Page 22 of The Highlander's Auctioned Bride
“I’ll have me heir, whether ye like it or nae, but I willnae force ye. Ye’ll come to me when ye cannae stand it any longer, ye’ll beg me to touch ye, and I’ll worship yer body until ye scream,” he said, as he brought his teeth down on the curve of her ear. She jolted against him, a low moan breaking free against her will.
But then, to her dismay, he stepped back, leaving her pressed heavily into the wall, panting from her own desire. He glanced away, taking in a deep breath, those large hands clenching and unclenching at his sides as he seemed to gather himself.
Finally, he looked back at her. That penetrating stare cut through to the bone.
“Until ye beg me, I’ll adhere to every condition ye’ve given me, lass, we’ll see how long that lasts.”
Without another word, she ran to the door and fled.
James entered the stables the following morning with a thick head and a worse temper.
He found Kenzie, his beautiful chestnut mare, in the end stall. She greeted him enthusiastically nuzzling his chest and nickering softly as he combed through her mane.
His thoughts were dwelling in dark places that morning.
Through the night, he’d had scattered dreams of his father, of chasing him down endless corridors, never able to catch him.
He had finally rounded the last corner only to be faced with Maisie at the end of it. It was clear what his mind was telling him. He could not afford to be distracted by her. He would not betray his clan as his father had done and chase skirt from dawn until dusk.
Kenzie kicked out lightly with her foot, and he lessened the strokes of the brush, patting her neck.
His exchange with Maisie in his study had been impulsive and rash. He’d fought against every muscle in his body not to take her right there against the wall. He was still astonished he hadn’t stopped her mouth with his own, given what she had said to him.
No other man will touch that woman as long as I live.
He snarled angrily at his own possessive feelings and tried to redirect his attention to Kenzie, grabbing her saddle and beginning to tie the straps around her belly.
Perhaps, one day, Maisie would accompany him on a ride. He shifted his weight, thinking of her body practically in his lap in front of him. He would wrap one arm around her, tugging her against him. Perhaps she would feel his arousal reach back and?—
“Good mornin’, m’laird!”
James jolted sharply as his man-at-arms entered the stables with a wide smile on his face. Harris was smaller in stature than most men who took up his position, but he made up for it in breadth. He looked wider by the day, his muscles rivaling James’s own and his dark hair almost as long as the beard which stretched to his chest.
Harris was proud of his beard. He spent more time tending to it than he did with the horses. It always looked immaculate. Today was no exception.
“What has ye so cheerful?” Harris asked jovially. James gave him a grunt in reply. “I was lookin’ for ye to talk about the MacAllister’s estate, but it looks like ye have other things on yer mind.”
James busied himself with securing the saddle. He had not evenconsideredhis clan business until Harris had reminded him of it.
Get yer mind out of the gutter and back on yer duty.
“Have the families paid up?” he asked.
“Nae all of them; John MacAllister is adamant he will evict.”
James shook his head. “I willnae hear of it.”
“That’s what I told him, but he says they’re two months late, and he has other tenants who would be willin’ to pay the increase.”
James set his jaw, knowing how difficult such disputes could be.
The Banham family had been on MacLennan land since his father’s time. They rented a property overseen by John MacAllister, an uncompromising but loyal man who it had taken James years to get on his side.
The head of the Banham household, the oldest son, had sustained an injury that made him unfit for work. They’d been scraping by, and John MacAllister was reluctant to delay eviction any longer.
“I’ll speak with him again.”
“I told him ye would.”
