Her cheeks burned. “You can’t mean to hold me to your ridiculous condition. I agreed only under duress.”
“It’s a debt of honor.” He paused. “Is the word of a Lamont worth nothing?”
She gasped. “You know my name!”
He laughed again with that knowing look. “An educated guess. ’Tis said the Lamont has a very beautiful daughter.” He frowned, giving her face great scrutiny. “But maybe I’m wrong. They didn’t say anything about a crooked nose.”
“What!” Her hand went immediately to her nose. “I don’t have a—” She stopped, heat staining her cheeks, seeing his grin. The arrogant lout was teasing her again. Well, not exactly arrogant, she supposed. More like confident in his authority and strength. She flushed at the memory of his hard body stretched against hers.
And now he wanted her to kiss him.
Caitrina bit her lip, debating what to do. She owed him nothing, but she had agreed to his “bargain.” His attack had been well aimed, striking in the one place every Highlander was vulnerable—their pride.
Her struggle seemed only to amuse him. “What is it to be, my lady?”
A long, slow smile spread across her face; she had the answer. “Very well. You shall have your kiss.”
She thought a flicker of surprise crossed his face. When she held out her hand, he looked puzzled for a moment before comprehension settled in that cool, steely gaze.
She thought she’d won when he took her proffered hand, but then she saw the determined glint spark in his eyes. Determination that made a shiver of alarm slide down her spine.
Her fingers seemed to be swallowed by his big warrior’s hand. It was warm and hard with calluses—and strong. He could crush her without effort, but instead his thumb caressed her palm and the hair on her arms stood straight up. He turned her hand over, revealing the jagged scratches on her palm.
A frown settled over his handsome features. “You’re hurt. Why didn’t you say you were hurt?”
Self-conscious, she tried to pull her hand away, but he held firm. “It’s nothing,” she dismissed.
Holding her gaze, he slowly lifted her hand to his mouth.
She couldn’t turn away. She couldn’t breathe. All she could do was wait and anticipate, her pulse as frantic as the wings of a hummingbird.
She felt the warmth of his breath on her hand right before he pressed his lips against her injured palm. She sucked in a short gasp of air. The shock of his kiss was like a lightning bolt, a brand upon her skin.
His lips moved along her palm to the sensitive skin at her wrist. Her heart pounded faster, realizing what he intended. This would be no simple kiss of the hand. It was a seduction.
And it was working. Something strange was happening to her body. Her legs felt suddenly weak as a heaviness descended over her. His mouth trailed from her wrist to the bend of her arm. The press of his soft lips and warm mouth on her bare skin sent tiny shivers sweeping up her arm. The gentle scratch of his chin on her skin made every nerve ending stand on edge and prickle with awareness.
Her lips parted and her breath hitched. He lifted his eyes to her face, and something changed. In one movement, his hand slid around her waist and he pulled her to him.
His handsome features were drawn in a hard line, but there was no mistaking the heat in his gaze. His eyes fell to her mouth. The pulse at his jaw quickened.
She knew what he was going to do.
She could have stopped him.
But she didn’t want to. She’d never wanted a man to kiss her before . . . until now.
He cupped her chin, stroking her skin with a sweep of his callused fingertips. It seemed impossible that such a physically powerful man could touch so gently. He tilted her mouth to his. She sucked in her breath, anticipation crackling inside her like wildfire on dry leaves. Her nipples tightened against his chest, pressing against him, straining. Her entire body felt so sensitive, as if with one touch she could dissolve into a pool of liquid heat.
The warmth of his breath brushed her skin, the subtle hint of spice sweet temptation. Finally, when she didn’t think she could wait a moment longer, his lips touched hers.
She felt a sharp tug in her chest, then a shock of surprise and a moment of blissful awakening like the petals of a flower blossoming under the hot sun. His lips were warm and velvety soft. She could taste him. The hint of spice she’d detected earlier—cinnamon—but made deeper and more mysterious by his heat.
His hand moved from her chin to behind her neck, his fingers wrapped around the sensitive skin, sliding through her hair to bring her lips more firmly against his.
His kiss was bold and possessive—like the man—and nothing like the chaste peck she’d imagined.
She sank against him, savoring the sensation of his mouth on hers, wanting to taste him deeper. Excitement pulsed inside her. He moved his mouth against hers, urging her lips apart. His hard muscles bulged under her fingertips with restraint, and she could feel him struggle with something.
