“Andra? Dare ye to ha'e a romp in the trees with a mere pup of a man? A lady would'na ha'e so willingly met a man unaccompanied in the dead of night less it was her lover,” he teased with a soft chuckle under his breathe.
Andra's anger flooded her mouth, “And what say ye bout sneakin' round in the woods pryin' into other peoples affairs?”
“Perhaps I too look for a lover to occupy my time.”
“Rogue!” she hissed.
“Harlot,” he teased.
“Oh ye insufferable beast!” she sneered as she stepped backward trying to escape his overpowering presence.
He laughed and grabbed her waist as she tried to flee, “We should try to find yer chaperone. Unless ye prefer to sneak round with the likes of me?”
“Let go of me!” she demanded as she struggled to free his hands from her waist.
Kagan grinned as he met her unsaid challenge, “Shall I pack ye o'er my shoulder, kickin' and screamin' back to the gatherin'? Then shall I raise yer skirts and whip yer bare bottom in front of the peerin' eyes?”
“Ye would'na dare!”
She hissed profanities as she pushed against the steel wall in front of her.
“Oh, but I would,” he laughed as she pinched his chest below his right nipple.
“Get yer filthy hands off of me ye blackguard savage heathen!”
He pulled her closer and softly threatened, “Calm yer tongue 'fore I find a place for its fire to nestle.”
“Heathen, dare ye to threaten me with filthy words!” She breathed loudly as she felt his hands press against her back. Her skin tingled under his as she remembered his touch.
“Tell me yer name woman or suffer my punishment!” He growled as he bent to kiss her fire filled lips.
Andra stiffened at his words. His voice filled her body and his threat pulsed through her veins. She refused to let it happen again, refused to be used for his enjoyment.
“I ha'e already had to suffer yer punishment and found it na to be to my likin',” Andra whispered to his chest as she lowered her head.
“What is yer name?” he ordered.
“Ell'andra Duncan and I swear that if ye donna let me go this instance I will be forced to harm ye,” she quietly but firmly advised as his hands cupped her butt.
“Ell'andra,” he whispered to the wind.
It was not a name he had forgotten and as he squeezed her backside, he knew it was not a body he had forgotten either. He was lost in thoughts of a stable and lost in the aroma of honey and vanilla when the air was wretched from his lungs by a solidly planted small fist to his gut.
He caught his breath and crushed her hips to his. She dug her nails into his chest and kicked his shin. She snorted and stomped his foot. He did not give, did not flinch, and did not let her go. At this point, she knew she had no other option, so she relaxed and leaned into his chest. She pressed her cheek to his chest and placed her hands onto his hips.
She felt his body soften as his hands glided up her back and to her shoulders. Slowly edging her leg between his as he slid the hood from her face and cupped her chin in his hand, she waited for the perfect moment to render him helpless.
With sugar on her lips she whispered in a gentle voice, “Please forgive me, it's just that I am afraid.”
“Ye ha'e na reason to fear me,” he whispered back as he bent his head.
He brushed her soft lips and whispered into her mouth, “I will'na hurt ye.”
Kagan groaned as her hands slid up his rib cage and spread across his chest. Her touch was heaven and he smiled as her hands trembled as they edged back to his hips. Her grip tightened as he hungrily took her lips in a thunderous kiss. Kagan's rumble of anger erupted as her knee landed between his legs. He let her go and clutched his loins. He recovered enough to grab the edge of her cloak as she ran. It tore free from her shoulders and wilted under his fist.
Damn that hurt! I played right into her vicious little hands. She is indeed going to be a challenge and I look forward to conquering her as I should have long ago.
Kagan straightened as he took several deep breathes to ease his pain. He calmly gathered his wits. She had won this battle, but the war was far from over. His blinding smile and hearty laughter went unheard as he made his way to the faint light. Gods in the heavens, the woman had fire in her soul! Perhaps this battle was not yet over; he would have to hurry before she left the gathering. He would not let her have the last laugh tonight.
