Caden removed his finger from her lips. “Three, ye must nae bother me, seek me out, or demand to speak with me unless it’s about me nephew or the castle.” He waited for her to say something, but she just stared at him. “Four, ye must give me another heir.”
How dare he?
Ava nearly spat fire. “So yedidwant to trap me in this marriage, then!”
Caden crossed his arms. “Ye seemed desperate enough to marry as well. This is the perfect solution for both of us but it seems ye daenae ken what’s good for ye.”
“Excuse me for nae trusting a complete stranger!”
“I am nae a stranger to ye, lass.” Caden ground his teeth.
Ava shot to her feet. “Ye are! We havenae spoken since we were children!” she snapped. “I dinnae even recognize ye. I mean, I would have never thought ye’d become so big and strong and annoying. Let alone dangerous!”
“Ye think I’m big and strong?” He had the audacity to smirk.
“Did ye miss the annoying and dangerous part? I find it rather wise nae to trust ye. Wouldnae ye say?”
“I think it is rather foolish, actually.” Caden rose as well.
“But ye seem more desperate than me to be married, what with yer little games.”
The pressure in her head grew. She was irritated that she had to crane her neck to look him in the eye.
“Careful, wife.” His voice was low, filled with ice and determination.
“I havenae agreed to yer terms yet,” she scoffed.
“Ye will. I will tame ye,” he whispered, his voice too smooth to be voicing a threat .
“I am nae a horse to be tamed,” she shot back.
“Of course, ye arenae. Ye’re much more wild and free,” Caden whispered, tucking a wild lock behind her ear.
When did he get so close?
“Before we make any agreement, I should remind ye that Finlay and I were going to have a white marriage.” Ava backed away and sat down, pursing her lips.
Why am I insisting on this? He was pretty clear. He wants heirs. And as a Laird, heshouldhave them.
She had never made love before and had not planned to with Finlay—or with anyone else, for that matter. Her friend dallied with many women, and he wanted to keep it that way.
“We agreed that as long as he doesnae expect me to… perform me wifely duties, he could do as he wished. Love whomever he wished. We would still live separate lives and be man and wife in name only.”
Silence ensued.
Ava cleared her throat and watched as her words sank in.
Caden slowly sat back down. “That’s too bad. Like I said, I expect ye to perform yer wifely duties. ‘Tis our duty to the clan, and me nephew, to have a real family.”
“Right.”
Ava did not know what else to say. Her plan had been perfect, she’d forever be free. But her current husband had so many rules and expectations she started to wonder if it would have been better to let her uncle marry her off to old Laird MacAinsley.
Then she took Caden in. His haunting eyes, his full lips, his strong arms.
Well, no. It would not have been better with old Laird MacAinsley.
She could tell there was something else that Caden wanted to say.
