All Her Men (The Queen's Men Book 1) (5 page)

Chapter 10

As Amelia lay in bed that night, she wondered about the men that had promised to protect her. Were they good men? Could they be good men if they had kidnapped her?

“Am I being Stockholm Syndrome’d?” Rolling over, she punched the pillow. It was too hard. Hers at home was softer. “I have to be if I’m going to put up with this mess.” Sighing deeply, she looked around the room they had designated for her. It felt like a prison cell. Bad things were capable of happening here. The room was too opulent. She wasn’t an opulent person. What if she… What if she grew to like it? “Oh, God… I have to get out of here.”

Throwing back the covers, she jumped out of bed. She wrapped up in the robe Fiona had left for her and jammed her feet into her shoes. Running across the room, sliding on the slick floor, she reached the door to the balcony in record time. She threw it open and stepped out into the cold night air. The people that had been milling about had gone back indoors, with the exception of a few die-hards. They cheered in excitement as they saw her, stopping her in her tracks. “They’re going to wake everyone…” Waving and smiling grimly, she walked backwards back inside. As she closed the door, she hung her head.

“You really thought that would work out for you?”

Spinning around she came face to face with Jacob. He was so close that she could see his eyes dilate as he looked at her chest. Looking down, she felt her face flame with embarrassment. The robe had come open, revealing an expanse of flesh — the crest of her breasts. Her nipples, visible through the sheer fabric of the silk nightgown, were erect from the cold.

“Och, lass, yer taunting me.”

“I don’t taunt anyone.”

“Ye taunt me. Ye have fer a verra long time. I would like to touch ye, Amelia. I dinnae think ye know what ye do to me. Will ye allow me to touch ye?” He lowered his voice.

She wanted to scream yes. Her brain seemed to shut down and her body took over. What would it be like to have his hands on her? What would it be like for him to touch her in her most intimate places — places that grew wet at just the thought?

Before she could stop herself, she nodded. She watched with rapt anticipation as he reached up and ran the back of his fingers over her left nipple. The touch so light that it felt like a soft kiss. “I may have promised to protect ye, but I will punish ye if ye try to run again.” He cupped the same breast and her stomach dropped. He used his thumb to circle her nipple, eliciting a gasp from her.

Why was she allowing this? Why was she so drawn to this man? What had he done to her to make her ache for him? There had to be some explanation for this insanity…

“Why are you Stockholm Syndrome’ing me?” His motions stilled and she instantly regretted the question.

“Stockholm Syndrome’ing…?” His eyes narrowed. Amelia knew she had angered him. “Amelia, never have I needed to Stockholm Syndrome a lass into my bed. They all come willingly. I will nae touch ye again, unless ye beg for it.”

Jerking back from him, she wrapped the robe tightly about her. “I will never beg for you to touch me.” Her words laced with venom. Clutching the fabric to her throat as if it would protect her, she glared at him. His words hurt more than she conceived possible. They stung her pride. “I wouldn’t beg, even if you were the last man on Earth. I wouldn’t beg, even if you… made all my bells whistle.” She wanted to smack herself for using that phrase, but it was hard to find the words when her temper was involved.

“I have waited for ye.” He licked his lips. “And sooner or later, I will make all of yer bells whistle, Amelia.”

She sputtered in astonishment at him. “How dare… I can’t believe…” Her mouth opened and closed. Her blood boiled. He was so arrogant, so ridiculously sure of himself. “Get out.”

“That ‘tis what yer going with?”

The amused smile on his face made her even angrier. “I said, get out. I mean it. You can take me away from my home. You can take me away from my family. You can take me away from everything I care about, but that doesn’t mean I will let you insult me.” She had her pride, even if it was dwindling by a thread. Had she really let him touch her? Was she losing her mind?

“What family?”

The sound of flesh hitting flesh bounced off of the walls and reverberated back to her. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes went wide. She had punched him. Right smack in the nose.

“Fuck.”

Fear spread throughout her. He glared at her and stepped forward, blood trickling from his nose.

Slowly she stepped back. “Look, I’m sorry. I was mad. I didn’t mean to. I have a bit of a temper…” Her back hit the wall. There was nowhere to go. He kept coming forward. Jacob slowly put his hands on each side of her head. “I didn’t mean it… Please don’t hurt me.” At the flash of confusion that crossed his face before being masked by hurt, she knew she had underestimated him.

