Read Online Highland Burn by Victoria Zak - Free Book Online

surrendered.
    “Fine.” In one fast motion James grabbed her under dress and ripped a strip off. “I’ll be right back. Dinnae move. I’m going to the loch for some water.”
    ~~~~~
    “Dinnae move .” Abigale repeated his words silently. Where did he think she was going to go? If she could she would run away and hide, for this was going to be the most humiliating night of her life. There was no way she was going to accept his help. First of all she was madder than a wet hen at him and secondly she was not going to let him rub self-heal on her buttocks. She would make do somehow, as soon as she got rid of him.
    Clearing moss from a spot on the boulder, Abigale began to crush the petals into a paste. It was not ideal, but at this point she could care less. She needed relief.
    James quickly returned from the loch and began to lift Abigale’s skirts.
    “Wait I –“
    “Lass, I’m just going to wipe the blood off and see where it’s coming from.”
    Clearly he wasn’t going to take no for an answer, so there was no need to hold on to the last bit of dignity she had left. They locked eyes and she could see his true concern for her. Slowly she gathered her skirts and turned around until her bare, ruby red bottom was exposed.
    James grabbed her hips, moved her toward the moonlight, and bent down behind her. She heard a sigh, but James did not say a word.
    Finally Abigale looked over her shoulder. ”How bad is it?”
    “Well lass, ye have a bad case of saddle sores. One of the blisters has opened and that’s where the blood is coming from.”
    Ever so gently, James began to dab away at the blood. Abigale hissed when he swiped the wet fabric over the injured skin. She felt a cool breeze against her skin and it wasn’t from the night air. Did he just blow on my bottom?
    It wasn’t long before the pain started to dull. Abigale leaned her head back and stared into the starry night sky. Could this night get any worse? She was mortified standing here naked from the waist down. It seemed as of late, every time James was around, a part of her body was naked. Surely, he must be repulsed by the look of her bottom. She wished she could pray this night away.
    James stood and helped straighten Abigale’s skirts. Humiliated, Abigale hid her face in her hands. She didn’t want to look at him; how could she? Little by little James had seen her naked. Not only was she physically exposed, but she felt just as naked emotionally. She was slowly being stripped away from everything she had ever known. No longer was her life predictable like back at the nunnery. Her whole world had been turned upside down and now her future lay in the hands of a man who did not want her. Maybe it was exhaustion taking over or perhaps emotions were getting the best of her; whatever it might be, tears started to streak her beautiful face.
    Strong hands pried her hands away from her face. James placed a finger under her chin lifting her head back until their eyes met.
    “Och lass, don’t cry.” James wiped a tear from her cheek. “Ye have the finest arse I’ve ever seen.” He smirked.
    Abigale laughed through her tears and swatted at his chest playfully. “Dinnae make me laugh. I’m mad at ye.”
    Gently James picked her up and cradled her in his arms. “I guess I deserve that much.”
    As they made their way back to the campsite, Abigale laid her head on his shoulder and lost herself in sleep.

Chapter 6
    Only the very brave and the very foolish enter the dragon’s lair.
     
    “My lady, ye best be gettin’ up.”
    Abigale awoke to a plump older woman with light brown hair streaked with gray, creating a commotion. Forcefully, the woman removed the furs from the small window letting in a ray of sunlight. With much irritation, Abigale quickly threw the covers over her head and turned her body to block the cursed light.
    The overbearing woman grabbed the sheets from the bottom of Abigale’s bed and ripped them off her body. “Ye cannae stay in