“I prefer Leod.”
He growled, moving closer. “Do you wish to take another swim in the cold water?” He tilted his head, his intense eyes promising he meant what he said.
Though she dinna doubt the sincerity of his threat, inside, she celebrated that she had the ability to discomfit him as much as he did her. “Ye have no right to threaten me—I came here in search of solitude. Ye should return to the great hall and celebrate with Jamie. I am sure he misses ye already.”
Kai rubbed his chin. “I came here to see why you refuse to accept me.”
She turned away, gazing across the icy loch. “My opinion shouldna matter.”
“Miran…”
“Lady Miran,” she demanded.
“Lady Miran,” he said coolly. “We are soon to travel together. Would it not be prudent to find a way to make peace?”
“Peace?” She whirled about. “From the moment I met ye, ye did everything within yer power to frustrate me. Not to befriend me.”
“You are not an easy woman to get along with. You are often shameless.”
She clicked her tongue in anger. “Shameless? Exactly what are ye accusing me of? When have I conducted myself with immodesty, sir?” Oh, she would have her say now, for the invader—that’s what she truly considered him—had insulted her character in a way she couldna allow. Miran guarded her maidenhood as fiercely as Jamie guarded his holdings. “Well?” she pressed. “If ye wish to name the circumstance, I am eager to hear it.”
“Perhaps I chose the wrong word.”
Twas it possible? The dark warrior was admitting he made a mistake?
“Shameless aligns me with a woman of loose morals, sir,” she chastised him. “A whore.”
Kai’s eyes widened with surprise. “Those words should not come out of your mouth!”
“Nor yers!”
He shook his head and sucked in a discontented breath. “I am a man.”
She waved her hands about. “I’ve waited for ye to announce yer sex again.” She pressed her fist against her breast, mocking him. “Ye are a man—set above woman and beast.”
“Miran,” he said in a low voice. “I do not wish to argue with you. But if I must, if you continue to fight me, know that Laird Jamie has given me broad powers over you, not only to protect you, but to teach you respect.”
She laughed nervously. “There is nothing for ye to teach me. And if there is, I doona want to learn it from ye.” She turned to go, but Kai gripped her arm and stopped her.
“Listen to me…” He tugged her against his muscular body, overshadowing her with his intimidating size and strength.
“Release me at once!” Her lips trembled, because the one thing she couldna deny or overcome were the feelings Kai elicited whenever he had his hands on her. And for as much as she tried to avoid him, she often found herself in circumstances where he was able to touch her.
“Lady Miran…”
“Let go of me.”
“If you will be still.”
She kicked his shin, forgetting she was wearing her soft-leather boots, so it hurt her toes, not his leg. “Christ!” she yelled.
Kai frowned, then leaned closer to her face. “If you refuse to stop using such language…” His mouth closed over hers, his soft, warm lips teasing her mouth open.
His tongue slipped inside her mouth, gently at first, exploring, demanding…
Miran bit down on his tongue, tasting blood, feeling his body jerk with pain. He cursed in whatever language it was he spoke, his features darkened with rage. She wouldna wait for his reaction. Nay, she fled as fast as she could go, running past the guards at the gates, entering the manor house breathless, and certain she’d embarrass Jamie, and hurried up the stairs, not caring who was watching.
“Miran!” Someone shouted after her.
