Page 7 of Surrendering to her Highland Captor
“Like this,” he showed again.
But when she shifted, he grumbled. Before she could utter an objection, James was standing behind her, his chest pressed against her back. With a tap of his foot against hers, Taryn widened her stance until he was satisfied. His right hand moved from the back of her shoulder to the front, brushing her pale hair out of the way before tugging her arms back. Butterflies began to float low in her stomach.
“Leave the bow loose in yer hands and pull yer shoulders back so they are pressed into me. Aye. Now, try to lift the bow without letting yer shoulders come off my chest.”
Too dazed to argue, she obeyed without complaint.
“Now do it again, but this time try to draw back the string.”
Laura still had her back turned to them, having nearly reached the tree where the arrows sat. Using all her strength, Taryn pulled on the string.
“Something is still nae right,” his hot breath went down her spine.
His left hand went up and brushed against her jaw bone, aligned with her eye.
“The string should sit here when ye are ready to fire.”
“I cannae pull it back any farther,” Taryn told him. “My arms are already burning.”
“That is yer problem then.”
She let go of the tension on the bow and let it fall again in defeat. His hand left her face and snaked around her waist.
“Here,” he said, patting her core. “Tighten these muscles. Use those to bear down before you draw back.”
Under his touch, she tightened her stomach, pulling the muscles there in, if only to get away from the burning, buzzing feeling that lay under the warm palm of his hand.
“Now, take in a slow breath and try again.”
It was nearly impossible to focus with his left hand on her corset, the right still on the top of her shoulder, his chest pressed into her back, and his words traveling down her spine. But she did her best to follow his instructions as best she could.
“Aye,” he praised and stepped away from her just as soon as Laura turned to head back to them, her hands full of arrows. “Just like that, and ye will have nay problems landing the arrow in the tree.”
His approval turned her cheeks a deep shade of red, and she let the unarmed bow fall once more. He had moved so quickly that she was left feeling cold and exposed, despite the layers of petticoats and wool that still covered every inch of her.
“Ready?” Laura called out, completely unaware of what had just happened.
Taryn swallowed and nodded, taking one of the arrows with shaking hands. She turned her focus to the task and let James’ instructions float in her mind once more. She could still feel the way his palm burned through her corset where he had held her. Tightening her stomach once more, she drew the bow back and sent the arrow flying. It landed in the trunk of the tree with a satisfying thunk.
“That was amazing!” Laura exclaimed, impressed by her friend’s skill.
Giving her friend a small smile, Taryn looked to James for his reaction. He offered a proud nod before nodding to the side.
“We need to get back. We have spent more than enough time here.”
Neither of the girls gave any disagreement as they walked back through the trees. Laura had her arm looped around Taryn’s and was chattering away about something, but Taryn couldn’t focus on anything her friend was saying.
“Ye stay here,” James told Laura just as they reached their family shop. “Mum is expecting ye. I will see Taryn back to the castle.”
The two friends hugged each other tightly.
“Thank ye for the adventure,” Taryn whispered, meaning every word.
Laura squeezed her a bit tighter before letting go and turning Taryn over to the care of her brother.
“I can make it back on my own,” Taryn told James just as soon as they were alone. “I dinnae need an escort. The path is lit well enough.”
“Ye may nae need an escort, but ye will certainly need a lookout,” he said with the same mischievous grin Laura often wore.
