Page 23 of The Highlander's Auctioned Wife
And Anna was not weak at all.
Her defiance might be a problem…
He let the notion fade as he pressed Anna against the tree, encouraged by the increased confidence of her kiss. She was a quick study, matching the pace of him, matching the intensity...And when he slipped his tongue into her mouth, she didn’t pull away or recoil, letting her own tongue glide against his, a smile curving her lips that he felt against his own.
A moment later, her hands grew bolder, smoothing up the front of his shirt, grasping him by the collar as she pulled him closer. He felt the moment she fully surrendered as, breathless, she melted into him, kissing him harder, tugging at him as if she couldn’t get him close enough.
He resisted the urge to break the kiss, to deny her what she wanted so she’d know who was in control, but until he had her at his own castle, as his bride, it seemed unwise to leave her unsatisfied.
Doesnae mean I cannae show her what she’d be missin’ if she rejects me…
Kissing her more fiercely, loosening his hold on his restraint once more, his hand drifted down from her neck, smoothing over the swell of her breast. He hadn’t known that her wearing his léine could be so intoxicating, and so useful, undoing the need for him to peel away a thousand layers of clothing before he got to her shift.
A groan rumbled in the back of his throat as he felt her pert nipple, pushing through the thin fabric of the borrowed léine. His mouth ached to close over that peak, but he’d have to tear his own shirt to claim that pleasure, and he didn’t want her returning to the castle in a ripped garment if her dress didn’t dry in time.
Cursing the frustration in his veins, he cupped her breast instead, his thumb dragging across that pert peak, his hand massaging that supple flesh as he kissed her harder. The gasp that slipped from her mouth almost undid him, his desire an inferno that would engulf them both if he wasn’t careful.
He grasped the soft flesh of her breast as he pressed her into the tree trunk, his other hand skimming over the curve of her waist, gripping her hip, sliding down her thigh… stopping just short of gathering the hem of the léine up, so he could feel her smooth skin against the rough of his palm. If he did that, he wouldn’t be able to resist going further, and he still had his honor and integrity to think about.
Nae until ye’re truly mine.
But with the rest of the lairds arriving that day, he was running out of time to make certain that he got what he came for… and got what he realized he wanted. He had vowed she would be his, and he wasn’t one to renege on a vow.
“Ye’re choosin’ me,” he said, pulling away before he really pushed the limits of his restraint.
Anna blinked up at him, pink-cheeked and shiny-eyed. “Was that a question?”
“Nay, it’s what is happenin’.”
Her blush deepened, her fingertips gently touching her lips as though trying to make sure the kiss had been real. “With respect, me faither is the one to make the final decision.”
“It’s yer life, andyerdecision,” he replied with a shrug.
“I ken I said that, but… he’ll still want to give his ‘opinion’ which is essentially his decision,” she said, her throat bobbing, her gaze settling on Gordon’s mouth while a shy smile curved her own.
Gordon narrowed his eye, sniffing in disapproval. “If ye think I’ll let anyone else touch ye, ye’re mistaken.”
Her gaze lowered, her teeth grazing her lip, tormenting him. “And ifIwanted someone to?”
Something shivered inside him, heightening his senses as if he were about to ride into battle. His hands curled into fists, braced to fight if it meant they could explore her silhouette again, ready to do whatever it took to bring her home with him, where he wouldn’t have to stop at touching her through fabric.
“Doye want anyone else?” he asked bluntly.
That oaf, Laird Glendenning, maybe? He was prettier, certainly.
Anna raised her sultry gaze and shook her head slowly, her breath still shallow. She didn’t speak; she didn’t need to. She’d made her choice when she’d kissed him back, whether she knewit or not, and Gordon wasn’t about to delay and give her time to doubt herself and change her mind.
“Then, it’s settled.” He nodded back toward the loch. “Put yer clothes back on. Yer faither is goin’ to have some news to swallow down with his breakfast.”
CHAPTER 12
Anna swayed uncomfortablyin the saddle of Gordon’s horse, whose name she’d learned was “ Manadh”. It seemed an unkind name for a horse, to be named “ omen”, but she chose to believe he was named after the good kind rather than the bad.
Her dress wasn’t yet dry, the layers of fabric sticking in an unpleasant fashion, but Gordon hadn’t seemed to want to wait any longer. Indeed, they were almost back at the castle, almost at the point of no return.
Is this truly what I want?Her mind was foggy with the thrill of Gordon’s kiss, addling her usually clear thoughts. It seemed absurd that she had gone from wanting no husband at all to accepting this one in the space of one scintillating moment, and if she didn’t figure things out quickly, she might find herself in a situation she didn’t really want.
“We must agree on our betrothal period,” she blurted out, just as the castle appeared through the trees. A few fields stood between her and the fate she’d chosen.
