Read Online Onyx by Elizabeth Rose - Free Book Online Page B

were goin’ on a journey,” Ian replied. “ I only threw a coverlet in there since it was still there from our little roll in the hay with the triplets. Actually, if I’d kent we were goin’ on a trip, I would o’ brought along the triplets jest fer fun.”
    “And they were fun, indeed, Dagger,” said Aidan, cocking a smile. “Ye missed the best present we e’er gave ye fer yer birthday.”
    “You’re calling bedding a whore a present?” asked Lovelle, pulling her cloak around her as she felt her teeth starting to chatter from the cold.
    “’Tis me birthday,” was all Onyx said. Then he looked over to his friends. “Ian, start a fire, and Aidan, hunt us somethin’ te eat.”
    “A fire?” asked Ian. “What fer? ’Tis no’ thet cold.”
     
    Onyx looked over to Lovelle and realized her cheeks were bright red as well as her nose. And though she tried not to show it, her teeth were chattering. While she was his enemy and he hated her for what she’d done to his mother, she was also a prisoner now. If she died, his mother would be killed in return.
    “I agree,” he said, knowing that the three of them had even slept right in the snow at times without making a fire. They were Highlanders. They were used to the cold. But she was a frail Englishwoman who had probably never slept on the cold ground a day in her life. “But our . . . guest here looks like she could use it.”
    “Guest?” she said, bravely forcing a laugh. “You mean prisoner, don’t you?”
    “The t’s right, Onyx, ye did kidnap her, so thet makes her a prisoner,” Aidan agreed.
    “Jest go find a damn coinean or somethin’,” he ordered, telling him to go hunt rabbit.
    “I’m no’ h ungry, are ye, Ian?” asked Aidan.
    “Nay,” answered Ian . “We all had plenty o’ haggis and blackbun at the pub.” He rubbed his belly. “I dinna think I’ll be able te eat another bite fer days.”
    “Ferget it, I’ll do it meself,” said Onyx, putting the cat on the ground. He pulled his dagger from his side and headed away to hunt. “You two watch o’er our prisoner, as ye call her.”
    Onyx headed away quickly, irritated by the fact his friends were giving him a hard time, and even more frustrated that they’ d basked in the pleasures of the randy triplets, but he was still hot and bothered. And being pushed up against the damned good-looking Englishwoman all night, feeling her body jolting against his with every step of the horse, only made him hard beneath his plaid.
    “Damn,” he spat, thinking this was not the way he’d planned on spending his birthday and celebrating the new year. And to top things off, his mother had not been honest with him. Hell, he wasn’t sure now what she’d done. She could have killed off dozens of men through the years and he wouldn’t have even known it. He knew about her little pilfering problem, but of this, he’d had no idea.
    “Damn Lady Love ,” he spat, seeing a rabbit and diving upon it with his dagger in his hand. The blasted woman had not only ruined his birthday, but now, probably ruined his life as well. And though she was his enemy and he hated her at this moment, he still couldn’t stop thinking how her hands felt on his shoulders or how her cheek felt against his bare chest.
    He had to get that book and return the girl as soon as possible. Be cause if he spent much longer near her, he was going to want to do something that he knew he would someday regret.
     
    * * *
    Lovell e sat close to the fire, just watching Onyx’s two friends sitting on the opposite side and staring at her. She felt very uncomfortable, especially since they weren’t saying a word.
    “So – how do you two know Onyx?” she asked.
    “We’re all MacKeefes,” said Ian.
    “Oh,” she said. “So, are the three of you brothers or cousins?”
    They looked at each other and made faces that made her realize they thought she was daft.
    “We’re no’ related,” said Aidan. “We’re jest friends. We