Page 9 of The Mad Highlander
Turning back to her with his eyes narrowed, Cayden glared at her. The depths of his blue eyes made her breath catch in her throat.
Why does he look at me like that?
She felt her breathing quicken as his eyes fell to her lips and lingered there for just a moment before traveling to her full breasts that rose and fell steadily beneath her emerald dress. Feeling as if he were undressing her with his eyes again, she reached for the edges of her cloak and protectively wrapped them around her chest.
Cayden smirked with a look that could easily have been mistaken for amusement before looking back out the window.
Iris was surprised to note his handsome appearance when he wasn’t scowling or glaring at her. The danger that oozed from his being lifted ever so slightly and made her even more curious about the person behind the rumors. Was there a softer side to him? Or was he simply attempting to disguise his true nature with brief moments of civility?
“Will we be arriving at the inn soon, Me Laird?” She watched a muscle in his jaw twitch as he turned to look at her again.
“Are ye always this chatty? Or is this interrogation supposed to be for me benefit?” He narrowed his eyes at her now with a disapproving scowl.
“I’m just trying to make conversation, Me Laird. It’s what people do when they meet others. But since you didnae ask, I am a little hungry; I wouldnae mind if we stopped somewhere soon.” She felt her pulse racing as the determination to stand her ground took over.
Why am I challenging him like this?
Heat tingled through her body, causing her stomach to flutter and coil with tension beneath his gaze. There was something almost undeniably attractive about him despite his brutish ways and responses. The guard’s words came back to her as she wondered why so many women had refused to marry him.
The rumors of his brutality are more than likely true.
She felt herself recoiling a little in her seat. How had she forgotten what he had done to his family? Nothing about him seemed to make any sense to her.
“We will pass two more inns ’afore we stop. The more ground we cover before nightfall, the sooner we will reach Castle O’Brien,” he grumbled and clenched his jaw in frustration, seemingly irritated with her as he clenched his fists over his knees.
“Can we nae even stop for a rest?” Iris felt personally attacked by his refusal to stop even for a moment. She hadn’t been expecting him to treat her like a queen, yet she still felt as if she were owed the basic necessities of rest and food when she needed them.
“Will ye stop talking if we do?” he grumbled at her, gripping the edge of his seat as the carriage hit what seemed to be a large stone. The irritation in his voice made the deep hues of blue appear even icier.
“I cannae say that I will, but I ken all your men and even your poor driver will be thankful for the rest,” Iris bit back sharply, wincing as she bumped her head on the ceiling of the carriage. The road seemed to get bumpier the more she fussed and argued with him.
Glowering at her, Cayden banged his fist against the inside of the carriage until she feared that the roof would pop off. The horses neighed as they came to a sudden stop, causing Iris to almost fall into his lap. She caught herself just in time and almost teetered over as her fingers dug into the seat.
It seemed like mere seconds before the driver appeared at the door and pulled on the handle. “Is there something wrong, Me Laird?” The man stood up straight, his long orange hair braided down his back.
“The lady would like to stop for the evening. Pull over at the next inn. We will be staying there for the night.” Cayden kept his eyes fixed on Iris as he spoke.
“Aye… Me Laird.” The man seemed taken aback at first, looking from Cayden to Iris before shutting the door again and leaving.
“Thank ye.” She sucked in a sharp breath and tore her gaze away from his, looking out the window as the carriage jostled from side to side.
Her heart beat like the rhythm of an uneven drum as she tried to steady her breathing, feeling his gaze boring into her flesh. Why did he keep looking at her like that? As if he wanted to tear the clothes from her body and ravish her. The thought made her stomach coil deliciously with confusion. She did not want to be married to him and was only doing so to save her brother, but something in his lingering gaze caused a fire to grow in her stomach. His deep blue eyes and handsome features definitely weren’t what she had been expecting of the mad laird. She was a woman, and with that came needs. She was not dwelling on being married to the man, but she was considering some of the perks that came with it.
The mad laird.
He seemed dangerous to her in an alluring manner, but she couldn’t decide whether or not she believed the rumors regarding his father and brother.
She cleared her throat and shifted in her seat just as the carriage hit what felt like a massive stone in the road. Arms flew into the air in search of something to hold onto as she flew out of her seat, landing face down in Cayden’s lap.
Her body trembled when strong hands gripped her upper arms, pulling her up until she was face to face with the mad laird.
“Are ye hurt?” His voice was low and deep as he looked into her eyes before allowing his gaze to sweep over the rest of her body.
Iris felt her face filling with heat as she realized that her hands were gripping his thighs. Any higher and she would have ventured into very inappropriate territory. “Nae, thank ye, I am nae hurt,” her voice came out a tad breathier than she had intended.
Cayden tightened his grip on her upper arms, pulling her slightly closer as his lips parted with a deep breath.
Her heart raced along with the horses’ hooves that beat against the road. His face was closer now, his hot breath invitingly caressing her lips.
