“You would cheat against me?” Moving swiftly, he reached across, nabbed her woolen cap from her head and dropped it into her lap before easing back and eyeing her long locks as they swished down and swayed about her waist. “My apologies, but I needed to see more of you.”
“I’ll certainly cheat if you do that again.” He had the reflexes of a warrior, swift and precise and she’d best not forget it. She wound her hair back up and stuffed her cap overtop of it, tugged the wool down good and proper so he couldn’t so easily do that again. “So, would you truly have wed the MacDonald’s daughter to end this current feud?”
“Aye, do you no’ agree a marriage of alliance would have been worthwhile?”
“Such marriages arenae the way of my clan. We wait for our chosen one to claim us then join only with them.”
“I’m aware of how your people join together when mated.” He searched her gaze. “Are you wed, Ella, or do you still await your chosen one?”
“I wait, as patiently as I can.”
“What if he never comes?”
“He will.”
“You have such faith.” Gently, he laid his hand over top of hers and whispered, “Turn your hand over.”
For some reason she did, until their palms lay flush together and a new warmth enveloped her and rippled outward from her core.
With the softest caress, he stroked her palm with his thumb in one very slow, enticing circle, his gaze holding hers and not wavering one bit. “You, Ella, are the most intriguing lass I’ve ever met.”
Ella’s decree that she awaited her chosen one continued to echo through Duncan’s mind, his need to touch her stirring him deep within. He’d asked her to turn her hand over and she had, and now he wanted even more, to eliminate the distance between them and extinguish this separation.
Aye, from the moment he’d walked into this antechamber, she’d stunned him, caught him in some silken web of desire until all he could focus on was her. Such sooty lashes framed her beautiful brown eyes with their intriguing flecks of gold. When he’d snatched her cap, her lush hair had unraveled in a mass of rich brown blended with streaks of shimmering gold. Hell, he could drown in her stunning gaze, wanted only to lose himself in it. “You’ve bewitched me, Ella Matheson.”
“I can assure you I’ve done naught of the kind.” She tugged her hand free of his and with slightly shaky fingers gripped her goblet and sipped her wine, even splashed some over the rim as she set it jerkily back down.
“Mayhap even more than bewitched.” A piper’s merry tune echoed in from under the door, the entertainment in the main room having begun. He stood, caught her hand again and pulled her to her feet. “Would you care for a birl?”
“We were playing a game.”
“And now I wish to dance.”
“I think no’.”
“There’s no need to fear my touch.”
“I fear naught.” She stepped toe to toe with him, pressed one hand against his chest and with a tilt to her head, swirled one finger down over his abs and along the waistband of his belted kilt. “See, no fear at all.”
“You play with fire, my grumpy one.” He wrapped one arm around her waist, pulled her closer and rocked from foot to foot. All he wished to do was feel her sliding sensuously against him, those black breeches of hers hugging every mouthwatering curve.
“This isnae a dance I’ve ever indulged in afore.”
“Neither have I. How often do you come to this tavern?”
“On the first of each month.”
“I’ve no wish to wait that long afore I see you again.” He dipped her backward, leaned over her and rubbed his cheek against her cheek. “You feel so good in my arms.”
“Oh goodness, what are you doing?” Her breath whooshed from her and she grasped ahold of his shoulders, her cap falling off and her luscious locks sweeping down to the floor.
The firelight flickered across her face in shimmering shades of red and gold and he became far more than bewitched.
“It might be best if you release me. Should my brother walk in and see us like this, I dinnae know what he will do. Likely attack you. He holds the battle skill and can be rather overprotective of me.”
“I bolted the door. Meet me somewhere, anywhere. I must see you again afore the first of the next month. Name the place and time and I will be there.”
“There can only ever be danger should we meet again. Let me go.” She looked deep into his eyes. “Release me.”
Her hypnotic demand clouded his thoughts and she said something else as he set her back on her feet. Something about listen well and pay attention. Her next words though rang with strong intensity, flooding his mind.
“From this moment forth, you’ll consider me naught more than an annoyance, and one you never wish to lay eyes upon again. Do you understand me, Duncan?”
“Aye, I understand.” His head spun, her powerfully spoken command one he couldn’t ignore.
“Repeat what I said.”