Page 5 of A Healer for the Ruthless Highlander
“Alright.” The man released her from her bonds.
They both stood up, but even though she was free to move again, he was staring at her so intently and standing so close to her that she knew she could not—and should not—run away.
“Tell me what ye want from me,” she demanded.
The way he looked at her, searching her from head to toe, sent her thoughts scattering. She knew that look—it was charged with desire. Or so she thought.
But perhaps she was imagining it. In truth, she wasn’t sure. He was as unyielding as steel, and the heat in his eye disappeared so quickly that, in the end, she was once again convinced she had imagined it all.
Instead of answering, the man commanded, “Come with me. The horses are waitin’.”
“Nay,” she declared, planting her feet on the ground. “Ye will tell me yer name first.”
“Ye’re brave, bonnie lass.”
For the first time, the stranger raised an eyebrow at her. But he didn’t seem annoyed by her insolence. On the contrary, Leana suspected he was somehow enjoying the situation.
“Speak,” she pressed.
“All right, I’ll tell ye because ye obviously daenae ken who ye’re dealin’ with.”
“If I did, I’d ken who to complain to about this impertinence,” she shot back, crossing her arms.
Leana was not afraid to be impertinent, though she had been warned many times that her bad temper would one day land her in trouble. But she was upset, wet, and sore, and she just wanted answers to her questions. She had no intention of losing without at least putting up a fight.
The man approached her. “Very well then,” he said.
Although she was tall, she had to tilt her head up to see the silver glint in his one eye. The shadows that created strange and unexpected illusions on his beautiful, godlike face.
“Me name is Kenneth Sloan.”
As soon as his words registered, her heart raced even faster than before. For, of course, she knew that name. In fact, she’d heard stories about him just a few hours ago.
Kenneth Sloan, the feared Pirate Laird. The demon who roamed the villages, terrorizing the masses.Hewas her captor. And as much as she hated to admit it, he was far more attractive than she had expected.
CHAPTER 3
“If ye try to escape,I’ll catch ye,” Kenneth warned, sensing the brazenness of the young woman before him.
But he could not help but admire her courage. Most people trembled at the mere sound of his name, but the lass before him had barely flinched.
There was an astonished look on her face, but she did not hesitate. She did not tremble or burst into tears or beg for mercy.
Even the most seasoned warriors froze when they saw who was standing before them. This lass, on the other hand, had only met his gaze with defiance.
A lady of skills as dangerous as they are bitin’.
Ironically, the steel-hard temper she seemed to possess only made her more attractive. She was beautiful, even when muddyand disheveled. But the ferocity of her eyes, coupled with the bright rose of her cheeks, made her highly desirable.
And that was the strangest thing. Of course, Kenneth had lain with and desired women in the past, but never had he felt such a vivid, fierce attraction toward a woman before.
What it was about this girl that turned him on so much, he didn’t know. But he enjoyed the challenge. For it was obvious that as soon as he turned around, the girl would run.
In fact, the position of her feet gave her away. She was only a breath away from flying like the wind, but Kenneth was not letting her go.
At another time, he might have enjoyed this game of hunt and scuffle, but right now, they had no time to waste.
“Hurry,” he ordered. “We have little time. We must reach the castle before nightfall.”
