He worked the buttons on his shirt, pulled it over his head and tossed it on the floor. Then, in an instant, he was flying across the wide bed where he caught her just before she slipped off the mattress. “Nay, dinna try it again or I will be forced to tie ye to my side.” He tugged her back into the middle of the bed. “Undress yerself or I will do it for ye.”
“Ye…ye fiend. Ye bastard. I willna let ye rape me.” She cried out in fear and frustration her fists pounded on the mattress.
The ugly accusation was too much, and it hung foully in the air between them. The lass had better keep her mouth shut, because if she didn’t, he would surely lose his temper, he thought. Even his patience has limits. He rolled off the bed and on to his feet. His voice, when it came, was furious with indignation. “I havena ever abused a woman in my life, wench. So I would be very careful of what ye say next. I give ye me oath that until we are wed, your virginity is safe, although if ye are willing to offer it I will be of course be honored to accept it.”
Unbuckling his belt, he tossed it on the table by the bed before unwrapping his kilt. He caught it as his slipped down his body, and folding it carefully, he placed it on one of the chairs. From hooded eyes, he watched her reaction to his nudity. Her face turned scarlet and her eyes grew huge and round. Her mouth fell open as she let her gaze slowly roam over his torso. It left a trail of lusty fire in its wake.
It was damn irritating, yet a bit satisfying, when his cock started to grow hard as she continued to stare at it. “Did ye want me to help ye undress?” He asked in a mild gravelly tone, ignoring his increasing arousal. He liked her looking at him, because he could see the curiosity and, if he wasn’t mistaken, a glint of desire in her eyes.
In dismay and disbelief, she could only stare as the last of his clothing fell away. She’d never seen a naked man before, but if they were all built as magnificently as this one, the female race was in trouble. Her breath was lodged in her throat as her eyes swept over his exceptionally broad chest dusted lightly with dark hair. Slowly they moved down to sculptured abs and a flat stomach. She followed the slim trail of hair and her heart stopped, then started to race like a runaway horse. Oh, my Lord, she thought, as in tingling interest she watched the strange apparatus between his massive thighs start to grow … and grow.
He cleared his throat, unable to take any more in case he embarrassed himself, “I asked ye if ye needed any help undressing, lass?”
The loud words penetrated her fogged brain. Her eyes swept up to his and her face burned with mortification. “For heaven’s sake, man, put some clothes on.” She gritted her teeth when he just chuckled She turned away before she could shame herself any further. “I have nae intentions of disrobing, ye lecher.” No sooner had she got the words out than she was grabbed from behind and forced down on the mattress. She wrestled to free herself with beating fists, clawing nails, kicks and knees to his groin, but other than tiring herself out and leaving herself breathless, he managed to take off her dress. “I am going to kill ye for humiliating me like this, ye stinking oaf.”
With his jaw clenched, he shoved her under the covers, blew out the candle and joined her. She lay as stiff as a board, not even daring to breath. Never in all her life had been treated so roughly or so degradingly. The degradation she had suffered at this man’s hands was unspeakable. Tears filled her eyes as she realized that she might not have any other option but to marry the smelly beast after all. Her father’s name was on that contract, and the cur lying beside her could cause all sorts of trouble if they didn’t honor it. How she wished she could confront her parent and demand an explanation, but deep in her heart, she knew why he had been dishonest and it infuriated her. Money! It was all about wealth. All her father cared about was lining his pockets with gold at her expense and at the cost of his own integrity. If he actually has any, she added to herself.
At the moment, she couldn’t see any way out of the situation. Her future looked doomed and her self-pride wouldn’t let herself be dishonored, yet there had to be something she could do. She most certainly didn’t want this foul-smelling lout as her husband, but if she refused, then she was no better than her father. Maybe if she went into hiding again, she would have more time to think this horrifying situation over. Aye, that was what she would do, so she lay frozen in the darkness and waited until she was certain he was sound asleep. Time dragged by until she heard his soft snores and she started to slip, inch by slow, heart-pounding inch, to the edge of the mattress. She only managed to put a short distance between them when his large arm was thrown around her waist.
