by Fiona Faris
“I’ll not get hurt. I promise ye right back. But ye need me, and more so I need tae do this. Can ye not see why?”
“Aye, lass, in one thing ye are right. I dae need ye. I ken not why, but I do.” Milly was confused. Was he conceding? If she knew anything about Nathan MacKenzie it was that he would not give in on a fair point of his own making so quickly. She expected their argument would last right up until they reached the gates of Cadney castle. Before she could hazard another question, he dipped his head and captured her mouth with his. His lips hard and yearning, but for what she couldn’t guess. Her final protests died on her lips as he moved over her, pulling one hand from her side and tugging at her waist until she found herself nestled against him. Her breath pushed from her lungs as he moved over her with a feverish intensity.
Blast it, they fit together so well. She was practically melting into him. She wanted to fight him off, yell at him, scream, but there would be no reasoning with him like this, wrapped in his arms. She wasn’t sure she had the fight in her. She wanted him, like this, needing her as much as she needed him. She wasn’t even sure she was completely right, but if Nathan had his mind set on delivering her to Lucas and going after Elias on his own, she would have to convince him of another way, or at least stay with him as long as she could. And after he left her at Cadney, escape on her own and get back to MacKenzie Keep. It wasn’t ideal, but she was not going to let Nathan face his cousin alone, and she would not leave her brother’s fate in the air with no resolution. She’d come too far and seen too much to back down now. But with his lips on hers, their breath mingling together, all of her reasonable thoughts fled.
She opened for him and his tongue met her own as she let out a soft moan of pleasure. She grabbed his shirt in two heavy fistfuls, pulling him against her even tighter than before. Woodsmoke swirled around them, but she didn’t need the heat of the small fire to keep her warm. She and Nathan were creating their own warmth. Nothing mattered but Nathan. His strong body pressed against hers. His mouth moving against hers.
He broke the kiss and looked down at her intently, his hands still caressing her body. “Milly, ye are th’ key to my undoing. I can’t worry about yer safety and how to beat Elias at his own game. ’Tisn’t fair tae ask it of me. Please.” With his gaze on hers, it was near impossible for her to refuse him anything. But her pride was strong, and she would not be regulated to the corner, forced to watch his possible undoing. Not when she knew together they could beat Elias. Their love would win over Elias and his evil. He only had to let her love him. Love him. The words hit her like heavy stones. Was it possible? Could she love Nathan MacKenzie? She cared for him in a way she’d been reluctant to admit to herself, that was for sure. But this was the first time the word ‘love’ crept into her mind. She liked it there. It felt right. She loved him. They would fight this together, whether he was ready to have her or not. She would prove to him they were better with forces joined.
“Nathan, dinnae try and beat him with his methods. Let’s find a different way. Let’s be victorious with honor,” she whispered, lifting her head up and raking her hands down his back.
He let out a sigh and nodded before dipping his head once again to take her mouth, this time his kiss was soft, cajoling. He was looking for more, looking for comfort, and she wanted to give it him. Not knowing if what she said sank in, but he seemed no longer interested in fighting with her; nor she with him. Thoughts once again left her as Nathan trailed light kisses across her jaw and took the soft lobe of her ear into his mouth. Her insides began to quiver, and the same coiling tension that she’d felt each time Nathan kissed her like this began to take root at her center.
“Nathan…” she moaned with each connection of his lips on her skin. He pushed the neck of her cloak aside, exposing the hollow where her throat met her collarbone to the chill of the air, but she didn’t care. Immediately the searing heat of his kiss took any chill from her skin.
“Milly… lass, yer so sweet.” He moved his hands up from her waist, cupping each of her soft breasts in his hands over her dress. She hated the coarse fabric that kept her separated from the heat of his bare hands. His thumbs sought the hard, desperate tips of her nipples, already accustomed to his touch, and yearning for more. She arched her back away from the tree, and ached to get closer to him, begging for the feel of the length of him against her. He pulled her closer where she was rewarded. Her breasts slammed against his chest in exquisite aggression, and she felt the rock hard length of him against her soft center. She let out a gasp of surprise at the sheer size of him. He moved a hand to her skirts and lifted her leg to wrap around his waist, giving her more access to his hardness against her body. She knew enough about what went on between a man and a woman to understand what she wanted from him. “Nathan, I want ye.”
