Page 344 of Wicked Highland Heroes

A disquieting frown appeared on her face.

“Am I to understand you will one day succeed in escaping?” he asked.

“I have no intention of remaining your prisoner, and when that time comes…”

“Your words imply I will catch you.” He leaned closer and added, “Just as I did today.”

“Nay.”

Iain lifted a brow. “Why not save yourself the trouble and admit the truth? You want to stay.”

She began to struggle. Her thrashing ended, however, when Iain met the thrust of her hips with a slow movement against her as he had wanted to the day he stole her from the abbey. She must have understood the connection, for she said, “Are you to finish the job, then?”

Anger pricked at the implication that he would take her as any barbarian would, though, in truth, he wanted to. “Finish what I began? I suppose so.”

Her expression moved from surprise to fear, then her eyes narrowed. “Father Brennan warned you.”

“And I warned you about thinking you could defy me. It would seem I have been too lenient.”

“Would you prefer I left that poor girl where I found her?” Victoria cut in.

“Leave her?” His gut tightened. “You should not have been there in the first place. Do you realize the danger?” But he knew she did. He remembered the stark fear on her face.

“What would you have had me do?” she demanded. “If I had shown myself, we both would have been discovered.”

“The point is not your courage, but that you ran off in the first place. It could have been you.” The last came out in a whisper.

Strong fingers gripped his shoulders as she brought her face to within a hair’s breadth of his. “I care nothing for what you say. I would not have left her there.” She emphasized every syllable, leaving him with no doubt that any threat he made would mean little in light of her conviction.

“You will learn to care, my lass,” he promised. “There is plenty of time yet for that, especially since you will not again leave the safety of the keep.”

Her grip on him tightened. “Get—” she grunted with the effort of pushing him away from her, “— off—me.”

She gave a mighty push and Iain rolled away, ending in a sitting position. She reared onto her knees and swung at him, but halted mid-stroke.

Iain lifted a corner of his mouth. “I see you are quite capable of learning, little bird.”

Her slim fingers curved into a fist and Iain nodded with understanding. “Here.” He made a fist and hit himself on the shoulder. “If you think you can do any better than you did yesterday, go ahead, love. I will not do a thing.” She glared and he smiled slowly. “I see. You would rather give me a good knock on the head. Try, if you like.”

“Does your thick skull comprehend I have done nothing wrong?” she asked in a calmer manner than he expected.

He studied her. “You are sure?”

“I know my own mind.”

Iain gave a single nod. “As you say, then.” He rose and began straightening the sash that had slipped from his shoulder. “Never let it be said I questioned the word of a lady.”

Her gaze sharpened. “The matter is finished?”

He looked up from the sash. “I never said that.”

“Sweet Jesu, but you are a contrary man. Which is it to be, Lord Keeper?”

“You need not worry, lass, you swear you have done nothing wrong.”

“But you just said—”

“Aye,” he interrupted. “It is not you I will deal with, but the one I entrusted you to.”