The Seduced

by Donna Grant

Then he looked at her.

  His blue eyes were intense as they searched hers. Chills still raced over her skin from when he had traced her eyebrow. She wanted to ask him if he knew she had done that to him countless times, but she didn’t have the nerve.

  “You must be hungry,” Alistair said. “We doona have much, but we’ll gladly share what we do have.”

  Innes felt lost when Daman’s gaze slid from her and moved to Alistair. He touched her brother’s arm to get his attention. Once Alistair turned to him, Daman pointed to a bow and a quiver of arrows propped near the hearth.

  Alistair frowned as he looked at the weapons then back at Daman. “You want to use them?”

  Daman nodded and then walked to the hearth. He slung the quiver over his head, settling the strap across his chest. He lifted the bow and tested it by pulling the string back and looking along the sights. He lowered the weapon and caught Innes’s gaze once again.

  Innes realized then why Daman was so quiet. “You can’t speak, can you?”

  Daman’s gaze briefly lowered to the ground before he shook his head.

  Alistair asked, “Have you always been mute?”

  Again Daman shook his head.

  Innes wasn’t sure she would be so calm if she woke after two hundred years without the ability to speak. Yet, Daman seemed entirely composed.

  Daman pointed to Alistair and then the bow before he opened the castle door.

  “You want to hunt,” Alistair said, a slow grin forming.

  Her brother hesitated, and Innes hurried to say, “I’ll be fine. Donald is locked away, and we’ll close the gates.”

  Alistair pulled on the end of her hair and strode away to get his bow and quiver. Innes looked back at Daman to find him watching her closely.

  She noticed the silver chain around his neck that disappeared beneath his saffron shirt. Her necklace. The thought of it touching his skin made her stomach flutter in excitement.

  If only she had been there when he woke. She would’ve had him all to herself for a time.

  “We willna be far,” Alistair said, breaking into her thoughts.

  Innes jumped and jerked to her brother. “Of course. Be careful. Both of you,” she said and looked at Daman.

  Alistair exited the castle first. Daman hesitated before he gifted her with a smile and followed her brother. Innes walked to the doorway to watch them.

  Her brother barked orders to the men standing guard at the gatehouse and those along the battlements. Alistair spoke while Daman nodded or pointed to something. It continued for a bit at the gate before they walked beneath the gatehouse. Alistair turned right, and Daman turned left.

  Innes’s heart jumped when Daman glanced back at her before disappearing beyond the gate. Only after the gate was closed and bolted did she shut the castle door and face the hall.

  ~ ~ ~

  Daman returned to the castle with a deer and four hares. He would’ve hunted longer, but he couldn’t shake the overwhelming need to get back to Innes.

  The black-haired beauty was an enigma. All those times she had visited him, spoke to him...touched him. Her caresses had heated his blood, singed his skin. With the barest of touches, she made him crave more.

  Now that he was awake, he wanted to yank her against him and taste her lips as he’d longed to do while he slept. She had no idea what her nearness did to him. She tied him in knots, and at the same time, she calmed a raging storm inside him that he hadn’t yet figured out.

  Right at the tip of his memory was the knowledge of something he was supposed to do, but every time he got close to figuring it out, it slipped further away.

  The castle gates opened and Daman discovered Innes there to greet him. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the meat. It almost made him want to go back out and get more.

  She took the hares from him as she said, “Alistair isn’t back yet. You’ve made everyone very happy.”

  It was her bright smile that caused something in his chest to expand. Things were bad off at the MacKays. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do, but he knew he would help in whatever manner asked of him.

  As soon as he and Innes walked around the side of the castle to the kitchen, Daman saw the women. They were standing around, waiting for him. He shrugged the deer off his shoulder and laid it on the ground. Then he stepped back and let the women take over.

  “Follow me,” Innes said.

  As if Daman would refuse. They passed through the kitchens and then up the stairs. He watched the sway of her hips and his cock hardened.

