Sins of the Highlander Read Free Page A

she couldn’t remain the first, she’d never be the last. She pulled away from him.
    “Truly, ’tis naught but a scratch. Come, lass.”
    He folded her into his arms again and delivered a string of kisses along the curve of her jaw.
    “No!” she said
    When he tried to kiss her again, she delivered a ringing slap to his cheek. Reason flooded her mind again. Perhaps he was called “Mad Rob” because he could entice others to insanity. She jerked herself out of his arms.
    “Now keep away from me,” she ordered.
    He chuckled mirthlessly. “Lass, I’ve killed dozens of men. Do ye really think ye can stop me from whatever I may decide to do with you?”
    He took a step toward her, his eyes glittering fiercely in the dark.

Chapter 2
    Rob advanced steadily, steeling himself to ignore the way her brows drew together in fear.
    “A man doesna name a horse he might have to eat come winter,” he said, his voice silky with menace. “And he doesna befriend one he’s taken hostage.”
    “Then why did ye kiss me?” she asked, scuttling backward over the cave floor.
    He stopped. It was a fair question, and he had no answer. He didn’t know what was wrong with him. He’d thought that part of him dead. Oh, he still woke with a cock-stand, and occasionally the thing rose of its own accord when he caught sight of a well-turned ankle or the swell of a breast, but he always tamped down the urge. He’d not truly desired any woman since Fiona.
    Then he found this Elspeth Stewart in his arms, and all he wanted to do was rut her blind.
    He curled his lip in a snarl. He didn’t want to feel those things for anyone but his wife. Certainly not for Lachlan Drummond’s woman.
    When he first conceived this plan, in the blackest part of his mind he’d thought to wound Drummond by ravishing his bride. But when it came down to the actual doing of the deed, he didn’t know if it was in him. Even if he was able to raise his cock long enough to take her maidenhead.
    He’d done his share of lying and thieving and killing.
    He’d never taken a woman unwilling.
    But Elspeth Stewart hadn’t seemed particularly unwilling. At least, not at first. And he’d already proved his body was up to the task if he should decide upon ravishing her.
    Rob smiled because it seemed to unnerve her when he did. “I kissed ye because it seemed the best way to shut ye up at the time. Though I didna expect ye’d like it so well.”
    Her eyes narrowed at that. “I didna like it.”
    “Liars go to hell, ye know.”
    “So do men who steal brides from the altar,” she snapped back, still retreating, bunching the train of her velvet skirt in one hand to keep from tripping on it. Then she reached the rear of the cave and could flee no farther.
    “Oh, rest easy on that score, lass. I was bound for hell long before this morning’s work.” Rob closed the gap between them and laid his hand at the base of her throat.
    She didn’t fight him, which showed intelligence. He might hurt her unintentionally if she struggled. Her pulse raced like a hummingbird’s wings.
    Plenty of men would kill her now, he knew. He’d certainly travel easier without her. Hidden in this remote cave, her body would likely never be found. He could claim she ran away from him and must have perished in the cold with no shelter from the elements. If their places were reversed, Drummond would certainly kill his hostage and get away clean.
    Rob tightened his grip experimentally. It would be easy enough, with a little neck like hers. One good twist would do the trick. She’d feel little pain. The symmetry of the idea appealed to him.
    Even the good Lord said “an eye for an eye.”
    But that would mean punishing the innocent for the sins of the guilty. And Rob wasn’t quite mad enough to see justice in that.
    She swallowed hard beneath his hand. He loosened his grip but didn’t release her.
    He’d seen men sniveling in the dirt over less threat to their persons, yet she didn’t plead. He