Page 25 of Tempting the Highland Devil
Usually, the dancers would entertain him, but tonight, they did not. He thought of Yvaine’s words and knew she was right. He had to stay away from her and stop making her believe he wanted her.
Even though I do.It is not right to make her believe itbecause I can never give her the life she deserves.
“Would ye like me to show ye me dance, me laird?” the lady sitting to his left asked. Arran looked around the hall where most of the Highland lairds still celebrated and enjoyed the night.
His head ached, and the throb in his pulse had nothing to do with enjoying the night. It was torture for the thoughts he harbored towards Yvaine.
The woman sitting by his side began touching his chest, and Arran gently moved her hands away from him.
“Excuse me,” he said as he rose from his seat then marched out of the room, leaving the feast behind.
“Me laird,” the woman followed, calling for him in a light tone.
Arran turned when she touched his arm. “Would ye like me to accompany ye for the night? There are many…” She stopped when they heard footsteps.
Arran turned to see Yvaine enter the keep from the garden’s entrance. She faltered in steps once she saw him. Her eyes widened, and it seemed like she was going to speak before she saw the woman clinging to his side.
Arran felt like he could not breathe as tears instantly moistened her eyes.
Yvaine lowered her head and proceeded to walk away from him without another word. While Arran stood there watching her, he contemplated going after her or allowing whatever she assumed sit in her heart.
“Did ye hear a word I said?” the lady asked him again, and this time she moved to his front and took his hand. “We should head back to the feast, me laird,” she continued while toying with his fingers.
Arran was well aware of what she wanted. He had spent a lot of time with the Highland ladies to know a promiscuous one well enough.
If it were some months ago, Arran would go with her, hoping spending time in her arms would help quench the forbidden hunger he had growing inside him. Tonight, he knew it would not.
Not after I have tasted Yvaine.The sweetness of her lips stayed with him. He imagined doing more than kissing their softness. Perhaps running his fingers over the curve of her spine and enjoying the feel of her breathless whimper against his skin before he claimed her lips again.
A ferocious rush of energy blinded him. Arran flinched when the woman standing in front of him touched his chest again.
“Head back to the feast without me,” he said to her with a smile then leaned a little closer and stroked her cheek with one hand so as not to offend her. “I shall join ye soon.”
“Aye, me laird.” She smoothed the hand down his chest. “Dinnae make me wait long.”
Arran offered her another stiff smile before she chuckled then walked away from him. He watched her go before turning to head up the stairs. His shock reverberated hard through him when he turned and saw Yvaine standing at the top of the stairs watching him.
How much did she see?
“Yvaine,” he called, but she ran away before he could move.
Arran did not think as he rushed up after her and dashed into her chamber before she slammed the door in his face.
“Yvaine wait, dinnae misunderstand…”
“I dinnae misunderstand a thing, me laird,” she threw at him, using his title like she never had. Her hazel eyes brimmed with the flame of her annoyance. “I dinnae care about what ye do.”
“I have nay intentions of goin’ to her. I merely wanted her to leave me alone,” he explained anyway, not understanding why he had to. “I dinnae wish to toy with ye, Yvaine…I just…”
“Then what are ye doin’?” she stammered. “Ye dinnae want to marry me. Ye would rather watch me wed a stranger than admit that ye want me. What must I do then?”
Her hands flailed in the air as she questioned him. Arran managed to seize her wrists, and she struggled against him. Her hair tumbled out of the pins holding them in place in the heat of the moment.
“I…” His words hitched inside him. Arran intended to tell her that he needed to protect her. It did not mean that he did not crave her touch or her scent every waking moment of each day.
It does not mean that the thought of her marrying another man does not drive me insane.
He backed away from her instead, shaking his head as it dawned on him that he could not say any of those words.