  A memory flashed of brightly colored skirts. Then, just like that, it was gone again as if it never were.

  Innes didn’t halt until she reached the door to a chamber. She put her hand on the latch and waited for him. Her dark eyes held a hint of shyness, but there was curiosity and awareness, as well.

  “You have no idea how much you’ve helped us today. Donald would’ve tried to kill Alistair, and though Alistair knows Donald needed to be brought to heel, he’s still family. You saved Alistair that trouble and stopped Donald’s attempt to take over the clan.”

  Daman didn’t know what to say. He had only done what he thought needed to be done.

  “Then there is the hunting. Alistair has put it off to search for Donald, but there is only so much one man can do. Thank you.”

  He didn’t want her thanks. He wanted...her.

  “Do you remember anything before you awoke?” she asked.

  Daman nodded slowly.

  “You remember why you were in that cavern?” she asked hopefully.

  He hated to disappoint her, but he couldn’t lie. Daman gave a swift shake of his head. How could he explain that he remembered instinctive things, but didn’t know his name? It didn’t make sense, even to him.

  He knew he was formidable in battle and could wield a bow or spear as well as a sword. He knew he could ride a horse, steering the steed with nothing but his legs while charging into a fight so he could use his weapons.

  Beyond that, there was nothing.

  He wanted to ask her to help him figure it all out, but the words wouldn’t come. Somehow, he knew that he’d never asked anyone for anything.

  “There’s a bath waiting,” Innes said into the silence. “And food. It’s the least I could do.”

  She started to walk past him, and he grabbed her hand. Her head jerked to him, her eyes wide. He placed his other hand over his heart and bowed his head.

  Her smile was slow and sweet. “You’re welcome.”

  He knew he should release her hand, but the feel of her soft skin was his undoing. His thumb grazed the top of her hand in slow circles.

  When her lips parted and he noted the wild beat of her pulse in her neck, all he could think about was kissing her, of pulling her against him and feeling the warmth of her body as he held her.

  He gently tugged her closer, his thumb still caressing her hand. She leaned toward him. Daman lowered his gaze to her mouth as he ducked his head.

  He hesitated for just a moment, giving her time to pull away. When she didn’t, he touched his lips to hers.

  The low moan that rose from within her had his body demanding more. He turned them both, pressing her back against the wall.

  He kissed her again, adding more pressure. As soon as her lips parted, he slipped his tongue between them. Their tongues touched and danced while her arms wound around his neck and her fingers slid into his hair.

  Daman deepened the kiss. The more he sought, the more she gave. Her kisses were seductive and innocent, enticing and wanton.

  This was the woman who had awakened him, who wanted him to help her clan. The last thing he should be doing is assaulting her. Besides, it would not be good to have Alistair discover them like this after having been taken into their home. Daman needed to stop.

  If he didn’t stop now, he wasn’t sure he would be able to later. His desire for Innes was that great.

  He ended the kiss and pulled back. The sight of her kiss-swollen lips ma
de him groan, but no sound could be heard.

  Her eyes opened, blinking up at him dazedly. She touched her lips with her fingertips. “I have no words for how amazing that felt.”

  Satisfaction filled him. If only she knew how close he was to kissing her again.

  He cupped his hands around her face and looked deep into her black eyes. Such beautiful eyes. They were so dark and deep that he could feel himself falling into them.

  She lifted her lips to him, silently asking him to continue kissing her. Just as he began to lower his head, he heard Alistair’s voice below.

  Daman gave her a quick kiss and stepped away. When she didn’t move, he turned her toward the stairs and gave her a gentle shove. Only when she began to walk did he go into his chamber and shut the door.

  He sighed heavily. The kiss had been beyond his expectations. Innes was captivating, and she must have worked some kind of spell on him because he was bewitched.

  A warning zipped through his mind, cautioning him to be wary. But as he tried to search the dark corners of his mind for why, he once more came up empty.