“Lass, I dinnae know why ye fear me. If ye had hit me a thousand times I would not hit ye once.” He leaned forward and she closed her eyes. The light brush of his lips on her cheek surprised her. “Not once, Amelia. Not once.” She opened her eyes and he stepped back from her. “Now, sleep. Ye can try to escape again tomorrow.”

“I…”

“’Tis fine. I expected it.” He reached out and bopped her on the nose with his forefinger. “Try during shopping. Ye might learn a thing or two.” With a grin he turned and walked away.

As the door closed behind him, Amelia crumpled to the ground. “I am so screwed.”

Chapter 11

“Lass, ye may enter any shop ye like. Remember that if ye run, ye should be prepared for us to chase.”

“Yeah, good luck with that one.”

“Queen, I would prefer it if ye tried to escape. There may be a time when tis needed for ye to know how.”

Images of being tied naked to a bed flooded her mind.

“Och, why so red, Queen?” The grin on his face told her that he knew exactly what she was thinking about.

“You’re a bastard.”

“Aye, that I am.” He winked. She felt butterflies floating delicately in her stomach as he winked at her. Was Jacob flirting with her? “Ye have a temper, Queen. Tis expected to show at times. I am waiting patiently to see it again.”

Regret assaulted her, tearing through the layers of ragged ice that people suspected covered her heart. “Yeah… I try to hide that. I’m sorry I punched you.”

“Ye punched Jacob?”

Amelia spun around, not realizing that Darren had come up behind her. “Um…”

His laughter startled her. Why was he laughing?

“Darren, if ye value yer life t’would be agreeable for ye to pretend ye never heard the queen say anything…”

****

Amelia slipped through the tiny open window and out onto the rickety gutter. “Thank you, diet,” she whispered. Clinging to the window frame, she looked down. The distance to the cobblestone street below was about six feet. “Deep breath and go.” She hesitated. “All right, now.” She hesitated again. “It’s just six stinking feet. I’ve got this.” She let go of the window frame and stepped off the gutter.

As she landed a small pain went through her right knee. The ground was harder than she gave it credit for being. “Next time, I’m going to do the fancy rolls they do in movies.” She blanched. “What am I saying? There’s not going to be a next time. This is insane.” She wrapped the jacket tighter around her and pulled the hood up over her head. “I’m getting out of here and never coming back.”

Quietly, like a thief in the night, she slipped away down the alley. She walked quickly, hoping that she appeared as someone trying to get out of the cold. Occasionally she looked around to see if she was being followed, but didn’t see anyone, despite the unnerving feeling of being watched.

After a good bit of walking she came to fountain. It was beautiful. Surrounded by benches, it seemed to be a good resting spot. The water gushing into the fountain brought peace to her. The sun shined through the mist, creating a tiny rainbow. Here she was, in Scotland and surrounded by magic, but her heart was breaking. If she left, would the country be attacked? Who would they have left to turn to? Would anyone protect them?

Her mother had often told her stories of how great Scotland was — how great the Scottish people were. Was she failing them by leaving? Her mother had once told her that Scotland protected its own. That they would do anything to protect their country and their people. Nationalism in its finest. Was it truly nationalism or was it just plain and simple love?

Could she, Amelia MacRory, actually help if she stayed? Or would she doom the country to failure? “Craziness,” she whispered.

“Hello.”

Startled, she turned towards the little voice. A young boy of about six or seven stood a foot away from her. “Hello.”

“Ye look verra sad. My mum says never to let a lass be sad. Do ye need a hug?”

This little boy was offering her a hug because she looked sad. Tears gathered in her eyes. “I could most definitely use a hug.” She smiled at him. As he came forward to hug her, she realized that he was right. She was exceptionally sad. Mainly because she missed her mother. She also missed her father. The man who had chosen Scotland over her. Maybe it was time to learn more about him — more about the country he loved so much.

The little boy hugged her as if her very life depended on it, his tiny arms wrapped around her neck like a life line. Then he kissed her cheek. “There, all better.” He smiled at her before walking off, back to his mother that watched from afar. She smiled and waved. As tears fell down her cheeks, Amelia waved back.

