Mysty McPartland (3 page)

Trista knew she could not free herself and she was just too tired to fight anymore. So with a light sigh, relaxed against the Black Warlock and closed her eyes. When she felt the big hand caressing her hair, she soon found herself lulled into slumber.

Pleased when the wee lass’s tension drained out of her and he knew that she finally fell asleep and smiled.
‘T’was not often a woman went to sleep in his arms,
he thought in amusement. His eyes popped open. He was instantly alert and arched a brow in curiosity when his friend came to stand beside him.

“
’Tis good to see the wee lassie sleeps. But I dinnae think she would have done so in ye arms.” Gabe chuckled at Rieph’s frown.

“
Aye she dinnae want to and still insists that there will be nay wedding.” He shook his head. “’Tis sure that she will cause many a problem and ‘tis best, I think, that she must learn the way of things before we reach home.”

A frown
tugged his brow. He gave it some thought and quickly came to realization that the first chance that presented itself, he would explain to her just how her life was going to change. “’Tis certain I am once she understands what is expected of her, she will settle easily into her new life.”

Gabe scratched his head. “I
dinnae agree with ye, Rieph. Seems to me that the wee lass has a strong mind and willnae take to ye orders with ease.”

A grimace lifted his mouth and he suspected his friend might just be right. He sighed, but he was determined that she would not disrupt his life or cause mayhem with her defiance. Hell, he didn’t want a wife, didn’t need one, yet now he was going to be stuck with one. Damn and blast it all, she would do as she was told and never disrespect him again.

             
Chapter Three

Trista felt herself being
shaken awake and grumbled in protest but when she recognized the voice close to her ear, she was instantly alert. She pushed up against the hard steel warm wall of the Black Warlocks chest and her face flushed with embarrassment.

“
Come, lass, up ye get and see to ye needs. We’ll be leaving in a few minutes.” Rieph rose to stand, he lifted her up and placed her on the ground. Her large dog quickly stood and was at her mistress’s side.

He
frowned thoughtfully while he watched her disappear from sight. He knew he would have to be on guard against any softening towards her. She needed to learn her place in his life. Sighing heavily, he wondered just how much she was going to disrupt it before she did. He was slowly coming to realize that the lass might take along while to settle in. He has already witnessed her temper and stubbornness and knew that she would definitely complicate his existence.

Without a word, she obeyed and taking care of her personal needs, returned back to the camp. She noticed the men and the horses were all ready to go and that they were just waiting for her return. Her cheeks heated with embarrassment, as she moved over to her horse. She was about to mount when her waist was grasped from behind and in the next instant, she was seated on her mare.

Her head turning, she saw the Black Warlock grinning up at her. She was about to tell him he could not to touch her again when to her annoyance, she watched him turn and walk away from her, swing up onto his own horse and ride off. Annoyed at his rudeness, she set her own animal in motion and silently cursed him, but her curses were interrupted when an older man rode close to her and smiled. He held out his hand and she saw that he was holding a small wrapped package.

Gabe caught up to the laird’s bride and held out his hand. “’Tis to break ye fast, lass.” He grinned when she reached out and took it from him.

“
Thank you, Sir. It is most kind of you to think of me.” She gave him a shy smile.

“
’Tis nay me ye have to thank lass. ‘Tis the laird ye should be thanking.” Gabe could not help his chuckle when he saw the young woman frown.

“
Well I still thank you anyway.” She did not like to think that the Black Warlock could show any type of tenderness or kindness. However, over the last few hours, he has shown her just that.

The man was more than what she heard or was whispered about him. She did not know just how to handle the new things that she was learning about the man. Sighing, she shook her head in confusion.

L
ife was certainly becoming more complicated and muddled. Not just by the actions of the Black Warlock, but the feelings he made her experience when he touched her. They were bewildering her and she did not know what to do about them.

The more
the miles disappeared beneath the horses’ hooves and the light rain drizzled down, the more Trista came to despair of what her new life would be like. The Scots seemed immune to everything; hunger, cold and tiredness and now on the second day, it was nearing nighttime again and she finally had enough.

Damn these Scot heathens and she pulled her horse to a stop. Before any of them realized what she had done, ten of them rode passed her and she was off her horse and walking into a clearing. She started to unbuckle her horse’s saddle, when the pounding hooves came back and stopped. She did not have to look around to know who had arrived and no matter how much she quaked in
her boots, she refused to go any further tonight.

When Gabe rode up and told him that the lass stopped, Rieph could not believe
it; he turned his horse around and went thundering back. When he saw her about to lift her saddle from her mare, he swiftly dismounted.

In quick angry strides he reached her side and halted her movements by placing his hand on the saddle so that it was forced down on to the horses back. “What do ye think ye are doin
’ woman? I dinnae say that it was time to stop. Now get back on ye horse and keep riding.” He kept his voice soft but firm, letting her know that he would not allow any argument.

Trista
spun around, planted her hands on her hips and glared up at the Black Warlock. “I do not care what you want. I am tired, I am cold and I’m wet. I have had enough riding for today.”

A golden brow lifted in irritation and breathed heavily trying to control his anger, taking another deep breath before he answered her. “We are going to keep riding lass. This is nay place for us to be caught in sleep. Our enemies are here.”

Without another word,
he reached out, picked her struggling body up in his arms and carried her back to his horse. With easy movements, he swung them both up onto his saddle. He turned back to his men and gave them a quick nod, before he set the animal into motion.

Even knowing it was useless she
struggled against the Black Warlock, but he was too powerful and her efforts were useless. In the end, she lay in his arms and silently fumed.

