Highland Flame (Highland Brides) by Lois Greiman

visible from her thigh down.
    God's truth, she was a bonny lass. If only he had met her under different circumstances. If only she had not lied to him, kidnapped him, and hated him. But such was not the case, and thus his life now hung in the balance, for surely if he were found in the sanctity of her bedchamber, his life would be forfeit.
    He must be mad to be here. He must truly be out of his mind, he thought, and turned to leave.
    But just then she sighed in her sleep, shifting restlessly and drawing her bare leg closer to her chest.
    Roderic turned back, noticing how her narrow ankle was turned just so, how the slim muscles of her calf curved gracefully, how the smooth, pale flesh of her thigh...
    Drawing a deep, careful breath, Roderic rethought the situation. Perhaps he didn't have to leave immediately.
    It would be several hours yet until dawn's first light.
    From the far side of the door, Flanna's maidservant snored, startling Roderic from his reverie.
    What the devil was he thinking? Of course he had to leave, and he had to leave now, before it was too late. But... his gaze skimmed to Flanna's face again. She was very lovely. It seemed a shame not to say goodbye. In fact, it seemed a shame not to smooth his palm down the length of her fine, bared leg, to feel her stir beneath him, to kiss her gently awake.
    Good God! What was he thinking? Yes, she was lovely, but she was not some humble milkmaid who might awaken and swoon at his nearness. Nay, she was the kind who mesmerized him with a glance and a touch, teased him with a few breathy words, then pushed him into the burn. It was humiliating, and yet...
    She had such fire. She was the Flame. And the Flame drew and entranced him, for he had never met a woman who matched him wit for wit and parry for parry, who could ignite his senses so that he forgot the danger. But flames burned, he remembered suddenly and turned away, forcing himself toward the far side of the room. He should never have come here, but her cool assurance that he could not escape had provoked him into proving how wrong she was. So, as long as he was here, he would leave his mark somehow, let her know he had watched her sleep.
    Silently, he moved toward the far wall. There was a small writing desk there. Upon its surface, he could see a scroll of parchment and a quill. Perfect. He would leave her a note. With one quick glance toward the bed, he uncurled the parchment, letting his gaze fall to the bottom of the sheet.
    Leith Forbes! The name was written in dark, sprawled letters and seemed to jump from the page at him. Roderic sucked in his breath and skimmed to the top of the text. But the darkness masked the rest of the missive.
    God's wrath! So this was the note that had returned with Simon's head. But it couldn't have been penned by his brother. And yet, the signature resembled Leith's sprawling script. Rage filled Roderic like high tide at dusk. He turned rapidly toward the bed, wanting to shake the lady awake and demand an explanation. But in that moment, she gave a small cry.
    He stopped in his tracks, reason flooding back. From the bed, Flame whimpered and rolled to her side, pulling her knees to her chest and clutching the blankets to her. She looked very small suddenly, like a frightened child.
    A nightmare? he wondered. Was the Flame of the MacGowans frightened despite her usual haughty demeanor? But why wouldn't she be? She had lost all of her immediate family at far too young an age. She had inherited the leadership of an unruly, hot-blooded clan. She had sent a man to make peace with those who were supposed to be her allies and had received her kinsman's severed head for her efforts.
    She whimpered again.
    Roderic scowled, clutching the note in his hand. Damn it to hell. He could not leave!
     

Chapter 6
     
    Despite his late-night excursion, Roderic rose with the dawn.
    Flame arrived shortly after. Her legs were encased in brown, supple leather. Her saffron shirt was belted at the waist