My Captive Highlander (Highland Adventure Book 7) (5 page)

"If you give me something in return."

Heat stole over her for she suspected he might be trying to charm her, and she was not immune. '
Twould
be too easy to fall under his spell. "I've already given you food. You are mighty demanding for a prisoner."

A grin quirked his lips. "There is something I want from you after I'm free."

She was afraid to ask, but she had to know. "And what is that?"

"A kiss."

Scorching heat rushed through her. How could he say such a thing to her? A kiss? Oh, aye, '
twould
be a most heavenly experience.

"And, of course, I'll return the favor," he said. "I want to give you a kiss to thank you for helping me heal and for feeding me when your brother would have forgotten me down here and allowed me to starve."

"Nay," she blurted, though she wanted to grab him through the bars and kiss him now. But what if he was only attempting to charm her to get his way? She had to stay focused on her main concern—the clan and their safety.

"Nay?" he asked, lifting a brow subtly.

"Exactly. I refuse." She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to appear more resolute than she felt.

"Why?"

"If your brother is as ruthless as I'm imagining, none of us
MacDonalds
may be alive after he learns you're here. He may storm the place and exercise the power of fire and sword against us all."

Shamus shook his head. "He doesn't kill women and children, only armed enemy soldiers."

"Well, that's one good thing, I suppose," she whispered. Though she didn't want to see her male clansmen lying dead either.

"I wouldn't let him hurt you, regardless," Shamus said. "You are the kind of bewitching lady a man would protect and defend until his last breath."

"Silver-tongued devil," she muttered, though his words did make her heart dance with joy.

"I speak the truth." His gaze intensified on her. "I vow, I have never seen such a lovely lass as you are, Lady Maili.
'Tis
almost worth it, being in this filthy dungeon, just so I can enjoy your visits each day. You make it bearable. Otherwise, I would've already gone mad."

Her heart pounded at his words. Could she believe him?

"The only bad thing…" he said, "well, one of the bad things… is that I must smell like a beast, having been imprisoned here for days with no opportunity to bathe."

The whole dungeon smelled bad, so she had not noticed his scent. "I will have a servant bring you a bucket of water and soap," she said. "And clean clothes."

"I thank you." Shamus handed her the bottle through the bars.

She nodded, wishing she knew what to say to him. "I will send the servant." She rushed away, up the steps.

***

Secretly, Maili sent one of the kitchen servants to take Shamus a bucket of warm water, soap and a clean change of clothes. She didn't know why she hadn't thought of it earlier. Of course, he would wish to be clean, being a gentleman of his clan. She'd been far more concerned that he was fed and his wounds tended.

"Maili, I want to talk to you," her brother said in a stern voice as she crossed the great hall. Blast! Did he know of the bath and object to it? Had he heard from Shamus' brother?

"About what?" she asked.

"Come with me."
Elrick
led the way to his small meeting room down a short corridor off the great hall and closed the door behind them.

He turned to her and leaned against the door.

She felt trapped of a sudden. Was he blocking the door so she wouldn't try to flee the room?

"What is it?" she asked, though she was certain she wouldn't like his answer.

"I've arranged another betrothal for you."

"What? Nay. You ken I don't wish to marry." Why had her second sight not shown her this?

"I don't care what you want,"
Elrick
said. "As is customary for the sister of a chief, your marriage will strengthen the clan."

"Who is the man?"

"Our guest, MacDonald of
Sleat
."

"Are you mad?" Maili asked her brother, feeling as if a noose tightened around her neck. "I am too closely related to MacDonald of
Sleat
to marry him."

"Nonsense,"
Elrick
said. "You're fourth cousins. The bard kens well both of your lineages."

Dear heavens, nay! Surely her brother could not be so malicious as to force her to marry
Sleat
. "He is an old man."

"Not that old."
Elrick
shrugged. "Merely two score and ten. And he is hale and hearty. A great warrior."

"Almost as old as Da." Regardless of his age,
Sleat
was not an attractive man. He always glared at everyone and belittled his men. He boasted in an annoying, loud voice at the high table. Not only that, she detested his lustful stares. Nausea rose within Maili. "That's why he has come here? Why did you not tell me earlier?"

"Nay, as I said, he came for clan business. When he saw you and observed you for a while, he decided to offer for you. Naught was decided until today."

"I won't marry him," she said firmly. "I refuse."

"You will do as I command. I wish Da hadn't spoiled you. You ken you must marry. Already, three men have rejected you because of how strange you are.
Sleat
is willing to overlook the rumors and your odd behavior. His first wife had the sight, so it is naught new to him. He has a fondness for witches."

"I am not a witch!"

Her brother smirked. "As well, he is willing to overlook your advanced age. At twenty-three summers, you are not likely to get any more offers of marriage."

