Page 37 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
“Aye, well,” the Laird said, rolling his shoulders back. “Is everything to yer liking?”
“It is,” she said, despite the tremor in her voice.
The Laird bowed low and, without another word, disappeared into the adjoining room.
Astrid’s heart thumped a violent rhythm as she stood in her chambers, the light from the fire casting forlorn shadows over the walls.
The Laird’s sudden disappearance had left her in a swirl of confusion and relief. Would he return? Was this just his way of giving her time and space?
Astrid played with the tips of her fingers as she paced the room. Each creak of the floorboards made her twist toward the door, and every pop of the fire sent jolts of panic through her.
“Och, enough of this madness,” she hissed as her eyes flicked to the door one the last time.
Like all the previous times, the door connecting her room to the Laird’s room remained shut and sealed. Refusing to play any more of his mind games, she charged toward the door.
She took a deep breath and steeled her resolve. She pushed the door open… and stopped. Her mouth dropped open, the words dangling from the tip of her tongue. Yet, all she could focus on was the Laird’s half-naked body.
“I didnae realize we were already on such terms,” the Laird said as he dropped the book he was reading.
The firelight danced across his chiseled chest, making his muscles even more defined than before.
Astrid blinked and tried to avert her gaze, but she couldn’t.
“Laird McFair,” she stammered. “Tonight… sleep… and forever more. Iwillbe respected.”
The jumbled mess of words that came out of her made her want to turn on her heels and flee. Catching her breath, Astrid did just that and slammed the door behind her. The heat of embarrassment rushed through her as she moved about her room.
A loud knock on the door rattled her. She didn’t want to answer it, but after the spectacle she had just made, there was no way she couldn’t. Gathering all the courage she had, she moved toward the door.
“Can I help ye?” she asked through the wood.
“Aye, ye can open the door,” he answered, testing the knob.
Darting back before the door could swing open, Astrid tried to keep her composure.
“There, it’s open,” she said.
“What is goin’ on? Is there something I can help ye wit’?” he asked.
Astrid saw his beige shirt hanging off his body. Why hadn’t she noticed how big his muscles were before? And what was he doing to her? Was the world spinning, or was it her?
“Nay,” she answered and turned her back to him, before spinning back around with a harsh glare. “Were ye really plannin’ on nae callin’ for me tonight?”
A playful smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth as he moved toward her The confidence radiating from him made her heart skip a beat. She couldn’t help but admire the way he carried himself with such dignity and pride. Yet, the cockiness that she saw in him had shifted to a confident pride that only comes with governing a clan the right way.
As the Laird drew closer, her heart raced even faster. A wave of uncertainty washed over her as images of her barging into his room filled her mind. Shame jabbed at her as his eyes bored into her own.
“If there is something ye want from me,” he whispered, his hot breath fanning her cheeks, “ye’ll have to ask for it.”
Astrid mulled over his proposal. Did she want something from him? Her body yearned to be touched, to be cherished like neverbefore, but did she have to nerve to ask for such things? Did she dare be bold enough to demand that he quench her desires?
The words stuck to her tongue, refusing to come out.
“Kiss me,” she whispered after a pause.
“Come again?”
Clearing her throat, Astrid rolled her shoulders back. “Kiss me.”
