From the first moment he'd seen her, his gut instincts told him that she should belong to him. But he knew not how that could be. If only he'd come back earlier, or gone to her father years ago. But he hadn't, and it was too late now.
Damnation, he still craved the taste of her mouth, so sweet and feminine, like milk and honey, food of the gods. He had never tasted anything so spellbinding and addictive. Dirk squeezed his eyes closed and muttered a curse. He wanted naught more than her silky bare skin brushing against his. He grew harder, imagining how it could be with her. Like heaven on earth.
"I can see what I want matters not to you either," she said.
It mattered to him a hell of a lot, but she need not know that. "You belong to another man." That was the bottom line.
"I belong to no man," she growled, her fervent words inflaming his need even more, awakening his possessive instincts he was fighting so hard against.
"The betrothal. The contract," he said in a firm, harsh tone. Anything to restrain himself, when all he wanted to do was carry her to his bed, toss her smock aside and ravish her lush body.
The door opened and he spun to face it, even as his body instinctively launched into an attack stance. His sword lay by the bed, too far away to grab if he were to remain standing between Isobel and the intruder.
Chapter Fifteen
Dirk glared at the person who dared to enter his bedchamber at midnight without knocking. Any leftover arousal drained away, leaving icy warning in its wake.
Aiden stood just inside the closed door. What the devil was he doing bursting in at this hour?
His young brother's wide-eyed gaze darted between Dirk and Isobel. "Pray pardon," he mumbled. "I knocked but 'haps you didn't hear."
Dirk inhaled deeply, trying to calm his rapid heartbeat and forcing his warrior side back into submission. He was now glad he hadn't obeyed his instincts where Isobel was concerned or Aiden might have seen something truly shocking, considering Dirk had forgotten to bar the door. And now, thankfully, Isobel again had the blanket wrapped around her.
"What is it, Aiden?" Dirk asked.
"'Tis mother. She's sent Haldane to find McMurdo and bring him here."
McMurdo, the murderous highwayman. "Why?"
"She didn't say, but she wants to meet with him behind the church. And it has something to do with you."
"When?"
"Whenever Haldane finds him and brings him back. I know not how long that will take."
"Damnation," Dirk muttered. "What else did she say?"
"That she would not allow the imposter—you—to take my inheritance."
Dirk shook his head, his heart near breaking at Aiden's precarious position. "I thank you for warning me."
"You are my brother. The eldest. I wouldn't wish to take what is rightfully your inheritance."
"You're a good man, Aiden."
His brother gave a brief grin and stood straighter, but then he grew serious again. "I wasn't in the great hall when Ma arrived, but one of the other men told me what you revealed. Was Ma the one who tried to have you killed twelve years ago?"
"Aye. The only proof I have is that the assassin said, 'Lady MacKay sends her regards.' And after what you've just told me about McMurdo, it makes me believe he was the man she hired."
"I was afraid of that." Aiden shook his head. "She's near mad with desperation to stop you. I must talk to her."
"That might not be a good idea," Dirk said. "If you defend me, you'll likely anger her."
Aiden shrugged. "She would never harm me. She's doing all of this for me." He gave a brief bow. "I'll be on my way now."
"Oh and Aiden," Dirk said. "If you please, don't tell anyone you saw Isobel in my bedchamber."
His face flushed, but he grinned. "Of course not." He disappeared out the door.
"Oh heavens," Isobel whispered.
"I knew the witch would start scheming again," Dirk muttered. "She must be planning to have McMurdo try to kill me again."
"What will you do?" Isobel asked.
"Catch him and make him confess everything."
***
Dirk and Keegan slipped along the south wall that surrounded the cemetery and the church. Rebbie and the rest of the men had circled around the north wall to lie in wait. The moonlight glinting off the thin layer of snow made hiding in the night more difficult. Gusts of wind off the sea made hearing at any distance near impossible.
The wall around the church was low enough to climb over. Dirk rose up slowly and peered over the top to see if McMurdo waited behind the church. Or would he meet with Maighread inside? Nay, there was some movement in the shadows of the stone building.