Unlaced by the Outlaw (Secrets in Silk) (15 page)

She heard the edge of anger in his voice, and decided to tread carefully. “That was years ago. I made a mistake and didn’t see him for who he was.”

“You saw his title and his wealth, and that was enough for you.”

The words wounded her, for it made her sound terribly selfish, when that wasn’t it at all.

“That’s not entirely true,” she said, feeling her good mood dissipating. “I thought he was handsome and kind. I believed we could have made a good match between us.” She’d been trying to be the obedient daughter, marrying a man of whom her parents would approve and one who had seemed like the perfect gentleman. But . . . some of what Cain had said was right. She wouldn’t have considered Lisford, if he had lacked the qualifications she’d been seeking. And perhaps that
did
make her deserve the humiliation.

“Did he ever kiss you?”

She didn’t understand where this was leading, but she grew more conscious of the tension in Sinclair’s arms. It was as if she were sitting in front of a block of stone. Something was bothering him. “No, he only kissed my hand.”

Whereas she had kissed Cain on several occasions. He’d taken apart all her rules and shattered all semblance of propriety. She liked kissing him far too much.

She suddenly grew aware of his hardened body surrounding her. The heat of his thighs pressed against her own legs, and he held the reins with his arms against her shoulders. “You’re angry with me for saying yes to Lisford, aren’t you?”

“He wasna worth the ground you walk upon.”

She grew motionless at that, not realizing that he’d seen it that way. Her choice of Lisford had never been right, but now, she was glad that the viscount had cried off. What a mistake that would have been, to marry such a wastrel. She never could have endured years of marriage to a man who gambled constantly and who had no sense of honor.

Margaret rested her hands upon Cain’s legs, snuggling in. It felt comforting to be this close to him. The rhythm of the horse’s pace could easily put her to sleep.

But then she grew conscious that he was deeply aroused by her proximity. She’d been startled the first time it had happened, and she knew she ought to move forward in the saddle to prevent their bodies from touching.

Yet strangely, this time she wasn’t quite as shocked by the feeling of his body pressed to hers. Instead, she felt herself responding to him. As the horse walked, the movement bumped her backside against him, and she heard him let out a quiet curse.

But she kept her hands where they were. His thighs were iron-hard muscles, as were his arms. He was so strong, so bold. She closed her eyes, remembering what it was like when he’d lifted her into his bed, whispering wicked words of what he wanted to do to her.

She ran her hands gently over his legs, from thigh to knee, feeling the rough plaid between them. Her own boldness surprised her, but he made no move to stop her. Instead, he took the reins in his left hand and used his right arm to pull her closer. His palm rested beneath her breast, as if asking a silent question.

He leaned in to murmur in her ear. “Touch me again, lass, and I willna be responsible for the way I’m touching you in return.”

A shiver rocked through her, along with the desire to allow it. The good girl, Margaret Andrews, would never ever do such a thing. She would slap his hand away with her fan and tell him to stop.

But then again, she’d just punched a man in the nose. Breaking the rules had felt so good, so liberating. What harm could there be in experiencing a simple touch? Cain would never hurt her.

Tentatively, she stroked his leg with her palm, leaning back as she did. In answer, his hand moved to her breast, caressing her nipple.

You were warned,
she could imagine him saying.

Unexpected sensations slammed into her. The dark, delicious pleasure ached as he tempted her with his hand, bringing her dormant feelings to life. Between her legs, she felt an answering echo, and her fingers dug into his thigh. The moment her hand stopped touching him, he, too, stopped his caress.

God help her, she wanted him to continue.

Once again, she ran her hands over his legs, using her fingers to stroke his muscled thighs. He answered by gently pinching her nipple, his wicked fingers stroking her pliant flesh.

She didn’t know what had come over her. It was as if the chains of propriety had suddenly broken, bringing rebellion in their place. Or perhaps it was because her time with Cain was growing short. Soon, she had to return to her old life, and she didn’t know where he fit in.

A hushed moan broke forth from her, and abruptly, Cain drew the horse to a halt in the middle of a field. He swung down and lifted her off the mare.

“Why have we stopped?” she asked. Her cheeks reddened, and beneath her gown, her breasts were tight.

“You ken exactly why we stopped, lass.” He drew her hips to his and kissed her hard, claiming her like a starving man. Heat and desire poured over her, turning her knees weak. She’d never imagined she would push him over the edge by touching him. He was devouring her, his hands moving down her spine and clasping her hips.

And she realized exactly why women would give in to temptation.

“Wait,” she tried to interrupt, using her palms to push him back. “I-I don’t think we should do this.”

He tipped her chin up, and in his blue eyes, she saw a need so great, it staggered her. “I told you what would happen if you touched me, lass.” His hands remained locked around her waist, and she could feel the length of his erection pressed against her skirts.

He brought his mouth to her throat, and his warm breath sent shivers through her. “I’m no’ a gentleman like Lisford. When you offer, I take.”

“I didn’t offer my innocence,” she whispered back. It had been curiosity and an unexpected desire to feel his body. She should have known better than to cross that boundary.

Every part of him was strung tightly, but he didn’t let go of her. “You ken what you do to me, lass. You drive me to madness with any touch at all.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I won’t do it again.”

The darkness in his gaze was enigmatic. She knew he wouldn’t harm her, but neither would he let her go. Her breathing was ragged, and she wished she could go back and undo her actions.

And yet, she didn’t regret the way he’d made her feel. It was as if he was transforming her, stripping away her white gloves and drawing her down into delicious decadence.

“You can touch me any time you want, lass. But you must ken that there’s a price for it.” He ran his thumb along the edge of her jaw in a silken caress.

“And what price is that?”

He stripped her gloved hand, placing it against his cheek. His breath warmed her palm. “Temptation, lass. And that is a verra big problem for both of us.”

