Bound to a Warrior Read Free Page B

his outspread arms. She snuggled against him. And then working together they spread the two wet garments beyond the shackles. They had made certain the garments would be close to the campfire in hopes that by morning they would be dry.
    Duncan then reached for the branches on the ground beside him and covered them, the leaves a bit prickly against their skin. He draped his legs over hers, forcing her closer against him. She didn’t object. She needed his heat as surely as he needed hers.
    She wasn’t surprised when after a few minutes she felt him grow large against her and she raised her head from the crook of his shoulder to look up at him.
    â€œHe has a mind of his own when I have a beautiful woman in my arms,” he said with that rumbling tone that was growing familiar and comfortable to her. “Don’t worry. I won’t let him bother you.”
    She couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you for the compliment and for your chivalry.”
    Laughter tickled her ear. “Chivalry only goes so far, so we need to get this chain off fast.”
    While he teased, she also knew he warned and he was right. They couldn’t remain shackled long. After all, he was a man and a man had needs, as her mother had often explained in more detail than she had cared to hear.
    But then her mother’s needs had been just as ravenous as a man’s and had been the cause of her own tragic downfall. Unfortunately, with her mother’s downfall came Mercy’s.
    â€œPerhaps tomorrow we’ll come across a croft where we can seek help,” she suggested.
    â€œWe’ll need to be careful. The farmers will fear retaliation from the king’s men if they help those in chains.”
    â€œI didn’t think of that,” she said. “What then do we do?”
    â€œWe’ll scout the area and see what we can find. If it doesn’t look safe we’ll need to make it to my people.”
    â€œHow far is that?”
    â€œA week’s travel without any incidents,” he said.
    â€œA week?” she asked apprehensively.
    He smiled a half-smile. “I’ll behave if you will.”
    While the one corner of his mouth turned up in a smile, the scar in the other corner appeared a constant frown as if he continued to warn, and she would do well to remember that there were two sides to their dilemma.
    â€œI’ll do my best,” she said with her own gentle smile.
    â€œThen don’t fancy me with that lovely smile, or I’ll be begging for mercy.”
    The twinkle in his devilishly dark eyes had her chuckling.
    â€œThat’s even worse,” he said, sounding wounded. “A laugh that tempts the soul itself.”
    â€œWhat of chivalry?” she bantered playfully.
    He brought his lips close to hers and whispered. “Ah, what of it? It would be more chivalrous of me to kiss you and couple with you throughout the night, generating all the heat we need to survive.”
    If she hadn’t caught the glint of humor in his dark eyes, she might have been frightened that he would take advantage of their situation. But he teased, and she wondered if it was simply to see how she would respond, or perhaps he thought he could convince her to agree to an outlandish appeal.
    â€œI’m astounded at what you would sacrifice for chivalry,” she said with feigned sincerity. “But it would behoove me to see you forfeit so much, thus I decline your generous offer.”
    He laughed. “Do I get a kiss for at least trying?”
    She pecked his cheek lightly.
    â€œMercy, Mercy,” he said continuing to laugh. “One of these days I’m going to have to teach you how to kiss as a reward for saving your life.”
    â€œWhen we are safe, our chain gone, I promise I will reward you with a kiss.”
    â€œI will hold you to that promise,” he said adamantly.
    â€œI have no doubt you will,” she said and settled her head back in the crook