Hidden Jewel (Heartfire Series) by Jennifer Strong

cleaned up nicely to a pale, creamy beige. He could see through the thin, wet fabric, noted that the water was obviously chilly, and caught a glimpse of lighter bare skin beneath the edge of her skirt when she bent to look around. An uncomfortable rising under his own hunting kilt brought a hot flush to his cheeks. She paused briefly, turned away to gaze through the trees, toward the ranch in the distance. He wondered briefly if she sensed him there; it did not escape his notice that the young woman had bathed fully clothed, though those clothes had been as dirty as the rest of her. Or perhaps she was just looking for her elderly companion?
    Taking advantage of the opportunity while her attention was focused elsewhere, Micah crept closer, knelt down behind a thick stand of bushes deeply shaded by the trees overhead, suddenly glad that he was dressed in colors that blended easily into the woodsy surroundings. From this new vantage point he could look out and see her clearly, directly before his eyes; closing them briefly, he took a deep calming breath to still the pounding of his heart. When he looked again, he thought he would surely die.
    The sun burned through the dying mist, lit on her head as she stood, turned in his direction, setting the thigh length ringlets of bright copper and dark cinnamon ablaze, sparking off the sun lightened streaks throughout, as lovely as warm honey, like a crown of earth’s most precious jewels. Her heart shaped face was smooth, unblemished, cheeks rosy beneath tanned skin. Eyebrows the same shade as her hair arched delicately over wide blue eyes that sparkled like star sapphires in the watery sun, framed with long lashes, dark and thick as painter's brushes. Her nose was a small and delicately chiseled blade; a tiny diamond labret glittered in the right nostril, adding an exciting, exotic air to the overall effect of her features. Lips moist and full, a deep cherry red, invited kisses by the mere existence of them. Micah barely stopped himself from going to her, walking right up to the little beauty to see if her mouth was really as sweet and welcoming as it looked; with effort, he forced his gaze away. The smooth skin of her bare arms was deeply tanned, the soft golden bronze of one who spent much time out of doors, both narrow wrists encircled by the wide bracelets of interlaced silver and gold that added a marked contrast where they shimmered against the sun baked skin; hard, unbelievably well-developed muscles rippled immodestly beneath every inch of exposed flesh when she moved, blatant proof of much more than mere inner strength, making the young man stare, awed by the sight.
    Turning to cluck at the mare, Ailill began rummaging through one of the saddlebags, scanning the surrounding tree line with narrowed eyes; her gaze settled momentarily on the dense vegetation that Micah was using as a cover and he froze, not daring to move a muscle for fear of her discovering him. Blinking solemnly, she set her jaw hard and pulled the lacings of the shirt free, letting it fall with a wet smack to the ground at her feet, followed instantly by her kilt. At the suddenness of her beautifully moulded body laid bare before his eyes, an inaudible gasp escaped through his tightly clenched teeth. Clutching himself with both hands to still the tremor that suddenly rolled through him, his body responded to the touch instantly; fire gathered in his loins and, with a sudden involuntary jerk of the hips, viscous fluid spurted to the ground between his knees, leaving him dazed, trembling with bewilderment and inexplicable shame.
    Blood pounded through his ears with deafening force as he opened his eyes to find that the girl was once again clad in fresh, clean garments; so fast had she changed that he wondered if he’d imagined the entire thing, but no... his imagination had never been that colorful. Staring at the exact spot where Micah was hidden, Ailill tightened the lacings of an emerald green shirt, the