Why couldn't he love her as she loved him?
Feeling desperate, she shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. "I will die before I'll marry that swine and be slaughtered at his hand." She approached the window. "I'd rather throw myself from this tower now."
In two swift steps, Torr yanked her into his strong arms, her back to him, near crushing her. "You've gone mad," he rasped. "You're but having a childish fit of temper, aye? Trying to bend me to your will."
She tried to glare around at him, but he grasped her too tightly. "I'm nay a child! Nor do I have fits of temper," she snapped. Why couldn't he understand? She couldn't even enjoy being held in his arms at the moment. She wanted to elbow him but restrained the impulse.
"Is happiness too much to ask for?" she said.
"Nay. You deserve happiness. But rarely does anyone get to choose the life they want, whether rich or poor."
"You wanted to be a knight and your brother's spokesman, and so you are."
"I've nay served as the spokesman in over a year. I was nearly ousted from the clan. 'Tis only because my brother is chief that I'm allowed to live here. And I did nay choose to be cursed."
After he loosened his grip, she turned, meeting his disturbed gaze. "Do you not see? We can help each other. I can help you break the curse, and you can keep me from having to marry MacPeter."
"'Tis nay that simple." Torr guided her to a chair and made her sit. "Stay away from the window."
She would never jump out, but she was glad he cared enough to prevent it. She couldn't get enough of watching him, the way his body moved, sleek, powerful, and graceful. And when she looked into his eyes, she saw his thoughts shifting and changing, a turmoil of emotions.
Each time she was near him, she fell ever more in love with him. 'Twas not that she chose to feel this way. Something in him wrapped around her soul, binding her tightly, making her unaware any other man existed. Yet he was beyond her reach. How could she capture his heart... the heart of a brave, brilliant knight?
***
TORR GLARED BACK ATthe lass. He couldn't believe Cat had threatened to throw herself from the window. He was sore tempted to give her a sound spanking for such a childlike tantrum.
Every time he glanced at her, 'twas like seeing her anew. He supposed the last time he'd visited Farspag, she had been almost grown, but he couldn't remember. She'd always been so petite and skinny that he'd viewed her as a bairn.
But now that he truly beheld her, he saw that her curves were more pronounced. Her face had filled out a bit and was that of a woman, not a child. Her skin was creamy and smooth, with a hint of a blush upon her cheeks. Her blue eyes held an intensity of fierce emotion, which he could not fathom. Arousal punched at him. He forced his gaze away, lest he succumb to her intoxicating allure.
She provoked all sorts of turmoil within him. He should not be drawn to her. Brodie would glower at him in warning or 'haps even clout him in the jaw if he knew of Torr's pronounced physical reaction to her.
And yet, he could not turn her out or send her back home. He would rather die than see her married to Long Nose John MacPeter. The man was worse than a brute.
If only Torr could set things into motion to destroy the evil spells that entrapped both Brodie and himself.
He supposed Cat's idea for finding Elsea was the best one for the moment. Elsea was the only woman Brodie had ever mentioned being taken with. Her betrayal had enraged him beyond reason, but 'haps he still had some ragged remnants of affection for her.
"Though it may be a fool's journey," Torr said. "I'll help you find Elsea. But you must convince her."
"Oh, I thank you." Cat leapt from the chair and rushed toward him. She threw her arms around him for a quick embrace and then hastened from the chamber.
"'Slud," he grated. His body once again surged into a heightened state of arousal. He drew in a deep breath in an attempt to calm his reaction. But her feminine floral fragrance lingered in the room, teasing him.
That kiss they'd indulged in earlier had been the most thrilling of his life. He should not have done it, but he couldn't have stopped even if his life had depended on it.
Damnation, he'd never experienced such quick and potent arousal. Was it only because he had been too long without a woman, or did Cat possess a unique combination of enticements?
Regardless, he had to keep his hands and lips to himself lest he bring about far greater troubles.
***
USING HER KEEK-STANE, Wilona MacRae had witnessed Torr's exchange with Brodie's sister. "I can help you break the curse..." the wench had said.
"Over my dead body!" Wilona shouted.
A knock sounded on the bedchamber door. "What happened?" Alpin called.
