Page 42 of A Bride for the Kilted Beast

“That was nae what it looked like tae me!”

“Since ye bought me at the auction and forced me tae marry ye,” she enunciated each word carefully, making sure to hammer her nails home, “Finian has helped me, as a healer and a friend. And if ye must ken, he reminds me of me braither Darragh.”

Hearing that, Diarmaid let out a short, bitter laugh. “So, he reminds ye of yer braither, does he? How very convenient.”

“Aye, he does, and I dinnae care whether ye believe me or nae, but that’s the truth. The problem is with yer dirty mind. There’s naething of the sort ye’re tryin’ tae imply between me and Finian. We’re friends, ’tis all.” She turned away, determined to convey her disdain at his unsavory assumptions.

He grasped her by the shoulder and spun her back around, so she was facing him again.

“Ye expect me tae believe that,” he asked menacingly, his fingers gripping her tightly.

She shook him off and tossed her head. “As I’ve already told ye, I dinnae care what ye believe, since ye’ve nae believed anything I’ve told ye so far, and ye clearly think I’m a—what was it ye called me—oh, aye, I remember. ‘Some harlot.’”

Her words reverberated in the air between them like the ringing of a bell. Diarmaid let go her shoulder, visibly struggling to control himself.

“All right, maybe should nae have called ye that. I… I apologize fer sayin’ it. But I see it all now. Ye’ve been makin’ a fool out of me from the start, pretendin’ ye’re scared of me beddin’ ye, getting’ me tae sleep on the floor on me weddin’ night just tae please ye, and turnin’ on the tears tae make me promise nae tae touch ye! And then I catch ye makin’ eyes at the healer. Aye, ye’re makin’ a fool out of me right enough!”

Lillie ignored the wounded look in his eyes as well as his apology, inwardly seething at the accusation she had deliberately been making a fool of him all along.

Makin’ a fool of ye, is it, after all ye’ve done tae me? Well, we’ll see about that!

With a plan in mind, she subtly altered her demeanor. “’Tis ye who’s makin’ a fool of yersel’, actin’ like this,” she told him, deliberately softening her voice. “I tell ye, ye’re makin’ a mistake. I’m sorry tae have upset ye so much, but ye must believe me when I tell ye that I’ve nae tried tae make a fool of ye, Diarmaid, nae with Finian nor with anyone, I swear it.”

She closed the space between them and took both his hands in hers, hiding her rage behind a sweet smile. His expression was still dark, but he allowed her to hold them as she said, “I ken well enough ye’re me husband, and I can assure ye, I remember exactly what happened last night, every moment.”

She saw the hard lines of his handsome features beginning to relax, and the rage that had flared so darkly in his eyes faded visibly. She felt him cover her hands with his and squeeze them lightly.

“Are ye tellin’ me the truth, Lillie?” he asked huskily, his uncertain gaze searching her face. She reached up and stroked his cheek, knowing she was succeeding in lulling him to a false sense of security.

“Now ye’re makin’ me think ’tis ye who doesnae remember last night,” she whispered, trying to be as coquettish as she could, having little experience of it. “Did ye think I was pretendin’ then?”

Suddenly, with a harsh breath, he pulled her into his chest and embraced her tightly, his arms enfolding her, rocking them from side to side gently.

“Dinnae dae that tae me again, Lillie,” he murmured into her hair. “Yer mine now. Never forget it. Ye’re me wife, me woman, and nae one else can ever have ye.”

His heartfelt words and the feel of his warm body against hers almost broke her determination to carry out her plan to repay him for his accusations. But a devil inside her tamped down the desire for him that suddenly flared inside her and spurred her on to exact her revenge.

“Why d’ye nae take me upstairs and give me the chance tae show how well I ken that, Husband?” she replied breathily, batting her lashes and doing her best to lead him on.

He drew back to look at her, his gaze hungry now, cupping her chin. “Well, now ye ask me, I cannae think of a reason why I shouldnae accept yer offer,” he murmured hoarsely. Then, his mouth descended on hers, and he kissed her as if he would devour her. She returned his kiss with one part of herself, while the other was plotting.

“Come on then,” she tempted, pulling him towards the door.

“Nay, nae that way,” he told her in low voice. “Follow me.” Lillie was confused when he held her hand and led her over to the wood-paneled wall to the left of the hearth. She watched in amazement when he reached up and pressed the center of a carved wooden flower near the top of the panel. To her amazement, a small door popped open within it, with a dark recess behind.

“What is this?” she asked, peering inside.

“A secret passage,” he explained, picking up a lamp from the mantel and gesturing for her to follow him through the door. She found herself standing on a narrow stone landing, with curving steps leading up and down. “’Tis very handy when ye want tae move about the castle without being seen. Come on, this way.” He held the lamp high and led Lillie up the winding staircase.

“Where does it come out,” she asked in a whisper as they came to another landing.

“Wait and see.” Diarmaid stopped and pressed an invisible catch somewhere above them. To her amazement, another little door swung open in front of them, letting soft, orange light flow into the hidden passage. She stepped out, recognizing their new location at once. There was the monstrous bed, where they had spent the previous night in each other’s arms.

“I would never have guessed there was a secret passage right next tae us,” she said, genuinely surprised.

“’Tis the whole point,” he told her with a smile. He pushed the little door with his foot, and it shut with a soft click. Placing the lamp on the nightstand, he grasped Lillie around the waist and danced her to the bed.

“Now, what were ye sayin’ about showin’ me that yer mine, eh?” he asked, nuzzling her ear as he backed her up against the edge of the bed and pushed her gently down upon it. Lillie opened her arms to him.