Capturing A Highland Knight

by Hyman, F. S.

  “I willnae marry ye, Derek MacDougal! I have a betrothed, and soon I will be going back home to wed him. So ye might as well release me from this farce!” she said to him hotly.

  For some reason, hearing her say that she would wed another made Derek’s anger return. He strode up to her and pinned her against the wall with his body. Instantly, his memory returned of the feel of her body against him as he drove into her heat. His breath quickened. He noticed that her breath quickened also, but he could not tell if it was from anger, fear, or if she was remembering also.

  “I find, Annabelle, that I canna allow that to happen,” he said into her ear.

  Annabelle stiffened. The memories came flooding back of the feel of him against her body, what she thought had been a dream. Her breath quickened. His breath on her ear as he spoke sent shivers down her spine.

  “Why willnae ye release me, Derek? It will be so easy to just allow me to return home. My betrothed need not ken what has happened. Maybe he willnae notice that I wasnae a virgin on my wedding night,” Annabelle asked as a whisper trying to reason with him.

  “But I will ken what has happened. Because now that I’ve had a taste of ye, I realize I want some more. And I willnae forget,” he said and connected his lips to hers.

  Annabelle froze. She put her hands against her chest to push him away, but he resisted, and the kiss that started off soft became hard and demanding. She struggled against him, but he would not relent. His arms came around her and pulled her closer into his body. She could feel the hard planes of his body pressing into the soft curves of her own. She seemed to fit him perfectly, she thought distractedly. She felt herself softening into the kiss.

  Derek suddenly let her go. He looked down in her face intently for several moments. His grey eyes appearing almost cobalt. His gaze dropped to her lips and then to her heaving breast.

  “The priest is waiting. Let’s go,” he said turning and heading for the door. Annabelle watched him head toward the door, not making any effort to follow.

  Derek stopped at the door and turned, expecting Annabelle to be right behind him. When he noticed that she had not moved, but stood watching him with a look of defiance on her face, he scowled.

  “Either ye come under yer own power, or I will carry ye down to the priest,” he said.

  He saw the indecision on her face. For some reason, it made him angry. Although he knew that she should be reluctant, she should not be this reluctant, and it pricked his male ego.

  Having enough, he strode back toward her and stood towering over her. She looked him steadily in the eye, never wavering.

  “I doona want this marriage, Derek, and I ken that ye doona either. Why go through with it?” she asked again.

  Annabelle struggled to keep her voice even. He intimidated her, but she would not let him see any weakness in her. She had to make him see reason.

  “Ye can go on with yer life the way it was. I’m sure Eilidh would be happy to have ye to herself again,” she added. She saw his jaw twitch.

  Derek grew angrier with her mention of Eilidh. She was the farthest thing from his mind. That kiss they had just shared was enough to wipe anything else from his mind. He wanted Annabelle, and he knew that he would have to marry her to get her back in his bed, to hell with anyone else.

  Instead of replying, Derek grabbed her hand in a vice grip and pulled her toward the door.

  “I willnae do it, Derek! Let me go!”

  Annabelle struggled against him, but he held on and dragged her from the room.

  “I hate ye! Let me go, Derek! Stop and see reason!” Annabelle continued to struggle, but Derek would not stop or slow down his pace.

  When they reached the hall, everyone was already assembled to witness the ceremony. All eyes turned as they heard them descend the stairs. Some faces were shocked, but most were amused.

  “Where is the priest?” Derek asked as they came to the last step.

  “At the head of the table,” Megan supplied hiding a grin.

  Annabelle sent her a scathing look, but then turned her attention back to the man who was hauling her to the alter. She almost tripped trying to keep up with his long strides.

  Annabelle caught a movement and turned to see Eilidh glaring at her. She sent her a triumphant smirk, even though she did not feel triumphant. She just wanted to get under the other woman’s skin. Eilidh turned and stormed back into the kitchen. Annabelle could not hold back a smile.

  “Marry us,” Derek demanded to the priest as he pulled Annabelle up beside him.

