The Highlander's Lady (15 page)

Daniel sat beside her, his masculine scent filling the space between them, intoxicating her in a way she didn’t like
because she liked it
too
much
.

“Have ye any more whisky?” she asked.

Daniel grinned
,
using that wicked curl of his lips that sent her body to tingling.

“Aye.” He leaned over and pul
led the wineskin from
somewhere to his left. “Here ye are, my lady.”

Myra took a long gulp, savoring the burn as it made its way down her throat. The stuff was dangerous to be sure. She passed him back the skin and watched from the corner of her eye as he too took a long gulp.

“Do ye
want
to dance?” Daniel asked, completely surprising her.

She squinted her eyes a little as she studied him.
How
inappropriate
it would be to dance with his men all about. The way Daniel danced was not…proper. Made her melt and tingle.

“Nay,” she answered, just to spite him.

Daniel’s smile slackened and Myra found that pleasing.
If he thought they’d pass the time…dancing…he was sorely mistaken.
Lucky for her she was covered by the thick plaid, else he could see what the thought of dancing did to her.
Gooseflesh covered her arms and her nipples
hardened, surely visible even with her gown and cloak covering her.

“Nay?”
he mocked.

“Not even a little bit. Why do ye ask? Were ye hoping for a
dance
here in the cave?
I dinna enjoy dancing with ye.
”

Daniel leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees and he turned back to study her.
His expression was penetrating, as though he could see within her, knew she was untruthful.
“
I thought to pass the time. And y
e’re lying.”

Myra’s lip twitched, but she held back the smile that wanted to come out. “Why would ye say such a thing?
I never lie.
” She pressed her hand to her heart, pretending to be offended.

“I can tell.”

The man was far too confident.
“How?”

“When ye lie your left eye
twitche
s
just the tiniest wee bit
.”
He pinched his forefinger and thumb together
,
a slight smile creasing his lips.

His words shocked her. Myra was speechless. He’d studied her so well?

Daniel shrugged and took another swig of whisky. When he passed her the skin she shook her head, but he wasn’t looking.

“Nay, thank ye.”

“I like to dance,” he said, leaning back against the rock once more.
“With ye.”

His shoulder bumped into hers, but neither of them moved. She tried to ignore his words and how they made her feel.
Having his solid form beside her was comforting, despite her best efforts not to find it so. The men who were not on watch ignored them both, chatting amongst themselves. A few played a game with pebbles, some slept and another had taken over the spit. The scents of the roasting meat made Myra’s mouth water. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a decent meal.
It had to be
before
the attack on
Foulis—
actually,
a couple days
prior,
since she’d been ordered to fast as punishment.

Her belly rumbled loudly and Daniel chuckled. “Ye’re hungry.”

“Aye, that obvious?”

Daniel
nodde
d. “Your rumbling belly could wake an army.”

“
Gratitude
,” she said sarcastically.

Daniel placed his hand on her knee and squeezed as he laughed. The gesture wasn’t meant to be sensual, she knew that. But her body took his touch and made it into so much more. The heat of his fingers seared a path
through the layers,
up her thigh to her belly where it settled in an aching pulse. The squeeze was firm, and only brought to mind the way he’d gripped her behind as he’d kissed her at the tavern.

Myra wanted to yank away, to push his hand off her leg, if only to settle her mind. Why then couldn’t she move?

Her breath caught as her mind warred with what to do, and in that time, Daniel removed his hand and raked it through his unruly hair.

“Do ye ever
wear your hair back?” Myra asked, knowing he had when he visited her at Foulis.

Daniel glanced at her, studying her several moments before he answered. “Sometimes.”

Myra nodded. “Such as?”

“Formal occasions mostly.”

She smiled. “Ye put the beast away and show the world ye can be tamed?”

Daniel winked. “I canna be tamed.”

Oh, why did he have to wink at her? Her insides went all to mush and all she wanted to do was crawl into hi
s lap and beg for another kiss. Myra glanced down at her hands. The skin had turned back to normal color, but now it was extremely dry, cracked in spots. Her knuckles stung.