“Where, lass? Where do ye want me? Here?” he asked, sliding a hand up the inside of her thigh as he gently cupped her sex. She let out a gasp at the shock of heat that went through her.
Breathless she replied, “Yes… God yes, Nathan, there.”
“Ahhh yes, I want ye there too, lass. But not yet. Ye deserve yer first time in a bed, with softness, with love.” He took a finger and found the aching center of her. He fondled and pushed, she bit back scream of pleasure, rolling her hips to meet his hand thrust for thrust. She knew it was not always pleasant between men and women, but if the feelings he was creating in her now were only the beginning, she couldn’t imagine how it could be bad with her and Nathan. She’d never imagined it could feel like this, the heat, the need, the emptiness that she knew only he could fill. And they had all their clothes on. It was scandalous, but Milly didn’t care. The feeling she’d had that second night with him in the inn, after they’d returned from the prison was returning. She achingly rubbed against him the delicious friction making her dizzy. This time she wanted more, more pleasure, more of Nathan. His hand wasn’t enough to satisfy the need growing inside her. She wanted his shaft, thick and hard between her legs. She wanted him to fill her where she could feel hot moisture already pooling, her body ready.
“Milly, lass, we have tae stop, ye are driving me mad.” Nathan pulled away from their embrace, his breathing ragged, his eyes dark with an emotion Milly could now safely name as desire. She felt her own eyes must be just as dark.
“Why do we have tae stop?”
Suddenly her eyes caught a movement among the trees behind them. It wasn’t a natural movement, such as a deer or fowl. It was much larger. They weren’t alone. She nudged at Nathan, who immediately tensed at the change in her breathing. How quickly she’d gone from desire to fear. He brought a finger to his lips, urging her to keep still and quiet as he adjusted her skirts, putting her back to rights. Of course he was smart, best not to give any highwayman the wrong idea. Nathan was protecting her, even though it was he who had his back turned to danger.
A man she didn’t recognize appeared behind Nathan, maybe a stone’s throw away from them, and smiling in a way that turned Milly’s stomach sour. She would’ve screamed, were it not for how close Nathan held her. How could they have been so foolish? Nathan’s eyes grew large. He grabbed for his sword, thankfully still haltered to his waist, and spun to face their intruder, putting Milly behind him, placing his body between her and the unknown man.
“I agree with the lass, Nathan MacKenzie, why do ye have tae stop?” he spoke in a thick Highland brogue, his sword drawn. Milly didn’t recognize the man, but she knew he meant them ill. He was wearing the MacKenzie plaid, but he was not on their side. He was tall and thick but not as large as Nathan. If Milly had to guess, he was maybe three to five years younger. He was fair like Elias, but there was no discernible family resemblance. Still she knew in her heart he was sent by Elias. He had found them first. She reached in her own skirts, wrapping her hand around the dirk Nathan had insisted she keep on her person. The man looked her up and down, and a glint of something primal in his gaze made Milly uncomfortable. If left alone with this man, she was uns
ure he would leave her unharmed. Nathan let out a low growl. Milly recognized it immediately as a warning, but the man seemed not the care or take heed.
“I quite fancied the show,” he said before letting out a menacing laugh.
Chapter Twenty-One
“So yer working as Elias’ henchman now, eh Sam?” Nathan faced the man who’d obviously come at his cousin’s request. A fellow MacKenzie, Samuel, was a distant cousin. Nathan knew the lad didn’t care for him, but until this moment Nathan would’ve counted him as kin just the same.
“I’m me own man, Nathan, but I ken whose th’ strongest bull in a fight, and aligned wit ‘im is all. No ‘ard feelings.”
Nathan could feel Milly’s anger behind him. He could only beg to whatever god is listening that the lass would stay calm and not do anything rash. Samuel was a kinsmen, and possibly reason could win the day and no blood would be shed.