Andra ran like a woman possessed back to the gathering, back to Crimm, back to the safety of his side. She slowed her pace as she rounded the last shrub and with head held high she went straight to Crimm. She smiled softly as he met her gaze. He instantly knew something was wrong. He frowned as he noted that her cape was gone and she looked a little frazzled.
Before Crimm could speak she did, “I'm tired. Can we go home?”
Crimm held his breath as he looked upon his little sister; she was in distress and was almost begging to leave. He knew she was by far able to take care of herself if the situation should arise, but now he worried. Did she know enough about men to keep her from losing her head in a heated kiss?
He noted her red, obviously crushed lips and her flaming cheeks. The mist in her eyes told a scary tale. He knew the look; he knew the passion in her eyes. He had the same look when he was lying with a woman. Many a woman had confessed that he looked like an angel when he was making love to them, that they wanted nothing more than to drown in his misty eyes sure that they would go to Valhalla for loving him.
“What happened?” he growled as he took her arm.
“Nothin'! I just want to go home,” she answered sternly.
Crimm turned to walk with her and his eyes fell onto a sight that made him quiver in his boots. His heart caught in his throat as he felt Andra tremble under his fingers.
Oh bloody hell! Kagan! How the hell did he end up with that damn cape?
Andra darted behind Crimm's back as Kagan stepped into their path. The fury of a thousand hells was clearly written across his dark expression even though he had a smile curling on his lips.
Crimm stood his ground as he slightly bowed his head, “Milord.”
“It is good to see ye my friend, but it is with heavy heart I came to find ye,” the laird stated as he handed the cloak to Crimm. Kagan's devilish grin appeared as Crimm frowned down at the cloak.
“Ye almost failed me. Had I na ventured forth when I did yer oath would ha'e surely been broken this night. Seems yer sister has an undeniable desire to find a lover to take to nest.” Kagan made the announcement as if she were not in their presence.
Andra steamed and stepped out from behind her brother, “Ye liar! Ye'r a cold blackguard. An insufferable beast! An arrogant, self-indulging, perverse, womanizing coward.”
“Hold yer tongue sister!” ordered Crimm.
The laird still held his grin as he lazily looked upon Andra. Her nostrils flared as he spoke to Crimm and stared into Andra's eyes, “Take her home and lock her in her chambers. I will arrive in the morn to assure myself that she is still intact.”
“Still intact! If I had'na kneed ye … ye blasted parts, I would still be in yer arms with yer hands blatantly roamin' my body!” she hissed as she stepped closer to the man whom she wanted to kiss again.
“Silence!” Kagan demanded softly to the woman who stood before him.
“To the damned one with yer orders!” She dared to defy, “Who do ye think ye are? Laird or na, I am ‘na yers to command!”
“Andra!” gritted Crimm through clenched teeth, “Still yer tongue least he should cut it out. He is yer betrothed and commands ye with the right bestowed upon him!”
Andra's jaw dropped as she stared into Laird Kagan's gray steel eyes, “Nay! Nay it is ‘na true.”
“Aye, dear Ell'andra, it is true by my oath and by yer father's for nigh three years now.”
The devil smiled in triumphant and bowed to her as the color drained from her cheeks and the world tilted on its axis.
The short trip back to the carriage was nothing less than a whirlwind as she tried to swallow the bitter news of her promised hand.
She sat in utter silence as the wooden carriage carried her homeward. Crimm said nothing and showed no sign of emotion as she contemplated her fate. Would she be beat, throttled, starved, or have to suffer his laird's punishment again? Her head suddenly ached and her eyes misted. She would run away before he arrived. She would jump the ledge, ride out across the hillside to...to where?
The carriage came to an abrupt halt in front of Shinonoble Keep and she quietly slipped inside. She retreated to her room, sullen and downtrodden, but not completely broken, not yet, not ever! She would be damned before a man would best her in anything. He would not do to her what he had done once before. Her face lit on fire as she recalled the scene in the stables.
Her throat ached in rage as she heard Grace's voice echo in her mind. The floodgate opened as she remembered every detail of that night and she groaned under its weight. She needed a plan, a fail proof plan to rid herself of the laird.
