Page 18 of Highlander's Wild Lass
“And,” she began, “when I do eventually marry, I want it to be for love nae because it’s the practical solution to our problems.”
Anthony took a slow step forward. “It’s love ye be wantin’, is it?”
“Aye,” she said, nodding her head in mock-seriousness. “I’m sure ye have heard of the word before with all those fancy tutors ye had as a lad.”
“Oh, aye, Celestia. I have,” he said, his voice low and gravelly in his throat.
He was close to her now and slowly moving her toward the wall. A small gasp escaped her lips when her back knocked against the wood. He lowered his face ever closer, his mouth near her ear. “I dinnae say that there wouldnae be passion, lass.”
He pulled back slightly, enough to see the blush erupt on Celestia’s cheeks. She looked at him, wide-eyed, unmoving. Her lips were lush, tinged red from the cool evening. Celestia pouted, inviting him closer to her. He leaned in again, inhaling the beguiling scent of lavender.
Anthony meant to stop right there, leave her bothered and wanting more. But something was pulling him closer to her and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
He kissed her.
To his surprise, she didn’t pull away or berate him, or beat him senseless. Celestia, frozen at first, leaned into him and grabbed at his elbow tugging him ever-so-slightly closer.
He could hear the blood roaring in his ears and his heart thumping in his chest. Anthony raised his hand, placing it gently around the nape of her neck, pressing her to him.
The small movement broke the spell they had found themselves in and she pushed him gently away. He turned with her, watching her bring her fingers to her lips.
She steadied her gaze on him and dropped her hand. She pursed her lips, overcoming her sudden shyness. “Ye… can be on yer way… I need to finish for the night.”
Anthony left her wordlessly and returned to Castle Ferguson. He paced in his rooms, a blazing fire raging in the large stone fireplace with Sebastian lounging in an overstuffed armchair.
Sebastian’s leg draped lazily over the arm of the chair with a glass of wine in his hand. “Ye need to take a breath, man. What did ye expect, a week would pass and Celestia would suddenly agree to wed ye?”
“Aye…I thought she’d see that it’s a good idea, and it seemed…that she was considerin’ it,” Anthony said, unpinning his brooch and throwing his plaid on his desk chair. He unbuttoned his waistcoat and headed to the bottles of whisky and wine collected in a neat group on his bookshelf.
He poured himself a glass and fell into his desk chair. “She is the most maddenin’ woman. She doesnae want help from anyone.”
“Do ye blame her?”
“What do ye mean?” he asked gruffly.
“She’s been the woman of the house since her mother died, and ye’re comin’ in disruptin’ her life, askin’ her to marry ye damn well out of the blue. Imagine how it feels.”
Anthony grumbled, leaning back in his chair, and looking up at the gray stone ceiling. “I ken…I ken…What should I do then?”
“Ye can forget about her and go for someone who is actually interested in ye,” Sebastian suggested. “Ye can have the pick of the litter. I heard Chief MacPherson is lookin’ to marry off his daughter.”
“I’m serious, Bas,” he said, frowning. “I’m nae interested in weddin’ children. I told McDunn that and I’ll tell MacPherson they very same.”
“She’d come with a sizable dowry,” Sebastian said reasonably.
“I dinnae care about the size the dowry,” Anthony told him.
“Obviously, or ye wouldnae be after Celestia.”
Sebastian stood from the chair, taking one more long pull of his wine. He placed the glass loudly on Anthony’s desk. “Ye mentioned courtin’ the McLean lass, so do that.”
Anthony sat quietly, staring at the amber liquid in his glass.
“Ye’ve been at odds since ye were wee, and that’s really all ye ken about each other. Open up to her, ye are shite at it, but if ye want her, ye might just have to. Because we both ken ye dinnae do that the last time ye tried to court her.”
“Aye…” Anthony mumbled.
“I’m off to bed,” Sebastian said and left Anthony.
