Read Online Charming the Chieftain by Deanie Roman - Free Book Online

with the details, my friend.”
    Aeden grinned. “Well, the devil is always in the details, brother.”
    When their laughter died down, Aeden thought he heard singing and glanced around the forest until he pinpointed the source of the song. He turned back to Ronan.
    “Stand watch. I am going to her.”

Chapter Ten
    Oblivious to her environs, Elisande reached up to examine her loose mound of abundant hair precariously perched atop her head. Immersed to her chin in the calmer waters of the firth, she groaned as the cool water sluiced over her aching bones.
    Suddenly, she jumped up and slapped a hand to her backside. “Blasted rock!”
    Up to her knees in water, she bent at the waist, glaring at the large jagged rock in her hand while she rubbed her abused bottom with vigor. A twig cracked behind her and she froze. Fearful, she forced herself to look to the side and scrutinize the trees near the embankment. To her horror, the dark outline of a motionless figure stopped under an ancient elm filled her view. Petrified, she lurched upright and hurled the stone with every ounce of energy. It landed a few feet shy of its target and she cursed. Cool air drifted across her bare breasts, a latent reminder of her state of undress. The idea that her breasts had been well-illuminated by the shaft of light poking through the canopy of leaves mortified her to her marrow. She plunged neck deep into the water and screamed.
    Aeden barked rapid-fire orders to his men as they neared the area and as quickly as they appeared they were gone. Once her heart calmed to a normal beat outrage set in.
    “Chief Maxwell, you must leave now — this instant!”
    His silence unsettled her.
    “This is beyond indecent, Chief Maxwell, please leave.”
    With a purposeful stride, he reached the water’s edge, loomed over her, and extended his hand.
    “Oh no, no you don’t. You just stay away from me.”
    “Come now, do no’ be stubborn. Your skin must resemble a dried apple by now.” He jabbed his hand in her direction once more.
    “You may as well withdraw your hand for I will never take it.”
    “Do no’ be foolish, woman,” he said exasperated. “Grab it afore you drown under the weight of your sodden hair.”
    She opened her mouth to argue, and swallowed half the river water instead. She shoved the soggy mass out of her eyes sputtering.
    “I-have no in-ten-tion of … drowning.”
    He stared at her, incredulous. “What in the hell do you call that then?”
    Wooden, she turned her head and fixated on a sagged branch beyond his left shoulder.
    “Come now, lass, ’tis nothing I have no’ seen afore.”
    Despite the cold seeping into her bones, her face flamed at the ungallant comment and she speared him with an outraged glare.
    “If that was meant to reassure me then I suggest you try once more.”
    How dare he speak so indelicate?
    With that thought, her indignation intensified. “I am a gentlewoman, you … you debaucher.”
    Aeden rolled his eyes and withdrew his hand. “Lass, ’tis unlikely I shall ever forget you are a woman to be respected.”
    “Thank you.” Her response pushed between stiff lips. Good Lord she was miserable. If he didn’t leave soon she wouldn’t be able to move her legs.
    “However,” he continued, “Now is no’ the time for your female modesty to overtake good sense. Your lips are blue.”
    His hand shot out again.
    She stared at the offending appendage.
    “Now, if you do no’ wish to find yourself in a worse position, take my hand.”
    She snorted at the empty threat.
    “Naught could be more humiliating than the position you have thrust upon me, rest assured.”
    He pounced, cutting through the water like a hot blade through goose fat. His jaw set, head down, determination etched into every feature as his body pushed away the water.
    Before she had time to react, he leaned in, swept her up in his arms and pitched her effortlessly over his shoulder like a sack of grain. Speechless, she wanted to