“Enchanted?” she repeated, hardly believing the accusations she was hearing. “I have never ‘enchanted’ anyone in me life!”
“Well, how else do ye explain his obsession with ye? His attempts to undermine me at every opportunity? He desires ye greatly, lass, and there’s nay any other way to explain it. I could have killed him for what he said in there. How he acted in front of ye, in front of Daisy. Just when we were startin’ to make progress!”
He slapped at the branches of the closest shrub, and Thalia suspected he was imagining Harrison’s face as he did. He had terrified Daisy; no doubt, he had reminded her of the previous Laird MacAinsley.
Still, it was true what he said. Laird MacGibbon was only here for Thalia.
“Do ye want to call it off?” she asked, her anger fizzling into self-doubt and misery.
“What?” He turned back around, shocked at the sudden change in her tone.
“The betrothal,” she clarified. “There’s still plenty of time. I told ye before that ye didnae have to do this, and I meant it. I can take the blame. I’ll go and marry that awful man to please me uncle, and ye can pretend that ye never met me.”
He stared at her. “Is that what ye think I want?”
“Is it nae?” She threw her hands up. “I daenae understand ye. One minute ye can be the most frustrating person I’ve ever met, the next ye turn around and are this wonderful faither. How… how ye can flirt with me, and then once ye kiss me, ye kick me out of yer room?”
Her face burned at the confession, but she stood her ground, raising her chin in defiance. She needed to know how he felt, or else it would drive her mad.
Did he feel the same things she was feeling now? Despite her anger, all she wanted to do was feel his arms around her again.
“That kiss shouldnae have happened.” His lips pressed into a hard line.
“Is that why ye’ve been in such a foul mood? Because ye regret kissin’ me?” She fought to steady her voice, refusing to show that his words hurt.
“Aye.” He took a step closer. “I do regret it.”
“I see.” The words were hollow as they left her mouth.
Regret. He regretted their kiss.
He hesitated at her expression. “I think ye misunderstand me, lass.”
“Nay, I understand ye perfectly,” she huffed. “Do ye find me repulsive as well? Is that why ye want me to buy a new dress? Perhaps ye prefer softer women who would?—”
She broke off when he stepped even closer. Close enough to kiss.
“I daenae find ye repulsive, Thalia.” His voice was low and husky again. Thalia found that she quite enjoyed the way her name sounded on his lips. “I think ye are trouble, or maybe ye’re me punishment for everythin’ I did to be called aWolf. But nae repulsive. I almost wish I did.”
“Really?” she breathed, her heart thudding against her ribs.
“Aye.” His chest rose and fell with quick, heavy breaths.
Thalia wished she could see it again. To run her fingers over the muscles as she had been able to do earlier that day.
“Then why did ye stop?” she asked.
“It’s because I didnae want to stop. I had to for yer sake.” The words sounded as if they were torn out of him, but she wanted more. Sheneededto hear more.
“Me sake?”
“Aye. If I had gone further with ye… ye would have been ruined. I willnae do that to ye. In fact…” His eyes darted down to her mouth, then back up to her eyes. “I promise I willnae touch ye again.”
“Nay?” She leaned in, just a little. Enough to test that claim.
He noticed, too. In an instant, his hand was on the back of her neck, and he was pulling her into another kiss.
This one wasn’t as rough as before. The first kiss had felt like she was giving bread to a starving man. He had been hungry, ravenous, and desperate. This kiss, while not gentle, made her feel as if he was savoring her.
