Highland Hellcat (2010) (22 page)

“Do nae call me mistress when I am no such thing here.”

She stepped to the side of the doorway, and the man folded his arms in front of his chest while frowning at her.

“Ye’re to marry our laird; that makes ye the mistress.”

Brina scoffed at his logic. “Just because a man is a Scot does nae make him a Highlander, or do ye consider those who live in the Lowlands Highlanders?”

“No one does, and that’s a fact sure enough…”

The man snapped his lips together when he realized that he’d agreed with her logic. He lifted one hand.

“But that is nae to say…”

“Do nae concern yerself with my feelings. I prefer honesty, and it is clear enough that yer clan does nae consider me their mistress but are only calling me such to please yer laird. I have no’ kept the books or seen to the stores so that all will be fed throughout the winter. That is what makes a mistress of a castle, nae simply… well…”

She slapped her hands down on top of her skirts again and fixed him with a hard look. “It is a fact that I have nae acted as mistress of this castle, and I cannae accept being called by a title that should be earned.”

“That is something that will change when we wed, Brina.”

Connor stood in the doorway, his voice deep and hard with authority. He aimed a stare at her that was unwavering with his intent. “And if ye want to argue about what ye are here, Brina, I am the one ye should be talking to.”

She raised her chin in the face of his disgruntled tone. “Then dismiss yer men, for I am no’ accustomed to ignoring those around me as if I am better than they.”

Connor’s eyes flashed. “I agree that ye are nae accustomed to many things, but I believe ye are doing a fine job of learning new ways.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “I’ve taken notice of just how well ye are adjusting. Last night ye did very well.”

Her jaw dropped open, but she snapped it shut as her temper blazed.

Connor stepped inside. “Quinton, allow me to introduce Brina Chattan to ye.”

He turned to look at another man, who was stepping through the double-wide doorway. He looked like Connor’s opposite. They were both huge, but where Connor was light haired, Quinton had hair the darkest shade of black. Most men had brown hair, but this one was a true black, and he even kept a beard that was cut short.

“This is Quinton Cameron, Laird Cameron, and he’s kindly agreed to witness our vows.”

There was too much arrogance in Connor’s voice, and she glared at him in defiance. Laird Cameron watched her with an expression that told her he expected her to yield as well, and her self-discipline failed in the face of their presumptuous attitudes.

“Except that I have promised ye that I will nae wed ye.”

Laird Cameron actually grinned, but Connor wasn’t amused by her words. She watched his eyes grow dark with frustration.

“Excuse me, Cameron. I need to have a word with my bride-to-be.”

“Aye, I can see that well enough.”

The Cameron laird offered her an amused grin before he walked past her, his retainers trailing him.

“Yer
mistress
does nae need ye for the moment.” Connor drew out the title before walking toward her and grasping her wrist with his hand to turn her about to face one of the narrow passageways leading away from the tower. He kept her in front of him, turning two corners before guiding her though a doorway that led to a small workroom. She didn’t get the chance to investigate what was in the room, because he propelled her into it and followed her with a frown that made her back away until she felt the stone wall against her shoulders.

He pressed her up against the wall, his expression as solid as the stone behind her. She heard him draw in a stiff breath and hold it, as though he was fighting for patience.

“We settled this matter last night, Brina.”

His voice was unyielding, but she refused to buckle.

“The only matter that was made plain was the fact that I am as weak as my sister when it comes to the passions of the flesh. A fact ye should consider before continuing with this notion of wedding me.”

He ground his teeth to smother some word.

“It means that ye are my wife, and I find myself very content with that. Why must ye continue to argue against it?”

Brina shot a hard glare straight back at him. “Because my word isna worth anything if I dishonor my father when I give it to ye. I cannae believe that ye would accept my vows knowing that I swore to do my father’s will when I left my home. I cannae keep one promise and no’ another. That isna how honor works, Connor Lindsey.”

She heard his teeth grinding again, but he pressed his lips together instead of speaking whatever sprang to his mind.

“I respect ye for yer diligence, Brina, but there is naught else ye can do in this situation. My actions have made it impossible for ye to follow the path yer father set for ye. I promise that I will tell yer father that ye held true to yer word.”