“Are ye thinkin’ tae take me on yer own then?” Nathan asked. Samuel scoffed.
“I’d welp ye in a second, MacKenzie. Remember, it was I who fought at Killiecrankie and Dunkeld alongside Elias and yer da while ye were out exploring the world. It is I who is battle ready, not you. But look around. I also have ye surrounded.” The insult cut as Nathan didn’t doubt was the lad’s intention. He did look around, and sure enough three other men, clansmen, or so he’d thought before now, stepped out from their hiding places within the trees. How did they come upon them so quickly? He was distracted by Milly for certain, but the only way he wouldn’t have seen the men was if they’d been following for quite some time, hidden in the scenery. How could he have been as foolish to have let his guard down at all? He could easily take Samuel, no question. He was twice the lad’s size, and he would wager a better swordsman. But take on four men at once? It would be near impossible. He would have to use the element of surprise. He leaned back to Milly, not taking his eyes off Samuel and the other men.
“Lass, we’re outnumbered. When I give the word, ye need tae run. Dinnae look back, just run. Make it for the horse, and ride like the wind tae Cadney. It’s nae tae far. Ye can make it, then send Lucas back for me. Ye hear?” He wasn’t worried for himself. He would go down fighting, hard. But he would not let them hurt her. She gripped his hand tightly.
“Nathan, I’ll not run, I’ll not leave ye.” The sweet fight in her voice fueled the fight inside him, but he wouldn’t risk her, not in this.
“Milly, ’tis a fight we cannae win, love. I need ye tae run. It’s our only chance. There are four of them.” He quickly looked back at her. Her face filled with grim determination. The same determination he saw from her when she took on the street ruffian in Perth, and then again in the gallows. He knew she would run. He squeezed her hand back. “I’ll come for ye, lass. No matter what. Ye ken.”
“I ken,” she whispered back, the fight in her replaced with a sadness that was enough to break his heart in two, but also give him strength. He wasn’t going to let her down. Not like this.
Pulling away from Milly, he brought both hands to the hilt of his sword, and raising it above his head, he gave out a strong Highland yell. “GO NOW!” he yelled back at her as he rushed Samuel. He only had a split second advantage before the other man realized their battle had begun, and rushed to meet him.
Nathan swung his sword down, aiming for the other man’s shoulder. If he could break him, perhaps he wouldn’t have to kill him. Whether Samuel was a good man or not didn’t matter to Nathan, he was clan. Elias was at fault here, not Samuel, who moved away from Nathan’s blow and matched him with an attack of his own. In the fight that followed, Nathan lost sight of Milly, but forced himself not to be concerned. She was smart, and hopefully the head start he’d given her was all she needed to reach the horses.
He spun on his heal, meeting Samuel’s blade before it was able to take a chunk out of his own shoulder. Two more men rushed him from behind, his eyes clouded over with mud from the ground, and the dust kicked up by the men’s feet. But Nathan was able to anticipate their movements and tuck himself to roll out of the way. This put him on the ground and at a distinct disadvantage. Snow would’ve been a blessing at that moment, but Nathan was forced to work with what he had. The mistake Samuel made was assuming that just because Nathan was not present at the recent Jacobite offensives against the English didn’t mean he wasn’t an able swordsmen. He had trained alongside many men, MacKenzie and MacGille alike, and in his travels found himself in several scraps where the only way out was through battle.
When Nathan popped to his feet, at the ready to inflict pain and damage on the traitor, Samuel was gone. Looking around frantically, Nathan now found himself battling the other three men. Swords swung hard in every direction, and the only sounds were that of steel hitting steel, and the grunts of the men as they exerted themselves. Nathan tried with great effort to get out from under the men and to see that Milly got free. Being outnumbered made each movement difficult, but he was finally able to reach his feet. Milly was nowhere in sight, giving his spirit a fresh intensity.
“Aye then, lads, let’s do this! Tae th’ death? Are ye sure, then, that ye want tae be the reason the MacKenzie fell?” he asked, holding his blade out in front of him as a barrier between himself and his attackers.
