At the Highlander's Mercy (13 page)

‘Once the MacLerie has his daughter back and our alliance with the MacKenzies is settled, we should set a wedding date, Tyra.’

If he had glanced away, he would never have seen the brittle way her smile broke or the narrowing of her gaze at his words. But see them he did, so her words—when they came—had a different meaning than they would have had he not been watching her.

‘It would please me to have things settled between us, Rob.’

There was much more going on here in the house of the Mathesons than he had ever imagined. But he needed to understand it before Connor got here.

The rest of the meal passed quickly. The crowded hall and heightened tension and noise had bothered Tyra, so she had asked for his leave to seek her chambers quickly. Though he suspected she did not want to risk having to speak to him about their marriage, his testing complete, he had waved his permission.

After making one more inspection of the gates and the guards posted, Rob made his way up the stairs to his chambers. He forgot for a moment about moving to another chamber and only the sight of the guards in front of his father’s room reminded him.

His father’s room.

Once named laird, he’d refused to move into
the rooms his father had used. Thinking back now, he could not say if it was some kind of continued rebellion or that he could not accept his own worthiness to be there. Or, had he just honoured his father and did not want to live in his place?

Since others now stayed in these chambers, the guards would remain. They would patrol the corridor and the stairs from now on for any signs of trouble and to keep Lilidh safe if there was any.

‘Laird,’ Tomas said as he approached. ‘A word before you go in.’ The guard was about the same age and build as he was and they’d been friends for years. The frown that darkened his face warned Rob of something bad.

‘What happened?’

‘Lady Tyra was here.’

‘In my chambers?’ he asked.

‘Nay, but she was here in one of the other rooms when Lady MacGregor was moved.’

This was not good. ‘Go ahead.’

‘They exchanged words and Lady Tyra slapped—’

Rob did not wait for the rest of his words, he pushed open the door and found her sitting in a chair much like the one that had been in his chambers. Her head was bowed as she scrutinised
the garment she sewed. He was not quiet, charging into the room as he had, so she knew he was there.

‘Lilidh.’ She did not react at all, continuing to push that needle through the fabric and out again. ‘Lilidh, look at me?’

S
he let out a sigh and put her hands down on her lap, the clothing lay across her legs. Then Lilidh turned her face and met his gaze. Her fair skin hid nothing and the darkening injury marred her cheek. Bruising had already begun around the edges, deep purple seeping through the reddened areas.

‘No,’ she said, before he could ask.

‘No, I should not do this to her? Or, no, you do not think I will believe the lie when you tell me it does not hurt?’ Rob approached slowly. ‘If your father sees you looking like this, there is no hope for peace.’

‘She is your betrothed. She is furious over my being with you.’ She knew the truth about
Tyra’s position here—but certainly not the truth of his feelings on the matter.

‘You would excuse her for doing this?’

Rob reached out and moved several loose strands of hair away from Lilidh’s face, revealing the full extent of the welt. Lilidh placed her hand on his and pushed it away as she stood.

‘Excuse her? No, I do not excuse her for I believe there is always a way other than force and suffering, Rob. But I understand her reaction in this. Hitting me is about the only thing she can do to show her displeasure at the insult you’ve committed against her honour and her pride.’

Rob stared at this extraordinary woman and wondered—not for the last time, he was certain—how things could have been between them if he had not made the choice he had. Though he had suspicions about Tyra, he had no proof and he, too, understood her reaction. Had he not done the same thing to Symon?

‘I will seek no reprisal then against her,’ he offered.

Lilidh nodded and turned back to sit once more. He touched her arm to stop her. Had she shivered or was his mind creating sensations that were not there?

‘The tension is something that can be felt
here, Rob. And when my father arrives, it will worsen,’ she offered.

Many things would worsen. If the MacLeries laid siege to his keep, many would suffer. He must come up with a way out of this. ‘Would you read another document?’

Doubt flickered in her gaze, but she nodded. He went to the leather trunk that held all the papers important to the clan and found the one he wanted her to examine. With what Murtagh had told him about other possible betrothals and informal links to the MacKenzies, he thought she might find something he’d missed in his review of it.

‘Would you walk with me?’ Rob asked her after a short time had passed. ‘I would rather not discuss this here.’ He glanced at the door and the now-noisy corridor filled with the elders and others returning to their chambers for the night from the hall.