She pulled the map that she had swiped, out of her coat pocket. “All right, now that my sightseeing is done, I guess it’s time to go back.”

“Ye could have asked one of us to take ye.”

Amelia jumped at Jacob’s voice and slid off the bench onto the hard ground. She sputtered in an attempt to speak, “I… I…”

“’Tis alright. I expected ye to try. Now we can teach ye how to properly escape and evade. Yer right terrible at it.”

“Are you seriously critiquing my escaping skills?”

“Aye. They need some work.”

“I take it back.”

“Take what back?”

“I’m not sorry I punched you.”

“There ‘tis. Took long enough to make an appearance.”

He helped her up from the ground. His hands were strong, yet gentle, on her upper arm as he hauled her up. She grinned as he dusted her jacket off. “There what is?”

“The anger of a fiery woman. Scotland’s Queen needs to be witty, full of wisdom, and have the anger to seek vengeance if needed.”

“Why would I need to seek revenge?”

“Not revenge, vengeance. Tis a verra big difference between the two.”

“Depends on who you ask.”

“Aye, in some cases. Not in all.”

“Jacob?”

“Aye?”

“Can we walk back slowly? I’ve never gotten to see Edinburgh before. It’s gorgeous.”

“Aye, yer still incognito. Might as well show ye the city a bit before ye get trapped.”

“Trapped?”

“There will come a time when ye will be overwhelmed with people trying to see ye when yer out and about.”

“Are you saying there will be a time when I can’t leave? When I can’t go outside?” The idea seemed absolutely atrocious. Not being able to go outside was incomprehensible. It wasn’t possible that there would be that many people that wanted to see her — wanted to meet her.

“Queen, ye will notice that yer life will nae be the same. I am sorry fer that. ‘Tis the only way.”

“The only way for what? To what?”

“To save Scotland.”

Chapter 12

“Amelia, the goal is to get away from any attackers t’would seek to do ye harm.” By any means necessary. “Yer attackers will nae care that yer a lass. They will nae care that yer fragile. They will nae care that yer our queen. They will only care about ruining Scotland. They will do this by ruining ye.” Jacob shook his head in amazement. She stood there in dingy gray sweatpants, a black t-shirt with the sleeves torn off, her hair in a ponytail, and barefoot. If only she would participate in the exercise…

Smiling, she teased, “Well, who would have thought you’d be worried about me, Jacob.”

“’Tis serious.” If only Amelia knew how serious, then maybe he could teach her how to protect herself. That was the whole reason they were in the tunnels, learning to fight. The others were covering for their disappearance with the staff in the castle. It was just them… and she was joking about it.

“Of course it is. Everything is oh-so serious,” she mimicked.

“Aye, ‘tis. Now, pay attention. This could save yer life.” He took a fighting stance.

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” She dismissed his words with a wave of her hand.

He narrowed his eyes. “Will ye take this seriously?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I know a bit more about fighting than you’re giving me credit for and you’re being an ass by judging me.”

That’s why she wouldn’t fight? She thought he was being an ass? “Well, ye dinnae put up much of a fight when we took ye.”

“You about killed me then. My lungs are doing just fine right now, thank you very much.”

Jacob grinned at her snarky attitude. “Then pick up the pace. Try to attack me.”

“No way in Hell.”

“Will ye stop being a pest and just attack me.”

“No.”

“Please, Amelia,” he pleaded. He couldn’t very well show her how to defend herself if she didn’t attack him first. “If ye dinnae attack me, I will attack you.”

“I might punch you again.”

“Good.” He lunged forward and swung at her. She ducked underneath his arms and leaped out of the way. “Och, yer a cheeky one.”

“I don’t want to fight.”

“What would ye like to do?”

“Make out.”

“Ye should not say things ye dinnae mean.”

“Tease.”

“Verra well. If ye get caught by me, I shall kiss ye. If ye evade me, I shall kiss ye.”

“Wait. How do I win?”

“Ye should not have said what ye dinnae mean. Now, ‘tis too late. Evade or get caught, ‘tis yer choice.”

“Fine. Remember you asked for this.”

