Page 66 of My Highland Love

He looked back at her. “Aye.” He came to his knees. Before she could rise, he slid his arms beneath her, cupping her to his chest.

She gave him an impatient shove as he rose. “Set me down.”

Marcus assumed a thoughtful expression. “Nae. I have won and deserve my reward.”

Elise lifted a brow. “Just what reward would that be, sir?”

He grinned. Aye, she had learned the game. He stepped behind the cover of the bushes he had occupied earlier and paused, uncertain what he wanted to do with her. Marcus laughed inwardly. He knew exactly what he wanted to do with her. He simply hadn't decided how to go about it. One thing he did know, however, he was enjoying the feel of her wet chemise against him far too much to release her just yet.

He kissed her. She pushed against his chest and Marcus realized she wasn't about to let him make love to her in plain sight of the other women. He laid her on the ground and came down upon her, gently this time. He tugged her chemise high enough to free her legs and settle between them. Her grip on his shoulders tightened. He kissed her again. Hard. She tensed.

“Shh,” he soothed. “Let me please you.”

He slid a moist kiss down her cheek, then along her neck. “Just a little love play,” he whispered.

He didn't intend on taking her there, tumbling her like a serving wench, but please her, he would. Slowly, he smoothed a hand along her outer thigh. Grasping her chemise, he bunched it until his fingers touched the soft flesh beneath. Elise turned her head, her cheek against his, and placed a kiss on his jaw. Marcus breathed deep.

He slipped his hand beneath her and cupped her buttocks. “I swear to only please you this time.”

“We aren't—” She gasped as he lifted her buttocks, meeting her flesh with a gentle rotation of his shaft against her sex.

Her breath came quicker. He caressed her buttocks, her hip. A distant pounding of hooves stabbed through the cloud of desire. He paused, his hand on her pelvis. Again, a distant sound—a roll of thunder? He lifted his head. In a flash, the memory of the dream he'd had while at Declan's washed over him.

Elise's grip on his shoulder tightened. “What is it?”

Shrieks sounded.

The women.

Marcus shoved to his knees. He peered through the bushes. Riding like hell hounds toward them were seven Campbell warriors.

Seven, his mind repeated calmly, not an army like that in his dream. Only seven.

He leapt to his feet.

“Who are they?” Elise called.

His hand shot to his side. Bloody hell, he'd left his sword at the keep. Foolish mistake. Marcus swung his gaze to the two warriors sent to guard the women. He made out the red of their plaide behind bushes thirty feet down shore. He glanced up the mountainside at Brahan Seer. Why were no warriors charging down the hill? They must have seen the riders.

Elise scrambled to her feet and Marcus whirled. He shoved her to the ground. “Do not move!” He turned back to watch the Campbells approach.

The women shrieked. Those on the shore raced for the water, joining their comrades who had taken to deeper waters.

“Marcus!” Elise cried.

He looked to see her standing, then glanced at the oncoming men. His heart thumped wildly. Had they seen her? Marcus grabbed her wrist, yanking her back to the ground.

“Nell,” she said, struggling to rise and pointing to the right of their hiding place.

Marcus looked. There, sleeping soundly on the shore, lay Nell, a young maid who had only last week begun working in the castle. Despite the ruckus, she didn't stir. Marcus recalled that she was deaf in one ear. His heart leapt into his throat.

“Do not move,” he ground out, and turned back to peer through the bush.

The other women had swum safely to deeper waters. Someone cried out Nell's name, but the girl didn't wake. Marcus looked at the Campbells. Two of the seven comrades reached the women's clothes and halted. More shrieks came from the women as they swam farther from shore. The two Campbells scanned the frantic women but made no move to pursue them.

One of the Campbells said something indistinguishable. Marcus strained to make out the other's response but without success. They continued to scrutinize the women, their attention moving farther to the right where Nell lay. They would see her in an instant. Marcus stood and stepped around the bush into full sight. He took two paces in the direction of his warriors' hiding place.

“Look!” one of the Campbells shouted, and the other turned in Marcus's direction.