Page 18 of Highlander of Steel
As far as he knew, he hadn’t done anything to her, other than taking her from a cruel place. Yes, perhaps he had caused some bruising to her stomach when he had carried her, but he hadn’t deliberatelyharmed her.
But then, he understood her meaning. What worse could he do to her that she hadn’t already experienced in her life? What worse things could he do that her father or brother wouldn’t do when she returned,becausehe had kidnapped her?
He leaned in. “I havenae done anythin’ to ye.”
“Yet,” she replied, her throat bobbing.
“What punishment are ye expectin’ exactly?” he asked, bringing his other hand up to press against the door.
She could have ducked under his arm if she wanted to escape him, and he wouldn’t have stopped her. But she didn’t move, still holding his gaze.
“What is it ye think I’ll do to ye?” he pressed. “What is it yewantme to do, to make ye feel better about yer situation?”
Ailis’s breathing quickened, each shaky inhale pushing up her ample bosom. Breasts that would barely fit in his palm, though his hands were large. At present, her ill-fitting dress was trying to flatten her generous bosom, the seams straining.
“Well?” he prompted. “I would like to ken what kind of villain ye think I am.”
His gaze flitted to her slightly parted lips. If he bent his head just a little more, he could kiss her.
Would that make me more of a villain to ye?
He grazed his teeth across his lower lip, powerful temptation pulling him nearer. Temptation unlike anything he had everexperienced. Just as he had never had much opportunity to learn how to express his amusement, he had never had much chance to allow himself to be distracted by women. Even so, no woman had ever drawn him in the way Ailis was doing.
The instant before he threw all caution and reason to the wind, he managed to regain control of his discipline.Thathabit was as ingrained in him as the bluish web of his veins, though he had never expected it to be useful in such a situation.
Before he could say a word to dismiss her or reassure her, a loud knock sounded at the door.
Ailis jumped in fright. “I swear ye all mean to scare me into an early grave,” she hissed, her hand flying to her chest.
“Me Laird?” Peter called from the hallway.
Not a moment too soon, Killian wrapped his arm around Ailis’s waist and pulled her forward, out of the way of the swinging door.
She stumbled against him, her hands gripping his shirt in alarm. But that desperate hold didn’t last, as she let go immediately and hurried off to the side so that Peter wouldn’t jump to unsavory conclusions.
She needn’t have worried; Killian’s man-at-arms entered with a grim expression on his usually cheery face, paying no attention to her whatsoever.
“Ye’ve received a missive, me Laird,” Peter said grimly, handing over a sealed letter.
Killian took it and stared at the crest imprinted on the seal.
“It’s from me family, is it nae?” Ailis asked, edging closer.
Killian glanced at her. “Get out, lass. One interruption is enough.”
She hesitated, her eyebrows rising, her mouth opening slightly as if she wanted to say something. Then, her mouth closed and her eyebrows lowered, and, with a dip of her head, she hurried out without another word.
It seemed that she wanted to hear what her family had to say as much as Killian did.
He waited until he was certain that she wasn’t loitering outside to eavesdrop before he opened the missive and began to read. The message was short and blunt, and not at all what he had anticipated.
Laird MacNairn, whether ye kill her or nae, it makes little difference to us. It’s nae the lass we want; it’s land.
Laird Ainsley hadn’t even bothered to add his signature. The short, cruel note was signed by Ailis’s brother, Murdock Lyall.
“Bastards,” Killian hissed before he could stop himself. “Those bastards.”
It was no wonder the lass was terrified. No wonder she hadn’t put up much of a fight when he had stolen her from her chambers. No wonder Murdock had tried to chase them down with archers who hadn’t hesitated to shoot. No wonder the pursuit hadn’t lasted long.