“I wouldna do it, lassie.” He mumbled sleepily and started snoring again.
She wanted to rant at him in fury, scream at him in frustration and claw at him over the unfairness of it all. Just how in the hell did he know what she planned to do? The idiot was too dense to be a mind reader. She made a scoffing sound in the back of her throat. For the moment she was trapped and she may as well face it, she wouldn’t be going anywhere for now. It didn’t mean she had to like it, though. Her eyes narrowed in the dark room, and with malicious intent, when the brute gave a loud snore, she raised her arm and clouted him on the ear. She ignored his roar of rage. “A person canna sleep with ye making such an unholy racket! Ye sound like a bellowing sow!”
“By thunder, wench, strike me again and I’ll beat ye,” he bellowed.
“You and whose army?” she jeered back, “Try it and ye be a dead man.”
“For God’s sake, woman, go to sleep.”
After giving a derisive snort, she settled more comfortably on the feather mattress. He was right; she needed to rest if she was going to outsmart him and find some way out of this unbearable situation with her honor and pride still intact. She closed her eyes and prayed like she had never prayed before that she would be successful and she could return home.
***
Cameron listened to the lass’s sighs of pleasure as she slept curled all around him and rubbing up against him like a contented little kitten. She even purred like one, every time she rubbed her cheek against his chest. He’d probably catch hell when she woke up and realized what she had been doing. He should remove her, but she was such a wee sweet armful and he was reluctant to let her go. He breathed deeply through his nostrils and wrinkled his nose. She didn’t smell all that pleasant; in fact, she smelt a little ripe. He didna like it, and if she wanted to bathe twice a day he would allow it. He much preferred her soft flowery scent to this. He rubbed his own cheek against the side of her head and grinned when she purred as she once more nuzzled against his chest.
Though he was randy as a bull, he had given her his word he would not make love to her until they were wed. He would simply have to suffer a raging hard-on until then. He might just have to strap it to the side of his leg so no one would notice the state he was in. His brow furrowed at the thought of abusing the poor fellow in such a manner when there was a much pleasurable and satisfying way to get rid of his powerful erection. Yet sinking his cock into her silken, drenched passage wasn’t going to happen, not yet, anyway. He blew out a frustrated breath and decided he was foolish to keep torturing himself this way. Gently he shifted her out of his arms and laid her down on the mattress. One more lingering glance at her exquisite sleeping face before he turned away, and slipped out of bed. Bending over, he swept up his clothes and swiftly dressed. Swiping up his boots, he left the bedchamber, sat down on the settee and pulled on his footwear.
He would go to the loch for a swim. Hopefully, the icy water would take care of his potent, aching arousal. Grumbling, he let himself out of his chamber and headed down the hallway. There was no noise coming from below, so he assumed everyone was still sleeping. He ran down the staircase, crossed the hall, swung the door open and stepped outside. The first thing he did was glance up at the sky and grimaced at the dark clouds coming closer. He hoped it wasn’t going to be a snowstorm. He went down the steps, strode up the hill and took the path into the small forest. A few more minutes
and he was at his destination.
Not the least bit shy or embarrassed, he discarded his clothing and boots and ambled into the icy water. When it reached his waist, he shivered but was not deterred. He dove beneath the crystal-clear water and swam until he was out of breath. Surging to the surface, he drew air into his lungs. He continued swimming for a short time before returning to the shore. Though the wind was biting cold, he never noticed it while he redressed. With a hand he swept his wet locks from his face and headed back to the keep. He was feeling quite rejuvenated and looking forward to another rousing confrontation with his betrothed. He hoped the priest would come early, he thought as he stepped into the great hall. At once he noticed the activity of the servants and grunted in satisfaction. The place was looking cleaner already.
