Page 10 of The Cruel Highlander's Bride
With a large gulp, she forced the feelings he evoked back down. She was almost positive that at this distance, he could see her quickening pulse and the way her pupils dilated, but she valiantly tried to hide the way he affected her.
She snorted. “I wouldnae wait around for that to happen.”
She hoped she sounded sufficiently put off by the idea.
“We will see,” Magnus replied, as confident as ever.
Ciara reached out a hand and grasped his much larger, calloused one. “Hmph, then we have a deal.”
* * *
His betrothed was calling her family back into the study before he’d even released her hand. Magnus forced himself to take a few steps back from her, immediately feeling the loss of her warmth. That also meant that he had to drop her soft, dainty little hand. It had fit so nicely into his.
Everyone returned to the study, all wearing the same wary expressions they had on when they left. Well, except for Ciara’s sister, who still looked downright terrified. Magnus would have rolled his eyes if he wasn’t so desperate for this wild plan to work.
“We have come to an agreement,” Ciara announced, once everyone had joined them. “Magnus and I will marry, and he will stop the war on his side. Faither?” she prompted.
Magnus held his breath while he waited for Laird Gunn’s response.
Laird Gunn looked like he still wanted to fight that duel. Magnus just barely refrained from smirking at him in challenge. But probably best not to antagonize his future in-laws.
Laird Gunn still stared Magnus down. But when his eldest daughter met his gaze head-on, with the look that Magnus himself knew would bring a man to his knees, the older Laird just sighed.
“Aye, I will agree to stop the war as well,” he said, resigned.
Once again, everyone in this chaotic family began speaking at once. It was a far cry from any family Magnus had ever been a part of.
“Wonderful,” was Ciara’s pleased reply.
“Faither!” the son sputtered in shock. He also looked to be sizing Magnus up for a grave.
“Are ye sure?” Lady Gunn asked her eldest daughter.
But Ciara’s sister’s reaction was the strongest. The young woman ran to Ciara, fat tears streaming down her face. “I willnae let ye do that. I’ll marry him.”
At least Magnus thought that’s what she said, for the words were fairly muffled by her wails.
Jesus.
“The deal is with Ciara. If the terms that we have agreed upon change, I’ll call it off.” Magnus interjected gruffly.
When the young woman’s face paled even further, he knew his attempt to put her mind at ease had failed. He sighed. He had tried, at least. If they could all blame him, then the girl wouldn’t need to feel this guilt. Besides, he had no intention of giving Ciara up—she was far too intriguing.
Ciara shot him a dark glare and then gave a sickly-sweet smile. “I trust that Magnus willnae do anythin’ to hurt me, or else he kens he’ll probably die.”
Magnus just smirked in response. He wondered how she intended to murder him, should he cross that line. He didn’t doubt his bride was capable of handling a dagger, if not a sword, but there was always poison as well. The thought of Ciara handling a lethal weapon was wreaking havoc on his body in absolutely the best way.
Her younger sister sniffled again, interrupting his fantasy. She was clearly unsure about this turn of events.
Ciara’s sister looked back to Lady Gunn for guidance, and Ciara leaned in towards him. With her lips so close to his ear, Magnus caught a hint of her sweet scent.
“For a person worried about his reputation, ye sure have a way with words,” she whispered.
Magnus held his breath, trying not to inhale her scent. She couldn’t get this close to him in polite company, didn’t she realize that?
He quickly turned his head away and focused his attention on her father, bringing his mind back to safer topics. Ones that didn’t involve swallowing Ciara’s sweet breath right from her lips.
“The weddin’ should take place next week so that this matter is resolved as soon as possible.” Magnus meant it to be a suggestion, but it came out as more of a demand. “And until then, I’d like me betrothed to live with me so that we can get comfortable with each other,” he added to the now silent room.
