cage and unwound the torn sheet she’d used to flatten her breasts. When they were free, she rubbed them hard, trying to relieve the aching. She’d abandoned her corset when dressing up as a man but she still wore her chemise. The gauzy material offered little protection against the night air and her nipples stiffened like mountain peaks.
She pulled the shirt back on and buttoned it then tucked it in. It no longer hung straight down over her chest. Instead two large mounds protruded, showing quite clearly that she was in fact a well-rounded female. Well, maybe her curves would serve her well and allow her to get her own way. Or at least to indulge in some fun as she tried.
Fun. Something she might have forgotten how to have. Since Henrik’s betrayal.
She emerged into the clearing to find Charlie waiting for her. He pushed his Stetson back on his head and appraised her.
“Well, Miss…uh…Layla. You look…kind of…”
“Different?” She put her hands on her hips in an attempt at confidence.
“For sure,” he smiled. “But I can’t quite figure out what it is.” He roamed her body with his eyes and her heartbeat quickened as he paused at her breasts. He couldn’t exactly not notice them.
Layla flashed a smile as she walked past him. “Well, when you do, you let me know.”
She hoped that she was projecting a confident manner. That Charlie would believe that she was being honest about her reasons for running. But she couldn’t tell what he thought. He smiled and laughed but his smiles didn’t seem to reach his eyes. They were alert, wary, calculating everything. Constantly.
But maybe she could use her femininity to her advantage. Maybe.
****
“So why exactly do you need to tie me up?” Layla seethed. In spite of her hopes, it seemed that she’d had no impact at all upon Charlie. He didn’t trust her. He believed that she would try to escape and he had decided to tie her to a tree.
“Look, I’m sorry, Layla.” His voice gave nothing away as he sat her with her back against the thick trunk. “But I can’t take the risk of you running off.”
“But I won’t!” She realised that she sounded like a petulant child and she cringed inwardly.
“Now…I know you’ve given me m…I mean…Mr Jackman’s money back but he’ll still want a word with you. So, I’ve got to ensure that I can take you to him in one piece.”
“Do you really think I’m stupid enough to try to escape?” Layla raised her eyebrows. Hot tears stung the corners of her eyes and she was mad at herself for becoming emotional. She thought she’d got something of the measure of this cowboy, even though she wasn’t certain of it. He’d given her food and coffee and seemed to be friendly enough. Etu had been quiet but she was sure she could befriend him too…if she just had a bit more time. Although time was a luxury she really didn’t have.
“Trouble is, Layla,” Charlie said, pulling the rope around her middle so that her arms were pinned to her sides, “I don’t know you at all. So whatever I might think or want to believe about you…I have to take care.”
Layla sighed. He was right. He couldn’t trust her just like she couldn’t trust herself. She was all action and no thought for the consequences, no matter how many times she decided to be sensible and to assume the air of a prim and proper young lady. It just wasn’t her. If she’d been as wise as Charlie clearly was and not been so hoodwinked by Henrik, then she mightn’t be here right now bound to a tree.
“There you go.” Charlie crouched in front of her. “How does that feel?”
Layla wriggled under his gaze. The rope was bound around her middle and try as she might, she could not lift her arms. The bark of the tree was rough behind her but the ground beneath her bottom was soft and spongy with moss. As she shifted, the top length of rope slipped upwards and settled beneath her breasts. It pushed them higher and she bridled as Charlie watched.
“Is the rope okay there, Layla?” His voice was husky. His eyes darkened.
“I guess so,” she huffed. But she’d never get out of it.
“I don’t want you being uncomfortable. It’ll be a long night for you if you are.” He reached out and smoothed her hair back from her cheek then ran a fingertip along her chin. She shivered. Why was he having such an effect upon her right now when she should be mad at him? The slightest touch from him and she wanted to beg him for more. It was infuriating. But the fact that he had touched her might suggest that she was having more of an effect upon him than she’d thought.
“You could, perhaps, adjust the rope a little,” she replied. Her stomach flipped. If she could just get him to leave enough slack in the rope she might be able to wriggle out of it.
“This top loop?” he asked, gently fingering where it ran over her arm.
She nodded. Her heart beat so hard that she could see it moving her shirt front and she bet that he could see it too.
Charlie pushed his forefingers into the top of the rope and pulled it towards him. The backs of his hands rubbed the undersides of her breasts. Her nipples hardened. She gasped with relief as he pushed the rope lower and freed her aching mounds.
“That better?” he croaked.
Layla forced a smile. Pull yourself together. Be convincing. “Just a little looser. Please?”
He fiddled with the knot at the back and Layla took a deep breath, filling her chest. She held it until he’d secured the rope again then she slowly released it.
“How’s that?”
“Better. Thank you.” Though she couldn’t shake the memory of his hands against her breasts. Her flesh burned there as if scalded. She wondered how his hands would feel against her skin. The impact through her clothing had been enough to rouse her desire. Wanton.
“Now…Get some rest.”
“Yes,” Layla replied and watched as he walked back to the fire. Rest. She needed it, sure. Though how she was going to rest when her body was burning with desire and need, when she should be focusing on escaping, she had no idea.
Layla opened her eyes. Her heart thudded like a drum. What had woken her? More importantly, how on earth had she fallen asleep? She was still upright against the tree and her neck ached from sleeping unsupported.
The fire had died down but the night air seemed milder. An owl hooted in the distance and another one answered nearby. She shook her head. Her sleep had been disturbed by wild animals. She moved from one buttock to the other, trying to relieve the numbness of being stuck in one position.
A strange noise came from the other side of the clearing. It was a soft moaning, almost like someone was in pain. Had Charlie or Etu been hurt?
She leant forwards and peered through the gloom.
Nothing.
She wriggled her arms and pushed out all of her breath. There was some slack in the rope. Her plan had worked. Good. She used her wrists to push the length up over her breasts. She slid down the tree trunk. The bark raked her back as it pulled her shirt from her trousers and the rope dug into her flesh but soon it was loose enough for her to slip over her neck and her head.
She was free. Charlie’s compassion in not tying it too tightly had left enough wriggle room for her to release herself. She lay still for a moment.
Now what? She could hear her own heartbeat as it swooshed blood through her ears.
She had to find the money then escape without waking her two captors.
She crept around the edge of the clearing, keeping to the shadows. Her gaze flickered left then right. Would Charlie have kept the money on him