He waited until I finished. With every bite, I could see his eyes raking over me. All my hunger vanished, and each bite was a struggle. I no longer wished to eat.
“Thank you for the food.” I stood from the table and moved to the door to open it for him. “I’m quite tired. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll retire now.”
I only just cracked the door open before his long strides met me as he pushed it closed with his hand. “Just a moment. I willna trouble ye long.” He reached to grab a small satchel hanging off of his kilt and dropped it onto the table where I’d just eaten. The bag jingled with coins, and I swallowed a hard lump in my throat.
“What’s that for?”
“’Tis yer payment, o’course. There is talk around the castle that yer trade is in the company of men. I doona usually have use for such women, but I heard ye were verra pretty. And ye are.”
He stepped closer and grabbed me by the arm. He touched me gently, but a threat lay within it, a dare to pull away.
I stayed still but turned my head away as he leaned in to caress a handful of my hair. “Why would they say that? Obviously it isn’t true. I’m a friend of the Conalls and am only staying here until Baodan returns. Then he is going to escort me to see them.”
He stepped toward the bed and held onto me so that I moved with him. “I doona believe ye, lass. ’Tis true that castle servants often form untruths to entertain themselves, but I see no other reason for ye to be here.”
“I just told you the other reason. I’m on my way to the Conalls.”
“Enough!”
Deep and angry, his voice spread goose bumps over my entire body.
“If that were true, ye wouldna be traveling alone. Now, ye have received yer payment, and I will receive me purchase.”
He moved the hand entangled in my hair to the base of my neck and twisted my head until I had no choice but to face him. I closed my eyes, trying to think of what I should do.
His mouth moved to my ear, and he whispered breathlessly into it. Warm breath touched my skin, but it sent ice crystals running down my spine.
“This can be enjoyable for us both, lass, if ye let it. I am no a selfish lover and while I know some men doona mind being met with a struggle, ’tis no something I prefer. But struggle or no, I shall have ye. Make up yer mind which it shall be now.”
He waited for me to answer, breathing down my neck while pushing himself into my stomach. His words offered me solution. He enjoyed being a charmer. He took his pleasure by giving pleasure. He enjoyed the act of leaving women with hope when there was none.
I was strong, but he would be able to overpower me if I struggled. If I could pretend to want him until I made him vulnerable, perhaps I could injure him enough to escape.
Terrified, my hands trembled, but I knew if I cried I would lose my nerve. I needed to give an Oscar-worthy performance. Clenching my hands into fists to still them, I moved them up to his wrists, gently tugging at them so he would release my neck.
He did and looked at me curiously, anxious for me to give him an answer. I stepped away from him and smiled as seductively as I could. “Have you ever done this before? Paid for someone I mean?”
“No.”
His answer pleased me. It meant he wouldn’t be accustomed to a woman who knew anything about sex. He most likely spent his nights with virgins. His eyes danced with anticipation. I knew if I could just pull it off, I would be able to get away.
“Always more of a giver than a receiver, yes?”
“Aye.”
He spoke breathlessly, and he looked as if he would start foaming at the mouth any minute. Disgusted with myself, I was about to throw up, but I would not allow him to have the upper hand in this situation. “Well, then I think it’s time somebody focused on you. What do you say? Take off your kilt.”
He stared at me, clearly shocked, and the lust in his eyes disappeared. I worried I’d taken it too far.
“What about yer dress, lass? This hardly seems fair.”
“I’ll take my clothes off in a little bit, after I’ve sated you.” He seemed to like that answer and stripped quickly. Once naked, he charged me, crushing his mouth to mine as he moved me on top of the bed, pinning me with his body.
He was so ravenous with his mouth that I could hardly breathe. It took all my concentration not to gag. He thought himself better at this than he truly was. Every woman he’d ever been with must have been mighty inexperienced to find that sort of mouth exploration appealing.
He reached his hand underneath my dress, and I threw my hand down to stop him. “Not so fast. Your turn first.”