“A broadsword the merchant wouldna have seen and informed my uncle of my presence if you hadna taken it. Swear to me now!”
Emerald eyes glittered. “I have sworn my fealty to you, led you to Father Lamond, and done whatever possible to aid you. That you dinna trust me to have wisdom in my decisions is an insult.” She jabbed her finger into his chest. “I am nay a child who needs tending, but a woman—” She jabbed again. “One not afraid to fight.”
As she started to shove her finger into his chest for the third time, he caught her wrist and found her pulse racing. Her other hand came up, and he caughtthat as well.
She was afraid, but she didn’t look away. Never had he met a lass as passionate, one who would fight, give all, for someone she loved. What would it be like to have such a woman in his life? In his bed?
Irritated thoughts of her had worked their way into his mind when he should be thinking of naught but his goal of seizing his home, hescowled at her.
She angled her jaw in defiance.
God’s blade, what a lass. “You will heed my warning!”
“I have pledged my fealty to you.”
Given under duress. He could feel his back teeth grinding. Blast the obstinate woman. He wanted to rail at her, shake her until she saw reason, but with her stubbornness, if he threatened her further, she’d likely dig her heels in deeper.
She opened her mouth to say more.
Out of sheer reaction to smother whatever reckless words she’d spew and shove his ire higher, he claimed her mouth.
Elspet’s silky lips stilled against his.
Her mouth was soft, her body warm, and her sensual taste tore through him until his intention to silence her collapsed to need. Like a man parched, he skimmed his hands up to cup her face, teased her with his tongue, teeth, until herbody trembled.
On a moan, her lips parted, and he angled her jaw and took the kiss deeper, hauling her against him until her every curve was molded against him.
Images of her naked in his bed screamed through his mind, of touching her, tastingher every inch.
The blare of a distant horn sounded.
Blood pounding hot, Cailin released her, stunned by his actions as he stared at her lips swollen from his kisses, frustrated he wanted more. Blast it, what was he thinking?
Thinking?
No, lost to need, lucid thought had vacated his mind.
Emerald eyes flared as she stepped back. “Is that how yousilence women?”
“Nay,” he ground out. He took a much-needed step back, his body still humming with desire, her taste still roaring through his every breath. Furious he’d lost control, he glared at her, unsure of who he was angrier with, himself or her.
Irritated at the intensity of how much he wanted her, he tugged up his monk’s hood. “Follow me.”
* * * *
Cailin headed toward the exit, and Elspet glared at him. Her body still tingled where he’d touched her, his taste still warm on her tongue. Damn him! “Do you think you can kiss me like a barbarian and walk away? Is that what they teach you in when you become a knight?”
He whirled. Beneath the faint light, he stalked toward her, blue eyes darkening like a storm. Wolf’s eyes, those of a predator, need churning within. “I have never forced a lady,” he said through clenched teeth. “Nor was I the only one taking part in the kiss!”
Emotions tangled in her mind, but fairness insisted upon truth. Whatever else, he was right. What could she say? She hadn’t wanted the kiss, but after their heated encounter, now she wanted more.
“Nor,” he continued, “does it matter. It meant nothing.” He strode toward the exit.
Like a slap to the face, she stared at his retreating form. Though she had been kissed before, never had anyone moved her like Cailin. Move her? A pathetic name for the heat searing through her every inch, of how for a moment every fiber felt alive, as if his taste and touch wasair to breathe.
“That meant nothing to you?” she demanded.
He kept walking.
