Some of it ran down her chin but that didn't detract from the enjoyment of it filling her mouth. The skin on her neck enjoyed the slide of water over it. When it reached her collar, it soaked into the fabric, soothing the overheated skin imprisoned beneath. She dipped her hand several more times before forcing
herself to stop and draw in a deep breath. Her stomach rumbled in warning, so much water
threatening to make her sick. She focused her attention on keeping what she'd drunk in her belly.
Whatever it took...
Warren regretted his words, regretted the need driving him to such lengths. But he would do what had to be done. The slim figure standing at the well was too trusting. She never looked over her shoulder. It was exactly what he needed, almost too good to be believed, but he hated himself for taking the steps toward her.
Chapter Four
It was amazing how a little water could restore a person's resolve. Lorena sighed and drew a last deep breath. Yes, she felt much better now. She smelled the fresh air again and felt the cooling night breeze on her cheeks. The burning heat was being carried away as she listened to the slap of the palm leaves.
A hand clamped down over her mouth, dragging her back against a solid body. She bucked
frantically, trying to twist free. Whoever held her, lifted her completely off the ground. One thick arm bound her around the waist while the hand remained over her mouth, stifling any sound she tried to make. Two large steps and she felt her feet dangling over the water. Her eyes rounded when she noticed the rowboat. The bonnet still pinned to her head only allowed her to see
directly in front of her. What had been empty except for oars was now full of dark shapes. They reached up for her feet, hard hands closing around her ankles. She kicked frantically, her mind searching for any means of escape.
She sank her teeth into the fingers pressing against her lips.
"Viper..."
The hand left her mouth instantly, but he released her waist too. She fell toward the boat, landing on top of the men in it. Pain shot through her back and shoulders. Her dress became a tangled mess, and she kicked at it, trying to get her feet on something solid.
The boat rocked dangerously and the men grabbed her to keep her still.
"Ease up there or we'll capsize."
Lorena snarled at the warning. "Unhand—"
The same hard hand slapped back over her mouth. "Make for the gate lads or we're done for."
Her captor spoke in a harsh whisper but the tone terrified her. It was solid as steel. He
imprisoned her against his body again, this time throwing a leg over hers to trap her completely.
She strained against his hold but it was like iron. Blood seeped over her lips from where she'd bitten him, but he kept his hand in place.
The other men dipped the oars into the water. The boat headed for the small arches that led to the sea. The iron gates were still raised and they slipped quietly out of the inner fort.
"Now, men, row! Row for your lives!"
Her captor gave the command. The men dug into their task, working their oars in unison. Light from the fires on the wall shone down on them. The hand over her mouth released her lips but returned with a knife. He pressed the cool blade against her neck.
"I suggest you stay still if you want to keep your skin uncut."
She swallowed and even that motion made the blade press uncomfortably against her throat. Her heart accelerated, making everything seem as though it was moving in slow motion. On top of the walls, men pointed their rifles directly at them. She could see the soldiers looking down the long barrels of the weapons to line up a perfect kill shot. Terror choked her for one horrible moment which felt like an hour. Her ears strained to hear the explosion of the rifles being fired.
"Hold your fire!" The command echoed up and down the wall. The men looking down their guns hesitated but raised their heads and the muzzles of the deadly guns.
Breath rushed back into her
herself to stop and draw in a deep breath. Her stomach rumbled in warning, so much water
threatening to make her sick. She focused her attention on keeping what she'd drunk in her belly.
Whatever it took...
Warren regretted his words, regretted the need driving him to such lengths. But he would do what had to be done. The slim figure standing at the well was too trusting. She never looked over her shoulder. It was exactly what he needed, almost too good to be believed, but he hated himself for taking the steps toward her.
Chapter Four
It was amazing how a little water could restore a person's resolve. Lorena sighed and drew a last deep breath. Yes, she felt much better now. She smelled the fresh air again and felt the cooling night breeze on her cheeks. The burning heat was being carried away as she listened to the slap of the palm leaves.
A hand clamped down over her mouth, dragging her back against a solid body. She bucked
frantically, trying to twist free. Whoever held her, lifted her completely off the ground. One thick arm bound her around the waist while the hand remained over her mouth, stifling any sound she tried to make. Two large steps and she felt her feet dangling over the water. Her eyes rounded when she noticed the rowboat. The bonnet still pinned to her head only allowed her to see
directly in front of her. What had been empty except for oars was now full of dark shapes. They reached up for her feet, hard hands closing around her ankles. She kicked frantically, her mind searching for any means of escape.
She sank her teeth into the fingers pressing against her lips.
"Viper..."
The hand left her mouth instantly, but he released her waist too. She fell toward the boat, landing on top of the men in it. Pain shot through her back and shoulders. Her dress became a tangled mess, and she kicked at it, trying to get her feet on something solid.
The boat rocked dangerously and the men grabbed her to keep her still.
"Ease up there or we'll capsize."
Lorena snarled at the warning. "Unhand—"
The same hard hand slapped back over her mouth. "Make for the gate lads or we're done for."
Her captor spoke in a harsh whisper but the tone terrified her. It was solid as steel. He
imprisoned her against his body again, this time throwing a leg over hers to trap her completely.
She strained against his hold but it was like iron. Blood seeped over her lips from where she'd bitten him, but he kept his hand in place.
The other men dipped the oars into the water. The boat headed for the small arches that led to the sea. The iron gates were still raised and they slipped quietly out of the inner fort.
"Now, men, row! Row for your lives!"
Her captor gave the command. The men dug into their task, working their oars in unison. Light from the fires on the wall shone down on them. The hand over her mouth released her lips but returned with a knife. He pressed the cool blade against her neck.
"I suggest you stay still if you want to keep your skin uncut."
She swallowed and even that motion made the blade press uncomfortably against her throat. Her heart accelerated, making everything seem as though it was moving in slow motion. On top of the walls, men pointed their rifles directly at them. She could see the soldiers looking down the long barrels of the weapons to line up a perfect kill shot. Terror choked her for one horrible moment which felt like an hour. Her ears strained to hear the explosion of the rifles being fired.
"Hold your fire!" The command echoed up and down the wall. The men looking down their guns hesitated but raised their heads and the muzzles of the deadly guns.
Breath rushed back into her
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