To Dream of a Highlander(41)

She rested her head on her knees and wrapped her arms around them. What to do now? Wait and pray her father arrived? Admit the truth? Go ahead and marry the laird and hope he did not take his anger out on her when her true identity came to light? Which it would. Eventually.

All yesterday, the desire to spill out everything to Lorna raged inside. The woman was kind and caring, but this was not her fight and Gillean was her kin by marriage. Lorna’s duty was to the man who was her overlord first. She refused to risk Lorna getting involved. She suspected the woman would gladly stand at her side and demand Gillean cease his attentions toward Bute but where would that leave Lorna? Her home and future depended on Gillean.

Her only other choice was Finn. The man who had dismissed her so easily. She’d been right in the first place. He felt nothing more than a passing fancy for her. Simple, masculine lust. How foolish she had been to read anything more into it. Catriona snorted to herself. She could not blame him. Who would want a woman plagued by demons? One who was betrothed at that. She should not be hurt by his dismissal. After all, he was clearly the only one with any sense.

A prickle skipped along her spine and she drew her head up. Oh Lord, not him. Of all people, did it have to be Finn?

With a strong and steady gait, he strode up the hill, purpose written on his face. She heard his heavy breaths as he came to her side. He snatched her arm and hauled her to her feet.

“What in the devil are ye doing out here alone?”

She fought his hold, heart pounding—not from fear but from surprise. His glowering expression chilled her. “What are ye doing, Finn?”

“Ye…” He grabbed her other arm as she wriggled and pinned her flat against his chest. “Damnation, keep still! We didnae know where ye were. Keep still!” he said through a clenched jaw.

“Release me,” she demanded, panting from exertion and the crush of his body.

“By God, lass, do ye not know how dangerous it is to be out alone? In yer state too?”

Catriona froze. “What do ye mean?”

He glowered at her while his fingers dug into her upper arms. “I dinnae know what yer capable of right now. Not after.…”

“I wouldnae harm myself!”

“Well, I didnae know that, did I? Hell’s teeth, Katie, Lorna’s had her men searching the keep top to bottom. I thought….”

“What?”

“I thought ye could be dead!”

He said it with such sincerity, such concern, she almost believed he cared. Mayhap he did purely because he’d yet to tumble her. But the anguish flickering in his gaze pulled roughly at her heart. Drawing her chin up, she vowed not to succumb to such weak emotions. She’d spent enough time feeling fragile and helpless.

“Why should ye care?”

“Why should I...?” he spluttered. “Ye surely are the most confusing, aggravating, troublesome lass I have ever met.”

“Ach, if ye came out here to insult me, ye can turn around and leave me now.” She flattened her palms against his chest in a bid to push him away but all it succeeded in doing was make her aware of the sinuous muscle and strong heartbeat beneath the linen.

“Ye scared me, Katie,” he ground out, “and I’ll no’ have ye do it again. I’ll no’ be scared by a woman again.”

With savage speed, his mouth came down upon hers. She made a sound as he pressed his lips forcefully to hers. Fingers curled into his shirt, she sagged as heat speared straight to her core. This aggressive, demanding kiss threatened to turn her legs to oil.

Deep down, the fight in her ignited. She would not crumble or succumb to weakness. Instead, she flattened her aching breasts to him and gripped tighter. When she opened her mouth to his searching tongue, he groaned—the sound sending thrills skittering through her. He still had her arms in a strong hold but it did not hurt—only made her feel safe and resilient, as if Finn’s strength fed into her. In his arms, she was no longer a damaged woman, haunted by demons. She was a woman, flesh and blood. Wanted and needed. Even if only for a quick bedding.

His tongue searched her mouth and clashed with hers. Catriona met him, kiss for kiss, driven by a need for more. More sensation, a deeper taste. More Finn. His arousal prodded her stomach and her mind drifted, filled with images of naked flesh and pleasure.

Something broke the heat—a spatter of rain drops and Finn jerked away. His ragged breaths blew over her, his chest heaved and she gulped. She missed his warmth but the look in his eyes… had she been wrong? He searched her gaze desperately for something.

He still had hold of her arms and he placed her back, took a step away and scraped a hand through his hair. “Forgive me, wee lass, that was....”