Page 377 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“Temptation, nothing more?” he asked.

She remained quiet.

“You not only want me, love, but need me.”

Her lips tightened into a righteous line. “Would you care to wager?”

Iain stilled. “Beware, sweet. I am a man who would take such a wager seriously.”

“You think that because I am a woman I am any less honorable?”

He regarded her. “What would you wager?”

“Whatever you wish,” she replied with a haphazard shrug.

“Anything?”

“Anything.”

Iain nodded, his attention again on her hair.

“Would you admit the truth?”

“That is a useless wage,” she retorted. “There is nothing to admit.”

He dropped her hair and inclined his head in ascent. “As you wish, my lass. An hour of your time, then?”

She frowned. “I do not understand.”

“It is simple enough. You promise to do anything

I ask for a single hour.”

“Agreed. And if I win?”

“The same.”

“I do not know,” she mused. “An hour of your time is not overly valuable.”

“Two hours, then,” he offered.

“Nay, I think I would like to visit another

MacPherson stronghold.” “Done,” Iain answered.

“As to the rules—”

Iain yanked her to him. “There are no rules— save, you cannot deny the truth once it is finished.”

He sealed her mouth beneath his and, in two steps, backed her against the wall. She seized his shoulders, and a thrill raged through him when he understood her hold was in order to keep from crumbling beneath his advance. Her palms flattened against his chest and she pushed at him. Her mouth twisted free of his.

“Foul play, my lord. I—I am not prepared.”

“If I leave it to you, lass, you will never be prepared. Ready or not, the time is now.”

He cupped her neck and again covered her mouth with his as he yanked at the ties on her bodice. The string loosened, and Iain grasped a taut nipple as a breast spilled into his palm. She dragged in a sharp breath, and Iain slipped his tongue past her lips and into her mouth while he rolled the pink fruit between his fingers. He reached around her and cupped her buttocks. Pulling her to him, Iain moved her hips in a circular motion against him.

She broke her lips free. “Please,” she said in a choked voice. “’Tis not need you intend” —she broke off, her breath quickening—“but lust.”