The Draig's Woman Read Free Page B

feel of muscular thighs against her legs brought to mind thoughts that should not be. Not now and definitely not here. A foolish attempt to straighten the short skirt, to put some fabric between her and the man with his plaid riding high on his thighs on the horse, only earned Claire a small chuckle from the man seated behind her.
    With a soft voice, Ian spoke against the shell of her ear. “We need to ride hard and fast, Claire. The men will soon offer chase. Be at ease, you are under my protection. Besides, I would take only what is offered.” He inhaled her hair one more time. “You smell sweet, lass.”
    Attempting to pull away from him, Claire retorted, “I am offering you nothing.” She ignored the breathy quality to her voice, refusing to acknowledge whatever this was between them.
    Ian tightened his grip on her waist. “Then I will seek to take nothing.” As Claire ceased her weak struggle, he said, “You have saved my life, let me save yours. We ride now, lass.” Not waiting for a reply, Ian kicked the horse into motion. As the horse broke into a run, her body was forced to accept his, at least for now.

Chapter 2
    The sun had reached midday height in the sky. Traveling north, they passed nothing but trees and rocks. The forest blurred before Claire as Ian directed the horse away from her only hope of ever getting home. Claire tried to keep her mind blank; not wanting to think about what had just happened, blank seemed safer. Her thoughts avoided the attack in the parking lot and refused to acknowledge the fight to the death in a forest that shouldn’t exist. She was not focusing on the breakneck pace the horse kept. Her thoughts stayed away from thinking about the man holding her on the horse with his legs touching hers, the man who had kissed her. Well, that was supposed to have been goodbye. So she let her mind drift into nothingness and willed her body not to feel the frigid air, until the stream they splashed through brought back the awareness she had struggled against. As the cold water hit her legs, she said, “I need to stop. Now. Stop now, please.”
    Ian answered as the horse slowed. “Aye, Claire, ‘tis a fine place to stop. We can see to our needs, have a drink, and rest the horse for a moment or two.” Coming to a halt on the other side of the creek, Ian jumped from the horse and waited to assist Claire in dismounting.
    Handing him her bag, Ian set it on the ground. Claire held her breath as he lifted her from the saddle. The air whooshed from her lungs as Ian slid her body too slowly down his solid chest and held her far too close. She could only stare at him as her feet touched the ground. The smile he offered was far too inviting.
    “We need to be quick about this. The danger is far from past.” Ian’s comment snapped Claire back to attention. She looked him in the eye and nodded. Moving away, she limped into the trees with her bag.
    That ride chaffed the crap out of my thighs. I am so not dressed for a ride in the woods. It is way too cold to be dressed like this. I’m in the woods. I shouldn’t be in the woods. I haven’t been in the woods in years. How long ago was that family vacation?
    Maybe I’m dreaming. Maybe Peter took me down and I hit my head. It would explain Ian, right? No one looks like that, definitely not real. It would explain a lot. Only in a dream could I kill someone and ride away on horseback with a beautiful man after my way home disappears. Only in a dream could the guy smell so good and feel so phenomenal. Let’s go with dream during a concussion, seems likely given the alternative.
    Unfortunately, Claire could never remember having to pee in a dream.
    She removed her ruined dress and within her bag found her sleepover gear. My mother will freak out when she sees this dress now. Like that’s my biggest issue. Yoga pants, tank top, and a wrap sweater. Great, another shelf bra. I had hoped my imagination would let me dress more comfortably.
    She never