Page 15 of Wedded to the Heartless Highlander
Erica could feel him watching the heat creeping up her neck, and it infuriated her. “Why did ye come here and go through the games when ye didnae even want to marry me?”
“Ye werenae the prize, lass. I’m here because it was an easy, quick, and convenient solution to me problem. Surely, ye can see that I’m nae the only competitor who’s nae lookin’ for a love match. Nae even yer valiant James Morris can say he is here for that. Can he?”
“James Morris is a good man. He may nae be lookin’ for a love match, but at least he kens who I amandhe was interested in marryin’ me.”
“Ye think highly of yerself. That’s good. But thinkin’ so highly of James Morris isnae good.”
Erica bristled and fixed him with a glare. “James would have made a good, strong match. Anyone can see that.” She smiled inwardly at her use of his words.
I’ll have ye eatin’ all yer words soon enough, just ye wait…
“Ye see…” Hunter chuckled, clearly unfazed. “I was talkin’ with yer faither tonight, and he seems to think that ours will be a strong union—though he did say ‘Once me daughter starts to care about anyone else but herself.’”
Erica flinched at her father’s words. “He didnae say that about me.”
“I didnae make it up, lass.”
She waved her arms, putting distance between them again. “I just dinnae wish to marry and leave when me faither is so ill. Is that so hard to believe?”
A fire burned behind Hunter’s eyes as he stepped closer to her again. “Is that why ye are leavin’ now?”
“Nay!” she cried.
A wave of guilt washed over her, cooling her temper and leaving her in a flustered state. She needed to recover quickly and get the upper hand again before he did?—
Wait a minute…
“What areyedoin’ out here?”
Hunter gave her a slow, wicked smile that made heat bloom in the pit of her stomach. “Perhaps I dinnae care for the idea of me bride wanderin’ off before I’ve had the chance to show her exactly what she’s runnin’ from.”
His fingers found her chin, tilting her face up like he did the night before. She shivered, every nerve tingling as his thumb traced the line of her jaw.
His words from earlier echoed in her mind.
“Tomorrow, ye will have plenty of things to say to me, I’m sure of it. Or maybe even tonight…”
She held her ground, but his words only added to the heat that had now coursed to her core. The tugging sensation was so raw and so intense that she couldn’t ignore it.
His thumb continued to trace her jaw and cheek—a slow, deliberate touch that left her nearly breathless.
“Ye are far too sure of yerself,” she managed to say through clenched teeth.
“Ye are far too sure of yer opinion of me.”
Her heart hammered against her ribs as he lingered there, inches away, his eyes falling to her lips before meeting her furious stare, daring her to pull back first. She should have, she knew that. Instead, she found herself rooted to the spot, her breath caught in her throat, unable to resist his pull. Every word left unsaid, every defiance in her heart seemed to dissolve in that small space between them.
“Ye can run if ye wish, lass,” he murmured, his voice rough. “But ye will find that ye cannae easily escape me.”
With a final lingering look, he released her chin and stepped back, giving her just enough space to breathe again. She held her breath, though, willing herself to look unaffected, to suppress the fire he’d kindled within her.
“Tomorrow, ye will be me wife. Whether here at McFair Keep or out there,” he added firmly as he pointed behind him, “wewillsettle this properly as husband and wife.”
“Ye’re an animal, a brute!” Erica spat. “A monster!”
Hunter took a small step forward, the heat of his body coaxing the slightest heat into her cheeks. He dipped his chin, his voice dangerously low. “Monster I may be, lass, but—” His eyes flickedto her lips and then back to her eyes. “Ye still flush so beautifully when ye look at me. Yer breath hitches when I’m near. And even now, I can only imagine how yer traitorous body reacts when ye think of me. So, say what ye wish—I will always ken the truth.” He looked just past her and ordered, “Take her back inside.”
“Aye, Laird MacKinnon. Right away,” said the small, familiar voice of Kara, who had appeared behind her.
