Tired of her thinking the worst of him, he was tempted not to, but the soft plea in her voice tugged at the part of him that still sought her understanding. “I believe I told you when we married that I’d taken surety for your clan—making me responsible for their actions. I’ve been charged with clearing Bute of outlaws, and I damn well intend to do so.” He’d shocked her with his language, but he didn’t care. She thought him a brute, so be it.
She studied his face as if looking for a crack. “I thought you’d come here to help rebuild Ascog.”
“I did. But I have other duties.” He gave her a long look. “Just what is it you think I do, Caitrina?”
“I . . . ,” she stammered, eyes wide.
He took her elbow and pulled her against him, his body a mass of gnarling tension. He couldn’t be this close to her, breathe in her seductive scent, and not want to take her into his arms and kiss her. To claim her body, even if she was determined to give him nothing else. “If men break the law, it is my responsibility to see them brought to justice.”
He was not ashamed of what he did; without men like him, there would be anarchy and chaos.
He could feel the pounding of her heart. No matter what else, she was not unaffected by his touch. “But what have they done?” she breathed, her voice shallow.
“Do you mean after giving shelter to the MacGregors? They tried to attack my men and relieve them of some silver that I’d given them to purchase materials for the rebuilding of Ascog.”
Clearly, he’d shocked her. “I’m sure they didn’t know.”
“I’m sure they didn’t, but is that an excuse?”
“No, but couldn’t you give them a chance? Once they know that you are only trying to help.”
He gave her a hard look. “I did. I offered them a reprieve if they would agree to surrender and swear to me as their laird.”
“Truly?” Her face lit with happiness. “That is wonderful.”
“Your father’s men refused.”
Her face fell. “Oh.” She swallowed thickly. “I see.”
And he could tell that she did. She’d misjudged him and knew it. He released her, but she didn’t move away.
“So what will you do now?” she asked.
“If they do not reconsider, I will send them to Dunoon.”
“No!” Her horrified gaze flew to his. “You can’t do that.”
He clenched his jaw, a reaction to her again telling him what he could and could not do. “It is your father’s men who give me no choice.”
“Please,” she said, putting her hand on him again—this time on his chest. It burned like a brand over his heart. She had to dip her head back to look at him. “Please. You can’t. They’ll be hanged.”
Blood pounded through his body. He was achingly aware of the subtle persuasion of her body. He knew what she was doing, but damn her, it was working. Something stirred in his chest. He wanted to stay aloof, but he was not immune to her pleas. Would he ever be? And that perhaps more than anything angered him.
“Let me talk to them,” she pleaded. “I can make them see reason.”
It was what he’d sought all along. He had no more wish to send her father’s men to their death than she. He nodded. “See that you do.” His own weakness where she was concerned made his voice sound harsher than he intended. “But, Caitrina, this is the last time. Do not try to interfere with my duty again.”
He wondered for whose benefit he said it. Their interests had jibed this time. But he knew it wouldn’t always be so. This woman would stretch his duty to the breaking point because he’d do just about anything to please her.
All at once she dropped her hand, seeming to realize what she’d been doing—touching him, entreating him with the press of her body.
Caitrina had never seen him like this. He was furious with her. And worse, she knew it was not without justification. Once again, she’d jumped to the wrong conclusion. But when she’d seen her father’s men bound and then later heard his orders to send them to the dungeon, tact had flown out the window and all she could think of was his fearsome reputation.
Given what her father’s men had done in waylaying his men, Jamie had been more than fair. And she’d not given him even the barest benefit of the doubt.
Instead she’d made demands, ordering him to release them without waiting to hear his explanation—and in doing so questioned his authority in front of her clan. And when that hadn’t worked, she’d unconsciously fallen back on the one thing neither of them could deny to try to get through to him: their attraction.
He was not as impervious to her as he wanted to be, and there was something heady in the knowledge that she held sway over this fierce warrior.