She lifted her chin. “And I am just to be content with ye shouldering the burden?”

“Aye. I am yer husband.”

“No, ye are nae.” She shook her head. “Ye are my lover because I was too weak to resist yer touch, but I will nae wed ye without my father’s blessing.”

He snorted, his temper glittering in his eyes. “Ye will wed me, Brina, and that is the end of it. Yer father will be brought to agreement on the matter, which is exactly why Cameron is here. To help me do the business that needs doing between men.”

She opened her lips to argue, but he pressed a fingertip on top of them to seal them shut. She could see that his mood was turning dark, maybe even dangerous, but she still refused to lower her eyes, because he would consider that submission. The man she had witnessed kneeling in the church was not one who would have a woman too lacking in courage to look him in the eye. Maybe she could not wed him, but that did not mean that she couldn’t be worthy of him.

He growled at her.

“I have a guest that I must see to, but be very sure that I will nae change my position on this matter. Ye can decide how our lives will be. If it must be by force, I will set my men to guarding ye until ye have done with this foolishness.”

He pushed away from her, and took several long strides across the chamber floor before turning to look at her once more.

“Ye belong to me, Brina, and I will nae give ye up, no’ even for the king if he were to ask.”

“I am nae your chattel.” She hesitated for a moment. “At least no’ until my father gives me his blessing to wed ye.”

He laughed, but it wasn’t a pleasant sound. Instead it sent a shiver down her back as he closed the distance between them and framed her face with his hands. His touch undermined her efforts to refuse him, her body quivering in weakness once more. It was a tender hold, and that sent emotions through her that she was not able to push aside. He might break her so easily, but he didn’t, and that touched her heart.

“Ye are mine, sweet lass, because ye clasped me between yer thighs and rode with me toward a climax that sent ye crying out with the pure rapture of it. Do ye think that ye shall be content to live without me? I swear I would haunt yer dreams if ye were to attempt it.”

He pressed a hard kiss against her mouth. One that challenged her will just as much as she tried to refuse his.

“So spit all ye like during the bright light of day, hellcat, because once the moon rises, I will stroke ye until ye purr for me.”

“I am no’ a hellcat.”

He chuckled and backed away from her, his lips set into a grin that infuriated her with how smug it was.

“Ye are indeed a hellcat, but one that I look forward to taming this moonrise.”

Taming?

“Ohhh… go on with ye! There is naught that ye have to say that I care to listen to! Take yer bragging to yer men. Women have no taste for such boasting.”

He laughed at her, his amusement echoing down the corridors while her temper strained against her common sense.

She wanted to attack the man. Run after him and strike at his body until he surrendered to her.

Brina felt her cheeks turn scarlet, for the truth was clearly etched into her mind. He’d turn and face her. All her temper would transform into passion, and nothing she had ever promised her father would matter once Connor kissed her.

She’d kiss him back too…

It was shameful, but too exciting to ignore.

***

“Now, Connor, my friend, I have to admit that I’m surprised to see ye stealing a girl promised to the church. That is going to cause a stir for certain.”

Connor shot his unexpected guest a hard look. “The church can make do with her sister since Melor Douglas has shown his true colors and refused to wed the lass.”

Quinton narrowed his eyes. “Ye sound almost sorry for her.”

“And why no’?” Connor sat down next to his fellow laird. “I never wished her any ill fate. She’d be here if she hadna made the choice to take a lover in spite of our contract.”

“Ye’re no virgin yerself, Connor.”

“And ye are playing both sides of the coin, Quinton Cameron.”

Quinton shrugged and sat back in his chair. “I do nae consider virginity so great a thing that a lass should be thought soiled because she had a single affair. Deirdre Chattan has passion in her. The right man could keep her attention.”

Connor pointed toward himself. “I cannae be that man.”

“Ye mean that ye choose no’ to be.”

Connor flattened his hand on the tabletop. “Ye are forgetting my sister in yer reasoning, Cameron, and that is something that I find distinctly unfriendly. My bride must be pure to protect my position and make it harder for the Douglas to keep Vanora. I need my alliance with the Chattan secure so that I can challenge the lieutenant general for my sister. The man is a Douglas; he’s likely to want to side with his clan over me if I do nae show up in a position that will worry him enough to consider my case.”

