Read Online His Bonnie Bride by Hannah Howell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Hannah Howell
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ye best watch out for your life," she hissed. "I will kill the man who dishonors me."
"And how will ye do that?" he scoffed. "Ye havenae any weapons, lass."
Her voice was a soft, chilling purr as she said, "An I must, I will tear out your throat with my teeth."
So startled was Tavis that he lost his grip, and she broke free to head toward the door, her slim back stiff with anger, Phelan at her heels. Angus quickly moved to take up his post as guard and escort. Tavis strode over to her, catching her by the arm before she went out of the hall. Neither cared nor really noticed that everyone was very quiet in the hope of hearing every word spoken.
"Aye, retreat to your chambers, lass, but ye'll nay escape me. Those at Hagaleah seem loathe to pay a tithe for ye, so we'll settle the cost o' your release another way, a way to please me."
Indicating that she must act the whore to gain her freedom was not the way to dampen the anger that seethed through her, and Storm wondered how he failed to see that. "Pleasure is the last thing ye will gain ere ye touch me, MacLagan. And I cannot stop ye, I'll be as cold as the coin Hagaleah denies ye. So come if ye will and have your lust taste ice. I'll nay give ye e'en the pleasure of a poxy tuppence whore."
" 'Tis a challenge ye offer me, lass, and 'twill ne'er be long before I pick up the gauntlet."
" 'Tis nay a challenge for a man of your strength to subdue a lass. 'Tis merely rape, sir, a common enough amusement practiced by many a man. None of ye can heed a nay as I have learned well."
What Travis was prepared to reply to that was lost, for their argument was abruptly interrupted. A buxom young woman several inches taller than Storm with midnight-black hair, creamy skin and hazel eyes burst into the hall and flung herself at Tavis. The ensuing embrace did little to calm Storm, but she refused to examine why the sight of the two kissing should cause her insides to knot up, telling herself that the proof that her dishonoring would merely be another careless tussle for the man was the cause.
Dislodging the woman who had served his basic needs for two years was not easy for Tavis. She had a fierce grip on him. He cared not at all for her past a surface desire and was furious that she had come without invitation. The undisguised scorn he read in Storm's lovely eyes only added to his anger, for he did not want to rape Storm but make love to her. The presence of his mistress would certainly aid Storm in fortifying herself against any persuasion he could bring to bear. It suddenly came to his attention that, despite Kate's impassioned embrace, he still held on to Storm. Kate's notice of that as well as her narrowed eyes made Tavis think Kate would solve his dilemma herself. She had ever been hot-tempered and jealous, expecting of him what he had never offered.
"Who is your guest, Tavis?" Katerine asked between clenched teeth.
"Storm Eldon, the daughter of Lord Eldon of Hagaleah, and my hostage. Storm, meet Kate MacBroth."
Neither woman did more than nod curtly to the other, and Kate turned a seductive smile upon Tavis. "She'll bring ye a handsome ransom. Let Angus take her wherever she was headed. I heard naught from ye upon your return from the raid and feared ye had come to harm."
"As ye can see I am in good health. There was no need for ye to come. I have enough to occupy me," he added softly with a meaningful look at Storm.
While Katerine seethed, Storm freed her arm from Tavis's light grip and gave him a smile that was anything but sweet. "Do not let me disrupt your routine, sir."
"My routine shall ne'er be disrupted by my plans for ye, m'lady," he drawled.
"Methinks ye have far too great an opinion of your stamina, sir." Storm marched off, ignoring the laughter her remark stirred, including that of Angus, who followed her.
Chapter Six
The smile that had slowly come to Tavis's mouth in response to Storm's parting remark was quickly erased by Katerine. She knew well what Tavis
"And how will ye do that?" he scoffed. "Ye havenae any weapons, lass."
Her voice was a soft, chilling purr as she said, "An I must, I will tear out your throat with my teeth."
So startled was Tavis that he lost his grip, and she broke free to head toward the door, her slim back stiff with anger, Phelan at her heels. Angus quickly moved to take up his post as guard and escort. Tavis strode over to her, catching her by the arm before she went out of the hall. Neither cared nor really noticed that everyone was very quiet in the hope of hearing every word spoken.
"Aye, retreat to your chambers, lass, but ye'll nay escape me. Those at Hagaleah seem loathe to pay a tithe for ye, so we'll settle the cost o' your release another way, a way to please me."
Indicating that she must act the whore to gain her freedom was not the way to dampen the anger that seethed through her, and Storm wondered how he failed to see that. "Pleasure is the last thing ye will gain ere ye touch me, MacLagan. And I cannot stop ye, I'll be as cold as the coin Hagaleah denies ye. So come if ye will and have your lust taste ice. I'll nay give ye e'en the pleasure of a poxy tuppence whore."
" 'Tis a challenge ye offer me, lass, and 'twill ne'er be long before I pick up the gauntlet."
" 'Tis nay a challenge for a man of your strength to subdue a lass. 'Tis merely rape, sir, a common enough amusement practiced by many a man. None of ye can heed a nay as I have learned well."
What Travis was prepared to reply to that was lost, for their argument was abruptly interrupted. A buxom young woman several inches taller than Storm with midnight-black hair, creamy skin and hazel eyes burst into the hall and flung herself at Tavis. The ensuing embrace did little to calm Storm, but she refused to examine why the sight of the two kissing should cause her insides to knot up, telling herself that the proof that her dishonoring would merely be another careless tussle for the man was the cause.
Dislodging the woman who had served his basic needs for two years was not easy for Tavis. She had a fierce grip on him. He cared not at all for her past a surface desire and was furious that she had come without invitation. The undisguised scorn he read in Storm's lovely eyes only added to his anger, for he did not want to rape Storm but make love to her. The presence of his mistress would certainly aid Storm in fortifying herself against any persuasion he could bring to bear. It suddenly came to his attention that, despite Kate's impassioned embrace, he still held on to Storm. Kate's notice of that as well as her narrowed eyes made Tavis think Kate would solve his dilemma herself. She had ever been hot-tempered and jealous, expecting of him what he had never offered.
"Who is your guest, Tavis?" Katerine asked between clenched teeth.
"Storm Eldon, the daughter of Lord Eldon of Hagaleah, and my hostage. Storm, meet Kate MacBroth."
Neither woman did more than nod curtly to the other, and Kate turned a seductive smile upon Tavis. "She'll bring ye a handsome ransom. Let Angus take her wherever she was headed. I heard naught from ye upon your return from the raid and feared ye had come to harm."
"As ye can see I am in good health. There was no need for ye to come. I have enough to occupy me," he added softly with a meaningful look at Storm.
While Katerine seethed, Storm freed her arm from Tavis's light grip and gave him a smile that was anything but sweet. "Do not let me disrupt your routine, sir."
"My routine shall ne'er be disrupted by my plans for ye, m'lady," he drawled.
"Methinks ye have far too great an opinion of your stamina, sir." Storm marched off, ignoring the laughter her remark stirred, including that of Angus, who followed her.
Chapter Six
The smile that had slowly come to Tavis's mouth in response to Storm's parting remark was quickly erased by Katerine. She knew well what Tavis