My fate cannot be in the arms of that rogue!
Chapter 4
Morning arrived and Andra dressed in black, from her black veil to her black satin slippers. Her silver jewelry was embellished with onyx stones the color of the night’s sky. She was fit to attend a funeral and fully expected it to be her own by the end of the day. Her gown outlined her figure leaving little room for imagination as it fell from her shoulders revealing the bronze skin of her neck, the swell of her cleavage, and the defiant rage in her heart.
She waltzed down the stairs to find Kagan awaiting her arrival at the bottom. She rolled her eyes and sidestepped him, going to the table that had been set in the center of the massive ballroom. Sitting in silence, she began to eat, painfully aware that four sets of eyes were scrutinizing her every move.
Her father gripped his chair with white knuckles. Crimm chewed furiously at his meat and Aran, her other brother stared in awe at her. His deep curiosity of her behavior was evident on his face. Kagan drummed his fingers on the tabletop as he sat down and eyed her. She laid her silver-wear down and choked the remainder of her bread down before she rose from her chair.
Stealing a glance at Kagan, she swallowed hard. He wore a loose fitting tunic that did nothing to conceal his muscular body. A body that she really wanted to get her hands on. She swallowed again and bit her tongue making herself stop the fantasy that was threatening her defiance.
“If ye will excuse me, I ha'e things to attend to,” she stated.
“Sit down!” ordered Kagan. The anger in his eyes perfectly matched the rage in his voice.
She looked at her father with pleading eyes, “Father, are ye goin' to let him speak to me like that?”
“Sit child,” he said quietly refusing to look at his daughter, “As ye'r betrothed orders.”
Andra pushed her chair back in defiance and slammed her fist down onto the table. The three male Duncans looked to Kagan as he stood preparing to pounce on his prey. Her heart tightened in her chest and rage filled her eyes; they had decided her fate and she did not even get a say in it.
“Sit!” he commanded in a voice that shook the massive old stone walls of Shinonoble.
“Nay!” she hissed in retaliation.
“Sit!” he replied in harnessed anger.
“Make me,” she screamed as she ran for the door with skirts in hand.
She flew around the corridor and down the hall to the back entrance through the kitchen. Jumping the steps like a gazelle, she blindly headed for the stables. She caught sight of the black steed that she knew belonged to Kagan. With a broad smile and sure she would escape the devil that she knew was on her heels, she flung the stall door open and mounted his broad back. He snorted in excitement as she urged him from the stall and out of the stable.
She saw Kagan out of the corner of her eye as Demon bolted under her. Her smile vanished as Kagan whistled and Demon came to a halt at his master's command. She fumed as she slid off of the warhorse and quickly tried to find an escape route. Disappointment etched itself across her brow. With wide eyes, she stared at his horse. Not one horse in the whole of the highlands had ever denied her wishes! It just figures that the animal would end up being like his black-hearted master!
His voice slammed into her mind and teased her defiance, “Demon will'na succumb to ye'r desires so ‘tis pointless to run.”
Appropriate name for the devil’s horse!
“Gi'e me a second's head start and ye will see that he will obey me!” She smiled as venom poured from her eyes.
“It is high time ye do as ye are told and start actin' like a lady that is betrothed to a McKregan!” His eyes were unwavering as was his stance.
“Ne'er,” she whispered through gritting teeth.
“Now!” he ordered sternly as he grabbed her arm and jerked her to his side. “Keep this up and ye will meet a demon the likes of which ye will na survive.”
“I already met that demon and he donna scare me! Let me go!”
He pulled her reluctant body back to the keep and into the kitchen. The cooks and maids dared not look upon the laird and quietly went about their business as Andra begged them to help her. They silently shook their heads in fear and offered no compassion to their young mistress.
“Why ye doin’ this? I am na virgin and donna want to be wed to ye! Ye are a callous man and ye lack the morals of a sea urchin!”
Kagan gritted his teeth; no woman had ever dared to deny him. “Ye will refrain from speaking to me in that manner woman or ye will suffer my punishment!”
