He gripped her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. She stumbled, catching herself against his chest. He was large enough that he could overpower her easily. While that thought did scare her with most men, it didn’t scare her now.
“Because, me dear, the other Laird could never offer ye what I can.” His voice was low when he said it.
It reminded Thalia of the way he had spoken in the gardens of MacCabe Castle two years ago. It sent a shiver of excitement down her spine.
“And what is that, besides protection, of course?” she asked with interest.
“I can tame ye,” he whispered, tightening his grip on her.
“Tame me?” She tried for a laugh, but it sounded false even to her own ears. His body was hot against hers, and she was having a hard time fighting the urge to lean into him.
“Aye.”
“I’m nae an animal.”
“Nay, ye’re nae,” he agreed. “Ye’re a strong-willed lass who thinks she needs to take on the entire world by herself. Daenae ye think it’d be nice to let someone else do that for ye for a change?”
“I…” She searched his face. He did not seem to be teasing her anymore. Instead, he looked as serious as she had ever seen him. “What makes ye think that’s what I want?”
“It’s what all women want.”
“Ye ken what all women want?”
“Aye. I’ve been with enough to have an idea.”
The reminder made her scowl. “Well, maybe I’ll be the one to tame ye instead.”
He chuckled. “I’d like to see ye try, lass. But I ken I could make ye break first.”
The certainty made her breath catch in her throat.
“How can ye be so sure?”
He brushed his knuckles down her cheek, the action making her heart pound against her ribs. She was sure he could feel her pulse against her skin, sure he could hear the drumming in her veins.
“Just a hunch.” He smirked, clearly pleased with her reaction. “Ye’ll find there’s pleasure in surrender, lass.”
His hand settled against her clavicle, fingers splaying over the exposed skin.
She swallowed. Maybe there was some truth in his words. She thought about his hands, as large as her face, grabbing her, touching her. His large arms, with muscles as big as tree trunks, enveloping her and pulling her closer.
Heat rushed up her neck to her face. This was exactly how he had managed to seduce all of those women before, and here she was following in their footsteps. Would it really be so bad if she just let herself give in?
Aye! It would!
The thought jolted her out of her daze, and she pushed him back again. She immediately missed the heat of his hand against her, but she tried to ignore the feeling.
“Well,yecan surrender all ye want, I willnae be doin’ anythin’ of the sort,” she insisted, but she was still out of breath.
He laughed, and she was glad to see him behaving more like the teasing scoundrel she knew rather than the Highland Wolf.
“We’ll see about that.” He winked.
She glared at him. “Are ye goin’ to spend the entire year teasin’ me?”
“I might,” he admitted, and she huffed again. “I wouldnae do it if it wasnae so much fun.”
“Well, at least one of us is enjoyin’ themselves,” she said. “Since ye seem to be in better spirits, I’ll be headin’ back into the castle.”
