Katie’s gaze remained fixed on him, defiance and resignation evident in her eyes. “If you truly don’t want this, then why did you propose this arrangement in the first place?”
Aiden’s exasperation was evident as he looked at Leah and Daphne. “I willnae marry Katie. Nae now, nae ever.”
The finality in his voice left no room for negotiation.
Leah and Daphne exchanged glances, their expressions ones of concern and displeasure.
Leah stepped forward, her voice soft but firm. “Katie, we’ll figure something out. But for now, you need to understand that you’re not alone in this.”
As the door to the hall closed behind Leah and Daphne, a blanket of silence settled around Aiden and Katie. The air was thick with emotions that neither of them were ready to confront. Katie’s eyes were bright with anger and hurt, and she turned away abruptly, intending to head toward her quarters.
“I don’t want to marry you either!” she snapped, her voice echoing in the corridor. “I’ve already heard on a sufficient number of occasions that I’m not wanted.”
Aiden moved swiftly to block her path, his anger bubbling to the surface. “Is that what ye think?” he demanded, his tone sharp.
Katie’s eyes flashed defiantly. “What should I think, Aiden? You’ve made it clear that you refuse to go through with this marriage.”
Aiden’s laugh was humorless, a raw sound laced with his inner turmoil. “Ye think I dinnae want ye?” He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “I want ye so much that it drives me to madness. But for yer own good, I cannae marry ye. If I could, ye would be the only wife I’d ever have.”
Katie’s breath caught, her eyes widening as the proximity between them heightened the contentious charge in the air. They stood inches apart, their faces dangerously close to one another. It was then that his hands went around her, desperately roaming over her body as his lips found her throat and kissed it shamelessly.
Her legs nearly gave out from beneath her as the fury and yearning behind his kisses and his flicking tongue on the most sensitive spot of her collarbone only heated the embers that burned within her. It would quickly become an open flame, and she wanted nothing more. She wanted to touch him, to see beneath his shirt yet again, the thoughts of their time at the loch bringing color to her cheeks.
“Ye’re so sweet,” he whispered against her neck, his breath hot and heavy. “So good, too good…”
“Aiden,” she whispered.
The sound of his name on her lips intensified his lustful endeavors. His calloused hands roamed over her backside and pulled her flat against him as he kissed and licked her dewy skin.
“Say it again, lass,” he moaned, his hands coming up to cup her cheeks. “Say me name.”
“Aiden…”
She was ready for his crushing kiss and his furious passion. But just as their lips were about to touch, a voice interrupted them.
Aiden’s mother appeared in the corridor, her expression one of stern resolve. “You have compromised this lady. You will marry her. Soon.”
The weight of her words hit them both like a physical blow.
Aiden looked at Katie, then back at his mother, his vexation boiling over. “This isnae what I wanted!” he cursed under his breath.
The enormity of his defeat was evident in his voice and his clenched fists. Katie took a step back, realizing that despite the depth of their passion, they would both resent this match.
Her face turned a deep shade of red in embarrassment and resignation. She looked from Aiden to his mother, and her eyes filled with helpless sorrow. “I didn’t ask for any of this.”
Griselda’s gaze softened slightly, but her tone remained firm. “The decision has been made. Ye will marry her, and ye will do so with the respect and honor she deserves.”
Watching as Katie disappeared upstairs with Griselda, Aiden felt utterly hopeless and powerless to alter the course of unfortunate events that were unfolding before him. With a final glance at Katie and his mother in the upstairs gallery, he stormed out of the corridor and headed to the main entrance.
Griselda’s declaration gnawed at him, and he needed to find some way to clear his mind. His usual escape was the loch, where he could dive into the cold water and try to attain clarity.
As he reached the edge of the water, Aiden kicked off his boots and outer clothes and waded into the loch, letting the icy embrace of the water calm his raging thoughts. He swam out into the open, his strokes powerful and determined. The coolness of the water contrasted sharply with the heat of his frustration and provided a vital respite.
He floated on his back, staring up at the overcast sky, the clouds mimicking his turbulent mood. The water lapped gentlyaround him, and he took deep, steadying breaths and attempted to distance himself from thoughts of Katie and their impending marriage.
The stark contrast between the serene beauty of the loch and the chaos of his emotions was jarring. Aiden knew he had to face the consequences of his actions and decisions, but he struggled to reconcile his desires with the reality of his obligations.
Finally, he swam back to the shore, the cold water rejuvenating him, if only temporarily. As he dried off and dressed, he ruminated over the conversation with his mother and Katie. His future loomed large before him as he suddenly realized that he couldn’t escape the responsibilities that came with his position or his actions.