She jerked at his grip and they came to a stop. “Ye punishment is soft for such a revered laird. Is that how ye punish ye prisoners? With kisses and ripping their clothes so that ye can ogle their flesh?”
He pulled her roughly to his chest and grinned like a devil. “Do ye wish me to shove ye against this wall and let the whole of the castle’s servants watch as ye wiggle and squirm against my shaft? Would ye be so willin’ to let ‘em all know that ye canna deny my flesh?”
Andra jerked and pushed at the impervious wall before her. “Donna take liberties with my body! How dare ye! I am na some barmaid that ye can touch as ye please!”
He laughed as he let her pull away slightly. “Ye let that pup caress ye body in the trees and e’en I ha’e had the honor of tasting those full lips. Donna dare to act like a lady now after I ha’e witnessed ye actions ‘round the male specimen!”
“Leech!”
He chuckled, a low throaty sound that sent goosebumps up her back. “Ye are na goin’ to escape me this time little Ell’andra. Ye are now mine and ye will accept it in due time.”
They entered the corridor and she grew quite as they walked back to the ballroom. His grip on her arm lightened but stayed fixed. He guided her to her chair and placed his mighty hands on her shoulders. Andra's skin began to melt as he gently rubbed each shoulder. Her back stiffened as he traced the scar on her shoulder with his fingertip.
As a laird is expected to do, he began the conversation at hand, “Three years ago, I asked for yer daughter's hand with a few specific requests. I asked that she be kept safe and intact.”
Aran interjected nervously, “Aye milord, we ha'e tried to fulfill ye wishes but she is strong willed and often her intelligence muddles her brains with ideals of independence.”
Andra's guts jerked violently as Kagan caressed her neck. She arched her back and leaned forward to escape his tantalizing touch.
“Her virginity is still intact; she has been well educated, and trained in sword and fist. She has lacked maternal lecture and regrettably she takes pride in her stubbornness and refuses to be a lady.” Adalie Duncan continued solemnly, “If it is ye wish to break the betrothal then so be it. It will'na shame us since the betrothal was ne'er announced.”
“At this point, what concerns me is her maidenhead. I found her in the arms of a cowardly pup. He all but ravished her on sight,” Kagan paused as Adalie s
lumped back into his chair, “I was tempted to ravish her myself.”
Her father clutched his long white streaked beard, “Is this true Andra, did ye intentionally allow a man to think ye were anything less than a virgin?”
Her nostrils flared, “What if it is? What difference does it make? I am nineteen in the morn and I should know what e'ery other woman knows at my age. But nay, I knew naught of womanly duties or of my own body's reactions to a man.”
Adalie's face hardened to the point of being stone and Aran's jaw sagged in disbelief at her words, but Crimm's eyes flickered with admiration for his little sister's boldness, “Andra, watch yer tongue.” It was all Crimm could say as he tried to hide his smile.
“It is the truth! Calin is the only man who has e'er been interested in me as a woman. He has wanted me since we were children and he, he makes me melt inside when he…” She paused as Kagan squeezed her shoulders sending shivers of pain down her arms. “When he touches me!”
Her father blanched and Crimm stood and turned his back to the table to hide the laughter that threatened to escape his throat. He was unsure whether he was more amused by Andra's defiance or Kagan's pent up rage.
“He has taken my virginity and has shown me how to be a woman 'stead of a mouse!” She lied, amazed how easily the lie had rolled off of her tongue. Kagan would surely take his leave and break the betrothal oath now that he thought she was no longer a virgin.
Kagan smiled down at the top of her lovely head, knowing she was lying. He had witnessed the entire scene in the trees and had heard every word. He wondered why she was lying to her father, who sat speechless in his chair. Did she honestly not want to be wed? He was Laird Kagan McKregan and no woman could resist his slightest whims. No woman, no beast, and no man could or would defy him and get away with it. His ego swelled and suffered the bruise as her shoulders tugged away from his hands.
A Warrior's Perception Page 4