  “Nay, I refuse!” she shouted looking at the priest.

  Derek growled and his hold increased almost too painfully. She turned to him.

  “Ye canna make me do it, and I refuse,” she hissed at him. The look in his eyes almost made her swoon.

  “I can and ye will. Marry us!” he shouted at the priest.

  The priest looked between them nervously.

  “If she isnae willing, I canna marry ye,” he stammered out. He looked about to swoon also at the look Derek swung on him.

  Derek leaned over and growled into her ear.

  “If ye refuse, I will explain in detail why we must marry. I will leave nothing out.”

  Annabelle gasped. The look on his face said that he was quite serious.

  “Ye willnae!”

  “Aye, I will, believe me,” he smiled wryly.

  Annabelle felt her anger rise, but she knew that she was defeated. She felt herself blush just thinking about what he would reveal. She knew he would do it.

  “Ye will regret this marriage, Derek, I promise,” she said as she turned from him and looked at the priest.

  “Marry us,” she repeated to him.

  §

  Derek watched as Annabelle danced with Colm. She seemed so carefree and she laughed at something Colm said to her. His scowl grew darker. Colm also looked enraptured by the beauty of her face. And she was beautiful. Although she wore a plain blue gown, Megan had given her a wreath made of heather to wear upon her head, and the contrast of the white flower against her luscious red hair took his breath away. She could not have looked more ravishing if she had been wearing the dress that he found her in. He picked up his tankard and took a long drink of his ale.

  Megan had prepared a wedding feast for after the wedding. Everyone present at the wedding had offered their congratulations, and he had noticed the amusement in most of their eyes. Evan and his father began to play the music for the ceilidh, the traditional wedding dance, on their fiddles. He had pulled Annabelle in his arms, but she avoided looking at him. When they began to dance, she was stiff in his arms.

  “Ye could at least pretend to be enjoying yerself, for appearances’ sake,” he rumbled down at her.

  She did not lift her eyes to him, or acknowledge that he spoke. When he opened his mouth to repeat himself, she finally spoke.

  “It was very underhanded of ye to trick me into this farce. I told ye ye would regret this, and I mean what I say. Ye could have let me go back to my parents and married my betrothed, but ye insisted. Doona expect me to pretend to feelings I doona have,” she hissed at him, still not looking at him once.

  He frowned. He wondered why her words bothered him. At that moment, the dance ended and she abruptly left his arms and walked toward Colm. When the music began for the next dance, Colm led her onto the makeshift dance floor.

  “Do ye want to dance, Derek?” Eilidh asked as she sidled up to him.

  Derek just grunted, watching as Annabelle put her hand on Colm’s arm. He had to restrain himself from going to pummel his friend. Her words came back to haunt him. Apparently she had feelings toward Colm and she did not seem to be pretending.

  Eilidh decided to take a chance and sat down on Derek’s lap. He did not push her away, nor did he embrace her. She decided to take that as a good sign. She had been livid when Annabelle had given her that triumphant smile. She wanted to kill her right then and there, but she decided to bide her time. Maybe Derek was not as k
een on this marriage as he had seemed at the ceremony. Maybe she could convince him to visit her bed tonight. She wrapped her arms around his neck, but she noticed that his eyes stayed on his new wife. The thought made her angry, but she was not going to let it stop her from winning him back.

  “Why doona ye come to my bedchamber and let me take yer mind off of yer troubles,” she purred nuzzling his neck.

  Derek barely heard the words Eilidh was saying or felt her kisses on his neck. He kept his eyes on his wife as she danced with his men. When she finally let her eyes wander to where he was, he decided to give her the same show that she was giving him. He promptly put his arms around Eilidh and pulled her more snuggly into his lap. He pasted a satisfied smile on his face as Eilidh continued to kiss his neck and his jaw.

