Page 23 of Trapped By the Wicked Highlander
Why in God’s name does she make me feel like this?
Hunter’s thoughts tangled as he realized how close they stood, how her lips parted with every breath, how the moonlight danced across her skin. Every instinct in him screamed to pull her closer, to taste the fire that burned behind those sharp words. But instead, he clenched his fists at his sides and forced himself to step back.
“Ye drive me mad, Cassandra,” he muttered, his voice low with frustration and something far more dangerous. “One moment,ye’re defyin’ me, the next, ye’re riskin’ yer health. Do ye never think of the consequences?”
Her breath trembled, though her defiance never wavered. “And what of ye? Barkin’ orders like ye’ve every right to control me.”
“I’m tryin’ to protect ye, damn it!” His voice cracked under the weight of his emotion. “Why cannae ye see that?”
For a heartbeat, silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken feelings. Cassandra’s gaze softened, though her jaw remained set.
“I never asked for yer protection,” she whispered, voice like silk in the cold night air.
Hunter swallowed hard, fighting the desire clawing at his chest.
God help me, I want her more than I should.
“Aye,” he said finally, his voice rough. “But ye have it, whether ye want it or nae.”
Hunter’s temper snapped like a taut rope. In one swift motion, he grabbed Cassandra around the waist, her light frame easily swept off the ground. She yelped, squirming in his grasp, fists beating weakly against his chest.
“Put me down this instant, Hunter!” she hissed, her voice low but fierce.
“Oh, I’ll put ye down, lass,” he growled, carrying her with determined strides through the dim hallways. Reaching her chambers, he kicked the door shut behind them and set her on her feet—only to press her firmly against the cold stone wall. His arms caged her in, his breath hot against her ear.
“But nae before ye listen to me proper.”
Her breath came quick, cheeks flushed with both fury and something far more dangerous. “Ye’ve lost yer mind,” she spat, trying to turn away, but his hand on her waist held firm.
“Lost it, have I?” His voice dipped low, thick with desire. “Ye shouldnae be dressed like this, lass. Daenae ye ken how temptin’ ye look?” His gaze raked over her chemise and robe, heat pooling in his dark eyes. “Ye shouldnae be testin’ me limits…”
Cassandra’s flush deepened, crimson blooming across her cheeks. “Ye’re delusional,” she snapped, though her voice wavered just enough to betray her uncertainty. “There’s nothin’ temptin’ about me, and ye’ve nay right to speak to me so.”
Hunter leaned in, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off him. “Delusional, am I?” His breath ghosted across her lips, sending a shiver down her spine. “Let me prove ye wrong, then.”
Her eyes fluttered closed against her will, body betraying her mind as she leaned in ever so slightly.
A dark chuckle rumbled from his chest, deep and low. “Ah, look at ye now, Cassandra,” he murmured, his voice like velvet and smoke. “Ye say one thing, but yer body speaks the truth.”
Before she could utter a single word of protest, his mouth was on hers—hot, possessive, and demanding. Her initial resistance was weak, hands pressing against his chest in a futile attempt to push him away. But the fire of his kiss burned through her defenses, melting her resolve like snow under a fierce sun. Her fingers curled into his shirt instead, pulling him closer with a need that shocked them both.
Hunter deepened the kiss, one hand tangling in her hair while the other remained firmly on her waist.
God above, she tastes better than I ever imagined.
Her lips were soft and yielding, but she kissed him back with a fire that nearly undid him. Every inch of restraint he had was hanging by a thread, and with every second, that thread frayed dangerously thin.
When she finally tore her mouth away, her chest heaved, eyes glassy with a mix of anger and want. “This… this is madness,” she whispered, her voice hoarse.
“Aye,” Hunter murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her flushed cheek. “Madness it may be, but it’s real, Cassandra. Every bloody second of it.”
She swallowed hard, her fingers still clutching his shirt. “I… I shouldnae want this,” she said, though her trembling voice betrayed her heart.
“Wantin’ what ye shouldnae is often the hardest battle,” he replied, his forehead resting gently against hers. “But maybe, just this once… ye should stop fightin’ it.”
For a long, breathless moment, neither of them moved. Then, slowly, almost reluctantly, Cassandra’s hands loosened their grip, falling back to her sides. Hunter stepped away first, the distance between them crackling with tension that neither dared to break.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
