Page 12 of Tempting the Highland Devil
“Me child,” Elspeth whispered and shook her head, “we worry about ye. We all do.”
Yvaine realized her fate had been sealed without her knowledge, and her eyes landed on Arran’s. He stared at her without blinking, and the ache spreading through her worsened. His eyes showed no remorse.
How can he act so cold?Yvaine could have sworn over the years that he felt something for her. The pain was worse because it dawned on her then that it really did not matter to him if she married someone else.So much for wanting me. I should have known…
Drawing in a deep breath, she closed her eyes and accepted her fate silently. “All right,” Yvaine agreed and pressed her lips together. “But I have a request.”
“Anythin’ ye need, dear sister,” Duncan agreed with a nod.
Yvaine summoned all of her courage and made sure she stared at Arran as she said the words. “Arran doesnae get the chance to play in the games.”
“Done,” Duncan agreed without blinking, and seeing Arran pale satisfied her. “He dinnae intend to participate anyway, right, Arran?”
Arran’s jaw tightened even further. Yvaine felt he would snap any minute before he answered. “Aye. I have nay intentions whatsoever to.”
“Thank ye, braither,” she answered and rose to her feet.
As she marched towards the stairway to head for her chamber, she heard Arran call for her in an edgy tone, but did not slow her tracks.
“Yvaine,” he continued and hurried up the stairs to meet her. She dodged his grip when he tried grabbing her arm.
“What do ye want?”
“Stoppin’ me from contestin’ doesnae help ye in anyway, and ye ken it.”
“That is the whole point, Arran. I cannae trust ye, and so I dinnae want yer help. I will manage without ye. Besides, ye admitted to me braither that ye dinnae intend to join.”
“What else would ye have me say?” he countered, and she stormed away from him again. “Dinnae walk away from me, Yvaine.”
This time when he took her arm, he lured her to a corner of the hallway, pressed her against the wall, and pinned her down with his hands on both sides of her head.
“This is what ye wanted, aye? Ye convinced me braither nay to respect me wishes. Ye want me to marry, so why do ye need to sabotage the competition still?”
“To help ye make the right choice,” he answered in a hushed tone as his eyes searched hers. “Because ye dinnae ken a thin’ about men, and I can help ye chose the best one.”
Yvaine shook her head. Even though his nearness made her crave more of him, she was determined not to give into the thoughts pinning her to the wall.
“I am very capable of findin’ meself a husband, and I suggest ye stop this right now.” When he pressed only closer to her, she whimpered involuntarily. “Ye dinnae want me, so please, I beg of ye to allow me…”
He put a hand under her chin, and his touch silenced her. “Ye have nay idea what ye speak of,” Arran said harshly as he dipped his head to the side of her neck and dragged in an audible staggering breath.
“Goodness, Yvaine,” he growled again. His chest rose and fell to prove the heaviness of his breathing. Their breaths mingled into one, and the merge of their pounding chests made Yvaine dizzy.
How can he act like this tension between us does not exist?
Her eyes lowered to his lips, and he inched closer to her slowly, making the wait to feel the brush of his lips painfully slow.
“Arran,” she whispered, knowing she could not wait any longer. Her hand moved up his chest and tugged at his leine while she leaned anxiously closer to him.
Yvaine trembled against the wall as her eyes closed, and her lips slightly opened. She held her breath and counted the seconds till his kiss came.
Surely if he kissed me, then he would know?He would feel this intense need too.
The moment never came. Yvaine felt the whoosh of cold air slam against her face and opened her eyes to see him heading down the hall away from her instead.
She stood there for the next few seconds trying to catch her breath before her weak knees gave way, and she sagged against the wall, sliding to the floor in a puddle of liquid lust.
Yvaine sat there for a long time, hoping that no one would find her. She could not explain what she felt in words right then.
