Page 16 of The Ruthless Highlander's Hellion
What of the girl? Why did Oscar do this to him?
The rage built inside of him was ready to explode. He turned the corner and collided with someone.
Alexandra stood before him, her eyes wide in surprise. The soft fabric of her dress had shifted, and part of her bosom peeked out from beneath the loosened lace.
Nicholas’s breath caught in his throat as his gaze locked onto her exposed skin, desire flaring within him like wildfire. He quickly looked away, trying to regain control, but the temptation to pull her closer, to claim what was rightfully his, was almost unbearable.
Alexandra, noticing his lingering glance, spoke, “Excuse me. Nae, I take that back it is ye who ran into me, ye should apologize.”
“Apologize? In me own castle? Ye have a tongue that forgets I am the one has captured ye. Daenae think that simply cause I let ye roam the castle halls that ye are free to speak to me in such a way,” he said.
Without realizing it, he stepped closer with every word he spoke, closing the distance. His eyes drifting over her heaving breasts.
“Nay, I dinnae forget that I am yer captive. How can I forget? Every mornin’ I wake I am reminded of this mess. But it doesnae have to be. Let me and Erica go, O’Donnell. We’ve got nae part in the lad’s abduction.” Her voice was firm, but there was a tremble to it, as if she feared his response.
Nicholas, however, was unmoved by her words, his expression cold as he continued stepping closer, closing the space between them.
Why must she always be in front of me? Does she nae ken I fight to restrain meself?
“That doesnae matter,” he said with a rasp in his voice, his gaze hardening.
"It does matter?" she fought back. "The reason ye brought me here nay longer applies?" she asked.
“I have a new reason,” he said.
“And what would that reason be?” she asked.
“Whatever I damn well want it to be, lass,” he groaned.
He lightly caressed her cheek. He watched as she sucked in a breath of air in shock and stepped back.
“How dare ye say such a thing to me? Ye willnae touch me,” she said.
“We shall see about that,” he said.
“Nay we will nae see about it. I am nae yers to touch or do what ye will,” she said.
Frustrated by her lingering scent, the way his body responded to her, he knew he needed to step away or lose control.
"Move out of me way, lass. I business to attend to," he said.
However, his words did not persuade her as he tried to step around her, she blocked his path and bumped her chest against his accidentally in the process. The movement sent the laces undone, and her creamy pale cleavage was revealed to him.
His eyes moved to those damn laces that he wanted to untie with his teeth so badly.
"Ye daenae need me as yer leverage to retrieve yer son," she said. "Ye have nay use for me, Robertson. Let me go, ye beast!"
His gaze moved over her heaving breasts as she spat fire at him with her venomous words. His last thread of restraint left him.
“I’ve another use for ye now,” he groaned.
Before she could protest, he reached out, gripping her wrist firmly and pushing her back against the cold stone wall of the hallway. He heard her gasp at the suddenness of his touch. Her eyes wide with shock and confusion as he towered over her.
His lips hovered down her neck and over her cleavage but he did not press them against her skin, merely his breath caressing her.
"Marry me," Nicholas said, his voice low and intense, "and be a maither to me son." His words were blunt, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
“What?” she snapped. “What do ye mean marry ye?”
