped the rise, all Niall’s warm thoughts scattered and his stomach fell to the ground.

  Below them, the village of Boroughbridge had come into view. The village was a dark splotch against the snow—a splotch that seemed alive. It moved like a colony of ants, writhing, contracting, surging.

  “What in—” Mairin’s words were cut off when she sucked in a breath. “That is Lancaster’s army! His colors fly, but… Who is that on the north side of the river?”

  Nay. How could that be? “Those are…Edward’s colors.”

  “How the hell could Edward’s army have gotten past Lancaster’s and cut him off to the north?” Mairin whispered, her gaze dashing over the two forces of men gathering to face each other.

  Niall’s mind ground to a halt with incomprehension. The scene before them was much the same as they had witnessed from the hilltop overlooking Burton and the River Trent—except everything was flipped.

  The village of Boroughbridge—little more than a few dozen clustered buildings—sat on the south side of a wide, swollen river. The bridge itself separated the two assembled armies, but this time Lancaster’s force stood on the south side, and the King’s army to the north. The sheer mass of Edward’s men dwarfed Lancaster’s by at least four to one.

  Niall squinted at the banners that fluttered over the army on the north side of the river. Sure enough, Edward’s coat of arms, the royal red with golden lions roaring their might, flew over the far larger of the two forces. But interspersed with Edward’s pennants was another—a red cross on a field of white.

  Niall knew that coat of arms. He’d lived in the Borderlands long enough to be familiar with the other Border lords’ insignia.

  “Those are Andrew Harclay’s men,” he murmured, stunned.

  Harclay was the warden of Carlisle Castle, a formidable stronghold in Cumbria. Thanks to Edward’s inattention and mismanagement of the northern reaches of England, Harclay, like Niall’s family, had cooled on the King. But apparently unlike the Beaumores, Harclay had ultimately remained loyal to Edward.

  “How could he have known to be here?” he said aloud. “Edward’s main army must still be at least half a day behind us. There is no way he could have gotten word to Harclay about Lancaster’s position.”

  “It doesnae matter now,” Mairin hissed. She pointed, drawing his attention.


  Lancaster’s army, which had stalled on the south side of the bridge, began to surge forward. A faint roaring battle cry drifted to them on the breeze. They were on the move, attempting to cross the bridge against Harclay’s far superior force.

  Lancaster was going to be crushed, and with it, his entire rebellion.

  Without thinking, Niall dug his heels into their horse’s flank, sending them careening down the snowy slope and into the erupting battle.

  Chapter Thirty

  “We have to get to Lancaster!”

  Even as Mairin shouted the words over the hammering of the horse’s hooves and the rising thunder of battle, she saw how futile their efforts would be.

  Lancaster’s army began to split, with one group surging toward the bridge and another peeling off to the east in an attempt to ford the river elsewhere. It was obvious that they would never be able to take the bridge with such a small force, especially not when they were weakening themselves by dividing.

  She caught sight of Lancaster’s blue velvet cloak in the crush of soldiers. He sat his horse at the back of the contingent moving east.

  “There!” she shouted, pointing toward him.

  Niall pulled on the reins, angling the horse after Lancaster, but the main body of the Earl’s army stood in their way. They were forced to weave at a maddeningly slow pace through the foot soldiers dutifully marching toward the bridge.

  Mairin’s gaze shot to the bridge, scanning for any sign that they were making progress against Harclay’s forces. On the north side sat perhaps four thousand men, weapons at the ready against Lancaster’s troops.

  But most weren’t even needed, for as long as they had one end of the bridge sealed against the rebels’ efforts, Lancaster’s men could make no progress.

  She watched as Harclay’s men formed a tight knot at the mouth of the bridge. They locked their shields together and thrust their spears through the gaps, making a deadly shield wall.

  Her stomach tilted and unease rippled through her. They were employing a fighting technique that the Scots had often used against the English in battle.