He went to warm himself by the fire before he returned upstairs. Quietly he let himself into his chamber and slipped into the bedroom just in time to find the lass waking up. “Good morning to ye, sprite. I hope ye had a pleasant sleep.” Seeing her frown, he grinned. “If ye’d like, I’ll have a bath sent up for ye.”
With narrowed eyes, she watched him suspiciously. She took in his damp hair and scowled. “Nay, dinna bother. Since nay else around here likes to be clean, why should I?”
A brow rose in disapproval. “I see. ‘Tis sorry I am, but I prefer that ye bathe. As ye can tell, I have already been to the loch.”
“Are ye daft? The water must be freezing.” She shot back in disbelief.
A nod of his head confirmed it. “Aye, it was and most invigorating. Once ye have bathed, ye’ll come down to the hall and we will break our fast together.”
“Now, just a blasted minute, ye mutton-headed rapscallion! Ye canna boss me around and think I will instantly obey ye.” She crossed her arms over her chest and defiantly tilted her chin in the air.
Lips twitching with amusement, he had to bite the inside of his mouth at her colorful insult. This one, he thought, had been quite inventive. He cleared his throat as a chuckle tickled its way up. “I’m afraid, my little lassie, that I can and aye, ye will obey. If ye dinna bathe of yer own accord, I’ll come up and see to the chore myself. With a scrub brush if I must.” His gaze shone with his promise and ignored her outraged gasp.
“Ye…ye perverted blackguard! I’ll blind ye if ye try! An ye call me little again, I’ll…I’ll slice out yer serpent’s tongue!” she warned in a shout.
Och, God, he had to get out of here before he fell on the bed in laughter. Without another word he spun around and quickly strode out of both chambers. As soon as he closed the door behind him, his laughter boomed out of him and echoed around the hallway. He leaned against the wall as he shook with rip-roaring mirth. The wench was an absolute wonder and she was most assuredly quick-witted. How she came up with such invectives was amazing. She probably thought the name-calling would insult him but far from it. If it were anyone else, he most definitely would be outraged, and they would swiftly suffer for it. But his wee bride was so entertaining! She kept him on tenterhooks, just waiting to hear what she would say next.
Really, he should berate her for calling him such names, but he wouldn’t. With a shake of his head, his laughter died down to a chuckle, and he straightened up, continuing on down to the hall to order water for her bath. If she thought for one minute that she could defy him, she had another thing coming. He wanted her smelling sweet and she would be. Once he gave the order to one of the maids, he took his seat at the table. After they broke their fast, he would take her for a stroll around the keep so she could find her way by herself. He would be careful, though. Those gates were going to remain closed as tight as a nun’s twat. No way was she going to escape him again. He ignored the clan members who were starting to trickle in as he busied himself fighting his lustful thoughts.
He tried not to picture her in her bath, all slippery and wet, but it was a losing battle, and instantly his cock swelled and grew painfully hard. Damn it, man, get a hold of yerself, ye fool. He blew out an aggravated breath. Aye, the priest better get his scrawny butt here quickly, because he was starting to wonder if he would be able to keep his oath not to skewer her. He wanted her so badly the ache in his groin was torturous. He drummed his fingers on the wooden table in an attempt to drive up something else to think about besides the wee lass with beads of water clinging to her skin. That was it, he was going to have to stop calling her wee or little lest she do what she threatened to do, to pluck him bald or yank out his tongue. He chuckled, she was certainly a fierce lit…ah, lass and he had never enjoyed a wench more than he did his betrothed.
All the wenches before her paled in comparison and he found them lacking now he had met her. She was going to make him a fine mate, one who would challenge him and keep him on his toes. Aye, she was no shrinking miss, and he liked that she wasn’t afraid to tell him exactly what she was thinking or how she felt. Though at times it might be a little annoying, her openness pleased him. There was no slyness about her and she wasn’t the type who wheedled her way into getting what she wanted. He found dealing with her quite exhilarating, and already he looked forward to their next encounter.
