Logan was there alone.
“It is time. Ye will have enough time with yer lady later,” he said, earning a glare.
He simply laughed, enjoying his Laird’s annoyance.
When Ruaridh got to the arena, the other players were already there. McLeannen caught sight of him and guffawed.
“I hope ye have enough good luck from yer woman to save ye from defeat.”
“I daenae need it,” Ruaridh returned. “I can defeat ye in me sleep.”
“I think ye meant yer dreams,” McLeannen taunted, eliciting loud laughter from the other players.
Soon, the game began, and Ruaridh was matched against McLeannen. They took their stance, and the fight began.
While McLeannen was large, he was still quick on his feet and made sure to use his large bulk to his advantage. He kept attacking, keeping Ruaridh stuck in a defensive stance. Ruaridh hoped to use it to turn the tide, but he had not counted on the other man’s stamina.
They fought for so long and hard. Ruaridh gained the upper hand eventually, but before the count of three, he was underneath McLeannen again, rolling his way out.
Eventually, the judge called a draw so the others could spar. The judges then offered a repeat match, but Ruaridh did not take it. He had to be in one piece for his wedding.
“Ye are running with yer tail between yer legs,” McLeannen taunted.
“I am nae, and ye ken that.”
McLeannen ignored him, laughing mockingly at him.
Ruaridh did not even get angry. They had been friends since childhood and mocked each other mercilessly most times, butMcLeannen remained one of his closest friends whom he trusted the most.
Scanning the crowd, he saw no sign of Violet, so he went to her room and knocked. She opened the door, her eyes dancing with joy.
“Did you win?” she asked, stepping back so he could come in.
“The judge called a draw,” he said with a chuckle. “At least I did keep me promise. McLeannen didnae defeat me. I deserve a reward.”
“What do you want?” she whispered.
“Well,” he purred, backing up against the wall. “I want ye. I have wanted to kiss ye for a very long time.”
“Well,” she drawled, hooking her arms around his neck, “what is stopping ye?”
The dam broke loose.
In the next moment, he took her lips, groaning at the relief that was immediately eclipsed by desire. He nipped at her lips until she opened for him, and he found his way in. Then he was lost, tasting her greedily.
This woman would be the death of him, but he could not summon the will to care.
22
The Scottish sun had a way of being bright without giving off heat. Violet dropped her fingers from her face and jogged up to the receding figures of Sienna and Keira.
The day was almost over, and she could not attest to having found any game she excelled in more than horse riding. She unbuckled the leather quiver from her waist and strapped it to her shoulder, where she had slung her bow.
The added weight was like a tempering massage against her aching bones.
Sienna’s maid took Sienna’s bow and quiver, then disappeared to the McMahon tent, where she had seen Ruaridh disappear the moment her match was over. Momentarily, she wondered how he felt about the turn of the match.
“I thought you didn’t plan on participating,” she told Sienna with a pout.
