Page 63 of Captured by a Laird
He tossed the whip to the ground. Pulling his dirk from his belt, he went to cut his brother down. He waved the others away.
As he sliced the ropes that bound his brother like an animal, he hated himself.
“You’re not going to flog me?” Robbie asked in a strained voice.
“I was wrong to do this,” David said. “I’m sorry.”
“I thought a man never apologizes,” Robbie said.
“I don’t feel like much of a man today,” David said, and clenched his teeth as he cut through the last rope.
Panic flashed through Robbie’s eyes as his knees started to give way, but David had seen it coming and held a steadying arm around Robbie’s shoulders.
“They’ll think I’m a coward for being weak-kneed when ye didn’t give me a single lash.”
“Ye showed courage facing your punishment,” David told him. “Just keep your feet until we get through the door, and that courage is all they’ll remember.”
That, and their chieftain’s weakness.
“Davey,” Robbie whispered, “I’m not certain I can walk that far.”
“Of course ye can,” David said. “You’re my brother, and I won’t let ye fall.”
***
David dragged his sorry arse up the stairs, feeling like hell. All he wanted was to be left alone.
When he opened the door to the bedchamber, he was surprised to find Alison standing at the window with her back to him. He thought she would be in the kitchens, where she usually went when she wished to avoid him. She must have watched the entire miserable scene.
She whirled around, and for one breathless moment, she stared at him, unmoving. Then she stunned him by running across the room and leaping into his arms. He was so caught off guard that he staggered backward.
He buried his face in her neck, needing to hold her more than he could ever admit.
“Ye did the right thing,” she said. “I’m so proud of ye.”
After all the daring feats for which he was famed—or infamous—thisis what earned him her praise?
“I showed weakness in front of the men,” he said, resting his forehead against hers. “That can only lead to trouble.”
“Ye put your brother before your pride,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “They should respect ye for that.”
He gave her a faint smile. “Ach, ye don’t understand men.”
“What ye did was brave.”
He was going to ask her what in the hell was brave about making a fool of himself, but then she kissed him. And it was not a sweet kiss. Nay, this was a hot, hungry kiss that sent shocks down to the soles of his feet and emptied every thought from his head.
Her tongue was in his mouth, and she had one hand in his hair and the other around his neck, pulling him closer. He felt lightheaded from all the blood surging to his cock, and that was before she began rubbing her thigh up and down against his.
He cupped her sweet bottom and groaned as he pulled her against his erection. When she responded by wrapping her legs around his hips, he feared he would explode then and there.
He had no notion why his reluctant bride was suddenly behaving as if she wished to eat him alive, but he needed her to want him like this.
Without lifting his mouth from hers, he carried her to the bed and they fell across it. Her hands were all over him—under his shirt, over his bare chest and down his belly, driving him to madness. He was sucking on her tongue when her hand found his cock through his breeks.
“Jesu.” He flopped onto his back to give his full attention to the sensation of her stroking him.
When she snatched her hand away, he groaned in disappointment.