“Well… ye have a fine point there, but the lieutenant general is no’ likely to restore yer sister to you. The man has all the power of a king, since he’s got the young lad under his control.”

“Which is exactly why I stole Brina. I need the Chattans standing behind me and the Camerons when I ask for Vanora to be returned or disinherited.”

Quinton snorted. “The disinherited part will get the lieutenant general’s attention for sure.”

Connor frowned. “I hate having to say such a thing, but the Douglas will no’ want her if there is nothing coming with her, and she’s twelve now, so my time is running out.”

“Aye,” Quinton agreed. “They’ll have her married in another year and bedded by the time she’s fourteen. Those greedy bastards do nae care very much if the lass is too young for childbearing.

“So ye’ll stand behind me?”

Quinton chuckled. “I’ve already given my word on that, Connor, and I do nae need ye questioning it.”

“I’m asking about ye witnessing my vows with Brina.”

His guest became silent, and Connor felt his temper begin to rise. “Then explain why ye are here, Quinton, if it is no’ to lend yer name to my union with the Chattans.”

Quinton drew in a deep breath. “Ye’re right to be suspicious, even if I have no liking for it.”

Connor snorted, but his friend held up a hand to keep him quiet.

“Robert Chattan was set to march on ye, but I told him I’d come in his place, because the Highlanders need to remain united, or we’ll see our country being invaded by the bloody English for sure with a lad on the throne.”

“Well, that’s a solid truth.”

Quinton nodded. “Aye, so I came up here to listen to yer reasons for stealing the man’s daughter, because I call both of ye my friends.”

“And?” Connor didn’t care for the way Quinton was hiding behind an expression Connor knew concealed what his friend was truly thinking.

“And I think ye made the best choice, considering the circumstances. I’ll witness yer vows…” His face split with a smirk. “Providing ye can get a lass who was raised to serve the church to the altar. Personally I’m thinking that ye would have had an easier road with Deirdre.”

“I know the way to convincing Brina.”

Quinton Cameron laughed, his voice low and full of amusement taken at Connor’s expense.

“I heard that well enough, my friend, but I still say ye’re likely to get little sleep tonight while ye attempt to bring that lass to heel.”

Connor suddenly grinned back at the man trying to tease him.

“But that’s the part that I’m looking forward to, Quinton, and I do nae care if ye take offense, because she’s worth it, believe me.”

His friend leaned back in his chair. “In that case, my friend, ye’d better hope I can smooth things over with her father so that ye can gain his blessing, for that lass wants it, and I believe that she will nae be content until she has it.”

“Aye… but as I said, Quinton, she’s worth every bit of frustration she puts me through, and demanding her father’s blessing on our match is yet another reason why I will nae relinquish her to any man. Brina belongs to me.”

***

Quinton Cameron sat drinking alone. His fellow laird had left him at the high table, and he couldn’t truly take offense, because he agreed with Connor.

Brina Chattan was a prize worth seeking out.

He drew a sip of ale off the mug a maid set before him. The lass lingered over the chore, offering him a long peek down the front of her robe. Her breasts were plump, and her nipples large, but his cock wasn’t interested.

There were matters on his mind that required his full attention, even if the sun was setting and the gates closed until dawn. Keeping the Highlanders united was a goal that sank into his thoughts and didn’t allow for anything else.

Except for a brief recollection of Deirdre Chattan.

His cock did stir, and it drew a frown from him. He didn’t have time to become enamored of any woman in particular. If he were wise, he’d find a way to get the Douglas to return Vanora to him and lock her in his own fortress until she was old enough to wed. Connor wasn’t the only Highlander laird who understood the need for an alliance with his neighbors.

But Deirdre’s face refused to be banished, even when he lifted his mug again and drained it. Vanora Lindsey was merely an idea, but the taste of Deirdre’s kiss clung to his lips along with the way she had struggled against him. She was a woman who knew the power of her own spirit, one who might be broken but would be so much more of a prize to the man who managed to win her.