“Better. It looks as though he didn’t drink enough for the poison to kill him.”
“That’s good news.”
“Is it?”
She scowled. “How could ye ask that? I already told ye—”
“Aye, I know.” He took a step forward.
“Well, then why lock me up? Why accuse me and reveal me like that?”
He shook his head. “Ye needed to be revealed, at least to Maggie. How can ye be happy if ye hide yerself forever?”
“Why should ye care for my happiness?” she demanded.
“I care a lot about it, lass.” He moved again until they were mere feet apart.
She lifted her chin to meet his gaze head on. “If ye cared for my happiness, ye would have let me tell her in my own time and ye certainly wouldnae have accused me of hurting yer da’.”
He snorted. “Yer own time? I think ye would have gone to yer grave carrying yer secret, ye’re a damned stubborn lass.”
“Well, ye know full well why. I needed to protect my clan.”
“Aye, yer clan, that’s all ye think on. When will ye think of yerself?”
Arms folded, she narrowed her gaze at him. “I dinnae see ye thinking of anything other than yer clan.”
“That’s where yer wrong.”
“Lies.”
He shook his head, his lips curved. “I think on ye. Too much. Yer a damned distraction.”
She opened her mouth then closed it. Jabbing a finger into his chest, she glared up at him. “If I’m a distraction, ye know where the door is.”
Tavish took her elbows in his hands, gripping her tight. “Ye dinnae want me to go, lass.”
“I do,” she argued, even while the proximity of his body made her hot and her knees felt like liquid oil. If he let her go, she might well drop to the floor a quivering mass. Some strong Highland lass she was.
“Ye know, ye can be yerself sometimes.”
“I cannae.” She shook her head furiously and pressed her palms to his chest in a weak attempt to push away from him. How could he see the battles raging in her head?
“Ye can. At least with me.” He pulled her closer until their chests were nearly touching. “Nessa,” he murmured.
“Nay,” she whispered.
“Let yerself go for a moment.”
“Damn ye, I said nay.”
Several seconds passed. She scanned his gaze, expecting him to release her, at least until his gaze darkened in the candlelight. She held her breath.
The gap between them vanished in a rush. She couldn’t say if she had moved forward or if he had but their lips met in a rough clash. He held her tight and she kept her palms splayed upon his firm chest.
He kissed her deep, not giving her a moment to adjust, taking all he could and leaving her breathless. Her head swam and her body ached in the most blissful way. All anger left her, but the fire remained, stoked by his harsh kisses.
Tavish broke the kiss for a moment to meet her gaze. “Nessa,” he repeated once more, before capturing her mouth again.
His tongue swept across hers and he nibbled on her bottom lip, then moved his mouth down, leaving tiny bites along her skin that left her heated. He nipped her lobe, then where her shoulder met her neck. Shivers swept through her as though snow had trickled down her spine. She closed her eyes and moved her hands up around his shoulders, gripping on while he lavished her neck and face with attention.
“I’m going to take ye, lass,” he murmured against her skin.
“Aye,” she agreed. “Oh aye.”
He tugged her plaid and she heard the pin pop off and clatter to the floor. Next came her kirtle and the rest of her garments until she stood naked in front of him. He looped his hands around her waist and drew her close, using a hand in her hair to tug her gently to look up at him. His eyes were dark pools of desire and his breaths came hard. She felt the solidity of him pressing against her belly.
“I’ve been wanting to see ye like this since the moment I lifted ye from the boat.”
She clasped the swell of his arms. She should feel vulnerable, being the only naked one in the room, but there was a strength in her nudity. He desired her with such passion that it stole her breath.
“I wanted ye too,” she confessed. “I just didnae want to admit I wanted a Maclean.”
“Do ye want one now?”
“Aye.” She nodded. “I want one now.”
✽✽✽
TRIUMPH SOARED THROUGH him. Headier than the triumph of having come out of the haze of battle victorious. There would be no greater triumph than taking her as his own.
