Mysty McPartland (3 page)

Scared witless
, squatting beneath the water, unable to barely draw breath, she fearfully licked a droplet of water off her upper lip and moved slowly backwards to the other side of the pool. Each step she took back, she continued to stare in unmitigated fear at the huge dark stranger and prayed that he would remain where he was long enough for her to flee to safety.

When the water no longer covered
her chest, she spun away and standing up, she rushed from the pond and through the bushes, frantically hoping that she would find somewhere to hide. Her desperation sent wings to her feet as she flew through the thickets, seeking an escape. Each painful breath she took tore through her lungs and her eyes darted in desperation for somewhere to hide.

In a panic, she
ran for her life, she didn’t know who the man was, but she sensed the danger that came from him. She kept running and suddenly she cried out as she twisted her ankle and fell to her knees. Breathing heavily, she couldn’t help but shriek in frustration and terror. Forcing herself to stand up, she whimpered softly then tried to put weight on her ankle and felt the sharp pain shoot up into her calf.

Desperately, she searched the area, her heart beating in panic, she needed somewhere to hide and the only place that might serve her purpose was a clump of thickets. Just as she stared to hobble over to them, a large, powerful arm wrapped around her waist and she was lifted off her feet, the massive limb squeezing the air right out of from her lungs.

She felt the hot breath on her naked shoulder and for a moment stiffened in the tight embrace. She screwed her eyes shut, and prayed that she would die before she let this brute violate her. She wasn’t going to make it easy for him though, she intended to put up a fight before she let this
heinous monster ravage her.

*****

Tarrel nearly staggered and the breath tore from his lungs, when she turned to face him and he took his first glimpse of her glorious features. She is an angel, a beautiful angel and she’s all mine. Then any other thoughts tumbled from his head while he stood frozen, mesmerized by her beauty. The spell which held him captive became broken when the angel jumped up and ran. He shook his head and a wicked grin turned up his mouth.

Foolish woman.

Highly amused and still grinning, he took off at a run through the water, knowing that it wasn’t very deep. Once on the other side, he pushed the bushes aside, stepping through them. He stopped for a moment and listened, when hearing a sound, he raced off to his left. He was enjoying the pursuit, knowing that the angel would never escape him.

Having
watched from a distance and witnessed the woman falling to the ground, he knew that she hurt herself. He heard her soft cry, and shook his head as he gazed on in amusement when she scanned the area for somewhere to hide.

S
he was indeed a foolish wench.

Before she could move he stepped behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist.
“’Tis foolish ye are, lass, for running off, putting yeself in danger and now ye have hurt yeself.” There was no doubt in his mind that the naked woman he held in his arms was his betrothed, it could be no one else other than her. “Once we are wed ye will quickly learn that ye canna ever escape me.” He whispered close to her ear.

He tried to ignore the lush
, damp, curving body pressed against his own, but the feel of her silky moist skin burned beneath his hand and having her in his arms, he could not stop the heat flowing through his veins. He was unable to prevent himself growing and hardening more against her rounded buttocks.

Sheer
dread filled her heart and Dalla knew that she could never free herself from this man or what he was about to do to her. His hot breath against her skin made her tremble in trepidation and she gazed down at the wide, strong hand that held her so tightly. She started to struggle in desperation but at his words, she froze and her eyes grew large with horror over his statement.

No, no, no it canna be him, please dinna let it be him.
Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she dropped her head trying not to weep. Deep in her heart, though, she knew it was true. She sagged in his arm in defeat, knowing that there would be no escape from this man or the marriage that would be forced upon her.

When f
eeling the fight go out of her, he loosened his hold, his breathing labored as he struggled to keep his lust under control. “Even though I find the sight of ye very lovely, lass, I think ‘tis wise if ye find ye clothes and dress for both our sakes.” After placing her back on the ground, he let her go; he swept off his shirt and regretfully placed it around her shoulders.

I
t wasn’t something he wanted to do, he could stand here for eternity just admiring her and touching her. He doubted very much if he would ever become tired of either, but common sense prevailed and he covered her up. He let out a heavy sigh of frustration and dragged his fingers through his hair as he stared down at her bent head.

Grateful
to him at least for the garment, she wrapped it around herself and tried not to shiver from her fear and her disappointment at being found.

Once she’
d shielded her glorious body, he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her around to face him. When he raised her head he once more lost his train of thought as her beauty bewitched him. He became so lost in her beautiful features that he could only stare.

When she was spun around, she kept her eyes closed, she didn’t want to look at him, but when he remained silent, she peeked beneath her lashes and seeing the stunned expression on his face decided to take advantage of it. Ducking around him, she went to run off, but the pain in her ankle was unbearable and she sank to the ground and grabbed it, as tears spilled from her eyes.

For a second time, he was torn out of his daze when she went to flee from him again and seeing her fall to the ground, once more shook his head at her foolishness. He reached down and swept her up in his arms. “Ye are a foolish lass and there will be nay more running away. Tomorrow, we will be wed and that will be that.”

At his heartless words
, she started to struggle, but when she was squeezed up tightly against him, stopped. She turned and regarded him with loathing and determination. “I dinna want to wed ye. I love someone else!” She cried out in desperation hoping that by her statement this man would change his mind about marrying her.

He stopped walking and scowled down at her, he was furious at hearing her say she loved another man. “’Tis nay matter if ye do lass ye will be married to me.” He quickly tore his gaze away so he wouldn’t become enthralled in her beauty.

Fearing that time was suddenly running out, she struggled in panic and once more, the breath was squeezed out of her.