  Daman removed his sword, boots, kilt, and shirt to walk naked - except for the necklace he still wore - to a wooden tub filled with water. It was still relatively warm. He scrubbed himself twice before he rose and dried off.

  He touched the amulet around his neck. It was the same one he’d found in his hand when he regained consciousness in the cavern. If Innes was the one to wake him, did that mean this was hers? He knew it didn’t belong to him.

  Daman put his clothes back on and walked to the small round table and chair in his chamber. He sat and poured ale into a tankard as he looked at the trencher of food before him.

  After the first bite of cold meat, he realized how famished he was. It didn’t take long for him to clean the trencher of every morsel.

  He sat back to finish his ale as he looked around his quarters. It was a medium sized room. The bed sat against the far wall with bed curtains that were dark blue velvet. They were a little frayed, having seen better days.

  It was more visible evidence that the MacKays were in trouble. Daman wasn’t sure how they had lasted as long as they had.

  With little food, very few men to hold the castle, and fighting within the family, they were ripe to be taken over.

  Daman tried not to think of Innes, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. That kiss had set him ablaze. The fire within for her had already flamed hot. Now, he burned.

  Did she know how she made his blood heat? How he yearned to have her near? How he longed to hold her?

  He thought she had been with him for decades, because that’s what it felt like. But it was more like years. Just how long had he been in that cave?

  Why was he put there? Innes and Alistair must know the answers. If only he could ask them. But that was rather hard without his voice.

  He rose and began to pace the room. There were no memories. He responded to his name, he knew he could fight, and he knew he could hunt. Other than that, his mind was blank.

  Except for the clawing feeling that he was supposed to be doing something.

  Looking.

  He latched onto the word. Looking. He was supposed to be looking. But for what? For who?

  Daman squeezed his eyes closed and gripped his head. A dull ache had begun, settling in at the base of his skull. The pain grew until his entire head pounded.

  It took him a moment to realize there was a second pounding – that of a fist against his door.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Innes shifted in her seat in Alistair’s chamber. She couldn’t get comfortable. Ever since that scorching kiss with Daman, she’d been unable to think of anything other than him.

  All through the evening meal she’d kept hoping he would come down, but Alistair had wanted to give him time. After the meal, however, Alistair waited until the hall cleared and then went after Daman.

  Since neither she nor Alistair was sure of how many more of their people sided with Donald, they decided to keep their conversation private. There was nowhere more private than the master chamber.

  Innes jumped when the door opened and Alistair filled the space. He gave her a frown and stepped aside. Then her gaze landed on Daman. Their eyes locked, held. It was a good thing she was sitting down because she was certain her legs wouldn’t have held her after she saw the desire reflected in Daman’s blue gaze.

  “Thank you again for helping me hunt,” Alistair said as he stopped at the hearth and turned to Daman.

  Daman glanced down the hall before he closed the door behind him. He bowed his head and crossed his arms over his thick chest as he leaned against the wall.

  Alistair clasped his hands behind his back as the fire popped behind him. “I wish things were no’ so dire for us. I was none too pleased that Innes woke you, but now I think she did the right thing.”

  Innes saw Daman’s slight frown, his hesitation, as if he were trying to figure things out. There was something about the way the lines bracketed his mouth that made her think he was in pain.

  She held up a hand to stop Alistair before he continued. “Daman, do you know why you were in the cave?”

  He shook his head slowly.

  Innes frowned. “That part of the story was lost to us. I was hoping you would remember. All we’ve been told was that you would one day save our clan.”

  Daman held her gaze for a moment before his blue eyes slid to Alistair and he shrugged.

  “Aye, I didna think you would know that either,” Alistair said with a sigh. “The truth is, you doona have to do anything. Our family has kept watch over you for two hundred years.”

  Was it Innes’s imagination, or had Daman jerked at the mention of the time that had passed?