Cain saw the worry in her eyes, but he wanted her to understand that she was playing with fire. Despite her being cloaked from throat to ankle, he craved her. With each day he spent at her side, he wanted her more, and he didn’t trust himself to leave her untouched. From the moment she’d touched him openly, it had taken apart his good sense.

He lifted her onto the mare and took the reins, walking beside her. The physical distance was necessary to regain control.

“You don’t have to walk,” she said. “If you do, we won’t reach Scotland by nightfall.”

“We won’t reach Scotland by nightfall if I ride, either,” he said, though she wouldn’t understand. He glanced up at her while keeping pace with the mare. With a dark smile, he asked, “Exactly how much control do you think I have, lass?”

She sent him a wry look. “I should have brought my fan to rap your knuckles. Or perhaps you could find a stick. I could poke it in your ribs if that would help.”

“It might.” He signaled the horse to go faster, running alongside the mare. Although he didn’t speak to Margaret, the exercise helped to clear his head.

Soon enough, she reached out her hand to him, concern upon her face. “You shouldn’t be running so hard. You’re still recovering from the burn wounds.”

Aye, he knew that. But he’d not expected her to voice worry for him, especially now. The understanding moved beneath his repressed desire, and he realized that here, in the wilderness, there was only the two of them. She had to rely upon him for survival, and in this place, he had an advantage.

Cain reached up and squeezed her palm in answer. Margaret pulled back on the reins, and he stood a moment to catch his breath. On the ground at his feet, he spied a small twig, and he handed it to her. “You might need this, lass.”

She held it out like a dagger when he swung up behind her. “Don’t try to touch me, or I’ll jab you.” But there was a smile on her face.

Cain kept one arm around her waist and urged the animal faster. He changed the direction of their path, leaving behind the road and taking them across the meadow. If they rode westward, they would reach the main road and one of the coaching inns by nightfall. It was their best hope for shelter.

“Where are we going?” she asked. “This doesn’t look like the right way.”

“We’re no’ going to Falsham,” he told her. “I’ve decided we’ll go to Ballaloch instead.”

She stiffened against him. “And just what gave you the right to make that decision? I want to stay with my sister. Why would I want to go all the way to the western Highlands?”

Because he wasn’t ready to let her go yet. If he took her to Falsham, he suspected he’d never see her again. And he couldn’t let himself grasp that reality. He had a true chance of winning her heart while they were alone. Whether or not she knew it, Margaret had sealed her own fate by touching him. It was the first time she’d ever initiated a caress, in all these years. If a beautiful woman showed interest in him, he’d be daft to leave her behind.

“My brother has been alone for many weeks,” he told her. “I went along with your wishes, but now that Amelia is safe, you’re going to follow mine.”

She stared back at him in disbelief. “What makes you believe that I’ll listen to your dictates?”

“Because you don’t know the way,” he said. “And I do.”

“Why are you doing this?” Her face grew indignant. “I thought you were going to protect me and escort me back.”

“And that I’ll do, lass. But my brother’s well-being has importance, too. And it’s my turn to make decisions.”

For nearly an hour, she kept silent, holding her posture erect, trying to maintain distance between them. Her anger was palpable, but he supposed she’d get over it soon enough.

He kept his arm around her waist, but she was trying to avoid touching him. It made the journey easier, not having her backside rub up against him. Even so, her presence was alluring. He remembered, too well, the scent of her hair, the touch of her lips.

In the late afternoon, he stopped near a stream to let the horse drink. He brought her a bit of leftover food, but Margaret only picked at the bread. Her thoughts seemed troubled, and she said at last, “Where will we stay tonight?”

“I’ll find a coaching inn.” It shouldn’t be too far now, he guessed.

“We are
not
sharing a bed,” she reminded him.

“If that’s what you’re wanting.” He finished his own food and reached down to drink from the stream. “But you ken that I willna harm you, lass.”

“I do know that,” she admitted. “But I wish you weren’t trying to tell me what to do. If you’d wanted to go to Ballaloch that badly, you could have asked me. I am not an unreasonable woman.”

“Admit it, lass. You were wanting to be rid of me sooner, and that’s why you wanted to go to Falsham.”

She let out a breath and shook her head. “I wanted to go to Falsham, because I’ll have a little more freedom before my parents come to shut me away.”

“You’ll have far more freedom with me,” he pointed out.

She leveled a gaze at him. “Hardly. Your idea of freedom is telling me that I may eat bread or cheese. If I’m lucky, perhaps you might let me choose whether to ride in front of you or behind you.”

He didn’t argue with her. “I prefer in front. That way, I can hold you, lass.”

A pained expression crossed her face. “I made a mistake when I touched you earlier. It was idle curiosity, and I am very sorry for it.”

“I’m no’ sorry at all.” Cain walked back to her, sliding his hands around her waist. He drew her close, his hands resting on her hips. “But if everyone believes you’re ruined, lass, you might as well do it properly.”

He said it in teasing, but the troubled look didn’t leave her face. “No. That’s not what I want at all.”

Cain pulled a pin from her hair, and a long blond lock tumbled to her shoulders. Though he had no intention of forcing her to do anything against her will, he wanted her to know what it would be like if they were together. “Whate’er we do in this next week is between us, Margaret.” He didn’t want to think about afterward.

“I know what you’re offering me. But I can’t,” she whispered. “I may have ruined my reputation and everything else. But inside, there’s a part of me that doesn’t want to be what everyone else thinks I am. I don’t want to hold regrets for a moment’s pleasure.”

His hands slid into her soft hair. “It would be a great deal longer than a moment, lass.” He nipped at her lower lip, adding, “I could spend all night touching you.” He couldn’t let go of the thought of lying beside her, of seeing her tousled hair in the morning.