She fumbled with the pin holding his plaid and flung it aside. Together, they tore away the rest of his clothing and her cool fingers connected with his heated skin. He sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth as she ran her hands down his stomach and pressed her palm over his cock. He glanced up at the ceiling and prayed for restraint.
Apparently no one was going to grant it. She moved her hands up and down him, curling her fingers around the width of him, and he groaned as pleasure pulsed through his body. He snatched her hand away.
“Yer enough to drive a man to the edge of insanity,” he said, as she stared at him, wide-eyed.
He released her hand and curved his own around her rear, drawing her close. He nudged against her, finding her wet and ready for him. God’s wounds, she’d be the death of him.
She pressed a hot kiss to his chest, and he slipped a hand between them, determined to feel her properly. She gasped when he parted her folds, skimming a finger over her sensitive spot.
Head tilted back, she closed her eyes and he kissed the offering of her neck while he moved his fingers until she squirmed against him. Finally, he slipped a finger into her tight heat and moved it in and out. She rocked with him, making little noises of pleasure and impaling herself on his fingers when he added another.
Jaw tight, he watched the show, feeling his pulse pound in his temples. Each breath hurt, searing his lungs. He couldn’t hold on for much longer but, by God, this was the most sensual show he’d ever seen. She sucked down a sharp breath, dug her fingernails into his arms and stiffened. Her body tightened around his fingers and released then she murmured his name and opened her eyes.
“Ye’ve done it now, lass. Ye’ve broken me,” he uttered.
“What—”
He smothered her mouth with his, drawing her up into his arms. She released a squeak of surprise but latched her arms around his neck. He kissed her furiously, desperately. He’d never get enough, never taste enough, of that he was certain.
With her legs latched around him, the heat of her connected with his arousal and the ache inside him became unbearable. He didn’t even know if he’d come here with the intention of making love to her but he had no choice. Mayhap they were destined to be together or some such foolish notion but who was he to deny destiny?
“Tavish,” she murmured when he broke the kiss briefly to eye her.
It was all he needed. She wanted this as much as he did. He kissed her deeply, and rocked against her, while her hands scrambled over him, likely leaving little marks in their wake. He didn’t mind. He wanted her to mark him, wanted the evidence of their desire on him.
Their tongues tangled and he staggered a few steps until her back met the wall. She gasped and he pressed against her, digging his fingers into her thighs. He’d never seen a more beautiful lass. Each part of her seemed to fit him perfectly, as though she’d been crafted for him. Her hair was wild about her, a strange contrast to the white stone wall, her skin pale and milky, warmed on one side by the light of the fire. He roughly cupped a breast that just about filled his palm.
“Tavish,” she moaned. “Dinnae make me wait.”
“Ye cannae blame a man for admiring,” he said against her mouth.
“I can.” She gripped his neck and kissed him hard.
He forgot everything then. The fear for his father, the lies she’d told, the truths she’d admitted. They were n
o longer a Maclean and a Sinclair, but two soon-to-be lovers and he couldn’t wait any longer.
Gripping her tightly, he broke the kiss to line himself up with her. He pressed forward, gritting his teeth as her heat surrounded him. Her body tensed in his arms and he pushed deeper, hearing her breath hitch when he moved farther inside her. Her eyes widened with each inch. He watched the wonder flitter across her face then dropped his head to her shoulder while he adjusted to the feel of her surrounding him.
After a few heartbeats, he moved. She gasped and he repeated the movement. In and out, back and forth until he was slamming against her. She kissed him, touched him, ran her hands up and down his back, murmured words that he could scarcely hear over his own harsh breaths.
He had lost himself to her.
He moved fast, harder. The pleasure built to the point of pain and her body suddenly stiffened. With a cry, she grew limp in his arms, and he let himself go, his peak rolling over him, surge after surge, pulse after pulse. Tavish issued a harsh groan then collapsed against her.
