Page 45 of A Knight To Call My Own
“Aye, you have.”
“Nay, I have not. As you can plainly see, if you but look at my trencher.” She moved her body so he could view her meal that had barely been touched. She pointed to the food as though she were speaking to a child. “See you here? Barely a morsel has passed my lips and I am most famished.”
Lynet made to ignore him and took another bite of the tasteless meat. It stuck in her throat, but she was determined to show her husband he would not deter her from her meal. A growl of outrage erupted from him, as if the beast within him had at last been unleashed. She had not expected such a backlash, and yet, she should have known ’twas a possibility. She had been pushing him to the very edge of the civility left between them all this day.
Not only was she pulled from her bench that fell to the floor with a loud clatter, but she was lifted clear off her feet and turned towards him in one swift motion. Crushed against the solid wall of his chest whilst Ian held her with a steely grip, Lynet became level with those mesmerizing hazel eyes that had always been her downfall. She gulped and prayed he did not hear the noise that was as loud as bagpipes inside her own head. He grinned, quite handsomely, the damn rogue. His eyes began to sparkle mischievously, and Lynet knew he thought he had won the battle between them.He should have known better, she mused, for she was not done with him, as yet.
Chapter Twenty-Five
She was so slight against his chest, he had no problem holding her with only one arm. Her pupils dilated, and the blue of her eyes were more vivid than he had ever seen them afore. He watched in fascination as the pulse at her neck ticked in a rapid staccato, and he knew he had affected her with his touch. She swallowed hard. He smiled, knowing her thoughts. By God, he had never wanted a woman more than he wanted Lynet, despite the fact she had done all in her power to irritate him.
“Yield,” he murmured huskily. Her tongue peeked out of that delectable mouth of hers to moisten her lips.
“Never,” she declared, just as firmly.
“You are my wife.”
She leaned closer and her flowery fragrance sent Ian’s own pulse to beat madly within his chest. “Not completely,” she said faintly in his ear.
“Is that what you want?” Hope rang in his whispered words that she would at last ask him to share her bed. She wound her arms tightly around his neck continuing the torture she was unknowingly putting him through.
“Aye, that, and more.”
“More?”
“Aye.”
“What more could you possibly want?” Ian set Lynet down upon her feet. His ill-behaved little imp had the audacity to take the time to adjust her tunic and continue down her legs to smooth the fabric of her hose. It took every bit of strength not to run his own hands along her bottom, since her short tunic brought her very fetching backside to his attention.
She folded her arms across her chest, causing the tops of her bosom to show a fair amount of cleavage in the neck of her tunic. Ian’s hungry gaze all but devoured the sight whilst his mouth began to water in anticipation of what she unintentionally offered. She made no further effort to answer him, but stood, tapping her fingers on her arm and waiting for him to figure out for himself what she wanted of him.
He became impatient the longer she held her silence. “Do you plan on letting me know your desires, or am I to guess?”
She took a step back. Glancing at Angus, the man gave the briefest of nods afore Lynet put her hands on her hips. “Am I, or am I not, your wife and the lady of this keep, Ian MacGillivray?” she declared so loud that silence again fell as those in the keep endeavored to listen in on what had, but an instant afore, been a private conversation between just the two of them.
“You have doubt of this?”
“Aye!”
“Why?”
“Why?” she shouted out and began shaking her fist at him. “You have done nothing to allow me to make this my home. Everyone treats me as if I serve no purpose here, other than to bring a dowry to fill your empty coffers. You have not given them any reason to believe I am your wife and our handfast is binding. If I am to remain here, then I must have their respect. Such a feat will not begin ’til you have made it known that I am the laird’s wife, and therefore, mistress of this household.”
“Our handfast was binding and will not be undone,” Ian answered, taking a step towards her. She moved away and furthered the distance between them.
“Prove it,” she dared him with mocking eyes.
God’s wounds, but she was magnificent standing there with her fiery MacLaren temper pouring forth like the richest of wines. She wanted him, and she had announced it for all the clan to hear. He would not disappoint her, but ’twould be on his own terms. “So be it,” he answered gruffly.
She smiled, but not for long. Reaching out, he took her by the hand, only to grab her about the waist to lift her high afore tossing her roughly over his shoulder. She began cursing and pounding on his back. It had little effect other than to earn her a swat on her bottom, much to the amusement of the male members of the clan who began to egg him on. She became more enraged than afore, hearing their laughter.
Grabbing a firm hold upon her legs, Ian swung around to address the clan. “Everyone, follow me,” he ordered, and then he began making his way out of the keep.
“Where are you taking me, Ian?” Lynet demanded, smacking his back once more.
He retaliated with another swat to her bottom. “Keep quiet. You shall know soon enough.”
Striding across the hall, he pulled open the massive door and a blast of cool evening air met his face. He felt her shiver. Whether ’twas from the cold, or in anger, mattered not. Ian was on a mission to have this settled once and for all, not only between himself and his wife, but for the clan, as well.
