Chapter 6
Torr pulled back abreath, breaking the kiss. "You have nay inkling what you do, lass," he growled. Warning gleamed in his eyes. Danger, daring.
Catriona felt him then; his male hardness pressed against her through their clothes.
"Have you been with a man afore?" At close range, Torr stared directly into her eyes, his gone dark.
Oh, dear heavens!"You mean... in bed?"
His lips held the slightest smirk. "Aye. A bed can be used, but 'tis nay necessary."
Speechless and overwhelmed with too many emotions to count, she shook her head.
"A maiden, then." He lifted a brow, his look turning a bit scathing. "The virginal wee sister of my best friend—a lass who is promised as a bride to the chief of the MacPeter Clan. Are you thinking I'm daft?"
Still unsure how to respond, she shook her head again. All he said was true, but none of it mattered. She was his; he simply didn't know it yet.
His gaze delved into hers, then drifted to her mouth. "Saints! You tempt me," he rasped.
Feeling the firmness of that shocking male part of him against her, she let out a breath. Though she knew not why, her body craved him. Instinct told her he would bestow upon her unimagined pleasures.
"I'm wanting to take you until neither of us can stand. I've nay bedded a woman in months," he growled.
He wanted her? Heavens, she'd never truly believed he would desire her. She slid her hands around his neck, into his hair, and moved her face close to his. "I want you to do that," she whispered against his lips.
He set her down roughly and swung away to pace across the room. She held onto the rough stone wall at her back, hoping her weak legs would not buckle beneath her.
Come back.She wished to yell the words but did not.
"'Haps you have nay problem with my head being lopped off, but I do," he said.
"I wouldneverwant to put you in danger, Torr. I—"
"Hold your tongue, lass." He held up a finger. "You should never have come here. 'Slud! Brodie will challenge me to a duel; I'm certain of it. I could never kill my best friend."
"He would not fight you!" The very idea was preposterous.
"To protect his wee sister, he would."
"I need no protection from you." Was he daft? She well knew he would never harm her.
"Humph," Torr grunted. "You ken little about me."
She knew all she needed to. Besides, she doubted Brodie would challenge Torr, but she certainly wouldn't tell him, or anyone, if she and Torrdidhave a tryst.
If Torr got her with child, would he marry her? She couldn't think about that now. Her future was too worrying. She had to focus on destroying the curse that ensnared Brodie first, then her future would be much improved. Her brother would never order her to marry MacPeter... surely.
Feeling more herself now, she pushed away from the wall. "Anyway, we must figure out how to help Brodie... and you. That's why I had to come here."
"Taking your virtue would nay help either of us in the long term. 'Twill but drive a wedge in my lifelong friendship with Brodie."
Catriona's face burned at his bold mention of her virtue. "Regardless, I refuse to marry the MacPeter. I hate him. He is a stinking brute. You are the one who..."I should marry.
Nay, she couldn't say that aloud.
"Bedding me will nay prevent a marriage to MacPeter," Torr blurted. "'Twill only make your eventual marriage to him hell on earth—when he finds out about it."
He said that as if it were already fact, an inevitable destiny. As if he would do naught to prevent it. As if he didn't want her. Of course, he didn't; he saw her only as a daft, naïve child. Not the woman who had been smitten with him for ages.