She smoothed her hands up and down his shoulders while he gathered his breath. When he lifted his head, her lips were puffy and her eyes heavy lidded. He swore it would only be moments before he wanted to take her again.
“Ye spilled inside me,” she said.
“Aye. Now ye’ll have to marry me.”
She gave him a light tap on his arm. “That’s a terrible way to make marriage negotiations.”
“If ye wish to continue to negotiate, I’m more than happy to spend all night trying.”
Leana shook her head with a grin. “Ye have plenty of negotiating to do, Maclean.”
“Aye, they’ll be hard negotiations.”
“I’m counting on it.”
Chapter Ten
“I cannae stay in here forever ye know.”
Tavish fixed Leana with a look that told her there was no arguing with him. If he thought such a look would prevent her from trying though, he didn’t know her well enough yet.
“And dinnae think ye can persuade me otherwise.” He held up a finger.
Och, perhaps he did know her.
She folded her arms and sank onto the bed. “I could help ye find out who tried to hurt yer father.”
“‘Tis better if everyone believes yer gone. Then whoever wants to hurt ye willnae try again.”
“There’s a man at my door. Who is he guarding if I’m gone?”
“Maggie, of course.”
“Maggie is likely in the kitchens,” she pointed out.
“Aye, and I’ll be sending her back to ye as soon as I find her, and neither of ye will be leaving the room.”
She pressed her lips together. There were few men, not even her adopted father, who could tell her what to do, but she could see the strain on Tavish’s face. Knowing they had a betrayer in their midst had to be taking its toll. She sighed and rose, retrieving the pin for his plaid and setting it in place for him.
“If it will ease yer mind, I’ll stay.”
“See? Even yer capable of being an obedient lass.” His lips curved into a teasing smile.
She narrowed her gaze up at him. “Call me that again and ye’ll see just how disobedient I can be.”
“Sounds like a promise.” His smile grew wicked.
“Find this traitor and then ye can hold me to this promise,” she said. “I dinnae think any of us will sleep easy until he’s found.”
“I wasnae thinking of sleeping.”
She rolled her eyes, moved up onto her tiptoes and brushed a brief kiss across his lips and then turned to peer out of the window. The sun lingered over the castle walls, silhouetting them black against a stark amber glow that lit the tops of the battlements. “Go to yer duties, Maclean. I dinnae want to be guilty of keeping you from them at such a time for much longer.”
“Och, sounds like ye wish to rid yerself of me.” He came up behind her, wrapping his arms about her and kissing the side of her neck.
A shiver of delicious sensation trailed down her spine and it took all her willpower not to give into his touch. As much as she wanted more of Tavish, they were not out of danger yet. And if they could find this traitor, she had strong suspicions they could find the person behind the fire that killed her mother. Her ambitions might have changed with regards to Tavish’s family, but she still wanted answers.
Especially now she was going to marry Tavish. She allowed herself a smile. For the first time since the fire, she had been able to think of something other than revenge. Once they had caught who had done it, the weight would be fully gone, and she could look forward to a life with Tavish at her side. Even if it was as Leana, she didn’t care. Tavish knew the truth, and he knew her. That was all that mattered.
“Tavish,” she scolded.
“Aye, aye, I’ll be gone but I’ll be returning later to check on ye.”
His arms unlaced from around her waist and she bit back a sigh. How she had gone from being determined never to need anyone to missing his warm embrace, she did not know, but she couldn’t regret it. Not when he made her feel so...so alive.
“And I’ll send Maggie as soon as I find her.”
A shadow of a figure moved through the bailey, the orange light catching on one side of his face. She sucked in a breath, her head swimming suddenly as though she’d stood up too quickly. Her chest grew tight and she pressed a hand to her stomach, feeling the beat of her heart pound hard through her body.
“Leana?”
She twisted and fought to draw in a breath through her tight throat. “I saw him.”
Tavish clasped her arms and she might well have collapsed to the floor had he not done so. “Saw who? Yer as white as the moon, lass. What did ye see?”
