Page 20 of Saved By the Cruel Highlander
Instead, he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his broad chest. A playful smile shone through his trimmed dark beard.
“Laird McAllister,” Holly chided, using his title for emphasis. “Please give us some privacy.”
While she talked, the seamstress busied herself with removing her overdress, making her words a bit muffled. She batted the material away from her face and pinned the Laird with a warning look when he still refused to leave.
“Why?”
Holly stared at him in surprise. His brown eyes raked over her body. Everywhere they landed, she swore she could feel a soft caress. She shook the thought away.
“Why?” she repeated incredulously. “Well, ‘tis nae proper!”
She’d never seen anyone work so quickly. It seemed like she’d only taken a breath and suddenly the seamstress had her down to only her chemise. She gasped and crossed her arms over her chest, even though the material completely covered her. But it wasn’t right that the Laird could see her in her underthings!
“Ye are to be me wife,” Elias said darkly.
Holly gasped in outrage and pressed her lips together. It was unseemly to argue in front of the staff. She obediently stood stiffly while the seamstress made quick work of getting her measurements. But she vowed to herself that the Laird would get an earful as soon as they were alone.
He watched her with his dark eyes, his gaze roaming over her body. As much as she wanted to look away, to hide under a chairto escape his hot looks, she remained where she was, staring at his face.
It took her a long time to look at his scar, but only because his eyes pinned her in place. She could not look away from it, nor did she want to.
His eyes were dark brown. But more than that, there were little golden specks in them.
When their gazes met, his eyes flashed a little in surprise. He probably hadn’t expected her to watch him so boldly.
Most ladies would bow their heads or look away, but Holly wasn’t like most ladies. She wanted him to see the fire in her gaze, to know just how upset she was with him. At the same time, she struggled to hide the way she admired his looks.
“There,” the seamstress said, straightening. “That will do.” She turned to Elias. “Yer lady is quite bonny,” she said. “‘Twill take me nay time to sew a gown or two for her.”
“Thank ye, Shana,” Elias said.
“Thank ye,” Holly told the seamstress. She forced her tone to be thankful instead of full with the hostility she had for the Laird.
Neither spoke as the seamstress left the study.
Holly was so furious that she forgot she was only wearing her chemise. She marched over to the desk and walked around it until she stood over Elias, her fists planted on her hips. Ollie, sensing the tension, meowed and jumped off his lap.
“Do ye have nay shame, Me Laird?” she hissed. “Nay decency?”
She practically choked on the last word when his eyes darkened and traveled down her body. When he looked back into her eyes, he smiled.
“At times.”
His casual tone only infuriated her more. But his look! The way he looked at her, as if she were a feast and he a starving man, almost undid her. Holly knew she had to put such thoughts aside if she was going to make her point. But it was difficult. With just his eyes on her, he was able to make her body heat up uncomfortably.
“I am nae yer wife yet, and ye dinnae have the right to see me only in me chemise until I am.”
Elias ran his gaze up and down her body with a grin. “I’m seein’ ye in yer chemise now.”
Holly finally realized she was standing before him wearing just a thin chemise. Her face flushed with anger—and something suspiciously like pleasure. She reached out to push him, buthe was faster and grabbed her wrist. One quick tug and she sprawled on his lap. She shrieked in surprise and outrage.
“Do ye have any more tricks, Holly?” he asked, his voice wrapping sensually around her name. “I love a challenge.”
Holly squirmed in his lap, then suddenly stilled. Under her bottom, she could feel the evidence of his desire. Her eyes widened in surprise even as a tiny thrill of… something shot through her body.
She was so stunned that she didn’t move when he reached out a hand and gently gripped her chin. Their gazes met and held as he slowly pulled her closer. So close that she had to close her eyes, or they would end up crossing while trying to focus. So close that she could feel the heat of his body, smell the mint on his breath.
He was going to kiss her. Holly knew this, and even welcomed it. All of her earlier anger was gone, pushed aside while she anticipated the feel of his lips on hers.