Daniel took hold of her hand and stroked his fingers
gently
over the
cracks in her
knuckles, traced her fingers
, a frown on his face
. His fingertips were coarse, yet
tender
, sending shivers through her, and she tried with all her might not to let on.

“Ye need gloves,” he said quietly.

“There wasn’t
time.”

His eyes locked on hers. “Ye’ve yet to tell me what happened. I swear I’ll
not
tell another soul.”

The seriousness of his expression told her he spoke the truth. And she trusted him. After all
,
he’d risked his life for her. Nearly been impaled. Myra nodded.

“I know. ’Tis the telling that is hard.” She swallowed, knowing that if she did share the tragedy of Ross’ treachery she’d have to live through every moment. Not thinking about it was the only thing that had kept her from completely breaking down.

Daniel took her hand between two of his, applied gentle, reassuring pressure. “I can help.”

There was no way he realized the depth of his offer, or how much help she needed.
Knowing someone was on her side, there to share the burden, support her, was a
n
extraordinary
feeling she’d never thought to have. Daniel had some
how
cracked the wall she’d built around herself.
If they were to remain married—which she was sure they would not—he would have another clan to deal with. Daniel had made it clear he’d blown off the duties of his own clan in exchange for battle.

What’s to say that he wouldn’t do so again? He’d made a promise
to his clan
, for certain, but if another battle came, would he once again put off his duties to his own
people
? If he had two clans that counted on him, what then?

Myra believed he had the best of intentions, that Daniel believed in the things he said. There was nothing sinister or
false involved. Myra trusted him with her life, but she didn’t trust him with her father and brother’s legacy.

The Munro clan was her responsibility. Daniel would have to prove himself to her. But how?

Daniel let go of her hands to lean back toward his satchel. He pulled out two large leather gloves.

“Here. Take mine. I canna
have ye losing your fingers on the
way to see
ing
your duty done.”

“But ye need them.”
She tried to keep the shock from her voice.

He sent another stunning grin her way. “I’m a Highlander, lass. All I need is my horse, my whisky and my woman.”

His
woman.

Chapter Thirteen

D
aniel’s head felt as though someone had hit him hard with a mace. In fact, his chest felt a little like that too.

He’d handfasted. Claimed her for his own for life. And yet, saying the words,
his woman
, aloud… It did something to him.
Sparked fear in his heart. Fear his promises would not be returned. Fear for her life and the added responsibility.
He wasn’t a coward. He wouldn’t back down and he wouldn’t take those words back.
Daniel was ready for the responsibilities that were his. Ready to own them, to be the man he was meant to be.

All the same, he’d never wanted to wed before now. Never wanted to be with a woman for eternity until he met Myra. The first time.

But her subsequent rebuff of him had thwarted his ideas altogether and he’d never wanted to experience that again. He couldn’t understand why she would have done so. It all came back to his father’s own scrutiny. There was something they saw in him that left a bad taste in their mouth
s
. What it was Daniel couldn’t point out.

Even now, he didn’t sense that she disliked him. The exact opposite
was revealed
to be the case. She’d even kissed him, unbidden, in the snow. Fear had flashed in her eyes and she’d pressed her lips to his. His own emotions had been flying, battle rush flowing through his blood. He’d wanted to toss her onto her back and make mad passionate love to her. Of course, then she would have probably
snubbed him
and he’d be right back to feeling like he did at Foulis.

As it was, either she recognized him and teased him for it when she blatantly lied about not liking to dance
with him
, or… He didn’t know. She’d practically admitted to lying. So what was her purpose?

Daniel chanced a glance her way. She’d pu
t on his gloves, and he smiled a
t how huge they were on her petite hands. Like a monster swallowing a wee bairn.

