Samantha James by His Wicked Ways Page A

Damn, he thought viciously, feeling himself weaken. Damn her for swaying him!
    “I will turn my back, but go no farther than there.” He pointed at a tall hedgerow across the clearing.
    She did not argue, but fled wordlessly.
    Cameron busied himself lighting a fire. Sitting back on his haunches, he waited…and waited.
    With a curse, he leaped to his feet. Ah, but it was just as he’d always thought. She was no angel, she was a treacherous witch! I vow I will cause you no further trouble . It had been but a ploy to escape—her appearance of guilt had been but trickery! Twice now he’d been taken in by the sweetness of her soft, feminine form, her facade of innocence. He cursed both her and himself—ah, more fool was he to have trusted her! Well, he’d not be deceived so again, and she would know it. He whirled, only to be brought up short.
    Meredith stood before him…but she was not alone.
    A tall, bearded man dressed in a filthy ragged kilt stood beside her, a ruthless look about him. Lank, greasy hair hung down to his shoulders. Even as a prickle of warning sped through Cameron, another man stepped forward, this one stout and heavy-jowled. Each carried a dagger strapped to his waist. Cameron’s gaze leaped to her face—her eyes were huge, dark with fright.
    Cameron’s gaze narrowed on the stubby fingers curled possessively around her elbow.
    “So, lassie. Would this be your ’usband, then?”
    “Nay,” she said quickly. “He is my brother.”
    Her brother! What was this? Cameron groaned silently. It was obvious she was not acquainted with the telling of untruths.
    “You lie,” the bearded one observed baldly. His fingers bit cruelly into her flesh. Cameron heard her sharp inhalation, but she made no outcry.
    The man’s fate was sealed in that instant. He would be the first to die, Cameron decided.
    Cameron flexed his fingers. The pair did not know to heed the dangerous glint in his eye. “I am neither her husband nor her brother,” he said coldly. “Indeed, what I am to her is none of your concern.”
    “Ah, but it is. Ye left the wee lass alone, and fair game to any and all.”
    “Aye, and a bonny wee lass she is!” The burly one chimed in with a leering grin. Beady eyes raked Meredith from head to toe. With a grating laugh, he reached out to pinch the side of one breast. “My taste runs to plumper tits, but no matter. Say, Davis, if he is neither ’er ’usband nor ’er brother, ’e’ll not mind watching while we mount her one by one—or both of us together!” With his hand he clamped his crotch, grinding his hand against it. “He looks to be a hardy one, eh, Davis? But I’ll wager he dinna have a bigger cock than me! But mayhap we’ll even give ’im a dunk in her honey-cave, too! And then we’ll see, eh?”
    Meredith had gone white as a wintry hillside.
    The muscles in Cameron’s legs tightened. He rolled up on the balls of his feet, preparing to spring. He poised, awaiting the right moment. “I shall warn you only once,” he said quietly. “Leave her be.”
    “And why should we?” the tall one named Davis goaded him. “There be but one of you, and two of us!” He chortled. “Do ye hear that, Monty? He thinks he can best us!”
    With that he jerked her against him. Meredith twisted wildly, trying to wrench away. With the back of his hand, Davis dealt her a blow to the head. Then, with a guttural laugh, he dragged wet, open lips down the white arch of her throat.
    Fire flared before Cameron’s eyes. He waited no longer.
    There was a dull crack as an elbow flashed in Monty’s face. Without a sound, the man sprawled forward.
    Cameron had already reached Meredith. Hands upon her waist, he spun her wide and away. Davis’s head came up slowly. His jaw sagged as, with a single slash, Cameron saw to his vow. As his heart pumped its last, Davis’s expression was one of bewildered astonishment.
    But the other—Monty—had staggered upright. Blood dripped from his mouth, pure malice