“Cease this useless attempt to escape
me, lass. If ye are wise ye will nay say another blasted word to me.” He was barely hanging on to his temper, how dare the lass fall in love with someone else. Well, it was too damn bad, she was his and had been promised to him for years and now seeing her, he was determined to have her. No other man would have this beautiful angel, but him.

Back at the water’s edge,
he put her on her feet. “Dress ye self and then we will go home.” He saw the defiance in her large copper eyes and knew that she wasn’t finished with her attempts to escape their union.

“If ye dinna dress ye
self, lass, I will do it for ye.” He smiled when she gasped in outraged and when he saw her gathering up her clothes turned his back. There wouldn’t be any way he could gaze upon her loveliness again without taking her here and now.

It was nearly crushing her spirit knowing she didn’t have any other choice, she saw the determination in his jet black eyes and hastily she leant down and swept up her clothes. When he turned around, she sighed in relief and quickly as she could, dressed. But all the while she cursed him and her luck, it just wasn’t fair and she didn’t think there would be anyway out of marrying this man now that he had found her.

When he no longer heard the rustling o
f clothing, he turned and sighed in disappointment at seeing that lovely enticing body covered. He stepped towards her and saw those beautiful copper eyes shining brightly with anger. Aye, the lass would put up a fight and no matter what she tried to do to stop the wedding, she wouldn’t succeed.

Bending down he picked up his shirt and pulled it on. “Come, lass, I think ‘tis time I took ye home.” He reached for her and swung her easily up in his arms; he ignored her feeble attempts to struggle free and carried her back to where Duncan waited with the horses.

“I willna
marry ye and ye are indeed daft if ye think I will.” She squirmed frantically in his arms.

A chuckled rumbled in his chest and he shook his head. “Aye, ye will wed me lass and there isna a thing ye can do that will stop it.”

“Nay
, never, I love Robert and I’ll nay marry a rutting pig like ye.” Unable to prevent it she let her anger and fear over take her, and didn’t realize how much her words enraged the man that carried her.

It was hard
, but he held on to his temper. “Ye may claim to love another but ye are mine. As for name calling I would warn ye lass ‘tis nay wise.”

His
harsh statement infuriated her even more and she lost all sense and caution. “I dinna care what ye say or what ye threaten. I will nay marry ye. Ye probably have already bedded my cousin.” When she saw the slight flush on his face, she became incensed and struggled with determination. “Ye filthy pig, ye are nay but a rutting ram and ye probably skewer every woman that passes before ye. Damn ye let me go I would rather die than wed a stinking swine like ye.”

He’d finally had enough of her filthy words and her insults and he squeezed her up hard against his chest. He could feel her hot breath singe the side of his neck and his hold tightened around her even more as he fought down his lust. “Ye will cease this very moment speaking such filth and silly threats. Never have I let a man speak to me in such a fashion let alone a wee lass like ye. But I warn ye, one more word and I will have little choice but to punish ye. And dinna fear I have nay intentions of letting ye die for many years to come.” He pressed her face against his chest to keep her quiet.

Frantically gasping for air as the monster squeezed her
tightly; she knew she must have angered him beyond his limit. Panicking when she couldn’t draw breath she suddenly went limp in his arms.

Chapter Four

With his temper just simmering below the surface
, Tarrel gave a sigh of relief when he spied Duncan and the horses. Shifting the woman in his arms, he noticed the stunned expression on his friend’s face, he shook his head; he knew exactly how the man felt. It was one of the reasons he refused look at her himself, it was because he knew if he did he would lose his common sense and his brain would turn to mush.

He definitely would have to do something about the affliction, what it was yet he didn’t know, nevertheless he would think of something. There would be no way that he intended to walk around like a simpleton just because he gazed upon his wife. Another thing that worried him was that she would probably send all his men senseless when they looked at her.

She would most likely cau
se a lot of trouble when he brought her home and he didn’t know how he could possibly avoid it. He couldn’t keep her locked up for the rest of her life even though the idea did have merit; he knew though that it was a ridiculous idea. “For God’s sake, Duncan, stop ye gawking and let’s get her home.” He snapped at his friend, but it was himself he was angry at.

Duncan stood with his mouth hanging open, he heard most of the conversation
between the couple and now he stared in utter amazement at the woman his friend would soon wed, he was so stunned he was beyond words. Lord have mercy. Damn, Tarrel was one lucky man; his betrothed was a stunning beauty.

Infuriated at his friend’s insensibility, He reached out, snatched the reins from Duncan and, roughly tossing the woman on the horse, quickly mounting behind her and placing an arm around her waist, holding her tightly against him. He smiled grimly when she held herself stiffly trying not to touch him.

Duncan came out o
f his daze at Tarrel’s snarling words and suppressed a grin, quickly swung up on his own mount. He found it nearly impossible to stop his gaze from travelling to the woman every few minutes as they rode along.

Tarrel
fought the growl clawing at his throat when he read the pitying expression on friend’s face, it didn’t take a genius to guess what was going through Duncan’s mind and the manwas most certainly right
.
He was most assuredly thinking
.
Thank the heavens’ that it’s Tarrel wedding the wee lass because she was just too beautiful for words. She would make a man daft and he knew that was going to cause him nothing but trouble
and he knew Duncan didn’t envy him in the least. He muttered a few choice curses and grunted.

It was
taking every effort that he possessed not to react to this woman’s nearness; he clenched his jaw fighting down the lust. After he caught her and he had those few minutes to admire her beautiful face and glorious body, he thought he would have to be dead not to respond to it. But until they were married he wouldn’t touch her, only when she was legally his and then he planned to caress every delectable inch of her.