“I will not tarry in Edinburgh.Mary now hasenough soldiers to assure her safety, thanks to your father’sefforts.”
“You will journey to your new castlethen?”
Jamie glanced away, unable to look at her.The sight of her beauty caused his heart to lodge in his throat.With his gaze fastened on the moon he said, “It is expected of anew laird.I will have to inspect my lands and get to know mypeople.”
“You will want Wolf to accompany you to yournew home.”
“Wolf lives?”He turned to her with a look ofastonishment.By the gods, she had wrought a miracle, and allbecause of her persistence.
“I thought my brothers would have told you.Wolf awaits you in my chambers.”
“Your chambers?You have turned him into apet, my lady?”
Lindsey bristled, feeling her temper return.“I did not force him.It was his choice.He is very content to walkby my side, to eat from my hand and to sleep beside my bed.”
She had just described heaven.Jamie knew ofanother who would be content with that, but he kept his silence andturned away.
Slowly she turned to study his proud profile.“Mayhap he tired of the battle and yearns for a life of ease.”
His voice roughened.“It is what all warriorsyearn for.But they fool themselves.The battles never end.”
He drew his cloak around him and began toturn away.
“Aye.Especially if the warrior is theHeartless MacDonald, who stirs battles wherever he goes.”
Jamie turned on her, his eyes blazing.“Ihave told you how I hate that name.Why do you persist in trying togoad me, my lady?”
Lindsey drew herself up to her full heightand faced him.“The name suits you.I cannot forget that you coldlysent me away.You ordered me around as though I were a servant.Youshamed me in front of my family.”
His eyes darkened.Without thinking he caughther roughly by the arms.“Shamed you?God in heaven, I wanted tospare you any further pain.I sent you away because I could notrisk having you harmed.Why can you not accept that?”
Too late, he remembered the jolt that alwaysaccompanied the mere touch of her.He felt it now, swift andjarring.His fingers tightened, drawing her near.
“I will not stand here and allow you to shoutat me.”She tried to pull away, but he tightened his grasp anddragged her roughly to him
“Damn you, woman.Why must you always fightme?”
Lindsey struggled to push free of his arms.“I will not be bullied by—”
“I had forgotten.There is only one way tostop your curses.”His lips covered hers in a kiss, cutting off herprotest.
Each of them reacted as though they had beenstruck by lightning.Fire raced through them, heating theirblood.
“God in heaven.”Jamie lifted his head andframed her face with his hands, staring deeply into her eyes.“Youmay think me a bully and a...”
“Son of a viper,” she added, watching hislips draw closer.
“Aye.”Perhaps, he mused, he could perform amiracle himself, if he but persisted.“Will you at least admit thatyou missed me?”He brushed his lips over hers, feeling a wildpulsing deep inside.
She could go on being kissed like this allnight.She had never forgotten the fire, or the needs that surfacedeach time he kissed her.“Aye, I did miss your kisses.Though attimes you are an overbearing brute.I missed the fighting.”Sheparted her lips.“And the making up.”
With his lips a fraction above hers hemuttered, “Admit that you love me, Lindsey.”
She swallowed, anxious for his kiss.With alittle sigh she muttered, “Only if you say the words first.”
He brushed his lips lightly over hers andfelt the flames begin to lick along his spine.The miracle waswithin his grasp.“I love you, Lindsey Gordon.With all myheart.”
She moaned and drew him close.“And I loveyou, Jamie MacDonald.”
