He laughed softly, a deep sound that had once had the power to make her shiver with pleasure. Now it just filled her with dread.
“Ah, such fire. Such passion. I have found none to rival ye, Madeleine.”
He stalked closer, put his face right next to her neck, and breathed in deeply. “I’ve missed that scent. I dinna think I’drealized how much until now.” Without warning, he lunged, pushing her against the door and kissing her passionately. His lips pressed so hard against hers that it hurt, and she froze with shock, unable to move, unable to do anything but stand there rigidly.
After a second, he pulled back. His eyes were dark with desire. “I’ve missed ye, Madeleine,” he said softly. “We’ll never be apart again.”
She blinked. “What are you talking about? I’m not staying here. Rory and I are going home.”
“Havenae I already said that ye are home?”
“This isnotmy home!”
“Of course it is. What is home but the place where yer family is? It doesnae matter whether it’s this century or another. Family. That’s what counts. And wewillbe a family, Madeleine. Ye, me and Rory, just as soon as we are married.”
Maddy stared, open-mouthed. She must have heard him wrong because it sounded like he’d just asked her to marry him. Which was utterly ridiculous, of course.
“I’m sorry?”
“I will arrange the wedding for as soon as possible. There’s no point in lingering.”
He was insane. Completely insane. She ducked out from between his arms and hurriedly backed away, holding up her hands.
“Whoa, back up there one minute, buddy. You cannot be serious.”
He turned to follow her. “I have never been more serious about anything in my life. Ye will be my wife and ye will raise my son.”
He said it as though there could be no doubt, as though she would leap at the chance to marry him.
She placed her hands on her hips, glaring at him. “Let’s get one thing clear, right now. You donottell me what to do. You donottell me what to do with my son. And if you think I’m going to marry you, you’re out of your damned mind!”
He cocked his head at her and raised an eyebrow in amusement. “Is that so? Ye seem to forget where ye are, Madeleine. Women might speak to their men folk like that where ye come from but here a woman does as her man commands.”
“And you seem to have forgotten that you arenotmy man and there is no way I’m going to do what you command!” She was so angry she could slap him. Who the hell did he think he was? Arrogant bastard!
“Oh, I think ye will,” Rodric replied. His voice had gone deathly cold. “What choice do ye have? Ye know nobody here. Yehavenobody. Who will look after ye if I dinna? Who will look after Rory? What would happen to him without someone to protect him? This is a dangerous place, my lady, far more dangerous than ye are used to. Children are particularly vulnerable.”
The implied threat in his voice made Maddy go cold. Surely, he wouldn’t hurt Rory if she didn’t agree to his request? But she was no longer sure.
“I will leave ye to ponder my words. But dinna ponder long. I am not a patient man.”
He strode out, letting the door slam behind him. As it did, she caught a glimpse of a man standing guard outside showing that she was a prisoner, regardless of what Rodric said.
She spun with a cry of frustration, then slumped against the wall and slid down it until she was sitting on the floor. She hugged her knees to her chest and squeezed her eyes tight shut.
After a moment, she took out her cell phone and held it in shaking hands as she dialed the number for the police. But it merely made a loud beep and flashed to say there was no signal.
This was like a bad dream, a nightmare that she couldn’t wake from. She had no idea how she was going to get out of this, how she was going to get herself and Rory home.
Oh, Hell. What am I going to do?
