Page 31 of Tempting the Highland Devil
Arran knew he had acted like his father, and he had to make that right.Once I get to the finish line.
He ignored the ache in his joints as he made the last move and pushed himself to the finish line.
The crowd below cheered once he pumped his hands into the air to celebrate his victory. From the ground below, he spotted Yvaine staring up at him, her eyes widening and lips parted.
He could not fully determine what she was thinking as he watched her from up there. Arran’s heart pounded so fast; he feared it would burst from his ribcage.
The thunderous race of his pulse and snag of his breath in his throat was enough to send dizzy waves through him. Laird Macmicking finally reached the top alongside the three other lairds. The displeasure on his face was enough to make Arran relax.
“Congratulations,” Laird O’Neil said to him, extending a hand for a shake. Arran shook hands with every other laird except Laird Macmicking, who did not hide the disdain in his sneer.
“Ye were nay even supposed to compete in these games,” Laird Macmicking complained and cast his eyes away from Arran.
Arran ignored him and began the hike down the cliff.
When he reached the grounds below, he marched straight for Yvaine and extended a hand to her.
“What…”
“He was nay supposed to play in the games,” Laird Macmicking yelled as he reached the grounds below too and headed for Duncan.
Duncan stepped between Laird Macmicking and Arran before the Laird could get to them.
“Duncan,” Yvaine tried to speak alongside Arran, but Duncan turned to them.
“Ye two realize what this means?” he asked, staring right at Arran with stony eyes. “Ye dinnae intend to wed anyone, but ye made it to the finish line, me friend. Congratulations, ye and Yvaine shall marry by the end of the week.”
Arran did not object as Duncan turned to Laird Macmicking and began speaking to him in heavy Gaelic. He walked away with him and the other lairds, leaving Yvaine with Arran.
The pumping of his blood from earlier slowed. Arran could finally breathe right, and as the breeze around them towered high, he looked at Yvaine and saw the look of expectation in her eyes.
Their brilliant, green depths shone with so much warmth. He did not know what to think as he looked deeply in them and forgot to breathe.
“Ye should have let someone else win,” Yvaine whispered as she stood with him, her eyes not leaving his.
Arran swallowed hard. “I couldnae,” he admitted, fearing that if he said the wrong thing, she might hate him for the rest of their lives.
I should have let go. What do I do now?He could not think of what to say. He could barely even look at her without wanting to bundle her close to him and keep her nestled against his heart.
“We are to be married,” she continued, licking her lips quickly. The act sent a rush of desire right through him.
“I ken,” he answered in the same cold tone.
“I can speak with Duncan if ye dinnae want to do this. I understand that ye made a mistake, and ye should have let someone else win…I shall speak with Duncan at once and…”
Yvaine turned to rush away from him, but he stopped her by taking hold of her wrist and spinning her back around to face him.
“I will wed ye,” he said, stopping her before she could say anything else to him. “I won yer hand, and I will follow through with the consequences of my actions. Ye have naythin’ to worry about.”
He released her after that, pressed his lips together, then walked away to head back to the castle.
* * *
Duncan fumed in his study when Arran went in to meet him.
“What were ye thinkin’?” Duncan stormed the moment Arran walked into his study. “Ye were supposed to compete only to find the best man and let him win. Ye dinnae intend to marry anyone, so why would ye do this? Why would ye do this to Yvaine?”
Arran held his gaze, but he was unable to find the words to express how foolish his actions were. “I willnae hurt her,” he said finally, making a silent vow to protect Yvaine, no matter what it cost him.