He found her cloak, the one his men had recovered along with her other garments from the wreckage of her travelling party’s cart, and placed it on her shoulders, barely controlling his need to touch her face. They made their way up to the battlements and walked the perimeter once, giving her time to loosen the muscles in her legs and a reprieve, he knew, from
being inside the entire day and night. When they reached the base of the ruined tower, Rob stopped and turned to her, blocking the worst of the winds with his body. Then he explained what Murtagh had revealed. Her surprise at any marriage connection being discussed with her family told him that the MacLeries might not be as interested in such a bond as perhaps his father or cousin was. And, now, with his daughter’s mistreatment at his hands, Rob doubted Connor would ever approve or allow Lilidh to remain here as any Matheson’s wife or connect their families in any other way.

Their discussion over, Rob held out his arm to escort Lilidh back down the stairs to his chamber, but she shook her head.

‘May I stay a few more minutes? The fresh air clears my head.’

He nodded and went to speak to the men on guard. There was no doubt that the MacLeries would arrive soon and he wanted everyone watchful for signs of any outriders from their main force. Even as he talked to the men, his gaze never left Lilidh. She made her way back to the edge of the battlements and stared out into the forest surrounding the keep. Her home, Lairig Dubh, was to the south and east of Keppoch, the MacGregors to the north and east.
Then she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Reaching out, she rested her hands on the stone wall and just remained in that position for some minutes. Just as he was about to go back to her, she opened her eyes, leaned her head forwards and turned to face him.

As he approached, she never looked away. Her eyes filled with the same desire that he’d witnessed when she’d awoken from that dream in his bed. But she was not sleeping this time and he could not tell if she was thinking about Iain now or not. A thought crept into his mind then—if and how could a depth of emotion be created between a man and a woman in the short time she’d been married to the MacGregor? The stabbing fire of jealousy tore into his own heart then as he realised how much he’d allowed to slip through his hands.

By being weak.

By being afraid.

By not being worthy.

When he stood before her, her gaze fell to his mouth and his to hers. The wanting had never ceased for him, never lessened even though he’d agreed to do what Connor wanted of him—repudiate Lilidh and leave. There wasn’t a day he did not think of her or grieve over his actions.

Or want her.

So, he took the last step between them and touched his mouth to hers. Her lips softened under his and she did not move away. He raised his hand up and cupped her head, holding her there, though only just. Rob tilted his face and kissed her again. This time she opened her mouth for him as she did in their times together. He was not certain if she’d forgiven him for the past, but she had not forgotten. She had not forgotten him.

He felt her hands grasp his jacket and his body heated at the way her fingers tickled him as she tried to hold on to him. Once she had hold of him, she pulled him closer. The soft touch of the tip of her tongue on his startled and pleased him. He let her explore his mouth for a few glorious moments and then he could not hold back, taking possession of her mouth as he’d dreamt of doing these last four years.

This kiss was not the same as the one in the hall when she was brought here. That one was for show and ended in anger. This one—well, this one simply demanded another and another until they were both breathless. He lifted his mouth from hers and leaned back, his hand yet tangled in her hair and keeping her head close.

‘I want you, Lilidh,’ he whispered. ‘I have always wanted you.’

He touched his lips to hers again, barely for a moment, and then he stepped back, lest he toss her to the ground and have the rest of her right here, right now. He could have held his control had she not been so soft beneath him. If she had not taken hold of him and drawn him closer. He had almost escaped her effect on him, but then she spoke, whispered, a reply.

‘And I want you, Rob Matheson.’

Where the wanton had hidden for these last four years, she knew not, but when his mouth touched hers it was back in full force. Her body heated and blood raced and places deep within grew heavy in anticipation of what came next. As during the times they’d loved, during their secret encounters, her body did not care if his touch was wrong, it simply wanted.

It wanted him and the sensual magic he could create within her as he caressed and pleasured her in ways she’d never dreamt of. Her breasts ached and the tips of them tightened, tingling in hope that he would touch her there, again, soon.

If she was to leave here and be given to someone else in marriage, she would not go
without finishing what she and Rob had started all those years ago. No one expected her to be a virgin bride after her first marriage, so that would not make or break negotiations for a future match. If she had the opportunity to choose the man to whom she would give herself to, and if fate now provided her that chance for its own strange reasons, she would seize it.

Knowing that Rob had not ordered her kidnapping and that he sought to protect his people and not take the easiest way out also made her understand that he would never force himself on her now. He could have any night in his bed if that had been his plan. A man who would force a woman would not care if she was awake or asleep. He would not care if her leg hurt and could not walk the steps. He would not care if she were being mistreated.

Rob cared. Rob made certain of her safety and comfort and even allowed her this measure of freedom or time alone here where it gave her pleasure. He tried to protect her against his own kin.

