Page 51 of Highland Ruse

“Who are ye then?” he asked. “If no’ Elizabeth.”

Not-Elizabeth went to punch him. “None of your business.”

He ducked, and she slammed her fist into him from the other side. Pain exploded in his ribs beneath her hit, surprising him.

He hadn’t expected a woman to hit with such force.

Frustration pulled tight through him.

None of his business?

Had he not spent his days thinking of her, trying to earn her trust? She’d played him for a fool, and he’d danced perfectly into her trap.

He needed to stop this madness and get her bound so he could question who the hell she was and why she’d been sent for him.

Kaid tried to edge behind her to grab her from the back, but she spun around and lashed out at him again.

Damn, but she was fast.

Like a little viper, coiled and striking.

He’d only just blocked a new hit when she stepped forward, looping her leg behind his, and her elbow shot toward his face.

His attempt to avoid being struck worked against him, and he pitched backward to the ground.

Her body settled on him, and she pinned his arms back to the ground. He smirked. No matter how strong a lass she was, he would still be stronger.

He pushed his hands forward and her arms moved back despite the resistance of her fighting it. When enough space edged between them, he flipped her onto her back and trapped her beneath his body.

A memory sped through his conscience—they had been in such a position only minutes before, locked in a passionate tangle.

She hadn’t been a virgin.

She wasn’t Elizabeth.

Who the hell was she?

The woman thrust her hips up and knocked his weight from her as if it were insignificant.

She landed atop him once more and her elbow flew at his face.

Kaid’s world went dark.

• • •

Delilah had not enjoyed defeating Kaid, and enjoyed even less the task of tying his unconscious body to Donnan.

Surprisingly Donnan had put up no argument.

Delilah spooled the rope around the two one final time before securing it with a complex knot Percy had shown her. “I didn’t want to do this,” she said in a quiet voice.

A ghost of Donnan’s usual smile showed on his face. “I dinna want to do any of this from the beginning.”

Delilah nodded and stepped back to regard her work, to ensure they could not escape.

The men were bound back-to-back, similar to how her guards had been tied up when Kaid and Donnan had abducted her.

Kaid’s head hung limp to the side, but a low groan sounded from his chest.