Myra too stared at her hands. Her cheeks were creamy with hints of rose in the center. Her lips,
thank goodness no longer blue, but
lush and ripe, meant for kissing. Lashes, long, thick and dark accentuated the rich brown of her eyes. Daniel could stare at her all day, memorize every curve, every detail.
He enjoyed the arch of her brow and how when she looked at him it would curve upward nearly half her forehead. She was so expressive. Never had he met a more enchanting creature.

“My thanks, Daniel.” Her voice was smooth, a sensual caress to his starved self.

“Ye’re most welcome. I pray they keep ye warm.”

“I can already feel the difference.” She smiled at him and rubbed her hands together, the loose fingers flopping over one another.

“Anything to make ye more comfortable.”

She cocked her head to the side. “Daniel…”

“Aye?”

“Why are ye so nice to me?”
She pursed her lips, looking very contemplative.

“Is it not the way a man should be to his woman?” How many men had she had encounters with? He glared at the boar on the spit, wanting to punch anyone who’d treated her wrong.

“Well… I suppose.”

“Ye suppose?” His eyes widened, meeting hers.

Myra bit her lip and he regretted his somewhat loud tone.

She shrugged. “I’ve never been ha
ndfasted before…only betrothed. And, well, he was an arse.”

“
Who was he
?”

“It doesna matter.”

“Aye, it does. Are ye still
betrothed
now?”

Myra faltered then shook her head.
And her eye twitched. Damn. Things just became exponentially complicated.

“Who were ye betrothed to? And be clear ’tis past tense because ye’ll not marry another.”

Myra’s eyes narrowed on him, but she did not say a word. Daniel didn’t know whether that was good or bad, but he was leaning toward bad.

“Answer me
,
woman. I’ll know
who’s
to come after me.”

“He has
not
right to me.”

“Aye, that’s a fact—y
e
’re mine. I dinna let anyone take what’s mine.”

Myra clearly clenched her teeth, her parted lips showing how they ground together. He was making her angry, probably had her thinking he was a brute again, but he cared not. A spurned man was one to be reckoned with. Daniel wasn’t worried about not being able to protect her or himself from
whoever
the man was, he only prayed it wasn’t one of his own allies, as he would have just created a new enemy.

If he was honest
,
he also wanted to see who it was she would have accepted for marriage after rejecting his own presence. The rational part of him said that she wouldn’t have had a choice. She was a lady. The sister of a powerful laird. Her betrothal would have been made with an ally to gain lands, money, to solidify borders or to create a bond between two clans that were in the past at war.
And he’d never asked.
Even still, he wanted to know who had
taken the spot he longed for
. Who she m
ight
think about when he sank between her thighs.

“The Bruce will not allow our marriage.”

That was a strike to his ego and his heart. She was spurning him once more. “Well, madam, we shall see,” he said through gritted teeth, then stood to check on the boar.

Daniel could not look at her. Her prickly side had been charming
before
, but to hear her blatantly say the Bruce wouldn’t allow their wedding was harsh. Well fu—

“Daniel.”
She
tentatively touched his arm with her fingertips
as she came to stand beside him. “I didna mean ye and I.”

Now he felt like a fool. And he still couldn’t look at her. He’d reacted like a spoiled child and she’d come all calmness and sweetness to show him she’d not said what he’d thought. Daniel blew out a breath and raked his hands through his hair. He didn’t like at all how she’
d
changed him. He was a hardened warrior, yet around her he was overly cons
cious of how she felt about him and his own feelings.
’Twas making him mad.

“I know it,” he said.

Myra removed her hand from his arm and from the corner of his eye
,
he watched as she studied him for several moments before turning her gaze to the boar. “Looks like ’tis nearly done.”

“Aye.”

But small talk was not what
he
wanted. Daniel needed more. If he was going to get it, he probably needed to share a part of himself. Taking in a deep breath
,
he turned to face her. Placing his hands gently on her shoulder
s, he locked his gaze with hers, moved her back to their place against the wall where they might have more privacy away from the ears of his men.

“Myra…” Where should he begin? “My father passed a year ago, leaving the clan in my hands.”

