Read Online Broken Highlander's Blood Oath by Missy Strom - Free Book Online Page B

behind him. Of course he'd known Shancy was there, however, he thought he had a few moments before Shancy arrived by his side. Nonetheless, Shancy’s presence didn't halt Analise, if she was even aware of his arrival, and she found his lips with blessed enthusiasm. Only he had no choice but to pull away with regret.
    “Nay,” he whispered, turning Analise’s lips into a pretty pink-shelled pout.
    “Oh, Donan,” she murmured sounding mournful as she patted his chest as though to soothe him.
    Jesu, her eyes were blue. He cleared his throat, determined to clear his head of soft womanly enticements. A very hard deed it was with Analise sitting so warmly on his lap. He could not feel her bottom on his thighs, but he could feel it on his thickness between. S’blood, he could feel it.
    “Shancy is with us, nightingale.”
    “He is?” Analise exclaimed, twisting around to look and doing impossibly wicked things to his erection again. “Oh, Shancy—I mean, my lord. Tis so good to see you.”
    Analise smiled while Donan scowled, and Shancy chuckled as he greeted Analise as if she were a princess and he expounded on her beauty, until she was blushing a very tempting pink color.
    “You must only call me Shancy, my lady,” he finished.
    Donan ground his teeth, not realizing how tightly he held Analise about her waist. His face and his demeanor, everything even to the twinge in his heart, belayed his next words.
    Nevertheless, he spat them out anyway. “Shancy, you must take Analise up on your horse.”
    “Nay!” Analise cried, and then she grasped Donan in a hug as if to say nothing would pry her away.
    He began to open his mouth to order her, when Shancy spoke. “There’s no way in bloody hell I’m taking your lass on my horse!”
    Shancy's hands were spread wide with his palms outward in a warding off gesture.
    “She’s not my woman.” Donan nearly gagged as those words creaked out.
    “I am yours! Now and forever,” Analise exclaimed, and he could feel the vibration of her voice against his tunic as she protested. Shancy gave him a condescending smirk and Analise pressed those bountiful bosoms of hers to his chest even tighter.
    Donan forced his eyes closed. Jesu, he swore silently, he wanted this so badly he could feel his insides tremble. But, Analise was just too innocent to understand and perhaps he was too afraid. How could he champion her? How could he protect her?
    Donan opened his eyes and looked straight at Shancy. “You both dinna understand what you're saying. How would I protect her face to face from Lord Armand?”
    His bitter words seemed to taint the air around them.
    Shancy ignored his brother's bitter tone and was having none of it for he guffawed and slapped his thigh, expounding, “Exactly the way you do every other blessed thing in your life, brother, with the help of your friends and allies. Those same friends you’ve helped considerably. And all of us who would not get anywhere without that excellent wit of yours!”
    Donan sighed, thinking a man who couldn't walk had to be more sensible about life, he was not nearly convinced by Shancy’s grand words, until he heard Analise whispering for him alone to hear, with her voice wavering.
    “I have been afraid ever since Armand took control of our lives and since my sister was so badly mistreated and she was forced to leave. I was even more afraid. I have always thought that if I were not so simple minded, I would not be afraid. That I would have more courage. But now I have you.”
    Donan’s reaction was immediate. He gathered Analise closer, tightening his arm around her back, while he used his other hand to smooth the golden locks from around her face.
    “Och, lass, I’ll not let Lord Armand harm you,” he said firmly, then with haste adding, “And Shancy vows the same.”
    However, Analise didn't seem to hear him because she was humming softly. It was a haunting and familiar song that seemed to touch his heart. She seemed like a wee