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.He found it nearly impossible for him not to soften.The longer he was with Lainie, the more difficult he found it to remember what a conniving little fox she really was.For the first time in his life, Slade was grateful for the past’s cruel lessons in the ways a woman controlled a man.Once, a long time ago, he would have believed Lainie’s silver tears and pale, trembling lips."Well?" he said roughly."Is it a deal?"Lainie looked at the dark, oversized English soldier who was watching her with eyes as hard as jade."I--" Her voice cracked."What are you giving me in return?""Safety from Jericho, and his mercenaries.""Bertram too?""Yes.Bertram too," he admitted.Slade waited, studying her."I was wrong about you," Lainie said after a moment."I’m not strong enough to fight you and win, so you’ll take what you want from me, just like Bertram did."Slade had an uneasy feeling."I’ve never taken a woman I couldn't convince to come to my bed," he said flatly."I never will."Lainie let out a long breath."Do you really mean that? Because I will never come to your bed unless you force me.""Did Bertram force you?"Lainie wasn't ready to answer.She shrugged and looked away.Despite himself, Slade felt a wave of sympathy for Lainie.Cheat or not, traitorous woman or not, even if she was paid for the use of her body, no girl deserved the kind of rough usage she would receive from men like Bertram or Jericho."You have my word on it.You will come to my bed a willing warm woman or not at all."Slade saw the relief in Lainie’s crystal blue eyes and smiled thinly."That doesn’t mean I won’t touch you," he continued."It just means that when I make love to you--and I will--you’ll be screaming with pleasure, not pain.And you'll be begging me for more."A tide of crimson replaced the pallor of Lainie’s cheeks."Do we have a deal?" Slade asked again."Let me get this straight.You won’t touch me unless I--""I won’t make love to you," he corrected instantly."There’s a difference, traitor girl.If you don’t like the bargain, we can go straight to Edinburgh and Bertram and I’ll still have you.Take your pick.""You’re a gentleman to the core," Lainie said through her clenched teeth."And we both know you’re a lady born.Nevertheless, I’m a reasonable man too.I won’t keep you forever.Just for as long as it take to get the deed for the land in my hand."Lainie glared at Slade for a long moment.She reminded herself he had no reason to trust her, many reasons not to respect her, was quite capable of taking what he wanted and to hell with her protests; yet he was willing to treat her better than she had been treated for a long time, or better than Bertram would treat her for that matter given the opportunity."Deal," she told him.When Lainie turned away to tend breakfast, Slade moved with his usual speed.She froze as his hand closed over her wrists."One more thing," he said."What?" Lainie whispered."This."She closed her eyes, expecting to feel the heat of his mouth over hers.Instead, she felt his fingers close over the necklace she wore and tugged.Her family's crest which she had worn since first leaving the MacPherson lands fell into his hands."I’ll keep this until I have the land you promised me or I find a woman who cares for me more than herself," Slade said.Slade pocketed the necklace and turned away."Get saddled up.It’s a long way to the god forbidden land your ancestors hailed from, but we’re going to Willowglen first.""What?""A deal is a deal.I have unfinished business there.A promise I made to a friend.And unlike some people, when I make a promise, I keep it," he told her pointedly.Chapter Five"Where are you taking me," Lainie asked."Did you decide on the land I offered you, or are you going to take me that monster Bertram?"Slade grunted but chose not to answer.Lainie had never been farther south than the little tavern in Ayr.As they traveled, the mountains grew smaller, the terrain more even.She marveled at the flatness and understood now why they called this place the lowlands."So you are a man who can be bought?" she asked sweetly."If that's what you want to call it," he said and kept riding."I prefer to think of it as making wise choices."In September, the trees were turning vivid shades of autumn colors.The summer had been hot and dry and the creeks trickled at a snail’s pace.A few flowers still tried to bloom but most had dried and turned to seed that blew away on the winds that swept from the north."Wise choices? You are in this for yourself," she said [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.He found it nearly impossible for him not to soften.The longer he was with Lainie, the more difficult he found it to remember what a conniving little fox she really was.For the first time in his life, Slade was grateful for the past’s cruel lessons in the ways a woman controlled a man.Once, a long time ago, he would have believed Lainie’s silver tears and pale, trembling lips."Well?" he said roughly."Is it a deal?"Lainie looked at the dark, oversized English soldier who was watching her with eyes as hard as jade."I--" Her voice cracked."What are you giving me in return?""Safety from Jericho, and his mercenaries.""Bertram too?""Yes.Bertram too," he admitted.Slade waited, studying her."I was wrong about you," Lainie said after a moment."I’m not strong enough to fight you and win, so you’ll take what you want from me, just like Bertram did."Slade had an uneasy feeling."I’ve never taken a woman I couldn't convince to come to my bed," he said flatly."I never will."Lainie let out a long breath."Do you really mean that? Because I will never come to your bed unless you force me.""Did Bertram force you?"Lainie wasn't ready to answer.She shrugged and looked away.Despite himself, Slade felt a wave of sympathy for Lainie.Cheat or not, traitorous woman or not, even if she was paid for the use of her body, no girl deserved the kind of rough usage she would receive from men like Bertram or Jericho."You have my word on it.You will come to my bed a willing warm woman or not at all."Slade saw the relief in Lainie’s crystal blue eyes and smiled thinly."That doesn’t mean I won’t touch you," he continued."It just means that when I make love to you--and I will--you’ll be screaming with pleasure, not pain.And you'll be begging me for more."A tide of crimson replaced the pallor of Lainie’s cheeks."Do we have a deal?" Slade asked again."Let me get this straight.You won’t touch me unless I--""I won’t make love to you," he corrected instantly."There’s a difference, traitor girl.If you don’t like the bargain, we can go straight to Edinburgh and Bertram and I’ll still have you.Take your pick.""You’re a gentleman to the core," Lainie said through her clenched teeth."And we both know you’re a lady born.Nevertheless, I’m a reasonable man too.I won’t keep you forever.Just for as long as it take to get the deed for the land in my hand."Lainie glared at Slade for a long moment.She reminded herself he had no reason to trust her, many reasons not to respect her, was quite capable of taking what he wanted and to hell with her protests; yet he was willing to treat her better than she had been treated for a long time, or better than Bertram would treat her for that matter given the opportunity."Deal," she told him.When Lainie turned away to tend breakfast, Slade moved with his usual speed.She froze as his hand closed over her wrists."One more thing," he said."What?" Lainie whispered."This."She closed her eyes, expecting to feel the heat of his mouth over hers.Instead, she felt his fingers close over the necklace she wore and tugged.Her family's crest which she had worn since first leaving the MacPherson lands fell into his hands."I’ll keep this until I have the land you promised me or I find a woman who cares for me more than herself," Slade said.Slade pocketed the necklace and turned away."Get saddled up.It’s a long way to the god forbidden land your ancestors hailed from, but we’re going to Willowglen first.""What?""A deal is a deal.I have unfinished business there.A promise I made to a friend.And unlike some people, when I make a promise, I keep it," he told her pointedly.Chapter Five"Where are you taking me," Lainie asked."Did you decide on the land I offered you, or are you going to take me that monster Bertram?"Slade grunted but chose not to answer.Lainie had never been farther south than the little tavern in Ayr.As they traveled, the mountains grew smaller, the terrain more even.She marveled at the flatness and understood now why they called this place the lowlands."So you are a man who can be bought?" she asked sweetly."If that's what you want to call it," he said and kept riding."I prefer to think of it as making wise choices."In September, the trees were turning vivid shades of autumn colors.The summer had been hot and dry and the creeks trickled at a snail’s pace.A few flowers still tried to bloom but most had dried and turned to seed that blew away on the winds that swept from the north."Wise choices? You are in this for yourself," she said [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]