She nodded, her eyes never leaving his. He was glad to see she
gave the impression of being
interested in what he had to say.

“I was foolish. Irresponsible. Didna want to take my place as laird. My father—“ Now came the hard part. He glanced down at his feet, then sucked in his pride. “My father often lamented of my abilities to run a clan. Found me lacking.”

Myra’s mouth parted a little, her eyes crinkling with what looked like disbelief.

“I’ve never known why, save for my joy of life, my interest in more…
entertaining activities than attending a clan meeting.”

“Daniel…”

“Nay, let me finish afore I lose my nerve. I’m a damn good warrior. I can quell a dispute easily. I’ve never lost respect in that area. But I couldna make my father believe in me. When he passed… I had a lot of doubts about myself. Had a lot of doubts about my place in the world. Then I met ye.”

“Me?”

“Aye, Myra Munro.”

She gasped, tried to take a step back, but he held onto her shoulders.

“Dinna be afeared. I’ve known ye from the beginning.”

Her expression shuttered and he wished more than anything to have her regard back.

“I know ye didna want me back then, that ye dinna want me now, but know this, I will protect ye with every breath I have. I am a different man. I’ve grown up. I’m Laird Murray, and I know my place now.”

Myra swallowed several times, glancing around her as though trying to find the words to respond.

“Ye dinna need to say anything, I know ye were trying to hide your identity from me. That ye didna wish to wed with me and that now I’ve forced a promise from ye in exchange for your protection.”

Myra shook her head. “Nay, nay, I knew who ye were too, even if ye do look more wild than before. But I dinna understand…”

“Aye? Tell me, I wish to make it clear to ye.”
Daniel was relieved she hadn’t bolted.

“I dinna understand what ye meant about me not wanting ye.”

Daniel’s hands slid from Myra’s shoulders down to her elbows.

“What dinna ye understand? I danced with ye at Foulis, I waited for ye for days, and ye disappeared.”

“Days?” She shook her head again, her face filled with confusion. “Nay, ye didna even wait a few moments.”

“Myra, I did,” he said, his voice impassioned.

“Nay. When I came back to the great hall, ye were surrounded by other lasses… Ye laughed, winked, touched them…”

Mo creach
… What he’d once considered to be a blessing—his seeming ability to attract women like bees on nectar—was now his curse.

“Lass, I didna return any of their regard for me. I merely flirted.”

“But that was what ye did with me.”

Daniel shook his head. “Nay, with ye it was much deeper. I flirted, I wanted, I dreamed.”

“Dreamed?”

Daniel was starting to feel like a sappy lad. But he’d caught her attention once more
, and that was what he really wanted. Hoped that by confessing some of his inner demons, she’d feel comfortable to do the same
.
Daniel had never shared his inner most self with anyone before. Not even his rebellious friends from before his father’s passing. This was something new to him, and while he’d been scared to death to admit his feelings to her, now that he was getting them off his chest
,
he felt oddly lighter, freer.
Scared the hell out of him at the same time it was exhilarating.

“Aye.”
He gazed deep into her eyes. “And I was sorry to hear of your brother’s passing
. H
e was a good friend of mine.”

“And ye have so little of them,” Myra teased.

“Ye know me well.”

Myra glanced down at their feet, then she too placed her hands on his elbows as she gazed at him.
A change took place in her eyes
. S
he too was opening up. Would she tell him what he wanted to know? Even if she didn’t, this was still progress.

“I confess to recognizing ye too.” She shook her head. “’Twasn’t at first
. But
when we danced at the tavern
—I could feel it
.
T
he memory of your arms came rushing back
. The way ye made me feel…
and with it the vision of ye surrounded by women. When I saw that, I didna think ye thought more of me than ye did of those women. I felt naïve, expendable.”

Och
! How could he have been so stupid? She was an innocent, and he should have pushed all those women away. Shouldn’t have let her leave him in the first place.
“
Ye are anything but,
”
he said quietly.

“Ye say that, and I believe ye mean it, but…”

“But what?
”