  Annabelle froze when she saw Eilidh in Derek’s lap, and the satisfied smile on his face as the woman kissed him made her see red. How dare he? They had not been married two hours and he was already being unfaithful. She reminded herself that she should not care, because she did not want this marriage in the first place, but the feeling of betrayal was keen. She schooled her features to nonchalance and grabbed Colm by the hand and convinced him to go with her outside.

  Derek’s smile fell away when he saw Annabelle lead Colm outside. He abruptly stood and Eilidh slipped from his lap unto the floor.

  “Derek!” she exclaimed scrabbling to her feet.

  “I need some air,” he said and strode from the keep also.

  Eilidh watched in shock as Derek stormed out of the door. She was sure that she had felt a response from him, and she had seen the smile that touched his lips. He had pulled her closer on his lap and wrapped his arms around her, but now he was gone. She looked around and saw that Annabelle was also absent. She growled and stomped her foot. She would get Derek back if she had to murder.

  Chapter 9

  Derek watched Annabelle and Colm throwing stones into the loch. The jealousy he was feeling was unfamiliar and uncomfortable. And he knew that it was jealousy he was feeling. Annabelle was his wife now, but she preferred someone else’s company to his. He debated whether he should confront his wife and friend. The last time he had interfered, Annabelle had walked away furious with him. She had even told him never to touch her again, but he remembered how she softened in his chamber before the wedding. He felt his groin stir just thinking about it, and that irritated him even more.

  “What have we here?” he asked as he came up behind the couple.

  Annabelle started, but Colm on looked annoyed.

  “What do ye want?” Annabelle asked.

  “I just came looking for my wife and not only did I find her but also my friend,” he replied, smiling.

  Annabelle watched him approach. She had to admit that he looked very handsome in his kilt and stark white shirt. His blond hair was ruffled in the breeze, but the look in his eyes was in contrast to his calm exterior. As he grew nearer, Annabelle could see that the smile that he wore did not reach his eyes. In fact, his eyes were as hard as steel. She turned to face the loch again.

  Colm stood up and faced Derek.

  “Annabelle said she needed some air so we came to sit by the loch,” he said, his voice hard.

  Derek studied his face and saw the anger simmering below the surface. What right did Colm have to be angry with him? He was the one in a secluded spot with another man’s wife.

  “Is that so? Weel, I will sit with my wife so ye can go and rejoin the festivities,” he told his friend in an equally hard voice.

  Colm looked like he was about to protest, but thought better of it. He looked at Annabelle, who nodded, and he strode off toward the keep.

  Derek watched Colm leave and then he turned back to Annabelle. Her back was to him, and she stood stiff and erect.

  “What is it that ye want, Derek?” she asked again, her voice unyielding.

  Derek had to admit that he liked the fact that she did not cower around him. But he also had to admit that he did not like that she did not cower around him, because he realized that it irritated him. It seemed she had the upper hand, and that would never do.

  “Come back to the keep,” he demanded.

  He saw Annabelle’s shoulders stiffen even more. He walked up behind her to tower over her.

  “’Tis our wedding day and how do ye think it looks with ye out here and me in there?” he asked. He could feel the heat of her body radiating toward him. He fought the urge to reach out and wrap her in his arms.

  “The same way it looks when ye have another woman on yer lap mere hours after the ceremony,” she said acidly.

  Derek smiled. So she had been affected by that scene.

  “It warms my heart to ken that ye care.”

  “I doona, but if ye want people to believe in appearances than ye need to hold up yer part of bargain as well.”

  He frowned at the flippancy of her words.

  “Ye are my wife now, Annabelle, and ye will respect what that position entails,” he said darkly.

  Annabelle swung around to face him. Her eyes were inflamed with anger.

  “Position? If ye had wanted an obedient and compliant wife, ye should have let me go like I asked! I didnae apply for the “position” of yer wife. Ye forced it upon me and therefore ye will now have to suffer the consequences,” she said and stormed past him.

  He reached out and grabbed her arm in a vice grip.

  “Ye will do as I demand of ye, Annabelle! Ye are my wife, and as such, it is yer duty to obey me no matter what yer thoughts are on the matter!”

