Page 57 of Taken By the Heartless Highlander
“And ye’d be more comfortable here than travelin’ around the world tryin’ to find yer place in it,” he finished, glancing up at her and then away to all corners of the room.
“This wouldnae be a traditional marriage, lass.” He said to the light fitting in the center of the room. “I wouldnae wish it to be.”
She frowned at him. “Why not? What do ye mean?”
“We would live separate lives. It would be a union of convenience to protect yer family and to assist me in me status as laird, nothin’ more.”
“But why?”
“Because that is the way it has to be.”
She stared at him, bewildered. “Ye mean ye would expect me to take other lovers?” she asked.
* * *
Noah felt his stomach turn over at that possibility. He hated the idea of her even looking at another man, let alone being touched by him.
His eyes scanned the dampness of her dress, the curves of her full figure. He closed his eyes, shutting out the want that surged to the surface again.
This is madness. What am I doin?
“All I ask is that ye dinnae fall in love with me,” he said carefully, holding back the words he really wanted to say. Words that told her that she belonged to him, and she would never have another man touch her for as long as he lived.
“Why do ye say such a thing?” she asked.
“Nothin’ good will come of it, lass,” he said softly.
“Is it because ye are in love with another?” she said, her hand coming up to encircle her throat. A throat he had kissed not an hour before. “Another healer, perhaps?” she said, startling him.
At the look of uncertainty in her eyes, he advanced on her, gratified to see the lust bloom again on her face as he towered over her.
“I have never wanted anyone the way I want ye,” he whispered, his voice dark with need, fighting the urge to grip her arms and force her against the wall again. Instead, he took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her face to look at him.
“Yer brother is right,” he said. “I am an honorable man, and I have mistreated ye. This will be an arrangement for us to find peace, and that is all it will ever be.”
He took a deep breath, stepped away from her, turned on his heel, and walked to the door. As he gripped the door handle, he turned back to her for one final look.
“This is all I can offer ye lass. I’ll leave ye to think it over.”
CHAPTER23
Keira was unable to sleep.
She tossed and turned in bed for what felt like hours until she eventually threw the sheets from her body in frustration and rose.
I have never wanted anyone the way I want ye.
Those words were all she could think about, and they were driving her mad.
Noah Black was such a puzzle to her. It seemed that every step he took toward her was followed by five steps back.
Although his proposal had undoubtedly sent a thrill through her, the conditions behind it were utterly illogical. She could not understand why he would suggest such a thing. Even taking into account Scott’s anger, and her perilous situation, it was a strange offer.
He wanted them to live separate lives, and she was forbidden to fall in love with him, yet when he looked at her in that way of his…
He looks at ye like ye belong to him.
She stalked to the chair on the other side of the room and grabbed her robe, tying it around her waist as she walked to the door. She shivered at the chill in the air as she opened it, looking into the wide, dark corridor.
