Read Online Highland Song by Christine Young - Free Book Online Page B

more room than he had since he’d first pounced on her.
     
    "You can’t force me to talk."
     
    Nothing in Slade’s voice or expression revealed the anger that churned in his gut at the thought of Lainie’s beautiful body being manhandled by a man who was at best the scum of the earth.
     
    "I’ll find a way."
     
    "What?" Lainie looked up, startled.
     
    "How much did Bertram pay you?"
     
    Lainie was too stunned to speak. Her hand flashed out so quickly that only a few men would have been able to counter the blow.
     
    Slade was one of them, but it was a close call. Just before her palm would have connected with his cheek, he caught her wrist and flattened her out on the bedroll beneath him in the same fierce motion.
     
    "Don’t ever try that again," he told her harshly. "I know all about wide-eyed little lasses who slap a man when he suggests they’re anything less than a lady. The next time you lift a hand to me. I won’t be a gentleman about it."
     
    Lainie made a sound that could have been a laugh or a sob. "Gentleman? You? No gentleman would force himself on a lady."
     
    "But then you’re not a lady are you? You’re someone who ran away from a caring family and was paid handsomely for service rendered."
     
    "No man ever paid for anything for me. And no one ever will. I'm not a whore," she gritted out between clenched teeth, her breaths coming in tiny spurts.
     
    "You just gave your, uh, favors away?" Slade suggested ironically. "And Bertram was so grateful that he left a little present on the bedside table. Is that it?"
     
    "You just don’t give up do you? Bertram’s a pig." Lainie said icily.
     
    Slade rolled aside, freeing Lainie. Before she could move away, his hand settled on her stomach suggestively.
     
    "I won’t stop until you admit the truth, little fox. And I won't muddy the water, by leaving a purse by your bed in the morning."
     
    "Go to hell, Englishman," Lainie said tightly, her voice steady despite the tears of shame and rage in her eyes.
     
    Slade saw only the rage. It occurred to him he would be wise not to turn his back on this woman until her temper cooled. Lainie was quick, very quick and she looked fully capable of picking up a rock and hitting him over the head with it.
     
    "Mad enough to kill aren’t you?" he asked sardonically. "Well, don’t worry. Nobody ever died of shame. Now, talk."
     
    Lainie watched Slade through shimmering blue slits. He lifted one dark eyebrow.
    "If you don’t feel like talking I can find something else to fill the time."
     
    ~ * ~
     
    "Damn her!" Bertram whirled on the soldier. "What do you mean you can't find her?
     
    Don't tell me she got away?" Bertram had never had so many incompetent fools working for him.
     
    "Slade has her," the soldier said taking a step backward as spittle flew from
      Bertram's lips.
     
    "Where the bloody hell is Slade? He should have been here days ago."
     
    In a fury, Bertram ran his arm across the table. Plates and glasses crashed to the floor. He paced the length of the table then back, hitting the palm of one of his hands with a fist. Damn her. Since the day he sent Slade, he'd had a bad feeling in his gut. Moreover, he'd been impotent since that day. All he could think of was the length of Lainie's hair winding around his body and how she'd felt when he'd been deep inside. Just the memory of Lainie made his blood run savagely. He wanted her with an ache so bad he couldn't sleep at night. None of the women he'd had brought to him could satisfy him.
     
    "If Slade doesn't get here soon, I'm going to try him for treason" He was supposed to bring her to Edinburgh. At this rate, Slade would never get his release from the army. A smile swept across Bertram's face. He'd like nothing better than to keep Aaron Slade in his service, doing his bidding.
     
    But he wanted Lainie first. Once he had her in his bed, all his problems would be righted. He would make Slade watch. Slade was a lady's man. It wouldn't