Part 15 (1/2)
He recoiled his head as if she'd slapped him. ”Och, now, Maggie, I don't know which of us you just insulted most with that statement. Do you honestly think I would...”
Braden paused as he truly thought about her words. And in that moment, he learned something about himself he didn't like.
She was right. He couldn't even guess how often he'd been with one woman when another, more attractive woman had come along and ”distracted” him.
”You were saying?” she asked.
”Nothing,” he said, glancing off into the dark forest. For the first time in his life, he felt guilty over some of what he'd done in the past.
Maggie settled back down on the hard ground and he watched her struggle for comfort.
In spite of himself, Braden pondered what he would do if a more attractive woman were here. Would he flit after her the first chance he had and pay no more heed to Maggie?
Could he truly be that shallow a person?
The most painful part of all was that he didn't know for sure whether he would or not.
Hewas an a.s.s and a scoundrel. And for the first time in his life, he wished he were different.
Why couldn't he be more like Lochlan? Steadfast and loyal, or like Ewan.
Nay, he thought quickly. Not like Ewan. Ewan was too monkish for his tastes. But he could be like Sin.
Sin was respectful and discreet, and women threw themselves at him as much as they did Braden.
Unbidden, his gaze went back to Maggie lying stiffly on the ground. She deserved so much better than a scoundrel like him. She deserved a man who could love her, and her alone. In truth, she needed such a man.
And in his heart, Braden knew he could never be that man. He wasn't capable of giving himself over to just one single woman. Ever. He loved his freedom too much. He loved his women too much.
For that reason, he would have to keep himself from her. Because in the end, he could offer her nothing more than a broken heart, and he didn't want to add any more unhappiness to her life.
Still, thoughts of Maggie drifted through his mind. Thoughts of her earlier kiss. The softness of her pale skin beneath his hand. The sound of her breath whispering in his ear.
But even worse was the imagined sight he had of her lying naked beneath him, her amber eyes dark with hunger as she cradled him with her entire body and urged his hips with her hands as he lost himself deep inside her.
His hunger for her was enough to drive him mad. Never had he felt such a strong, alluring need to find out exactly what a woman's pa.s.sion was like. But with Maggie, he wanted to know. Nay, 'twas almost a need to find out if she was as hot and pa.s.sionate without her clothes as she was in them.
Leaning forward ever so slightly, Braden closed his eyes and inhaled the sweet, feminine scent of Maggie's hair and he ached to trace his fingers over the creamy skin of her cheek.
Too well, he remembered her pa.s.sion. The taste of her breath mingling with his as he plundered her mouth and laid claim to her virginal lips.
At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to claim the rest of her for his very own.
His body stirred violently at the thought.
Aye, she was a la.s.s to savor. A vibrant treasure that he wanted to spend weeks exploring.
His gaze drifted over the length of her wrapped beneath the plaid. Only a few pieces of cloth separated their bodies. Separated him from the part of her he longed for most.
It would be so easy to lift the hem of her plaid and bury himself deep inside her. To listen to her moans of pleasure as he taught her the oldest, most intimate dance a man and woman could ever share.
In all these years, why had he never noticed her before? What had kept him so blinded?
There were no words to describe her spirit or her conviction. Never had he met such a woman, and yet there had never been a moment in his memory when he hadn't knownher .
”You know, little blossom, you could be safe in your bed this night.”
”Aye,” she whispered, staring into the fire before her. ”I could. But it wouldn't do anything to stop the dying. I would give anything for this feud to end.”
”Except let me kill Robby MacDouglas.”
She grew quiet as she mulled over his words.
”Perhaps I judged you harshly,” she whispered. ”Perhaps I should hate him for the deaths of my brothers. If not for him and his bloodl.u.s.t, they would be alive now. But somewhere deep inside him, there must be a part that wants an end to this as much as we do. Surely, after five years of fighting, he must be weary of it. Aren't you?”
He didn't respond.
”Braden?”
”I'm thinking on it.”
She turned to look at him, her face incredulous. ”You still want to fight?”
”There is something to be said for it.”
Her eyes burned bright in frustration and she growled low in her throat, then she pushed at his shoulder.
Braden laughed as he pretended to tussle with her.
”Do I need to go for a stroll?” Sin's voice cut into their play.
”Nay,” Maggie said quickly, moving away from him. ”I am merely trying to kill your brother.”
”Ever the charmer, eh, Braden?”
”Hold your tongue, Sin.”
”I would, but with my luck, one of your giant Scottish bugs would land on it. Besides, it makes my hand wet and pruney when I do that.”
Braden rolled his eyes, wis.h.i.+ng he had something close enough to toss at Sin.
Maggie laughed softly.
”Good night, Braden,” she said, returning to her original position.
”Good night, little blossom,” he whispered. But inside, he knew a night without her kiss could never be called good.
A few hours later, Maggie awoke with a start to find Braden's arms wrapped protectively around her.
At some point in the night, they had drifted even closer together and she lay perfectly entwined with him before the fire.