  Alistair continued, saying, “Now that you’re awake, you can do whatever you wish. Nothing holds you here.”

  Daman pointed to Alistair and then to Innes.

  Innes glanced at her brother. “Daman, you don’t owe us anything.”

  “She’s right. You doona,” Alistair said. “But I’m asking if you’ll stay and help us fight if needed. Now that Donald is no longer a worry, I must turn my attention to the Sinclairs. They want a meeting.”

  Innes swiveled her head to Alistair, shocked. This was the first she had heard of it. “What?”

  Her brother pulled out a rolled missive from the sleeve of his shirt. “This arrived before the evening meal. David, the laird of the Sinclairs, wants to meet at our border. He is bringing the Lord of Ravensclyde with him.”

  “And his army, no doubt,” Innes said tightly. “The Sinclair doesn’t want to talk. He wants to fight.”

  Alistair tucked the missive back up the sleeve on his left arm. “David is an honorable man, Innes. I believe him. I was hoping Daman would accompany me.”

  Daman was nodding even as Innes asked, “When is this meeting?”

  “In the morn.”

  She closed her eyes in despair. Her world was truly crumbling around her. If only Donald had stood with Alistair instead of against him.

  “I would like you there as well, sister.”

  Innes’s gaze snapped open to look at her brother. If he wanted her with him, that could only mean one thing – a marriage proposal.

  She couldn’t pull a breath into her lungs. They were frozen with dread. How could she possibly go to another after having Daman with her?

  After his kiss?

  She was being selfish, but that didn’t stop the feeling from continuing. The lives of her brother and her clan rested with her. She could broker peace if she were willing to be the bride of the Sinclairs’ laird.

  Innes had known her fate for years, even if she hadn’t known which man she would marry. Why was she rebelling now?

  “I sent a missive to The Sinclair two days ago,” Alistair said into the quiet, as if reading Innes’s thoughts. “He was willing to meet, but now that Donald has attacked, I doona know where we stand.”

  She tried to swallow, but her mou
th was too dry. “Give him Donald. Let the Sinclairs exact their justice.”

  “I’m sure they will want that, but Donald is family. I’ll punish him myself.”

  Daman shook his head and looked pointedly at Innes.

  She shivered, remembering the fury she’d witnessed in Donald’s gaze before Daman intervened. Donald would’ve killed her.

  “Hmm,” Alistair said. “Good point, Daman. But Donald willna be leaving the dungeon so he can no’ hurt Innes.” Alistair walked to the round table near the hearth and motioned Daman over. “I’ve made a map of our land, as well as where we border with the Sinclairs and the Blairs.”

  Innes watched as Daman strode to the table and braced his hands on the wood as he let his gaze wander the map. Occasionally, he would point to something. Alistair would then explain the area in detail.

  While the men studied the map, Innes kept thinking of marriage. She touched her lips, her stomach fluttering as he recalled how Daman had turned and trapped her between him and the wall.

  Chills raced along her skin as she remembered the feel of his lips – firm and eager – and the way he’d held her.

  As if there were no tomorrow.

  In some ways, there wasn’t. Not for them.

  Innes waited until both men were too engrossed in the map and their planning – Alistair talking and Daman either nodding or shaking his head – to notice her before she got up and quietly exited the chamber.

  She made her way back downstairs to the kitchen. Innes pushed up her sleeves and began helping a few others clean up from the meal. More and more people left the clan every day. Pretty soon, it would only be her and Alistair.

  She stopped washing dishes as it hit her. No, she wouldn’t be with Alistair, she would be with her new husband far away from here. Her marriage would foster peace between the Sinclairs and MacKays. That also meant that Alistair would have the backing of the Sinclairs.

  It would be enough to keep the Blairs away. The Sinclair clan was the strongest around. No one went against them. The support of the Sinclair clan would allow Alistair to find himself a wife and procure another ally. Hopefully their people would return by then.