He chuckled softly when he felt her resistance ceased. “Rest if ye are weary but ye must nay make a sound for we are in the land of our enemies for the next few days. And if they manage to get their hands on ye I cannae tell ye what terrible and evil things that they may do to ye. For they ken that ye are mine and they will take their hatred for me out on ye.”

Frightened over the threat to her life, she wriggled to sit up. Never had she ever been more terrified than she was at this moment. She stared up into his face. Too late, she suddenly realized just how close they were. Her eyes fell upon his lips, strange she thought at how quickly her fear and her words disappeared.

A harsh drawing of breath, he saw the innocent hunger in her silver-grey eyes and felt the heat flood his body. He watched her eyes devour his lips, he groaned, it was too tempting of an offer, one that he could not fight. His head swooped down and his mouth closed over hers with a soft exploring touch. Her mouth was soft and dewy and he could not help the low growl rumbling in his chest. He possessed a desperate need to taste her.

H
e flicked his tongue out and gently ran it across the seam of her lips. When he heard her gasp and they parted, he could not resist slipping his tongue inside. At the first taste of the warm moist, velvet softness, he bought her body tightly up against his own. He deepened the kiss tasting and exploring the exquisite mouth. He was stunned when he started to grow aroused. His mind and body were unprepared for the swift blade of desire sweeping though him.

Even when she remained stiff
in his arms, he still continued to explore the honey warmth of her mouth. He wanted more, so much more, but when he suddenly felt the little fists beat against his chest, he tore his mouth from hers. Taking great deep breaths, he forced himself to take control of this astonishing hunger that had him in its grip.

Damn
me, the wee innocent woman had made him rock hard and throbbing from just one simple kiss. He gazed down at her; he was disappointed at seeing the horror and shame on her face and in her eyes. He lifted a hand and gently cupped her cheek. “Ye be a sweet bonny lass and ‘tis pleased I am that ye enjoyed my kisses. But now ‘tis nay the time for such things.”

Shocked over the way the Black Warlock kissed her and at the way it made her body tingle. The burning ache that it caused deep inside of her scared her witless. She did not want him to stop, but she knew she had to. When she started thumping him on his massive chest, she was relieved that he finally stopped.
I must not let him kiss me again,
she vowed.
Sighing, she leaned back against his powerful body and closed her eyes silently repeating the vow she just made.

Though he’d been disappointed that she’d been horrified by his kiss, he was also very pleased and grinned. He stared down at the bonny bundle snuggled on his lap; he could see the struggle going on inside of her. She was so easy to read and that pleased him too for he hated the shallowness and insincerity of most women.

I
t was a refreshing change to find a woman who could not hide her inner soul or motives behind a false face or lying words. Even if she was English. Straightening up, he shook his head, t’was not the time for foolish thoughts or actions. With his mind and body once again alert to his surroundings, he nudged his horse into a faster pace.

****

On and on they rode for two days, not stopping unless they needed to and Trista was so tired and sore. All she wanted to do was find a soft bed and sleep for a week. She still rode with the Black Warlock who remained silent and vigilant. His face a mask of concentration and alertness and she knew that she needed to keep silent.

S
uddenly, when he stiffened against her and pulled the horse to an instant stop, he raised his hand for his men to halt. Fear skittered up her spine as they all sat still as statues and suddenly the faint sound of approaching horses could be heard.

Always alert, he listened intently and his eyes narrowed. He sensed the imminent danger. The sound of thundering hoof beats alerted him that the enemy was close. Breaking the quietnes
s
and wasting little time he moved his stallion over to a thick grove of trees.

H
e lowered his betrothed down onto the ground and glared at her sternly. “Stay hidden here and dinnae move from this place until I come for ye.” Without another word, he swung his horse around and headed back to his men. Before he came level with them, he swept his claymore free. A dozen heartbeats later a group of riders were upon them with their swords raised.

“
Ye are outnumbered, Black Warlock, give us the Sassenach wench and we will let ye go.” Yelled Kevin McGovern.

“
Never! The lass is mine and ye willnae have her.” And without another word, Rieph let out his clans battle cry, raced his stallion forward and attacked, his men following at his heels.

A shaking hand covered her mouth, her eyes wide with terror and horror as she watched the battle. Never had she ever witnessed such violence, so much blood. At the sound of clashing steel and the cries of pain, she covered her ears and turned away to see Zana, her beloved dog standing by her side in a protective stance.

Unable to help herself
, she turned back to the gruesome sight, she watched the Black Warlock as he again withdrew his bloody sword from the man he just killed and in horror now realized why he was so aptly named. The expression on his face was frightening and as black as a thundercloud. She was about to turn away from the violence, when she noticed a man sneak up behind the Black Warlock who was busy fighting another opponent and was unaware of the man approaching with his sword already raised in the air.

Q
uickly, she leant down and whispered in Zana’s ear, swiftly the dog raced off and when her pet was close enough, flew through the air and seized the enemy. Zana caught the man’s arm between her jaws and gripped it tightly. Trista heard the his cries of anguish as he tried to free his upper limb, she could not watch such atrocities a second longer and turning away from the horrendous bloody sight, sank to her knees, covered her ears and sobbed.

It was a bloody battle and when it had nearly ended…Rieph could already feel the victory. As he felled another opponent, he was about to go and help Gabe, but was stopped by the sound of agonizing cries and the growling of a dog coming from behind him. He spun around and knew instantly that Trista must have sent her pet to protect him from an attack at his back.