Page 53 of Forever My Lass

“Ye dinnae appear tae have any reservations about staying at Muchalls Hall this morning. What happened between breakfast and this afternoon while ye were with Anna in the garden.”

“Nothing happened.” She shook her head vehemently, but the moment she turned her head away from him, he knew she was lying. Anger tightened his limbs.

“Dinnae lie to me Madeline. Ye know I dinnae like liars.”

The ferocity of his quiet words echoed much more loudly in the hall than he liked. Unwilling to let their argument rouse someone from their sleep, Iain caught her arm and pulled her the last few feet to his room. He ignored her gasp of surprised protest as he thrust open his bedroom door to drag her through the doorway, then shut them off from curious ears.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Madeline snapped as she glared up at him.

“I intend tae have the truth from ye.”

“Truth? What truth?” Anger flared in her eyes, but it didn’t mask her panic.

“I want to know what happened while ye were with Lady Starling this afternoon.”

“What part of the word nothing don’t you understand.”

“The part where ye were happy this morning at breakfast, then a few hours later ye announce ye intend tae leave Muchalls Hall.”

“It’s the middle of the night, not just a few hours after breakfast.”

“Dinnae ye try tae avoid answering my question, Madeline. I’ll nae let ye leave until I hear the truth.”

“You’re an arrogant ass, Lord Glenburnie. I don’t answer to you except when it comes to your daughters.”

She shoved her way past him in an attempt to reach the door only a few steps away. Iain stopped her when she was only a foot from the barrier that shut out the rest of the world. Angered by her refusal to tell him what was wrong, Iain forced her to face him. The action sent the soft scent of roses mixed with lavender flooding his nostrils. Instantly, his body reacted, but he stifled the emotion stirring inside him.

“I meant what I said, Madeline. I’ll have the truth from ye, and I’ll nae let ye leave until I have an answer.”

“I’ve already answered your question, despite the fact I don’t owe you an explanation.”

“Ye are as stubborn as Ainslie.” Irritation tightened his muscles as he fought not to shake her for being so obstinate.

“Oh, that’s rich coming from you when Ainslie comes by the trait naturally. The only thing that comes close to out-weighing your arrogance is your bullheaded, autocratic behavior.”

Iain glared down at her for a moment. The woman didn’t just frustrate him, he found her maddening. And enticing. So enticing that every time she was near, he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her until she begged him not to stop. Iain took a small step forward, and she immediately retreated until her back was pressed into the door.

A small breath of surprise escaped her, and he saw an emotion flit across her face that caused an invisible vise to wrap itself around his chest. God in heaven, he’d never wanted a woman as much as he wanted Madeline right now. He wanted to tease her until he heard her soft laughter or saw her eyes flare with that fiery look usually reserved for a true Scotswoman.

He wanted to whisper sweet nothings into her ear just to see the color rise in her lovely face. But most of all, he wanted to hold her in his arms and caress every inch of her with his mouth until she pleaded with him to make her his. Slowly, he bent his head to brush his mouth against hers, and he heard the almost inaudible sound of her gasp that was almost a moan.

“Your stubbornness is enough tae drive the devil mad, mo bhòidhchead fuilt dorcha, while tempting the most pious of men tae give way tae temptation just to taste every inch of you.”

One hand braced against the door, Iain traced his finger down the side of her neck then along the edge of her nightgown to where the garment parted just above her breasts. She quivered beneath his touch, while her lovely mouth parted to draw in a quick breath of air. Unable to stop himself, Iain tasted the sweetness of her lips in another light kiss. This time he allowed his lips to linger a little longer than before. She dragged in another breath.

“Iain, I… we’ve already said… this... it’s not a good idea.”

“Aye, that we did, mo leannan, but I also said I’m finding it difficult to stay away from ye, and I think ye feel the same way.” He tipped his head to nibble at her earlobe, and her shudder reverberated against his lips. “Tell me ye dinnae want me tae explore every inch of ye with my mouth.”

“It will…it will only complicate things.” She pulled her head away from his mouth, unwittingly encouraging him to savor the silky warmth of her neck. A small moan whispered out of her.

“Aye, but ye dinnae say ye want me tae stop. Do ye want me tae stop, mo leannan? I will if ye ask me tae do so.”

“I don’t…oh God.” His teeth lightly grazed her earlobe, and another quiet sound broke past her beautiful mouth. It aroused him in a way he’d never experienced before. The woman wasn’t just maddening, she was intoxicating.

“I dinnae think I’ve ever tasted any woman so sweet. Ye go tae my head, Madeline. I cannae sleep without ye haunting my dreams. I want tae see ye writhing beneath me as I pleasure ye. I want tae hear ye cry out my name and beg me tae take ye again and again. But if ye want to leave, I’ll nae stop ye, mo leannan.”

Despite his body’s punishing protests, he quickly pulled back from her and put several feet between them to give her the freedom to go or stay. Every part of him ached for her not to leave. Eyes closed, she remained pressed against the door. A second later, he saw a hard tremor whip through her body as her eyelids fluttered open, and she stared into his eyes.