Page 48 of Kilted Abduction
“I promise we’ll get back tae the chamber before he gets back,” she pleaded. “It just feels so nice tae be movin’ about. Please? Just a wee bit longer?”
Ciara, not unaware of her beauty or the effect she sometimes had on a man, batted her sparkling green eyes at the man as she spoke. His face softened and he cut a glance at his partner.
“Fine,” he said. “But just a wee bit longer.”
“Aye. Just a wee bit,” Ciara agreed.
Ciara turned and walked on down the corridor, admiring the Yule decorations that continued going up around the castle, once again overwhelmed by the emotions they evoked within her. A wistful smile touched her lips .
With her guards in tow, Ciara turned a corner and stopped short. Magnus stood before her, his arms folded over his chest and glowered at her. His gaze shifted to the men behind her. Ciara snuck a peek at them and fought to keep the smile off her lips as they blanched and shifted on their feet uncomfortably beneath Magnus’ icy glared.
“Didnae I tell ye she was tae be kept in her chambers?” Magnus said.
“Aye, maister. She just asked tae breathe some fresh air a bit?—”
“Are ye bewitched?” Magnus snapped. “Or dae ye nae think ye need tae be followin’ me orders when I give ‘em?”
“Nay, Maister. I just?—”
“Ye just what?” Magnus growled. “Didnae I give ye an order?’
“Aye, Maister Magnus,” he said.
“Did she bewitch ye?”
“Nay, Maister Magnus. I’m sorry.”
Magnus stood and continued glowering at Ciara’s two escorts, muttering darkly under his breath. He finally shook his head, his face painted with disgust.
“Get out of here,” he growled. “I’ll walk her back tae me chambers meself.”
Looking relieved, the two men turned and fled down the corridor, anxious to put as much distance between them and an angry Magnus as they could. She turned to him and frowned.
“And what is it ye expect me tae dae that I need two armed men watchin’ me every move?”
“I’ve learned ‘tis wise tae expect anythin’ from ye.”
“I’m flattered that ye think me so capable.”
“I made the mistake of underestimatin’ ye once. I willnae dae it again.”
Ciara rolled her eyes, mostly irritated that he’d foiled her plans yet again. Magnus put his big hand on her shoulder and turned her around, giving her a gentle nudge forward.
“Come. Let’s go,” he said.
With a heavy sigh, Ciara started to trudge back toward Magnus’ bedchamber. As she did, she was still taking in her surroundings, and trying to put together a plan. She’d purposely walked a different way on her tour of the castle than the last time she had been out, giving herself a fuller picture of the castle’s layout. One thing she knew was that even the most carefully laid plans could go awry, making it necessary to have a viable backup plan. Being adaptable and able to change on the fly was important.
Magnus strode behind her silently, but she felt his eyes on her. She glanced over her shoulder at him, meeting his eyes, and shuddered. He wasn’t leering at her backside like he had before, this time he was staring at her as if he was trying to figuresomething out. What that was, she didn’t know. Ciara stopped and rounded on him.
“What?” she growled. “Why are ye bleedin’ starin’ at me?”
“I’m nae starin’ at ye,” he replied weakly.
“Ye are. Why?”
“I’m nae doin’ any such thing. Now, walk?—”
Ciara tried to bite back her frustration and tamp down the flames of anger that were flaring in her belly. She might as well have been trying to keep the sun from rising in the east for all the good it did her though. Her lips curled back over her teeth and her eyes narrowed to slits as she stepped forward until she was practically chest to chest with him.
