“Open now, Lady Sheona. Lastchance.”
Reluctantly, she did just that. His gaze dropped to her mouth and he hesitated just a moment before placing the meat past her lips. His finger traced her bottom lip and pushed her chin up to close her mouth. She chewed slowly and was mesmerized by watching him watch her. The meat turned out to be ptarmigan, her favouritefowl.
After she swallowed, she opened her mouth again and waited. His lips parted, but he did not offermore.
“I am still hungry, mylord.”
“I am hungry too.” His voice was a roughwhisper.
Still, he tore off more meat and placed it in her mouth. By the time her belly was full, a different kind of hunger had overtaken her—the kind that craved more contact with him. Behind her, the fire crackled and inside her it blazed. She had never known the simple act of being fed could stir such wild desires withinher.
“Lady Sheona, I want to taste youagain.”
The moment she opened her mouth to speak, his lips covered hers. Their earlier kiss had been slow to build; this one was frantic, tongues tangling and breath ragged. How long they kissed, she couldn’t be sure, but by the time he broke away and trailed his hot mouth down her neck, she was lying on her back with him partly on top ofher.
Sheona opened her eyes and the realization of where they were flooded her mind. She quickly looked around and was relieved to find none of the other clansmen looking their way. She prayed they still slept. When his hand reached down to pull up the hem of her gown, she stoppedhim.
He raised his head to look into her eyes and she shook her head. “Please no,” shewhispered.
She shoved her gown back down and tried to turn on her side, but he would not let her. He leaned close to her ear and kissed the sensitive skin justbeneath.
“I will have you, Lady Sheona.” His voice was soft and low making her body quiver withneed.
“The only man who will have me is myhusband.”
“You do not have a husband, my lady. And now that you are my prisoner, it will be up to me who youwed.”
She gasped. Was that what he intended? To bring her back to Knock Castle to be wed? And did that mean he intended her to wedhim?
“Only my father can say who I willwed.”
“By the time your father realizes who has you, Lady Sheona, you will be wedded and properlybedded.”
“You cannot do this. You cannot forceme.”
“Oh lass, I can do whatever I want with ye. You’re my prisoner and as such, mine to do with as I please. And it pleases me to have you for myown.”
Sheona pushed him back and sat up. “No! A MacDonald will not abuse me like my aunt was. You are right; I have no say in my fate as your prisoner, butIdecide who I marry. There is no priest on the Isles who will force a lass to wed someone under these circumstances. So you will have to ask my father if you wish to wed me and when you do, he will ask what Iwant.”
His eyes narrowed on her. “Under the circumstances, and considering the extent of the loss your father just suffered, he will be willing to do anything to secure his future, andyours.”
MacDonald secured her rope to him again and lay down with a smirk on his face. Damn the man! Sheona sat up for as long as she could until exhaustion forced her to lie down. She turned her back to him and closed her eyes. Somewhere between consciousness and slumber, she thought she heard him whisper, “Mine.”
* * *
With the morning light,came frustration anew from his irresistible prisoner. She’d spent the first part of the night tugging and pulling on the rope as much as she could. The only purpose he could see for her behaviour was to aggravate him. They still had a good few miles to travel and so had begun at first light. It was nearing noon and she was again rigid as a post, sitting in front of him on hishorse.
She was correct in that no priest would force her into marriage. Butherfather would definitely think twice before rejecting the proposal he intended to craft. The only person standing in his way washisfather. The current chief was a force to be reckoned with, and his hatred of the MacLeods was as sharp as the peaks of the Black Cullins. A peace treaty through marriage had been attempted in the past, but Malcolm knew it had been tried with the wrong man. His father was not capable of peace unless it was forced upon him. Few would have the capability to make this happen. Malcolm was certain he was one of thefew.
Now that they were away from the mountains, he urged his horse into a faster gallop. The closer they drew to Knock Castle, the more determined he was to see it done—make herhis.
Last eve, he’d been ready to take her right there. All sense and reason had escaped him when she responded to his kisses. For an inexperienced and unused lass, she’d displayed a passion that wasintoxicating.
Malcolm shifted in the saddle. The last thing he needed was an erection he couldn’t ease for severalhours.
“When might we stop torest?”
Her question broke through his lascivious thoughts. “Soon. We have many miles to make upyet.”
