Page 45 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander
“I’m havin’ Felix look into yer sister’s whereabouts,” Ryder explained.
He averted his eyes momentarily, trying to ignore the lingering warmth of her cheek on the palm of his hand.
“Oh,” Morgana murmured. The disappointment in her tone pleased him.
“Felix is a stranger to ye, but he is loyal to me. If anyone can find her, it is him. He can track a falcon at dusk,” Ryder said.
“Thank ye,” she answered. “But I dinnae understand why ye’re doin’ this. I’m sure I can find her myself.”
“As entertainin’ as it was for ye to sneak out of the castle last night, I dinnae want that to be a regular occurrence. Nor do I want to constantly worry about my wife and where she’s at. I’d rather have ye here.”
“Ye dinnae trust me, do ye?” Morgana asked, stepping toward him.
There it was, that defiance in her tone. It was the same defiance that struck a chord within him last night. Her willingness to stand up for herself and take what she wanted thrilled him.
“Nay,” he answered. “And I never promised ye I would. But today, ye proved to me that ye can be trusted. Ye lied to a councilman for me. Why?”
“I’m sure the council still wants to tie a noose around my neck,” Morgana scoffed.
“And it’s such a lovely neck.”
“But until the real culprit is caught, everyone believes I did it. Lyin’ was the only way to ensure that I got to see another day,” she continued, batting her long eyelashes.
Ryder’s chest tightened. How she enchanted him.
“And that doesnae bother ye?” he asked, drawing closer to her. His body ached for her. How he wanted to taste her sweetness. “Havin’ to lie?”
“I’m nae a saint. I’m a survivalist, and I’ll do and say anythin’ to keep my head on for as long as I can.”
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing ye married a laird who happens to like yer head right where it is.”
Ryder raked his fingers through her hair. She didn’t flinch or recoil. She stood before him, staring up at him with a desire he couldn’t ignore much longer.
“So I’ll get to keep it a while longer?” she asked as she pressed the palm of her hand to his chest.
He took her hand and lifted it to his mouth. “If I have anythin’ to say about it, I’ll let ye keep it a bit longer,” he murmured, kissing her knuckles one at a time.
A sharp knock sounded at the door, pulling him out of his daze. He looked up as the door swung open.
“Go away,” he hissed, turning his gaze back to Morgana. “I’m busy.”
“Actually, My Laird, I have come to see Lady McKenzie,” Orella said, a playful smile curling her lips.
“The lady is busy at the moment. Go away,” Ryder grumbled as he tried to pull Morgana deeper into the room.
“I am nae,” she protested. “What is it that ye need, Orella?”
Orella paused in the doorway. “The storeroom needs to be restocked, and I was wonderin’ if ye’d care to help me gather the herbs from the garden. Maybe have Poppy and Eloise come help too?”
“That’s a splendid idea, but what happened to yer husband helpin’ ye?” Morgana asked as she ducked under Ryder’s outstretched arm.
“Seems more pressin’ matters have come up,” she answered.
He couldn’t help but flash her a smirk as she moved to Orella. Their voices and conversation droned on in the background as Ryder’s imagination took flight. She glanced over her shoulder and winked as if to say,Better luck next time. It was a challenge Ryder found himself becoming obsessed with.
Slippery minx. Well, it’s only a matter of time before ye cave, and when ye do, I promise ye’ll wonder why ye waited for so long.
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