with her chin out. “Do ye think the Matheson will be pleased to see me turning me nose up at their laird’s offer? Will yer own father be happy to hear ye caused discontent in a match among his vassals? I do nae need the memory of yer kiss distracting me from me duty.”
“If a kiss is all it takes, I am happy to do the honors.”
His words didn’t make sense to her, but a second later, she understood completely. Gahan leaned down and sealed her lips beneath his. The contact was jarring, like an explosion, and she jumped back. But he grasped her shoulders and pulled her close again. This time, he claimed her mouth, pressing his lips over hers without mercy.
Excitement twisted through her belly, and all of a sudden she wasn’t thinking, she was responding. She reached for him, sliding her hands up his chest and delighting at the way he felt. Never once had she suspected a man might feel good, but Gahan did.
His kiss was even better.
After the first moments, he began to tease her lips, slipping and sliding across the delicate surface as he cupped her nape to keep her in place. He pressed her mouth until she opened for him, and then the tip of his tongue joined the assault.
She had no idea how long it lasted, for it felt like time had simply stopped. All she wanted to do was follow his lead and forget everything else.
But he suddenly pulled away, stiffening as though he was just as spellbound as she. Suspicion glittered in his eyes, and it was colder than ice.
“Ye kissed me,” she growled, surprised by how furious she sounded.
“And ye kissed me back.”
She shoved at him, struggling when he held on to her. “When it comes to seductions, ye clearly have more experience than I. Perhaps ye are the one wielding a man’s touch like a weapon.”
She gained her freedom—or so she thought—until she tried to run and he pulled her up short by her wrist. The hold was unyielding, but it was clear he was in fact controlling his strength.
“Do nae wed Achaius, lass. It will lead to trouble.”
She froze. Gahan Sutherland, son of the Earl of Sutherland, was asking her not to go through with the wedding. It was more tempting than she wanted to admit. She bit her lower lip to keep herself from saying how much she wanted to do as he asked.
He rubbed the inside of her wrist, the motion soothing and yet alarming at the same time.
“Ye know it is wrong. Bari wants the Matheson to help him feud against the Sutherlands. Yer wedding will seal the pact.”
He released her, and for a moment, she stood with her eyes fixed on his. Uncertainty ate at her, and her lips tingled. She backed away before she gave in to the urge to say anything else. He was the son of the Earl of Sutherland. He would pursue what was best for his clan above all else, and she would be wise to remember that she was not a Sutherland. She was just a pawn. An obstacle he needed to move in order to achieve his goals.
“Ye have no reason to tell me the truth,” she whispered.
His eyes narrowed at the insult. She hadn’t labeled him a liar outright, but it was close enough for a man of his high station. Nobles did not suffer veiled threats. But she wasn’t finished.
“I would certainly nae be the first bride played falsely by another clan, either. A few kisses in the shadows, and when I forsake me duty, me own kin will be attacked to pay for the slight. Ye can ride home with no one the wiser to the part ye played. Perhaps ye want to see the Frasers attacked because ye believe it justice, but it will be naught but blood spilling and good mothers crying over the graves of their sons.”
She expected his anger to flare up, but instead he let out a soft grunt that sounded like he agreed with her.
“That is nae what I am doing, lass.” He flashed her a grin. “But I suppose I cannae blame ye for nae knowing sense when ye hear it. Yer half brother never speaks any.”
She was returning his smile when his expression became serious. It was almost
“If a kiss is all it takes, I am happy to do the honors.”
His words didn’t make sense to her, but a second later, she understood completely. Gahan leaned down and sealed her lips beneath his. The contact was jarring, like an explosion, and she jumped back. But he grasped her shoulders and pulled her close again. This time, he claimed her mouth, pressing his lips over hers without mercy.
Excitement twisted through her belly, and all of a sudden she wasn’t thinking, she was responding. She reached for him, sliding her hands up his chest and delighting at the way he felt. Never once had she suspected a man might feel good, but Gahan did.
His kiss was even better.
After the first moments, he began to tease her lips, slipping and sliding across the delicate surface as he cupped her nape to keep her in place. He pressed her mouth until she opened for him, and then the tip of his tongue joined the assault.
She had no idea how long it lasted, for it felt like time had simply stopped. All she wanted to do was follow his lead and forget everything else.
But he suddenly pulled away, stiffening as though he was just as spellbound as she. Suspicion glittered in his eyes, and it was colder than ice.
“Ye kissed me,” she growled, surprised by how furious she sounded.
“And ye kissed me back.”
She shoved at him, struggling when he held on to her. “When it comes to seductions, ye clearly have more experience than I. Perhaps ye are the one wielding a man’s touch like a weapon.”
She gained her freedom—or so she thought—until she tried to run and he pulled her up short by her wrist. The hold was unyielding, but it was clear he was in fact controlling his strength.
“Do nae wed Achaius, lass. It will lead to trouble.”
She froze. Gahan Sutherland, son of the Earl of Sutherland, was asking her not to go through with the wedding. It was more tempting than she wanted to admit. She bit her lower lip to keep herself from saying how much she wanted to do as he asked.
He rubbed the inside of her wrist, the motion soothing and yet alarming at the same time.
“Ye know it is wrong. Bari wants the Matheson to help him feud against the Sutherlands. Yer wedding will seal the pact.”
He released her, and for a moment, she stood with her eyes fixed on his. Uncertainty ate at her, and her lips tingled. She backed away before she gave in to the urge to say anything else. He was the son of the Earl of Sutherland. He would pursue what was best for his clan above all else, and she would be wise to remember that she was not a Sutherland. She was just a pawn. An obstacle he needed to move in order to achieve his goals.
“Ye have no reason to tell me the truth,” she whispered.
His eyes narrowed at the insult. She hadn’t labeled him a liar outright, but it was close enough for a man of his high station. Nobles did not suffer veiled threats. But she wasn’t finished.
“I would certainly nae be the first bride played falsely by another clan, either. A few kisses in the shadows, and when I forsake me duty, me own kin will be attacked to pay for the slight. Ye can ride home with no one the wiser to the part ye played. Perhaps ye want to see the Frasers attacked because ye believe it justice, but it will be naught but blood spilling and good mothers crying over the graves of their sons.”
She expected his anger to flare up, but instead he let out a soft grunt that sounded like he agreed with her.
“That is nae what I am doing, lass.” He flashed her a grin. “But I suppose I cannae blame ye for nae knowing sense when ye hear it. Yer half brother never speaks any.”
She was returning his smile when his expression became serious. It was almost
Similar Books