  Annabelle narrowed her eyes on him and tried to pull her arm free of his grasp.

  “Ye may do with me what ye will, Derek MacDougal, but I will not be an easy wife fer ye! I warned ye that ye would regret this decision and I fully intend to make sure ye do!”

  Annabelle finally wrenched her arm free when his grip loosened at her words. She twirled around and ran toward the keep. She did not stop to talk to anyone but ran straight to Derek’s bedchamber. She slammed the door behind her and flung herself across the bed.

  The man infuriated her to no end. She had to admit to herself that seeing Eilidh on Derek’s lap had bothered her. And she should not care at all, but as he had stated, they were married now and she should be able to expect faithfulness from him. But it seemed he fully intended to carry on as normal.

  There was really nothing she could do about it now. She was stuck in this marriage and somehow she would have to make the best of it. She flipped over onto her back and stared at the ceiling above. Her mind drifted to the last time she was up here. She remembered the heat of Derek’s kiss, and it brought back the feeling of his body being against hers and inside of her. She groaned. Tonight was their wedding night and he had a right to her body now. She could feel the heat gather at her core.

  Then she remembered Eilidh sitting on his lap, and could imagine him doing the same things to her. She sat up. Was he with her now? No matter how she fought it, she knew that now that they were married, she was going make him be faithful to her. Even though she had not wanted this, she was not going to let Eilidh be able to taunt her with her knowledge of Derek’s lovemaking.

  And convincing herself of that, she left the chamber.

  §

  Derek entered the keep just in time to see Annabelle go up to his chamber. The celebration had not stopped and he vaguely heard the laughter. Were they laughing at him? He scowled and made to follow her when Megan stopped him.

  “When are ye leaving to go to Bondlach, Derek? I want to make sure I have everything ready fer ye when ye leave.”

  He had almost forgotten about attending Tobias’ wedding. This trouble with Annabelle made it slip his mind. Annabelle made everything slip from his mind.

  “We will leave on the morrow.”

  “Aye, I will have everything ready,” Megan nodded her head.

  “Thank ye, Megan,” Derek said moving to go up the stairs.

  “Derek, I ken ye willnae want to hear my ad
vice, but I will give it to ye anyway. I saw ye with Eilidh in yer lap before ye stormed from the keep. I canna tell ye how disgusted I was with ye, and think on how Annabelle would feel seeing it. I ken that this marriage was forced on both of ye, but it was a situation of yer own making. Now ye need to make the best of it, and dallying around with the likes of Eilidh is not the way to do it,” she said and stomped off.

  Derek stood staring after her for a moment. She was right, he did not want her advice, but he could not dispute the wisdom of her words. He was a married man now, and he could no longer just consider the feelings of himself.

  Derek took one last look toward the stairs. He would talk to Annabelle when he had a chance to calm down. He needed to go make preparations for their trip tomorrow. He went in search of Colm.

  Annabelle walked down the stairs. Everyone was still celebrating their wedding. She went in search of Ainsley. She needed someone to talk to. After deciding to make the most of her marriage, she knew she would need help in doing so. She had to acknowledge that Eilidh would be a force to be reckoned with. She had already shared Derek’s bed, and from the looks of it could easily get him to return to it. And that was something she would not be able to tolerate or allow. She would not be made a laughingstock by her new husband or his hure.

  She found Ainsley in the kitchens. The younger woman was stirring something in a pot.

  “Hello, Ainsley.”

  “Annabelle! How are ye?” she beamed. “Is there anything I can get ye?”

  “Nay…actually, aye. I need yer help. Weel, more like advice,” she said sitting down at the kitchen table.

  Ainsley looked at her with concern.

  “Is everything alright?”

  “Oh, aye. Aye. ‘Tis just…” she was not sure how to proceed. She did not know if Ainsley would be able to help her or not, but she was the only other woman at the keep she knew that she could trust. She was well aware that Eilidh was friends with most of the other servants. Ainsley was the only one that did not seem affected by her.