Read Online FLAME ACROSS THE HIGHLANDS by Katherine Vickery - Free Book Online Page A

allow dishonor to besmirch their betrothal.  What this man wanted, and it was obvious what that was from his expression, she would not give.  So thinking, she jerked back her head, pushed at the hard strength of his chest with her hands.
    "What is it, lassie?  Come, do not pull away.  I want to make love to you, my lovely kelpie…."
    For a moment she had forgotten everything in the grasp of his embrace but now it all came flooding back.  She was soon to be wedded, was to be an instrument of bringing peace to the clans.  She could not, would not allow herself to bring dishonor on her father or clan.  The man was a stranger!  Perhaps that mo st of all made her feel shame.
    "Lassie?"
    "Ye canna......"  .
    "Ah, but I will.  Come, do not be coy with me, lassie."   No woman ha d ever said no to Ian.   They clamored about him in fact, vying with each other for his eye.  Was it any wonder he did not take Brianna's denial seriously?  One well curved brow quirked upward as he drew her into his arms again, before she could say another word.  "Love you I want to, and love you I will and you will not be sorry.  I'll bring you to cooing like dove."
    This time the kiss he gave her was far from gentle and Brianna was mutely aware of the firm muscles of his body as he moved against her.  Before she could protest he had pulled her down with him to the soft woodland grass.  This time she was not mesmerized by his touch, however.  Indignant fury surged through her.  She would let no man take her against her will!  That he was a man used to women and therefore  potentially dangerous for that knowledge , she sensed now.  This was no shy Jaimie whom she could frighten away with a scowl or an angry word.  He had said that he was a man used to taking what he wanted and what he wanted right now was her.  Well, she would soon burst his bubble.  Arrogant oaf, she thought, he would not cajole her.
    Locked against him as she was, there was no mistaking his male arousal. Oh, she'd heard the women talk, knew what was to follow if she did not keep her head.  Conceited toady.  Who did he think he was to fall upon her?  She was the MacQuarie's daughter, not some village trollop he could take because he so chose.
    "Let me go...." she commanded . He did not heed.  Even now he was smiling, so smug in his self-assurance.  Well, she'd given him fair warning but he had not heeded it.  Now there was but one course of action. She would soon wipe the smile off his face with a well-aimed blow, right to that area of him that he seemed to prize so highly. So determining, Brianna aimed her knee, putting an end to his lustful thoughts.  She watched as he doubled over in agony.
    "I say ye willna take me and by th e saints ye shall not!"  Disentangling herself from his arms, she stood with hands upon hips as she assessed him.  He was not so sure of himself now.  He did in fact look most miserable.  She should have felt triumphant and yet somehow she did not.  Fool that she was, she felt nearly regretful, though she did not know why.  In truth, he had it coming, did he not?  And yet he had made her feel beautiful, at least for a moment.  She had enjoyed his kiss, there was no lying about that.  To her mortification she had to admit to herself that  despite his boldness she was attracted to him.  Even now.
    "You're a spirited lass,"  Ian managed to say at last.   An echo of pain shadowed his face yet he regarded her with open and somewhat mocking admiration as he lay in a heap upon the ground.  Ian Campbell had never been so fiercely upbraided in his life, especially by a woman.  He took a deep breath, gratified when the pain at last was gone.  "But could you not just have said no?"
    "I did and ye didna listen."  She glared at him defiantly, hiding behind a veil of anger.
    "Aye, that you did.  That you did.  But I didn't think you really meant i t, lass.  You responded to me, you can not say otherwise."  He met her gaze