Page 85 of The Laird's Vengeful Desire
“That’s nae what I meant–”
“Nay?” Rhona stood abruptly, pacing to the edge of the water. “Ye speak of sacrifice and duty and political necessity but what about me? Nae the lass in the dungeon…me.”
Ian rose as well, moving toward her with careful steps. “Then tell me. What daeyewant Rhona?”
She spun to face him, her blue eyes blazing with emotion. “I want tae matter! I want tae be more than just a problem tae be solved or a buffer to prevent war! I want…”
“What?” Ian pressed gently.
“I want ye tae marry me because of who I am, nae because of what it could accomplish.” She said, the words tumbling out in a desperate rush. “I want tae ken that if our situations were different – if there were nay clans or threats – ye might still choose me.”
Ian stared at her, seeing the tears she refused to let flow and the way her hands shook slightly at her sides.
“Rhona,” he said softly, taking another step toward her. “If things were different, if ye were free, and I were just a man instead of a laird with impossible choices tae make–”
“Then what?” she whispered.
“I’d have been on me knees already, beggin’ ye tae be me wife.”
She stared at him, searching his face for any sign of deception, any hint that he was telling her what she wanted to hear.
“But that’s nae the world we live in.” Ian continued, his voice breaking slightly. “And I cannae pretend otherwise, nay matter how much I wish I could.”
“So what now?” Rhona challenged, “We pretend this conversation never happened? Ye go back tae yer Council and tell them ye’ll force me tae marry ye fer the good of the clan?”
“I dinnae ken,” Ian admitted, the raw honesty of it somehow worse than any lie could have been “I truly dinnae ken what tae dae anymore.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“Idinnae ken what tae dae anymore.”
This is it then,Rhona thought, her heart breaking.This is where it ends.
But even as the thought formed, something rebellious flared in her chest. Why should they allow duty and politics and other people’s expectations destroy what they’d found? Why should they surrender without a fight?
“Ye truly dinnae ken?” she asked, her voice sharper than she’d intended.
Ian looked up, something cautious flickering in his green eyes. “What?”
“Ye stand here, tellin’ me how ye’d be on yer knees if things were different, how ye’d choose me if ye were free tae choose.”She stepped closer, close enough to see the way his breathing quickened. “But ye act as if ye have nay choice at all.”
“I dinnae–”
“Ye dae.” She reached up to cup his face, feeling the slight roughness of stubble beneath her palms. “Ye always have a choice, Ian Wallace. The question is whether ye’re brave enough tae make it.”
“Ye dinnae understand what ye’re askin’–”
“Och, aye?” she stepped closer, until there was barely a breath of space between them. “Ye think I dinnae ken the cost? Ye think I havenae counted every price we’d have tae pay?”
“Then ye ken ‘tis impossible.”
“Nay. Difficult, yes. Dangerous, certainly. But nae impossible.” Her hands slid down to rest against his chest, feeling the rapid beating of his heart. “Unless ye truly dinnae want me.”
Ian’s control snapped. His hands shot up to frame her face, his green eyes blazing with fierce intensity. “Dinnaewantye? Rhona, I want ye so desperately it’s drivin’ me mad! I want ye in me bed, in me arms, by me side fer the rest of me life.”
“Then why–”
“Because I love ye too damned much tae trap ye!” The confession exploded from him like a dam bursting. “Because ye deserved better than a man who can only offer ye a marriage borne from political necessity!”
