Laird of the Game by Lori Leigh Page B

coffee, grateful that Iain had found some in a raid. It was unnerving to see them so poor. They stole nearly everything they ate, except mutton, and rarely replaced anything unless it was on the verge of falling off their body, or about to crumble into dust. The coffee was a luxury to them, and she would never look upon her opulent world in the same way again. Sugar was nearly impossible to find, but Gideon traded fresh goat milk at a local village for the treasure. He was grinning like a bobcat when he presented her with the small leather pouch filled with raw brown sugar. She nearly cried it was such a lavish gift and a tender moment with Gideon when he hugged her and said she was sweet as honey.
    The first sign of William’s return was yelled through the camp. Alex stood like a statue. He could tell there was something wrong. The warriors that rode up to the cottage were deathly silent. William was last to enter the camp and explained the battle didn’t go as they hoped.
    “The Prince almost caught the pup,” a warrior said in Gaelic. “William was so drunk he fell off his horse.”
    Melissa couldn’t understand the words in their heated discussion. Because he was so much younger than most of the warriors, William tried harder than the other ten warriors who had ascended to the rank of Commander. He trained relentlessly and worked long into the night on his sword skills. He had to be exhausted, she reasoned.
    Alex was livid!
    “It was an ambush,” another warrior stated. “The Prince trapped William. We lost one hundred points to keep him from getting captured.”
    “William! What where ye thinking? Ye know better than tae let the Prince put ye at a disadvantage.” Alex had William backed up against a tree. “That could have been a penalty for your capture,” Alex shouted in Gaelic.
    William shouted just as fiercely. “We executed this plan exactly as commanded.”
    The warriors scoffed. “We executed the plan all right, right up tae the point where ye fell on your arse.”
    Alex grabbed William by the shirt and tossed him back at the tree. “You’re going tae have tae sober up if ye want tae stay a warrior in my camp. I won’t tolerate your drunken mistakes again!”
    Melissa was terrified Alex would actually hit him. She ran forward and threw her arms around him. “Please don’t hit William!”
    Alex looked down. His frown should have warned her she was treading on dangerous ground, but her earnest plea got through the anger, calming him.
    “I have no intention of hitting him at the moment, Melissa.” Later, he would beat some sense into his brother. The thought made him feel better.
    William looked at her in shock and at Alex in anger. “I almost go’ trapped by the Prince because ye wouldn’t listen tae me, Alex. I warned ye!”
    “Ye almost got caught because ye were drunk, and drunks make stupid mistakes.”
    Melissa could feel his muscles tighten. She tightened her hold on him, and he looked down again. “Please don’t kill him,” she implored Alex.
    He felt a tinge of jealousy. It was a damned difficult transition in his life to allow anyone else to interfere with his family.
    The warriors noted his reaction and disappeared into the morning fog before the Laird turned on them. Gideon had warned them the Laird was insanely jealous.
    William turned and walked away. The defeat had cost them dearly. The warriors wouldn’t let him forget it as they worked even harder to make up the points.
    Melissa wasn’t about to let go of Alex. She held on tightly until she knew he had calmed.
    Alex put his arm around her, deciding to take her to the Loch where they could speak privately. The camp was bustling with warriors.
    “Ye can let go of me now, sweetheart.” He looked down. Melissa released her hold on him, and her smile warmed his heart. They set off for the loch, his hand firmly holding hers as he dragged her down the path.
    Melissa was afraid of what he would say to her. He appeared to be