Samantha James by His Wicked Ways Read Free Book Online Page A

chin climbed high. “Know this, Cameron MacKay! I will never give myself to you!”
    His lip curled. “Know this, Meredith Munro—chaste, virtuous lady, I have not asked you to!”
    It spun through Meredith’s mind that she was neither chaste nor virtuous. She hated the shameful remembrance that gripped her mind—and she almost hated him for bringing it about.
    “You accused me of being a coward,” he went on. His tone now rang with false heartiness. “You leave me no choice but to show you that I am not, that I do not need others to keep you in check.”
    He strode to where his horse, Fortune, was idly grazing the lush grass near the bank of the stream. The animal was quickly saddled and ready. Meredith remained where she was, unmoving. Never in her life had she felt so foolish! If only there was some way she could escape! But on foot, he would be upon her in an instant…
    He returned far more quickly than she wished. High atop his mount, he appeared big and brawny and thoroughly indomitable, much to her everlasting vexation.
    He did not stop where she stood. Instead he walked the horse right by her, on toward the next copse of trees without a pause.
    The usually soft line of her lips pressed together in a straight, mutinous line. Meredith stared at the longline of his back, the square set of his shoulders. Did he expect her to run after him, like a child who was afraid of being left behind? By heaven, she would not!
    Halfway there, he glanced over his shoulder. When he saw she’d not moved a muscle, he turned in his saddle and gazed back at her. His brows shot up before he retraced his steps.
    “Do not tell me,” he said smoothly, “you’ve changed your mind?” He shook his head. “Too late, I fear. You wished to walk, therefore we shall proceed at a more leisurely pace. But I do believe I should make myself clear, lass. I will not pity you when you plead to ride with me. I will not carry you because of your stubbornness, I will not pick you up when you falter or stumble. You will do what I say, when I say. If I tell you to call me lord—”
    “I have no Lord save one.” Meredith directed her eyes heavenward. “I will bow to no Lord save one.”
    His smile held no mirth. “Believe me, lass, had you not come from the priory, we would debate that very point. But let us make no mistake. I allow you to walk, not because it pleases you, but because it pleases me .”
    It pleased him! Meredith’s jaw opened, then closed. Merciful heaven, what had she done? She wasn’t certain if she was angrier at him or at herself for her own folly! Plead with him to ride, would she? Never!
    Without a word he nudged his mount forward.
    Meredith waited a full ten seconds before taking a step.
    This time he didn’t bother to glance behind.
    Nor had he lied. They were soon deep in the rolling hills of the forest. Dried needles that had fallen from the fir trees pricked at the soles of her feet like the sharpest of thorns. Tiny rocks dug into her skin untilevery step made her wince. She had to force herself to walk, emptying her mind of all else, concentrating only on putting one foot ahead of the next. She plodded along, falling ever farther behind.
    Near noon, he stopped his mount, waiting patiently for her to catch up.
    He inclined his head as she approached. “How are your feet?” he asked pleasantly.
    Meredith gritted her teeth. She was sorely tempted to retort that had he not snatched her from her bed in the middle of the night, she would not be in this predicament. Yet the choice to walk had been hers…
    And he was right. She was too stubborn to change her mind.
    “Do you truly care?”
    “Only that you do not further delay our journey.”
    Meredith glared. The beast! Somehow she managed to keep her tone civil, disguising her anxiety.
    “You’ve yet to tell me where this journey takes us.”
    It seemed he never would, for he made no reply.
    She tried again. “We travel north and west”—she held her