The Highlander's Thief

Chapter Nineteen

Hell's bells he was exhausted. After lunch, McWilliam had joined one of the search parties and they'd headed into the mountains that surrounded three sides of the village. It had been unlikely that Rodd had hidden among the treacherous cliffs and rocky peaks, but there were a few hiding places and his party had checked them all.

Back at Gall, there was also no sign of the two parties McWilliam had sent to the far edges of his estate or the messenger to Grant Kyles of McCrae Estate to the north.

It was well past midnight now and even though he wanted to keeping looking, his eyes were drooping closed. He hadn't slept in more than twenty-four hours.

After sending the others all to their beds, McWilliam began the trek home.

Thoughts of London kept disturbing his sleepy mind. The city was many days' hard ride from here and his men would probably be met with hostility rather than help from their English neighbors. Even if they managed to reach London and locate Amelia before the trial at Leeds, it would take them even more days to get a message of their success from the city back to the Uilleim Estate. By then it might be too late. Rosa was extraordinarily determined to hand herself in to the authorities for her cousin's safe return. If she didn't have exacting proof that Amelia was saved, he'd no doubt she'd do anything in her power to reach Leeds.

He gritted his teeth as a wave of extreme possessives cascaded over him. McWilliam wasn't going to let anything happen to Rosa. She was his. No English Runner or Scottish murder was ever going to come near her!

His feet dragged as he crossed the drawbridge and ducked under the half-closed portcullis. The guard opened his mouth as if to ask how everything had gone, but McWilliam raised a dismissive hand, in no mood to talk.

It seemed to take longer than usual to climb the stairs, and he pushed open Rosa's bedchamber door without a second thought. She mumbled sleepily as she struggled to rise from her bed, but he'd kicked off his shoes and was lying next to her in a matter of seconds.

"McWilliam?"

Without bothering to get under the blanket, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her back firmly against his chest. Then he closed his eyes and was instantly asleep.

* * *

"My Lord Laird?"

McWilliam could feel Rosa's eyes on him even without opening his own. He still had one arm draped over her waist, face to face.

By the soft flicker of light over his eyelids, he knew it still had to be early. The sun had barely risen, but his soldier was erect and ready for action.

He feigned sleep, keeping a firm hold of her.

"McWilliam!" She spoke louder this time, pulling at his fingers in an attempt to dislodge them from her waist, but he wasn't to be budged.

"You shouldn't be here." A plea touched her words, but it was the most pathetic plea he'd ever heard.

With a grunt, her flipped her over and closed the gap between them, pressing his chest to her back, exactly where it belonged. Their bodies fitted together perfectly; he could easily tuck her head under his chin.

She let out a little huff of air as though she was suddenly having difficulty breathing. His own breath caught in his throat as his arousal prodded into her back, giving him an inkling of the friction McWilliam so desired. She wriggled against him, still trying to free herself, and he couldn't help but moan.

Rosa froze. "You're awake!" He could practically hear her glaring.

"And if ye keeping moving like that, you're going to be sorry."