Page 22 of A Virgin for the Highland Beast
“Suppose there’s only one way ye’ll ken for certain, and that’s by testin’ her, if ye’re so inclined.”
“And if I’m nae? Is that the deal breaker, then? Let yer sister join me warriors?”
“Ye think she hasnae been put in her place before? Ye dinnae have a clue as to what we’ve endured,M’Laird,” Emma said.
Hunter’s eyes flickered, and Emma couldn’t help but wonder if their bout was more a battle of wits than a negotiation.
“Anything else?” Hunter asked as he dropped his hands and closed the gap between them.
Immediately, Emma’s mind clouded and became foggy once again. His proximity to her was scrambling her thoughts and causing her body to react to him in ways she hadn’t expected.
“Ye’ll nae force me to do somethin’ I dinnae want to do,” Emma mumbled, and even she could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
The desire building within her was pounding at her reason and wit. Hunter lifted his hand to her cheek, barely brushing the back of his fingers against her chilly skin. The heat radiated off his fingers like an inferno and chased away the night chill.
Emma couldn’t help her eyes from fluttering as the anticipation of his touch mounted. A part of her wanted him to embrace her, to touch her, yet it felt as if a great chasm separated them. When she didn’t feel the pressure of his hand on her face, she opened her eyes to find his lips inches from hers.
Her mouth went dry as the air seeped through her parted lips. Every nerve in her body tingled with excitement. Hunter’s gaze was direct as she tried not to turn away from him. His dark eyes smoldered and stroked the unspoken desires of her heart.
“Ye ask a lot of me,” Hunter whispered as his eyes fell on her chest.
It was her rapid breathing that gave her away, she was certain of it.
“As ye do wit’ me,” she managed to answer.
“But I offer ye safety and security.”
“Am I nae also offerin’ the same by weddin’ ye?” Emma asked, inhaling the musky scent that clouded with her wits.
Hunter eased back and stood taller as if he’d grown several feet in a matter of seconds. Dropping his hand from her face, Emma let a mournful sigh. A chilly breeze flowed between them and cleared out the mist that swirled within her thoughts.
“Aye, yer terms are reasonable,” he stated plainly. “As long as ye and yer sisters are under me roof and yer feet on MacRoss soil, by me sword and life, I’ll see to it that ye’re safe.”
Emma blinked as she watched Hunter extend his hand. She couldn’t wrap her head around what just transpired. A mixture of relief and worry took over as she hesitated to slip her hand into his.
“I’m sure there are those eager to hear the news, would ye nae say?” he asked over his shoulder.
Emma nodded her head as she placed her fate into his hands and walked back into the dining hall.
The room was empty, but Emma could hear the chatter of voices resonating from the hallway. She didn’t know how long she’d been outside with Hunter. For her, it felt only a matter of moments, yet by the conversation she’d picked up, it was far longer than that.
“Oh, ye’re back,” Katie said as Emma and Hunter stepped out into the hallway. “I was just showin’ the lassies around.”
“Emma?” Nora gasped as her eyes landed on Emma’s hand in Hunter’s.
“We’ve come to an agreement,” Hunter announced. “Our union will proceed.”
“Oh, wonderful.” Katie clasped her hands together and rushed over to Hunter. “We’ve nae had a celebration within these halls in many years. I’m sure Violet and I will make it a day to remember. Oh… we should plan a ceilidh for it.”
“That willnae be necessary,” Hunter grumbled in annoyance.
“In the past five years since yer return, nothin’ seems to be worth celebratin’ to ye, dearest braither,” Violet chimed in.
Her words startled Emma, and she turned to face Hunter, confusion lingering in her gaze.
“Where did ye return from?” Emma asked, her voice laced with intrigue and concern.
The warmth radiating from Hunter turned cold the second he dropped his hand from hers. She watched his jaw flex as his lips pressed together.
