Page 59 of Married to the Ruthless Highlander
He brought his hand up, and, to his dismay, she flinched. Had he not made it plain enough times that he would not do anything to hurt her?
Slowly, he cradled her neck, his other hand coming up to hold her cheek. But when he dipped his head to kiss her, certain he could still make her forget her troubles, even if he was the cause of them, she turned her head away. When he moved to kiss her again, she pulled back, glaring at him.
“I dinnae want an emotionless husband,” she croaked. “I dinnae want to marry a block of stone.”
“Too bad that’s what’s happenin’,” he replied harshly, annoyed that she had pulled away from him.
She removed her spectacles and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Well, brace yerself, because life as ye kenned itisgoin’ to change. Ye’re gettin’ an emotional wife, and I will fight for what I want.” She put her spectacles back on. “Ye might look at me and think I’m nay more than a mouse, but I willnae let this lie. I willnae be lonely ever again.”
“I dinnae see a mouse, lass,” he said, taken aback by her remark.
She blinked in surprise. “Nay?”
“A mouse hides and scuttles away at the first sign of danger.” He moved toward her again, needing to feel her lips on his. “A mouse doesnae ride out alone to find her missin’ sister, despite the danger. A mouse doesnae try to fight a man like me on every conceivable thing. Whatever ye are, ye’re nay mouse.”
Her eyebrows shot up, the ferocity in her expression softening for a moment as her eyes shone. If he did not know any better, he would have thought he had given her a charming compliment.
“But whateverIam,” he continued in a low voice, “me nature cannae be altered.”
She shook her head slowly. “I dinnae believe that.”
“Then ye’re a fool.”
“Nay. If what ye say is true, then we’reallfools.” She gestured up at the castle. “Everyone who cares for ye.”
Doughall remembered Ersie’s words to him that morning, on the woodland path to the loch, reminding him of what he had once said to Adam—that Adam would not be better off alone, that he ought to chase after Emily because having her aroundhadchanged him for the better.
At that time, it had been an age since Doughall had seen his friend even remotely happy, but because of Emily, Adam had smiled again.
But that cannae be me…
Doughall squinted at Freya, not liking the implication of her words. “Aye, most likely ye are. All of ye.”
“Or it’s ye who is the fool,” she replied with a half smile. “And, like I said, I mean to fight for what I want. So, consider this me first stand. Ye might nae be willin’ to share aught with me now, but I’ll share somethin’ with ye.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What might that be?”
His anticipation rose as she closed the gap between them, his mind filling with all of the delicious possibilities. Yes, he was exhausted from the fruitless day, and the dreadful prospect of a wedding the day after tomorrow, but he could muster plenty ofenergy to satisfy his bride and himself before he finally allowed himself to sleep.
She grabbed hold of his shirt sleeve and started pulling him toward the castle, dousing his desire.
“This isyerlesson in patience,” she told him over her shoulder, and though he could have easily resisted her tugging, he found himself curious enough to let her lead him.
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It only occurred to Freya that Doughall might get the wrong impression when she was already opening the door to her bedchamber and heading inside.
Aye, this probably wasnae me wisest idea…
She had come to recognize the hunger in his eyes rather well, and there had been more than a gleam of it in the gardens, particularly after she had said she had something to share with him. But it was too late to make him wait in the hallway now; he was already striding in after her.
“Is it punishment ye seek?” His growl snaked down her spine, making her stomach flip. “Ye dinnae get to decide where it takes place.”
She did not dare to turn, certain that if she looked into his ravenous eyes, she would forget what it was she had brought him there for.
“The letter,” she croaked. “I found it again.”
She felt, rather than saw, the change in his demeanor, like a storm cloud suddenly rolling in on a sunny summer day.
