A Warrior's Perception (8 page)

She jerked at his grip and they came to a stop.
“
Ye punishment is soft for such a revered laird. Is that how ye punish ye prisoners? With kisses and ripping their clothes so that ye can ogle their flesh?
”

He pulled her roughly to his chest and grinned like a devil.
“
Do ye wish me to shove ye against this wall and let the whole of the castle’s servants watch as ye wiggle and squirm against my shaft? Would ye be so willin’ to let ‘em all know that ye canna deny my flesh?
”

Andra
jerked and pushed at the impervious wall before her
.
“
Donna take liberties with my body! How dare ye! I am na some barmaid that ye can touch as ye please!
”

He laughed as he let her pull away slightly.
“
Ye let that pup caress ye body in the trees and e’en I ha’e had the honor of tasting those full lips. Donna dare to act like a lady now after I ha’e witnessed ye actions ‘round the male specimen!
”

“
Leech!
”

He chuckled, a low throaty sound that sent goosebumps up her back.
“
Ye are na goin’ to escape me this time little Ell’andra. Ye are now mine and ye will accept it in due time.
”

They entered the corridor and she grew quite as they walked back to the ballroom. His grip on her arm lightened but stayed fixed. He guided her to her chair and placed his mighty hands on her shoulders. Andra's skin began to melt as he gently rubbed each shoulder. Her back stiffened as he traced the scar on her shoulder with his fingertip.

As a laird is expected to do, he began the conversation at hand,
“
Three years ago, I asked for yer daughter's hand with a few specific requests. I asked that she be kept safe and intact.
”

Aran interjected nervously,
“
Aye milord, we ha'e tried to fulfill ye wishes but she is strong willed and often her intelligence muddles her brains with ideals of independence.
”

Andra's guts jerked violently as Kagan caressed her neck. She arched her back and leaned forward to escape his tantalizing touch.

“
Her virginity is still intact; she has been well educated, and trained in sword and fist. She has lacked maternal lecture and regrettably she takes pride in her stubbornness and refuses to be a lady.
”
Adalie Duncan continued solemnly,
“
If it is ye wish to break the betrothal then so be it. It will'na shame us since the betrothal was ne'er announced.
”

“
At this point, what concerns me is her maidenhead. I found her in the arms of a cowardly pup. He all but ravished her on sight,
”
Kagan paused as Adalie slumped back into his chair,
“
I was tempted to ravish her myself.
”

Her father clutched his long white streaked beard,
“
Is this true Andra, did ye intentionally allow a man to think ye were anything less than a virgin?
”

Her nostrils flared,
“
What if it is? What difference does it make? I am nineteen in the morn and I should know what e'ery other woman knows at my age. But nay, I knew naught of womanly duties or of my own body's reactions to a man.
”

Adalie's face hardened to the point of being stone and Aran's jaw sagged in disbelief at her words, but Crimm's eyes flickered with admiration for his little sister's boldness,
“
Andra, watch yer tongue.
”
It was all Crimm could say as he tried to hide his smile.

“
It is the truth! Calin is the only man who has e'er been interested in me as a woman. He has wanted me since we were children and he, he makes me melt inside when he…
”
She paused as Kagan squeezed her shoulders sending shivers of pain down her arms.
“
When he touches me!
”

Her father blanched and Crimm stood and turned his back to the table to hide the laughter that threatened to escape his throat. He was unsure whether he was more amused by Andra's defiance or Kagan's pent up rage.

“
He has taken my virginity and has shown me how to be a woman 'stead of a mouse!
”
She lied, amazed how easily the lie had rolled off of her tongue. Kagan would surely take his leave and break the betrothal oath now that he thought she was no longer a virgin.

Kagan smiled down at the top of her lovely head, knowing she was lying. He had witnessed the entire scene in the trees and had heard every word. He wondered why she was lying to her father, who sat speechless in his chair. Did she honestly not want to be wed? He was Laird Kagan McKregan and no woman could resist his slightest whims. No woman, no beast, and no man could or would defy him and get away with it. His ego swelled and suffered the bruise as her shoulders tugged away from his hands.

Kagan rubbed his jaw as he stepped back and thought about her words,
“
I will spend an hour with her alone in her bedchamber. If indeed she is still a virgin, I will still marry her. If she is'na, I will see to her punishment in whate'er manner I see fit.
”

“
As ye wish milord,
”
answered Adalie as he stood and took his daughter’s hand in his.