“The man who did it.” She gulped down some air and rubbed a hand across her face. “The man who set the fire. I didnae even know I’d seen him, but I remember now.”
“Remember what?”
“When I escaped, I saw a man holding a torch. The hour was late and the glow from the fire lit up one side of his face.” She put a hand to her mouth. “I cannae believe I didnae remember until now.” She met Tavish’s concerned expression. “I know who did it.”
“Who was it?” His jaw tightened. “Hell, I’ll string them up here and now if yer certain.”
She nodded, biting down on her bottom lip. She was certain. She recalled them clear as anything now. But would he even believe her after everything she’d threatened his clan with?
“Leana?” he prompted. “Nessa?”
She blew out a breath. “It was yer uncle,” she said in a rush.
He stared at her for a few moments. “Nay,” he said sharply. “Nay, yer wrong.”
“I know it, Tavish. I recognize him. He was the one who set the fire. Mayhap he was the one who poisoned yer father too.”
✽✽✽
TAVISH SHOOK HIS head, a numb sensation spreading through him, making him feel as though he’d been standing in the bitter cold for too long. He believed her. At least he believed she thought she’d seen the man who had set the fire, but Uncle Mac. Nay. It was impossible.
“My uncle has served my father his whole life.”
“I know.”
He dropped his hands from her, twisted away and pushed a hand through his loose hair. “He loves my father.”
“I know what I saw, Tavish.” She put a hand to his shoulder but he dodged her touch and stared, unseeing at the door. “It was him, I swear it.”
“He would have no reason to harm yer clan. We were allies.”
“Mayhap he had more ambition than to be allies,” she suggested.
He shook his head again. How could it be true? As the younger brother to the laird, his uncle had spent years aiding and advising, and defending their clan. He couldn’t imagine him wanting to kill innocent women and children because of some hidden ambition.
Let alone poisoning his father.
“My uncle loves my father.”
“I only know what I saw,�
�� she said softly. “Pray believe me.”
He turned to face her and eased out a breath, then pressed a gentle finger under her chin. “I do believe ye.”
Her anxious expression softened somewhat.
“But I cannae believe my uncle would do such a thing. I believe ye think ye saw the man who did this.”
“I’m no’ a fool, Tavish.” Her expression hardened.
“I dinnae think ye are.”
“Tavish, pray be careful,” she begged. “If he wishes to harm yer father, he could harm ye too.”
“I cannae think that he would wish either of us harm.”
“Will ye at least be cautious around him? Until we know the truth?”
He let his shoulders sag. He couldn’t believe he was having to investigate his own uncle. “Aye, I will. I’ll find the truth.”
“Ye should do it with haste,” she urged. “No wonder he wanted me dead if he thought I could identify him.”
Tavish curled a hand at his side. Whoever had done this had tried to kill the woman he loved. He couldn’t let that go unpunished. Which was all the more reason to find out who had done this. His gut churned. He would have to consider his uncle a suspect, at least until the culprit could be found. He’d be a fool to ignore Leana’s words.
However, he still didn’t believe his uncle would truly stoop to such an act.
“Ye’ll stay here,” he ordered. “I’ll send Maggie to ye right away. Neither of ye are to leave, do ye understand?”
“Aye.”
“I need to ensure the castle is protected. If the person is still here, they’ll want to make sure they’ve finished the job.”
She nodded.
He turned on his heel, but she grabbed his arm, moving in front of him and slinging her arms around his neck. She pressed her lips firmly to his, and for a moment, he let himself get swept up in the feel of her, the taste of her. He kissed her like a man about to be strung up. He kissed her until they were both breathless and he had to gulp down air to maintain control of himself.
“Dinnae ye come to harm, Maclean, ye hear me. I’ll never forgive ye if ye do.”
He smirked. “Ye underestimate me, lass.”
Loving Her Highland Enemy Page 7