She ground her teeth. She did not view herself as old or on the shelf. In fact, she still felt just as she had at eighteen. "When is this to take place?" she asked.

"Next week, after I exchange the prisoner for the ransom."

***

At noon the following day, Maili discretely gathered food in the kitchen for Shamus and wrapped it in a clean cloth. She feared if
Elrick
knew she was going to visit Shamus again, he might stop her, since he thought he was betrothing her to
Sleat
.

Only one week until she became the wife and thrall of that goat? Over her dead body!

She had hardly slept at all the night before as she tried to work out a solution in her mind. How could her brother be so vile as to arrange such a horrid marriage for her?

Now she knew why MacDonald of
Sleat
had been staring at her as if she were an oddity. He'd been trying to decide if she were truly mad or a witch he might tolerate as his wife. Bastard!

Well, she was having none of it. She would leave here with Shamus or die trying.

She slipped out the kitchen doorway and took a roundabout way to the dungeon entrance so that neither her brother nor any of
Sleat's
men saw her. The guard was not surprised to see her and barely gave her a nod before he let her pass.

When
Maili's
eyes adjusted to the dim torchlight of the dungeon, she couldn't believe how different Shamus looked. She hadn't even realized how dirty he'd been. His dark hair looked shiny and clean. Most of the swelling in his face had disappeared, too.
'Twas
clear to her he was one of the best-looking men she had ever seen.

"I thank you for sending the bath," he said. "Feels much better to be clean."

She nodded and handed him the bread and cheese wrapped in a cloth. She couldn't tell him how much better he looked and how appealing she found him. She tried not to stare but found it difficult.

"You're quiet this day, Lady Maili," he murmured, studying her with dark, spellbinding eyes while he ate.

She shrugged and stared down at the bottle of ale in her hands so he wouldn't see how much she enjoyed looking at him. She was devastated at the thought she might be married to the MacDonald of
Sleat
chief within a week's time. If only Shamus were a free man who wished to marry her.

Mayhap she could help him to be a free man.

"May I have a sip of that?" he asked.

She nodded and removed the cork.

Taking the bottle she offered, he frowned. "Did your brother tell you not to talk to me anymore?"

"Nay. Of course not."

He drank a long swallow then moved closer to the bars. "What then?"

She took a wee step back, not because she feared him, but because his magnetic presence disturbed her and sent her heart racing with excitement and awareness. "
'Tis
naught."

"Look at me, Maili," he murmured.

When she did, his dark gaze in the torchlight penetrated into her very soul.

"Do you not ken 'tis dangerous to look at a man like that?"

He was teasing her again. She narrowed her eyes.

He grinned. "Come here." His words were soft but firm, like a gentle command. One she wanted to obey, but still she feared what would happen if he touched her. She knew not whether she could trust him. What if he grabbed her and choked her to death? Nay, he would not do such a thing, would he? Her second sight and her instincts told her he was far more trustworthy than her own brother.

Still, going near him made her nervous; she stood firm. "Why?"

"I want to ask you something." His voice was the epitome of seduction. Not that she had ever been seduced. But his tone affected her in startling ways that confused her.

"You can ask me from there." She placed her hands upon her hips.

"I ken it, but '
twould
be much more enjoyable to whisper it into your ear."

The fear lingered. Would he grab her and hurt her? Or the opposite… grab her and kiss her? Either one was sure to change her world in unfathomable ways.

She had been betrothed thrice, but never kissed. Most men feared her; however Shamus didn't… because he had no knowledge of her gift. Once he learned of it, he might want naught to do with her again.

"You may tie my hands behind my back," he said.

His words startled her. "What? Why would I want to do that?"

"You don't yet trust me, do you?"

She shook her head, wishing she could trust him fully and completely.

"Well, if my hands are tied, you'll know I cannot touch you. You'll be safe. But you must untie me afterward."

She nodded, realizing this might be the way to get him to take her with him when he left. He seemed interested in her.

"I'm showing how much I trust you." He turned his back to her and held his hands together. Saints, how could he give her so much power? After tearing a strip from the cloth she'd bundled his food in, she tied his wrists together.

He faced her again, his lips quirking the slightest bit.

She lifted a brow. "Now, what do you wish to ask me?"

He moved his face next to the bars. "You're still not yet near enough for me to whisper in your ear."

She inched closer and turned her head, positioning her ear near his mouth. His breath teased her hair and her skin, giving her a shiver.

"Maili," he whispered, his warm lips brushing her ear.

Though she knew she should jump away and run, she could not. Instead, she wanted to lean into him, grab onto him. He smelled good—a clean male scent which was strange but alluring.

"May I kiss you?" he asked.

Breath refused to enter her lungs.
'Twas
true, she'd imagined what his lips might feel like on hers, dreamed about it. But to now be faced with the real possibility it could happen made her heart gallop within her chest.

