Page 90 of Deception of a Highlander

She did not react to the barb. “That was on your territory. I think we should try on mine.”

Things had been strained between them for the duration of their travels. Perhaps a good fight would help. Regardless, he was not about to ignore the challenge thrown at his feet. “I have no problem defeating ye again.”

“We’ll see.” She met his gaze. God, she was beautiful when she looked at him like that.

She lifted the ladle to her parted lips once more. This time water spilled down the corner of her mouth as she drank. Desire slammed into him, leaving him hot, hard, and incredibly irritated. The ladle landed in the bucket with a hollow clunk, and Mariel ran back to the men without so much as a glance in his direction.

Her bottom swayed side to side, and her long legs were graceful as one foot fell in front of the other. Kieran shifted his aching cock to a more comfortable position. If fighting in a gown weren’t impossible, he would insist on it. How was he supposed to focus on the task at hand when the slightest glance at her made him throb with desire?

The sun was already going down, and the nearby loch was exactly what he needed to cool his heated blood.

“That’s enough, men,” he called. “Let’s set up camp before it gets too dark.”

They would be sleeping in the forest surrounding the very field they practiced on. It was nothing his men were not used to. While the mission was different from any other they’d had before, the men had no problem adjusting.

Camp took only minutes to ready, and Kieran wasted no time finding the lake. He pulled off his clothing and stepped toward the smooth, mirrored surface. The icy water lapped at his feet with languid temptation. He dove through the surface in one fluid movement, pain needling his body as the frigid water enveloped him. The loch was far colder than he had expected, but the shock was a welcome one. He pushed forward and swam until his body went numb. His mind began to clear as he moved toward the center with smooth, steady strokes.

He swam back toward the shore until his feet brushed the pebbled ground beneath him. The final rays of the day’s sun were enough to warm his clothes while he was in the water. His body was clean, his clothes were warm, and supper would be in his belly within minutes. Things were improving.

The feeling of satisfaction lasted a brief second before a branch cracked nearby. His senses flared.

Something was not right. Acting as though he had heard nothing, he discreetly slid the length of his dagger up his sleeve and pulled on his boots. He scouted the perimeter from his vantage point and noticed nothing out of the ordinary, yet still, unease tingled along the back of his neck.

No more sounds emerged as he righted his clothing and strode through the forest, save the whisper of the leaves above. Though nothing further appeared out of the ordinary, he knew one thing for certain.

He was not alone.

CHAPTER 34

Kieran surveyed the forest around him. The setting sun cast elongated shadows with its golden light, and a gentle breeze sent a wave of leaves skittering across the ground. Still nothing.

The tree above his head rustled. Before he could look up, a solid weight crashed down atop his shoulders. His body rolled forward on instinct, sending his attacker tumbling to the ground. Strength surged through him. He straightened and whipped the blade from his sleeve, ready to kill the person who dared assault him.

A heady rose perfume prickled his awareness before he saw the flash of violet eyes. Mariel. Her lips quirked in a half-smile. She was pleased with herself for having taken him by surprise.

They could drop from above. Lesson one learned.

He let the dagger fall from his grasp and lunged at her. She arched back into a flip and landed safely out of his grasp. Lightning fast, she dropped into a crouch and did a fluid sweep with her long leg that smacked against the back of his knees. While his feet remained on the ground, the impact upset his footing for a split second. She slammed her insignificant body weight against his chest. He caught his balance and stepped away, tensed for the second round of the attack.

He’d never trained with a woman and was not enjoying the experience thus far. When sparring with his men, he knew they could take full blows and deliver them back. But a woman, especially one as petite as Mariel, left him concerned with the possibility of hurting her.

In a halfhearted attempt to attack, he swung his fist in her direction. She caught his hand before he hit her temple and shoved him away with a look of disgust.

“Stop it,” she said dryly.

He studied her movements, waiting for her to engage in an offensive maneuver so he could safely tackle her to the ground and end their mock battle. “Stop what?”

“Stop treating me like a delicate courtier and fight me like a man.” Her leg swung at him.

Kieran palmed her firm calf and swept her standing leg from beneath her so that she fell into the soft soil. “Better?” he teased, his hand still fixed against the heat of her shapely leg.

Her eyes slanted up at him with the glint of a challenge. “Much.”

Even in battle, her sensuality was not something he could ignore. His hands ached to slide up her smooth thighs, to elicit a soft whimper of longing that would push him over the edge.

Mariel whipped her free leg around, knocking his arm off her, and snapped up with a graceful flip.

Kieran gritted his teeth. Focus.