If nothing else, allowing this thing to happen between them, this unexpressed passion that remained between them, even after their terrible parting and the hurt that took years to burn away, would give her the closure she
needed before moving on in her life. Perhaps, if she’d not seen him again, she would not feel this way. Alas, she had and she did.

But the wanton within reminded her that mostly she just wanted to experience the full measure of passion that had been promised her in their beginnings. Her body wanted to take that final step with Rob and no other.

To prove her words, to herself and to him, she lifted up on her toes and, taking his head in her hands, drew his mouth down to her. This time she explored his mouth, using the tip of her tongue to outline his firm lips. When he opened, she tasted all that he was. Rob moved closer, lifting his cloak open and wrapping it and his arms around her. His body was all hardened muscles and she felt safe. He made her feel that way. Then, the sound of shuffling feet made her pull back.

She had completely forgotten the guards. She’d forgotten they stood on top of the battlements of his keep. She’d forgotten herself. Rob kept her wrapped in his cloak as the guards passed them on their rounds, so she did not have to acknowledge them. Lilidh pulled free once they’d passed and were far enough away not to hear their words.

‘Have you changed your mind, then?’ Rob
asked as he watched her with eyes filled with desire. She smiled at him, for she heard the undercurrent of worry in his voice as he asked.

‘No,’ she said, shaking her head. She had not. ‘But it is cold here and I prefer no witnesses to what happens between us.’

It was not as though every person living or staying in Keppoch Keep did not already think them lovers. Or think that Rob had not taken advantage of her favours while sleeping in his bed together. Most of them even believed his hard use of her the cause for her limp. Somehow, though, she suddenly felt shy about letting them see that it was real.

She lost her breath in the next moment as he bent over, lifted her into his arms and carried her to the doorway. Lilidh encircled his neck with her arms, but he held her securely as he made his way down the steps towards his chamber. She tucked her head down against him as he waited for one of the guards to open the door. A smile played on her mouth as Tomas asked if she was well.

The slammed door in his face was the only answer Rob gave. A hearty laugh echoed across the chamber as Tomas gave his reply.

‘Are you well?’ Rob asked as he let her feet touch the floor. ‘Your face?’

‘Does not pain me,’ she said as she allowed Rob to remove her cloak and toss it aside. Now inside, now that the moment was nigh, her nerves struck.

He’d refused to marry her because of the damage to her leg four years ago. Would it diminish the desire he felt for her now? How would he react to the sight of it when they joined?’

‘But something worries you,’ he said, lifting wind-loosened hair out of her face and lifting her chin so he could look at her. He winced and she knew the various bumps and bruises were quite visible now. ‘We can stop now. It is your choice.’

‘I thought I was a prisoner without choice?’ she asked.

‘You are a prisoner. But in this matter between us, you have but to say the word and I will not.’

Did she want this? Truly? Looking at him now, knowing that everything would change as soon as her family arrived and that she would never get this chance again …

Yes, she did.

‘Which things will you not do, Rob?’ she asked coyly.

He’d whispered wicked promises to her as he
touched her and stroked her body those times before. Now she wanted to hear those promises once more and she wanted to feel all that she should have—so she would have the memories of it when she left.

Her body filled with a sense of anticipation as he walked behind her and stood so close they almost touched. She could feel his breath on her neck and he untied the strips holding her hair into a thick plait and unravelled the length of it. The movement of his fingers as they slid over her scalp and into the tresses, separating and then mixing the strands all the way down to its ends tickled and excited her. Rob avoided touching her injury, yet seemed to massage every inch of her head.

He lifted the length of her hair to one side and touched his mouth to her neck there. Shivers shot through her at the warmth of his mouth. Then he leaned her head away and kissed the cord of muscle between her head and shoulders, making her gasp at its sensitivity.

‘I think I should just learn your body before we do more,’ he said in a husky whisper. She felt her body ready itself for his attention, which she hoped would be soon.

Then he moved his hand across her, gently touching her before coming to rest on her
breast. Pulling her back against him, he cupped the fullness of her and flicked his thumb over that sensitive nipple. She arched against him, against that part of him that had come to life between their bodies. With her trapped under his arm, he bit her neck then, gently along that delicate cord until she gasped over and over.

When he slipped his other hand around to rest on her hip and then caress her thigh, she let go and leaned against him fully, allowing him to touch where he would. Her head fell back on his shoulder and his breath grew ragged against her ear as he continued to touch her. Her hands fell to her side and in a bold move, she placed them on his legs, revelling in the firmness and strength of his body. He moved then, the proof of his arousal hard against her, hissing in a sharp breath.