Page 39 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander
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Morgana’s heart fluttered as she stared up at her husband. She wasn’t sure if it was anger coursing through her or the excitement of defying all rules that had been set before.
She couldn’t ignore the intensity of his gaze, for it unnerved and rattled her to her core. Yet, she did not tremble under the weight of his scrutiny. If anything, she found the moment beyond thrilling.
Defying his rules gave her the pinch of freedom she had been craving all her life. It was as if putting on the trousers gave her confidence and pride that she hadn’t felt before.
“There was nay time for me to come to ye with this issue,” Morgana whispered as Ryder drew closer, as if he was determined to keep her hidden from prying eyes.
Before she knew it, she was pinned against the wall of the tavern, and the anger in her husband’s eyes turned to lust. She watched as the flames of his desires were kindled and stroked into a roar.
“Is that so?” he challenged.
“I had just received the letter this very day,” she answered.
The heat of his body seeped through the thin fabric of her brother’s shirt.
“Are ye sure this is how I’m to wear this?” Morgana asked as she glanced at Ronnie for reassurance.
“Ye look the part,” Ronnie answered with pride tainting his tone. “I just cannae believe ye can fit me clothes.”
“There was nay time to wait. I had to come. But why areyehere?”
“That is none of yer business,” Ryder said, his voice thick with desire and a yearning that spoke to her soul. “But I thought I told ye yesterday that I’d be gone. Ye were to be in charge of the clan, and yet I find ye here, gallivantin’ in men’s clothing. Do ye have any idea the damage yer little jaunt could do to us? The clan willnae tolerate such disobedience.”
“And what of ye?” Morgana asked, batting her long eyelashes. “What are yer thoughts on such things? Will ye have me thrown in the dungeons for disgracin’ myself and the clan?”
“Had someone recognized ye, aye, I would see ye punished.”
The challenge in his tone seemed to add fuel to her fire. “And what would ye do to me?”
Ryder’s eyes darkened. The corners of his lips twitched as if he were trying to suppress a smile. Tension rose between them, festering and brewing into something Morgana knew she wouldn’t be able to control. Ryder pinched her chin, ensuring that she wouldn’t be able to look away from him.
“Are ye tryin’ to challenge me?” he purred.
“And what if I am?” she shot back.
Ryder leaned closer, closing the gap between them. There was nowhere he wasn’t touching her. It was as if he had swallowed the whole world with his presence.
“What is it that ye want me to say?” he asked, trailing his fingers down the length of her neck. Her breath hitched when he didn’t stop at the swell of her bosom, but cupped her breast in his hand. “Would ye like me to describe the things I’d do to ye?”
“Ryder? Ye out here?” an unfamiliar voice called through the foggy night.
Morgana hated the intrusion and even more so the feel of the frigid night air on her skin the moment Ryder stepped away from her.
“Aye,” he called, without taking his eyes off her. She chewed on her lip as her anticipation grew. “What did ye need?”
“Och, I see,” Felix said with a curious expression. “And just who do ye have there?”
“Nay one,” Ryder answered. There was no hiding the sternness in his tone or the dread in each word he spoke.
Morgana’s breathing quickened as his fingers curled around her wrist, pinning her to the spot. She wanted to dart to safety, to flee from embarrassment. It was bad enough that her husband had seen her dressed in such a way, but to have her paraded around and mocked…thatshe wouldn’t tolerate.
“Come now, I can see ye’ve got someone there. If ye need some help roughin’ up the lad, I’ll be glad to help. The only way a pickpocket will learn is through a good beatin’ if ye ask me,” the man drawled as he stepped into the alley.
“She’s nae a pickpocket,” Ryder corrected, much to his shock.
“Did ye sayshe? But he looks like a stable boy.” The man craned his neck to study Morgana.
