looked wanton. Gooseflesh covered her skin. Every time she moved, locks of her wet hair rained water down her back, like daggers of ice scraping her skin raw.
Her teeth were chattering by the time she finished brushing her hair into some semblance of order. She tossed the brush aside, then wrapped the damp blanket around her again. Tucking the material under her arms, she clasped the edges together over her chest and rushed back to camp.
She was in too much of a hurry to bother putting her shoes on. All she could think about was the roaring fire Alec had surely started by now, and she kept telling herself she'd be as warm as a freshly baked biscuit in just a few minutes.
The last rays of sunlight slanted through the branches. Jamie stumbled to an abrupt stop when she reached the clearing. There was no fire waiting to warm her.
Alec wasn't waiting either.
He was sound asleep. Jamie would have screamed at him if she'd had the strength.
She feared her best effort would have been a pitiful wail, though, so she didn't say anything.
He looked damned comfortable. And warm. He was wrapped in his plaid. His back rested against the same tree trunk he'd sought out earlier. His eyes were closed, his breathing deep and even.
She didn't know what she was supposed to do. Tears of frustration trailed down her cheeks. She glanced around, looking for a spot that would protect her against the rising wind, then decided it really didn't matter where she slept.
The linen cloth she'd wrapped around herself was too wet now to offer any protection.
What did it matter where she slept? She'd freeze to death before morning light.
Jamie took her time walking over to him. She timidly nudged his leg with her toes.
'Alec?'
He'd been patiently waiting for her to come to him. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at her.
He decided he wouldn't make her ask. She was shaking almost violently. There were tears in her eyes and he knew she was close to losing her control.
Without showing a hint of expression, Alec held out the edges of his plaid and opened his arms to her.
Jamie didn't hesitate. She dropped her blanket and fell into his arms. She landed with an unladylike thud against his chest, heard him grunt in reaction, and shivered her apology against the crook of his neck.
Alec wrapped his plaid around her. Her knees were wedged between his thighs.
With one hand he held her tightly against him, and with the other he forced her legs down until she was stretched out on top of him.
Her pelvis was flat against the junction of his thighs. Alec draped one leg over both of hers, trying to absorb the chill with his heat.
She smelled as if she'd just bathed in wildflowers. Her skin was as smooth as the petals of a rose.
It only took a few minutes for Jamie to get warm again. She let out a long sigh of contentment. His wonderful heat was making her light-headed.
He really wasn't such a bad sort, after all. He was a Scot, aye, and a giant as well, but he was her giant she supposed, and she knew he wouldn't let anything happen to her. He would always keep her safe.
She smiled against his chest. She just might let him kiss her tomorrow. She had to sigh then, for that thought was such an unladylike one, and she'd only known her husband for one short day. Aye, it was shameful thinking on her part.
Still, Jamie decided she had better revise her opinion of Alec Kincaid. If she really put her mind to it, she was sure she'd be able to find a few more redeeming qualities.
She was just drifting off to sleep when Alec spoke to her.
'Jamie?'
'Yes, Alec?' she whispered against his ear.
'You're wearing my plaid.'
Chapter Seven
The man was a pig.
Alec Kincaid had no redeeming qualities. His sense of humor was simply beyond her understanding. After making that outrageous remark about wearing his ugly plaid, he had the audacity to laugh. His chest rumbled so with his amusement that Jamie felt as though she were in the center of an earthquake.
He knew she thought he was jesting with her. She wouldn't have glared up at him if she'd known what he was really contemplating. Her innocence and his promise kept her mind free of any fear, though. Alec wanted her, aye, but he didn't want her afraid. He wanted her willing. And hot.
Jamie stacked her hands on his chest, rested her chin on top, then stared into his eyes. 'Your sense of humor is as warped as a saddle left out in the rain too long.'
She waited for his reply. Alec didn't respond to her barb. He just continued to stare at her mouth. Jamie soon became self-conscious. She instinctively wet her lips. Alec's expression hardened in reaction. Jamie didn't know what to make of that.
'I won't let you bait me so easily once I know how your mind works,' she told him.
'That day will never come,' he predicted.
'Why are you staring at me like that?'
'Like what?'
'Like you want to kiss me again,' she said. 'Am I good at kissing, then?'
'No,' he answered.
The tenderness in his voice took the sting out of his insult.
'Well, why not, do you suppose?'
A slow grin, heartbreakingly sensual, transformed his face. Jamie was warmed by it. This one could certainly be a charmer if he ever put his mind to it, she decided. Fortunately, the man was too dull to realize his own special magic.
Jamie drummed her fingertips on his chest while she waited for his answer. When he continued to keep silent, she came to the conclusion that he didn't like kissing her at all. That realization hurt. 'I'm not any good at it, am I?'
'Good at what?' he asked, his voice deceptively mild.
'At kissing,' she snapped. 'Will you please pay attention to what I'm saying?'
'No, baby, you aren't any good at it,' he answered. 'Yet.'
'Don't call me baby,' Jamie whispered. 'It isn't proper,' she added. 'Besides, you don't say it the same way Papa did.'
Alec laughed. 'Hell, I hope not.'
Jamie smiled in spite of her irritation. Alec's voice was so appealing. That burr of his could thrill the breath right out of her.
'You didn't answer my question,' she blurted out as he started to massage the backs of her thighs. His thumbs had slid up under the hem of her chemise. Jamie pretended not to notice. It felt so very wonderful.
'I did answer you.'
'I don't remember.'
'I said no.'
'No? You weren't jesting with me?'
'No.'
'Alec, if I'm not any good at kissing, it's your fault, not mine. Maybe you aren't any good, either. What think you of that possibility?'
'I think you've lost your mind.' Alec smiled over the outrage that statement caused.
'I refuse to feel inferior about this,' Jamie said. 'You're the only man I've ever kissed, and the responsibility therefore belongs to you.'
'Didn't the man you were pledged to ever kiss you? I know he came to see you on several occasions.'