"Will you allow me that great indulgence?" he persisted.

She wanted to protest and deny him. But her body would not cooperate with her mind. She tried to shake her head, but this only caused his lips to brush against her cheek. He kissed her there, emitting a soft breath.

"Kiss me, Maili," he urged.

She shook her head slightly. "I know not how," she whispered, heat and embarrassment burning over her.

"Come. I'll show you." His bewitching eyes were heavy-lidded in the dimness. "Press a kiss to my lips," he encouraged.

She cast a quick glance behind herself, toward the stairs, to make certain the guard hadn't sneaked into the dungeon. Then, turning back to Shamus, she gathered her courage and placed a brief kiss on his lips. The warm, sensual feel of them enthralled her and excitement swirled through her. She had finally done it—she had kissed a man.

When she drew back, he breathed, "Aye, that's it. Do it again."

Again? Saints, he was wicked. But since the first kiss had been so captivating, she wished to experience it again. When their mouths met this time, his tongue darted against her lips, shocking her, but she remained where she was, too intrigued to move.

"Sweet," he whispered. "Open your mouth. Let me taste you."

Although she did not understand why he would want to taste her, his words lured her, compelled her to do anything he asked.

Placing her hands upon his broad shoulders through the bars, she did as he asked and opened her mouth against his. Growling, he took possession, sliding his tongue inside. Soon, she understood what he was doing and flicked her tongue against his.

He groaned. "Aye, lass, you're a quick study. Again."

Unable to believe her own boldness, she darted her tongue into his mouth, then away, teasing him.

"Saints, you do try a man's patience." His eyes were heavily lidded as if he were half drugged on some unusual herb, and she could not resist his dark look of desire. Knowing she was walking a thin line of danger, she kissed him again, allowed him to kiss her in a way that made her feel she was barely a maiden anymore. He had turned her into a wanton. His tongue delved deeply into her mouth, making her wish he was out of that cell and pressing his hard body tightly to hers. She felt as if her insides were melting like warm honey.

"Saints, I want to hold you in my arms," he rasped, straining against the bars.

She stepped back, trying to regain control of herself. Every part of her felt on fire—her body, her heart, her soul. Never had another person awakened her spirit as he did.
'Twas
almost as if she'd been half asleep until this moment.

"You must help me, Maili," he whispered. His fiery obsidian eyes pleaded with her.

"How?"

"Help me get out of here tonight."

Why would he ask this of her right after kissing her? "You're trying to manipulate me and use me?" Her heart ached with the realization.

"Nay. There is naught I like more than kissing you. But if I can get back home in time, my brother won't bring a fleet of galleys and attack your clan's castle. No one has to know you helped me."

"They will suspect." Aye, they would. But, regardless, she had to help him.
'Twas
her only option if she wanted to avoid marrying
Sleat
. "If I help you escape, will you take me with you?" she whispered only louder than a breath.

Shamus watched her for a long moment, obviously thinking that over. "Much as I would like to, I cannot. Your brother would consider it abduction, even if you want to go. '
Twould
cause clan war just as my imprisonment will."

She couldn't tell him that her brother had betrothed her to a chief, for it would make Shamus even more resistant to taking her with him. Bride thievery was a serious offense and would rile the two branches of the MacDonald clan.

"I must go," she said. She had to clear her mind and think.

"Wait, my hands are still tied."

"Very well. Turn around." When he did, she slipped the
sgian
dubh
from the sheath on her ankle and cut the cloth binding his wrists. She had much to think over. If he wouldn't take her with him, did she truly want to help him escape only to get into trouble with her brother? He might beat her, or have one of his men do it. She started up the dungeon steps.

"I hope you'll return soon," Shamus called after her.

Aye, she would like to, but she didn't ken what to do. Exhausted as she was, she couldn't think clearly.

Had he only kissed her to sway her in helping him escape? Her heart sank. She had so hoped he might come to truly care for her.

She hurried across the courtyard and upstairs to her chamber, closed the door and barred it.

Her mind in turmoil, she paced until her heart rate and breathing calmed, then she built up the fire by adding dried peat. She could think of no other solution to all the problems than to assist him in escaping and then going with him, whether he wanted her to or not. She had to somehow convince him.

If she remained here, she would be married to
Sleat
in a week's time. Her life would be over. She simply could not imagine being married to the goat. He was old enough to be her father. Not only that, but he had a vicious look in his eyes. Hints of his cruelty leaked out here and there in the way he treated his men. He had grabbed her
arse
not one minute after he had entered
Bearach
Castle. He held no respect for women, whether they were ladies or not. Plus, if Shamus didn't get home before his brother brought a fleet of galleys and a huge garrison, most of her clan could be slaughtered.