Read Online Heart of the Highlands: The Beast (Protectors of the Crown Book 1) by April Holthaus - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: April Holthaus
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to reach their destination. Once they arrived and they returned her to her family, she wouldn’t care if it rained every day for a year.
For what seemed like hours, they rode across the land heading in a southeastern direction. Keira’s toes and legs felt numb from staying atop the horse for as long as she had. She thought to question Ian whether they would break soon, but she dared not anger him. He had kept quiet throughout most of the ride causing her to wonder what he was thinking.
As time passed, boredom set in and her eyes began to feel heavy and started to close. Fighting to stay awake was a losing battle. Her eyes were drifting shut, taking longer and longer to open each time. Within moments, Keira fell fast asleep.
~*~
Ian glanced down at the lass slumped in his arms. With her head turned to one side, resting on his chest, he could see every feature on her face from her small nose to her pink lips. Raising his hand, he gently grazed the side of her cheek; moving his thumb as lightly as a whisper against her soft skin. She felt as soft as a rose petal. Had things been different, he would not have hesitated to make an advance or make his intentions known, but he was not the same man he once was. He could not offer her protection nor could he truly give her his heart. He could never be a husband again, or a father. He had given up that life a long time ago.
Ian’s loyalty to Scotland was his life. And with all the blood he’d spilled, he was a damned to hell. His only salvation was to serve the crown in hopes of redeeming himself for his sins.
Keira stirred in her sleep. Pressing her back against him, she turned slightly and gripped the fabric of his shirt. Her other hand rested firmly on the top of his thigh. At the moment of contact, an explosion of unnerving sensations shot to his groin. With her buttock firmly pressed up against him, Ian felt his pulse quicken. He willed away his wandering thoughts and physical sensations but as she clung to him, his animal instincts growled within him.
Ian craned his neck, trying to avoid the lass who lay asleep in his arms, but he was failing miserably and his groin reminded him of that fact each time her bottom lifted and settled back down on his lap from the motion of the horse under them.
As if the heavens were answering his prayers, a drop of rain fell from the sky, landing on his cheek. Looking up at the darkened, cloudy sky, he realized he had missed the approaching storm, too distracted by the bonny lass. Another drop fell and then another, and before he knew it, the rain fell steadily. Thank God; he could use the distraction!
~*~
Keira awoke when she felt the tapping sensation of cold water on her cheeks. She quickly bolted upright, straightening her back. All manner of embarrassment came pouring into her mind when she found herself snuggled up against Ian like a wanton whore. She couldn’t imagine what he must think of her, nor did she want to know. In the future, she would have to do whatever it took to prevent herself from falling asleep, no matter how tired she was.
Looking up at the sky, she realized that the clouds had turned grey and covered the sky like a thick blanket.
“I had no’ expected it to rain. ‘Twas so beautiful earlier,” she said, making an attempt to dry her face.
“Aye. That’s the one thing about the Highlands lass. Ye can experience all four seasons in just a matter of a day,” he replied, wrapping a cloak around them both.
Keira gratefully took the cloak and wrapped it over her shoulders, but kept her distance from Ian. She would have protested, but if her choices were between having to travel the rest of the way in drenched clothing or being protected from the rain, she’d gladly choose the latter.
As the rain fell with intensity, the horses slowed their pace. Their hooves began to sink into the sodden ground. The rain hammered down on them like small ice pellets. Keira could feel Ian grip her tighter against him as she
For what seemed like hours, they rode across the land heading in a southeastern direction. Keira’s toes and legs felt numb from staying atop the horse for as long as she had. She thought to question Ian whether they would break soon, but she dared not anger him. He had kept quiet throughout most of the ride causing her to wonder what he was thinking.
As time passed, boredom set in and her eyes began to feel heavy and started to close. Fighting to stay awake was a losing battle. Her eyes were drifting shut, taking longer and longer to open each time. Within moments, Keira fell fast asleep.
~*~
Ian glanced down at the lass slumped in his arms. With her head turned to one side, resting on his chest, he could see every feature on her face from her small nose to her pink lips. Raising his hand, he gently grazed the side of her cheek; moving his thumb as lightly as a whisper against her soft skin. She felt as soft as a rose petal. Had things been different, he would not have hesitated to make an advance or make his intentions known, but he was not the same man he once was. He could not offer her protection nor could he truly give her his heart. He could never be a husband again, or a father. He had given up that life a long time ago.
Ian’s loyalty to Scotland was his life. And with all the blood he’d spilled, he was a damned to hell. His only salvation was to serve the crown in hopes of redeeming himself for his sins.
Keira stirred in her sleep. Pressing her back against him, she turned slightly and gripped the fabric of his shirt. Her other hand rested firmly on the top of his thigh. At the moment of contact, an explosion of unnerving sensations shot to his groin. With her buttock firmly pressed up against him, Ian felt his pulse quicken. He willed away his wandering thoughts and physical sensations but as she clung to him, his animal instincts growled within him.
Ian craned his neck, trying to avoid the lass who lay asleep in his arms, but he was failing miserably and his groin reminded him of that fact each time her bottom lifted and settled back down on his lap from the motion of the horse under them.
As if the heavens were answering his prayers, a drop of rain fell from the sky, landing on his cheek. Looking up at the darkened, cloudy sky, he realized he had missed the approaching storm, too distracted by the bonny lass. Another drop fell and then another, and before he knew it, the rain fell steadily. Thank God; he could use the distraction!
~*~
Keira awoke when she felt the tapping sensation of cold water on her cheeks. She quickly bolted upright, straightening her back. All manner of embarrassment came pouring into her mind when she found herself snuggled up against Ian like a wanton whore. She couldn’t imagine what he must think of her, nor did she want to know. In the future, she would have to do whatever it took to prevent herself from falling asleep, no matter how tired she was.
Looking up at the sky, she realized that the clouds had turned grey and covered the sky like a thick blanket.
“I had no’ expected it to rain. ‘Twas so beautiful earlier,” she said, making an attempt to dry her face.
“Aye. That’s the one thing about the Highlands lass. Ye can experience all four seasons in just a matter of a day,” he replied, wrapping a cloak around them both.
Keira gratefully took the cloak and wrapped it over her shoulders, but kept her distance from Ian. She would have protested, but if her choices were between having to travel the rest of the way in drenched clothing or being protected from the rain, she’d gladly choose the latter.
As the rain fell with intensity, the horses slowed their pace. Their hooves began to sink into the sodden ground. The rain hammered down on them like small ice pellets. Keira could feel Ian grip her tighter against him as she
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