Highlander’s Wicked Temptation: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel by Maddie MacKenna (red novels TXT) 📗

Aidan will be outside as well. So, what do ye say? Care to join me outside for a wee bit of fun?”

Cleo mulled over the idea of learning how to use a bow and arrow. It had been a weapon that her father insisted she never touched. According to him, it was only for the noble and cunning. Cleopatra was thrilled to be able to learn something new. Setting her irritation aside, she nodded her head.

“Yes, I would love to. Anything to get outside for a few hours.”

Jude’s smile stretched across his lips as he extended his hand to her. Cleopatra glanced at him for a moment before slipping her hand into his and allowing him to lead her out of the side door and into the open courtyard.

She smiled as the sun hit her skin and warmed her face. It seemed like an eternity since the last time she had felt the grass under foot. A part of her wanted to kick off her shoes and just go running, but she knew that if she did, Jude may take it the wrong way and keep her locked up even longer.

Glancing to her left, she saw hay targets set up on one end and a quiver of arrows with the bow leaning against it. She turned and looked to Jude, stunned by what she’d seen. After all, she had thought that it was just a joke that he was trying to get her outside, but clearly learning how to shoot was his top priority for her.

“In the back of my mind, I thought that you were just jesting with me. I half expected a picnic of sorts,” Cleo said as she began walking over to the bow and arrows waiting for her at the other end of the field.

“Do ye nae think that it would be wise for ye to learn how to do this?” Jude asked as he followed closely behind her.

“No, I think it’s a lovely idea. I just wasn’t expecting it.”

“Well, shall we begin?” Jude asked as he lifted the bow and handed it to her. “I had this one made especially for ye.”

“And why did you do that?” Cleo asked as she studied the wooden bow in her hand.

The wood had been etched and it had little flowers that raced up to the point where the string met the wood. It wasn’t nearly as heavy as she thought it would be. Nor was it like the other bows she had seen that were merely hunks of wood with no decorations to them at all. To her untrained eyes, they simply looked like twigs bent to an arch and tied down with string.

“Do ye like it?” Jude asked. “I had hoped that it would be a weddin’ gift, but I’m afraid that event is goin’ to have to be postponed a wee bit longer.”

“It is lovely,” Cleopatra said as she ran her thumb over the little flowers that lined the ridge of the bow.

“All right then, let’s see what ye can do,” Jude said as he walked around her. Cleopatra was highly aware of how close Jude was to her. The last time that he was in such proximity, they had been rolling around the bed and her body yearned for him to hold her like that once more, but she knew being out in the open those moments would have to wait.

“Take the bow and hold it up in front of ye. Now simply slip the notch of the arrow into the string and use yer knuckles to hold the arrow up in place…Good.”

Cleopatra did as she was told and found the little notch at the end of the arrow where it met the bow. The feathers that stuck out tickled her nose as she studied the point of the arrow that seemed to be made of a shiny stone. She placed the arrow on top of her knuckles and slowly pulled the string back. The arrow shifted and moved away from her knuckles. Had she not been pinching the feathers of the arrow it would have fallen from her.

Frustrated, she tried to steady the arrow once more on her knuckles and pull back, but again the arrow shifted, making it nearly impossible to keep it straight. Irritated, she lowered the arrow and the bow, and turned to Jude. “What am I doing wrong?”

“Ye’re holdin’ the arrow too tight. Ye daenae need to pinch it so hard. It will pull back with the string,” he said as he cupped his hand around hers.

“Now pull in a deep breath and exhale. On the next breath, I want ye to pull back the string and release as ye exhale.”

Nodding, Cleopatra understood completely what she needed to do. Yet all she could think about was Jude standing behind her, holding her hand. She pulled in a deep breath as instructed and she pulled back the string of the bow, as she exhaled, she released the arrow.

She held her breath as she watched the arrow shoot from the bow and soar across the field before diving directly into the grass without reaching the target. Jude’s soft laughter filled her ear as they both watched the arrow miss its target completely.

“Well, that’s a good start,” Jude said. “I’m impressed that ye got it that far.”

“Maybe the targets are too far away for me. Perhaps we should move them closer,” Cleopatra said as her face scrunched with displeasure at failing to hit the target.

“Nonsense. They are at the right settin’. Ye just need to pull back and have a bit more conviction when ye release. I want ye to feel the tension in the bow and have it bend to yer will. A little more strength, and ye’ll see the arrow fly to yer target.”

Mumbling under her breath, Cleopatra reached for a second arrow. Jude stepped back from her but kept his hands on her shoulders. The warmth of his hands on her caused the fire within her to ignite. She found