Before Jacob had a chance to ask what she meant he was down on the ground, wiping blood from his nose. Looking up at her, he felt a sense of wonder. It wasn’t easy for anyone to get the drop on him, but he had underestimated her. He had underestimated her badly.

“Now, I’m not sorry that I punched you.” The grin she gave him made him crave her. She had a hidden side that was full of sarcasm and mirth. It had been coming out more and more, but now… Now he knew the extent of it. “Have I proven that I can handle myself just fine yet?”

“Not at all. Just means we can move quicker than I thought.”

He stood up and dusted himself off. As she adopted a fighting stance, he grinned. She was light on her feet and held her hands up, in perfect little fighting fists, to protect her face. The outer part of her arms were in such a manner that she could use them to protect her body from blows. “Who taught ye?”

“My mother was more of a badass than anyone gave her credit for.”

“Who taught yer mother?”

“Who do you think taught my father.”

Her mother had taught Brandir to fight? The man that knew four forms of martial arts? The man that had taught him to fight? “Dear God…”

“Yep, so get to stepping. You asked for a demo, you’re getting a demo.” She winked at him. “Or are you a chicken?”

“Did ye just call my manhood into question?”

“Maybe,” she teased.

Where was the frumpy woman that he had first seen outside her house in America? Had this humorous, self-confident woman truly been hiding underneath all of that frump? “We dinnae know much about ye, Amelia MacRory.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Verra well, we shall learn.”

“What do you mean?”

“Yer an enigma, a puzzle to figure out. T’will be fun.”

“No…”

Without letting her finish he lunged for her again, catching her off guard and unaware. As he took her to the ground, he rolled in an attempt to soften the landing. She used the momentum to wrap herself around him, flinging him onto his back with her on top. As she shifted to straddle him, Jacob knew he was in trouble. A grin broke out on her face as she taunted, “How you like me now?”

He reached up and entwined his fist in her shirt. Pulling her to him, he whispered, “Verra much indeed.” Then he kissed her.

Her lips were soft and inviting as he used his tongue to lightly request entrance. As her mouth parted he tasted her. She was spice, mint, and sunshine on a cloudy day all at once.

Jacob squeezed her thigh with his hand that rested there. As her body relaxed, a moan escaped her, edging him further. Running his hand up her body, he felt himself getting hard. Dipping his hand underneath her shirt, he lightly dragged it up her skin, eliciting another moan from her.

He lightly bit her lip as he broke the kiss, watching intently as her eyes opened. Her face was flushed and her breathing rapid. She had enjoyed it.

“Why… Why did you stop?”

“Because I have gone hard from wanting ye. I dinnae wish to take ye on the floor. If we are to have sex, it will be in a bedroom, not on a grimy floor, with who knows what against yer back.”

“You have obviously never experienced the thrill of having sex in places other than a bed.”

“I have, but ye will nae have yer first time on a floor with me, Amelia MacRory.” He wouldn’t either. Fifteen years, he had been waiting for this moment. He wasn’t going to waste it by screwing her on the floor like some wild animal. The wild sex would come later.

“Are you saying you’re special?”

He reached up and pushed a stray lock of hair, that had come loose from her ponytail, back behind her ear. Letting his hand rest on her cheek for a moment, he sighed. “Nay, I am saying ye are.”

He stared into her eyes, hoping to tell her just what he meant. If only Amelia would see, but it wasn’t meant to be. Jacob sighed deeply as Amelia’s eyes flew open, fear and shock evident upon her face.

“Oh, God. What am I doing? Why am I on the floor kissing you? I can’t do this. I’m not like this. I… I have to go.”

He firmly pressed on her thighs, holding her in place. It was important that he make her understand. “I will break ye down, Amelia. I will have ye.”

“Aren’t you going to add, ‘whether I like it or not’?”

“I will nae take ye without yer permission. I like for my women to beg, moan, and plead when I take them.”

“You think you’re that good.”

“Och, I ken I am that good.” He gave her a sad smile, hoping that it would make her feel more at ease. She was strong, but didn’t trust herself. Maybe he could help her with that.

“If you keep it up I might fall for you.”

“I could only hope.”

“Good night, Jacob.”

He let go of her thighs, letting her get up from him. He watched as she walked away, back towards the tunnel that led to the castle. Her hips swaying with each step—and he never wanted her more.