All he could do now was hope that she would be honorable, even though he was growing certain she would be. She had too much pride to let herself be tainted by the shame if she refused to honor the contract between them.. She was a rare wench indeed, and in sooth, he was coming to think he was a very lucky man. If he could win her affection, he would be even luckier still. Aye, he admitted, he was a greedy man when it came to his betrothed. He’d never given much thought to feelings and emotions before, but now he wanted his wife to care for him. He, of course, had no intentions of becoming a love-sick fool. It was his job to protect her, keep her safe and respect her. He would offer her friendship and teach her passion. It was his duty as her husband and he would not fail her.
If he could not win her affection, all he could do was make certain she was contented and happy. Perhaps when the babes began to arrive, her heart would soften towards him. It did not matter, though; he would be satisfied with companionship and lust. It was more than most married couples had going for them. He did not want his marriage to be a battlefield like some husbands and wives had. Nor did he want complete disregard for each other and boredom. His chest heaved in dissatisfaction. He did not want either of them miserable and he would do all he could to make certain it never happened.
Chapter Four
Grrr, the miserable cur made her boiling mad. She watched him hurry away through narrowed eyes. Her jaw clenched when she heard the bellowing laughter and knew the blasted mongrel was laughing at her. When his amusement finally ended, she flopped back against the pillows and scowled. She hoped she had been dreaming but had a feeling she hadn’t been. It was degrading to know that she had been half asleep wrapped all around him like a vine. Heat seared her cheeks as she remembered rubbing herself against his hot, hard naked flesh like a sleepy cat wanting a petting from her master. Ugh, really, she hoped it wouldn’t be true, but the knowing glint in his eyes when he first came into the chamber told her it was. She was positive he was enjoying her humiliation and she could kick him in the backside for that alone.
She heard the maids enter the other chamber, re-lighting the fire and filling the tub. She didn’t dare go out there. She held her breath until she heard the sound of the door closing behind them. It galled her that he had squashed her plan, not that she had been thrilled over the idea in the first place. However, she thought that if she didn’t bathe and stunk as bad as everyone else, he would be disgusted and might have changed his mind about marrying her. Well, you foolish woman, it hadn’t. She was beginning to doubt that anything would stop the wedding, and she still didn’t know what she was going to do. Hearing the noise increasing downstairs, she groaned. If she didn’t want the infernal oaf coming upstairs to bathe her, she better hurry.
Angrily tossing the covers aside, she slipped off the mattress and hurried into the other chamber. Seeing the tub of steaming wa
ter, she eagerly removed the few articles of clothing he hadn’t stripped off her last night. “Damned pig,” she mumbled as she sunk beneath the water and sighed in pleasure. She soaked for a few minutes before she scrubbed herself clean. When she finished, she washed her hair and rinsed it with a clean bucket of warm water. Knowing she didn’t dare linger, she stepped out and wrapped herself in a large fluffy cloth and used another one to rub at her wet hair. She knelt before the fire, trying to dry it faster. Being so thick and long, it was taking some time, and in the end, she gave up. She rose to her feet and scowled.
What in tarnation was she going to wear? She shuddered at the thought of putting on the gown she’d been wearing for days. Grousing, she spied the trunks and hurried over to them. She lifted six lids and went through the contents. All that was acceptable was one of his many shirts and his plaid. Teeth clamped tight, she donned the oversized shirt, having to roll up the sleeve several times. She wrapped a skirt out of the plaid, and finding one of the bindings the filthy cur had tied her up with last eve, used it as a belt. Searching for his brush, she found it in the bedchamber and pulled it through her damp locks. She used another binding to tie it back. Slipping her feet into slippers, she left the room.
Under her breath, she was calling the smelly lout every insult she could think of as she stomped down the staircase. When she reached the bottom, she found him seated at the table watching her. Thrusting her chin in the air, she marched over to him and was surprised to see him rise to his feet. She made a huffing sound and took her seat, but from out the corner of her eye, saw that he taken his own. “I hope there’s something decent to eat.”
The Laird's Kidnapped Bride Page 5
