Page 82 of The Highlander's Auctioned Virgin
“Ye daenae believe me?”
Ciaran’s grip loosened on his horse’s reins. Elinor could see some color returning to his knuckles.
“Look, it doesnae even matter if I believe ye or nae. I told ye, I daenae want an heir.”
“Right. I just refuse to believe that ye willnae change yer mind a few years down the road. Ye’re a laird. All lairds want to leave a legacy behind. Why do ye think Murdock kidnapped me in the first place? Because he was desperate for a child.”
“I willnae change me mind , Elinor. I’ve been incredibly straightforward about this. I daenae want a child. I daenae want an heir.”
Elinor shrugged. Something about her just refused to believe that.
The village loomed in the distance as they neared the end of the open field. She could see smoke rising from a few chimneys and some bright white tents.
“Believe me, Elinor, I might just be the only laird—nay, the only man on earth who doesnae want ye for yer fertility.”
Elinor’s brow creased. “But it doesnae make any sense. How do ye explain what happened in the gallery? Ye think it was a mistake, and this is ye telling me ye regret it?”
“Regret making ye scream me name?” Ciaran drawled, a coy smirk on his lips. “Never. But just because I daenae regret it, doesnae mean it should happen again. I cannae risk it.”
His words struck her harder than she had thought they would. Than she would like to admit.
“Just enjoy yer freedom and let me be,” he concluded.
Elinor said nothing. The sorrow in her heart wouldn’t let her, but she couldn’t let him see it.
Not even as they approached the village ahead of them.
