April Holthaus - The MacKinnon Clan 02 by Escape To The Highlands

pain,” he said as he ripped off strips of his tunic to use it as a bandage for Jacqueline’s ankle. “This may hurt. I will need to wrap it tight,” he warned.
    As Ewan began wrapping, the pressure caused Jacqueline to wince from the pain. Instinctively, she pressed her hand onto Ewan’s forearm. Ewan looked into her eyes to gauge her pain, but it wasn’t just pain that he saw. Her eyes were dilated and her breaths became deep and labored.
    Lifting his hand, he stroked along her soft rosy cheek. Jacqueline closed her eyes at his warm touch. Leaning forward, Ewan pressed his lips to hers. Ewan felt Jacqueline’s hand slide over the back of his neck and thread her fingers into his hair to deepen the kiss. Her subtle action fueled Ewan’s hunger. Climbing on top of her, he pressed his body down upon hers and swept his tongue along hers.
    Losing all concentration, Jacqueline allowed his hands to freely move across her small breasts. Letting go of all thought, she felt consumed by the passion Ewan awoken inside of her.
    Slowly lifting himself up by his arms, Ewan looked down at the beauty that lay underneath him. He could see the desire in her eyes. He leaned down and nipped at her bottom lip before crashing his lips down upon hers.
    Pulling away to take a breath, Jacqueline whispered, “Ewan.”
    Ewan immediately rolled to his side and sat up, before he was no longer in control of his actions. Turning away from her, he calmly said, “Good Night” and went to lie down on the other side of the fire.
    Unsure of what had come over her, Jacqueline laid there speechless, breathless. She had not anticipated for him to kiss her. She also did not anticipate that she would have enjoyed it, as she had.
     

Chapter 8
     
     
    The warmer weather and open sky showed promise for a good day of riding. The village of Werth was still several hours ride away. Too embarrassed by his actions from the night before, he wanted to avoid the conversation all together. Ewan thought it was a good time to find out more about his traveling companion and could redirect any misdirection he may have led her.
    Sitting in front of him, he could feel the way her slender hips curved up to her thin waist as he relaxed his arms around her. Her long flowing hair tickled his nose as loose strands blew in the wind. Ewan knew that if he didn’t make conversation soon, it would be all too easy for his desire to take over. English or not, she was still a lass and even for an English lass, Ewan found something about her irresistible. Uncertain if it was his simple curiosity or his protectiveness towards her that drew him to her.
    “What of yer family? Ye have no’ spoken of them other than yer cousin and brother,” he asked to break the silence.
    “My parents died when I was young. I only have a few memories of them. My father was sent to the northern isles of Ireland to meet with the Normans for a declaration of peace with their Irish king. My mother had joined him. On their way home, they were killed at sea. Murdered by a most vicious man, a Highlander.”
    Ewan could hear the sadness in her voice. Being a Highlander himself he knew all too well many clans were not to be trusted.
    “I am sorry that ye lost ‘em so young.”
    “My uncle Guillaume raised my brother and I, and we have lived at Carlisle ever since. He is my eldest relative so all of my parents’ possessions became his. He was a widow with only one son, so when we came to live with him, he treated us like his own. He lives in London now on his deathbed with a lung ailment. I regret that I did not get a chance to give him a proper goodbye when he left, but his illness had made him delirious that he would have most likely not have remembered our visit.”
    “Are ye close wit yer brother?”
    “No. My brother has joined forces with the English army. He is the executioner at Carlisle. Once King Edward gave my cousin Richard the power to hold trials in his name, several Scotsmen have died at