Adalie pulled her to her feet and led her to the stairs. She jerked her hand away and stared into her father's hard eyes. She tried to summon her fake tears that had always changed his decisions. They refused to come and she quickly looked at Crimm, who looked at the floor, and then to Aran, who had edged his way to the door.

Cowards!

She met Kagan's cool gray eyes as he stepped to his prey. His devilish smile broadened as he effortlessly picked her up and slung her over his shoulder and hoisted her up the steps and to her room. She kicked, scratched, and bit every inch of his body that she came into contact with and all the while she tried to ignore the burning sensation that had developed at her core.

He kicked her door open and dropped her soundly on her bottom in the center of the room on a thick purple rug. He turned and locked the door as he spoke,
“
Alone at last.
”

“
Pig!
”
she screamed from her seat on the floor.

“
Tell me in detail how and when ye lay with yer pup,
”
he ordered as he turned to her pouting face.

“
Which time do ye want me to describe? Which position? Or do ye want to know 'bout e'ery single time he made love to me?
”
She hissed with defiance as he edged closer.

He unfastened his kilt and almost burst out in laughter as her shocked expression and wide eyes told him what he already knew,
“
Undress.
”

“
Nay,
”
she muttered as she tried to wretch her eyes from his long, huge shaft and the black curls that clung to his muscled inner thighs,
“
only for Calin will I undress.
”

“
Undress and prove yeself to me,
”
he whispered as he reached for her,
“
Show me what ye ga'e that pup.
”

He pulled her to her feet and ripped the veil from her beautiful face as she answered,
“
Nay, ye canna ha'e what belongs to him.
”

His anger soared and he gripped the gown at her bodice and ripped the soft material from her body. Her breasts spilled out and her nipples hardened instantly.  His gaze lingered on her perfectly rounded breasts and his mouth watered as her nipples puckered.

Flawless!

He grinned as her palm contacted his jaw. He grabbed her skirts pulling the laces apart and let the tattered dress fall to the floor at her feet. A whistling sound escaped his throat as he realized she wore no undergarments save the thin material of a see through silk. He tugged at the laces on the sheer fabric and hastily and skillfully let them fall as her other hand slapped his jaw.

He stepped back, amazed and speechless. She held her ground under his appraisal and hoped he would turn and run from her horridly fat body. Her eyes dropped as his eyes roamed her body, her face reddened and her heart beat wildly against her heaving chest.

She crossed her arms below her breasts and jerked her eyes up to meet his. She was proud, defiant, and her body beckoned Kagan like bees to honey.

“
At a loss for words? Are ye displeased with my fat body milord?
”
she asked as she stepped closer to him.

Kagan stared into her beautiful sea green eyes, unable to comprehend what she was saying. Her beauty was perplexing. Kagan took a deep breath as his heart did a double take. He was by far an experienced lover but never had a woman’s naked flesh make his knees weak and sweat bead his forehead.

He watched as she stomped her foot and spoke again,
“
Go on, lea'e! I am lackin' in beauty. I am'na fit to be betrothed to a laird. Donna embarrass me any longer by pretendin' to want to marry me. I am ‘na innocent and untouched.
”

She turned her back to him as her tears rimmed her eyes. He vividly remembered the girl in the stables, and now here she stood, a woman in full bloom, glorious, golden, and proud. Her backside sizzled with innocent seduction. Her curves were in perfect harmony with her firm muscles and her satin skin blazed with vitality. When he stepped closer he couldn’t control his limbs and he embraced her, pulling her back against his naked hard flesh.

The soft smile that formed on his hard lips was in admiration at her courage. She did not flinch, did not try to pull away, and he desperately tried to remember to breath. Honey and vanilla filled his senses as it had three years before, but now it was different. The musk of desire was laced heavily through the aroma and the woman radiated with fiery temptation.

“
Ye are more than I e'er expected, yer perfect in e'ery fiery detail. I am humbled in yer presence. Ye ha'e bewitched me with ye beauty and innocence. I want to bury myself deep within ye and claim what has been mine for three long years,
”
his voice was deep, soft and heavy with desire,
“
Three long years I ha'e thought 'bout ye, wanted to finish what was begun in the stables. Ye belong to me!
”

Andra closed her eyes as he turned her to face him. His lips softly brushed hers as he cupped her breast. She moaned as his finger rubbed across the bud. He claimed her lips in a heated kiss, driving his tongue inside of her mouth as she opened to him. Andra melted under his kiss and wilted against him as his hands explored her body. Her mind screamed not to give in but her body rejoiced in its reawakening.