“Och, ’tis nuthin’ personal, MacKenzie. Elias’ offered us a fair bit o’ coin to ‘elp take ye down. Times is hard is all,” one of the men shouted out. Of course, Nathan thought. Elias would use money to pry the weakest men from the fold and send them for my blood.
“I think it ’tis personal, man, when it’s my neck on th’ line. I’d hope ye’d think th’ same.” Maybe if he could keep the men talking they’d stand down. “We’re clan, there has tae be another way tae settle this dispute that disnae involve three against one?” He wanted to appeal to them. The last thing he wanted was to hurt or kill a fellow clansman.
“He may hae a point.”
“Yea, maybe we end this and there be more coin in it from the MacKenzie keepin’ ‘im alive?”
“I dinnae think I feel right killing a clansman.”
“Don’t be daft. It’s not about right or wrong, it’s about coin.”
“Nay, I never signed up for killin’.”
While the two men contemplated their options, Nathan scanned the landscape. He appreciated the younger lad trying to come to his defense, but they both knew it would be for naught. He wished he knew where Samuel had gone off too. He had a sinking feeling in his gut it was after Milly. Ride fast, lass, ride true. He offered up a small prayer. Nathan wasn’t the praying kind, but every little bit was needed and he would seek help where he could.
“Enough lip flappin’, yer Grace, let’s get this on wit!” Nathan pulled his eyes from the first two men over to the new one who spoke. Apparently this one did think it personal. He was smaller than the other two, and Nathan decided he would take him down first. With a growl and a swing of his sword, he rushed the insolent cur.
Nathan quickly overpowered him. His skill with the blade and the sheer strength in his anger gave him a distinct advantage causing the man to fall onto his knees. Despite his rage, Nathan had no desire to see the man dead, and no desire to be the cause, but he had to ensure the other two backed down. He held his blade high. At the least the man had the decency not to beg. Nathan’s plan was to bring his sword down rapidly, using only half of his strength and the hilt, knocking the man unconscious, rendering him harmless. As he swung, a scream sliced through the air. That moment of distraction was all that his opponent needed to sweep Nathan’s legs out from under him. He was on his knees before he could register what was happening. The other two pulled his arms behind him and his sword lay in the dirt, far enough to be just out of his reach. Milly had his dirk, and the fire in his belly dampened knowing in his heart the only person that scream could’ve come from was her. He fought the men, looking around desperately to catch sight of her, only to see her in the distance, being pulled from her horse. She’d made it that far and then come back for
him. Yelling for her wouldn’t do either of them any good. Samuel had her now. If he yelled for her to use her dirk, he would give away any shot she had of using it later as a means of escape. Elias needed her, alive to secure his takeover, but the harshness of Samuel’s hands on her didn’t mean she would arrive to his cousin unharmed. Nathan tugged against the men who held him before being pushed face down into the mud, a boot firmly against his neck.
“Now, now, MacKenzie. Dinnae fight it. Ye lost, and it will be over soon,” the insolent one said, stifling a laugh. He’d lost. Nathan knew there were always winners and losers in battle, but he wasn’t ready to lose. It wasn’t himself he worried about, but Milly, his clan, and their way of life.
“Listen tae me, lads,” he said as he struggled against their bonds. He wasn’t going to beg for his life, but maybe he could plant just the smallest seed of doubt. “If ye kill me and Elias gets what he wants, ’twill nae be as he promised. The clan will suffer. Yer families will suffer.”
“Mayhap he’s right?”
“Yea, why should we kill for a man not even a full Scotts? What’d MacKenzie ever dae tae us?” The men were arguing over his fate and Nathan frantically tried to get his eyes on Milly. She called his name from somewhere far away. Looking through the tangle of men and trees, he spotted her struggling against Samuel as he tried to get her atop the horse. Blast it, they were too far away for him to yell and reach her. What could he do anyway? He willed her to catch his gaze as his captors continued to weigh their options for his death or survival. Trapped, a feeling of helplessness washed over him. Pushing it down, he knew better than to give up. As long as he had breath, he had fight. It was only a matter of finding his way out. Of finding his way to Milly.
