The Ranger (26 page)

At first Arthur thought he meant to stop him, but to his surprise the older warrior slowly adjusted his leg to allow him to pass. But not before giving him a warning. “If you do anything to hurt my sister, Campbell, I’ll have to kill you.”

Though he said it as calmly as if he were reporting on the weather, Arthur knew he meant every word.

Hell, if Alan MacDougall wasn’t his enemy and the son of a despot, he might actually like him.

He met the other man’s eyes and nodded, suspecting it was a promise he wasn’t going to be able to keep. To put an end to the betrothal and stop the alliance, hurting Anna had become inevitable.

Anna had expected Sir Hugh to take her outside to stroll around the
barmkin
, but instead he led her through the passageway to the donjon tower.

The Royal Castle of Auldearn had been built by William the Lion over a hundred years earlier. The donjon and adjoining Great Hall stood atop a large circular motte, surrounded by a wooden rampart. The stone wall around the bailey below provided an additional level of defense.

Compared to the noise of the Great Hall, quiet punctuated the torchlit corridor. Anna was uncomfortably conscious of how alone they were. Although the last echoes of daylight still sounded on the horizon, the stone tower was already dark. The flickering flames from the torchieres that lined the walls provided little reassurance.

“W-where are we going?” she asked, ashamed of the trembling in her voice.

Sir Hugh gave her an enigmatic smile that made her wonder whether he was aware of his effect on her. “We’re almost there.”

He stopped before the door to the earl’s private solar. Opening the door, Anna was relieved to see it well lit by candles from a circular iron chandelier above.

Unfortunately, when Hugh led her across the room to another door, she realized this was not their final destination. The second room was bathed in darkness. Anna stood safely in the solar until Sir Hugh lit a few candles.

Then she gasped.

Nervousness forgotten, she rushed into the tiny room—not much larger than an ambry—and spun around in amazement. A lone table and bench stood sentry in the middle of the floor, but it was what lined the walls that filled her with awe. Shelves and shelves stacked with thick leather folios—some encrusted with gold, some with jewels. It was a treasure trove. More books than she’d ever seen in one place in her life.

Sir Hugh watched the incredulity and wonder transform her features. “I thought this might interest you.”

Anna clapped her hands in delight, her fingers practically itching to explore the titles. Dear Lord, that looked to be four volumes of Chrétien de Troyes!

“It’s magnificent.” She turned to him. “How did you know?”

He shrugged. “You mentioned something about enjoying reading once.”

She tilted her head, looking up at him. Again, she felt as if she’d misjudged him. “And you remembered?”

He didn’t respond, but the way he was looking at her sent a flicker of unease whispering down her spine.

He wanted her.

Suddenly the tiny room felt like a trap. She looked to the door, but whether intentionally or not, he’d moved around to block it.

“Why did you bring me here?” she asked.

He took a step closer, his eyes glinting dangerously in the semidarkness. He took her chin in his hand and tilted her face to his.

Her pulse spiked with panic. He was shorter than Sir Arthur—perhaps by an inch or two—but somehow his size seemed threatening. It took everything she had not to shirk away.

“I wanted to show you what you would have as my wife. This room would be at your disposal. You will be one of the most important ladies in the kingdom. That is why you are here, Lady Anna, is it not? To renew talks of our betrothal?”

“Aye,” she whispered, trying to control the shakiness in her voice.

His eyes bored into her, challenging. “Is that what you really want?”

Her heart pounded furiously. She forced herself to nod. “Aye.”

“Then prove it,” he demanded. She blinked questioningly. “Kiss me.”

Her eyes widened with shock. “I ... I ...”

She struggled with what to say. Oh God, she couldn’t.

And he knew it. His gaze hardened. “Are you playing games with me, Lady Anna? I assure you I’ve no wish to be cuckold to another man. Recall that it is
you
who came to
me
this time.” His thumb slid over her bottom lip and she sucked in her breath, frozen in fear. “Decide what you want before you do something that cannot be undone. Once we are betrothed, I assure you I will not tolerate this foolishness.”

Anna’s cheeks flooded with heat, shamed by the truth of his accusations.

She pushed aside her fear, trying to remember why she was here. Trying to remember how important it was for her to succeed in forming this alliance. This was their chance. Why was she being so foolish? It was only a kiss.

“My lord, I’m sor—”

He dropped his hand from her face. She exhaled with too much relief.

“We should return to the Hall,” he said stiffly, coldly. “Your brother will wonder where I’ve taken you.”

She nodded, feeling helpless, knowing what she should do but unable to get the words out.

Damn Arthur Campbell to Hades for doing this to her! For confusing her. She’d been prepared to do this before he’d returned.

“If you don’t mind, my lord, I’m tired and would rather retire to my chamber.”

He nodded. “Take your time. Perhaps you might wish to borrow a book?” Her gaze shot to his, knowing he was trying to tempt her. “We can discuss this in the morning.”

He turned to leave. But then he seemed to change his mind. Before she realized what he was about to do, he’d pulled her in his arms and brushed his mouth over hers. Anna froze, too startled to resist.

His lips were cool and hard, not unlike the man. She caught the faint scent of wine, but it was over before she could process anything else.

He smiled, looking down at her stunned expression. “You have the night to decide. But if you want this betrothal to go forward, I’ll expect a response tomorrow. One a bit more enthusiastic than that.”

Ross had no idea how close he was to death.

Arthur gripped his dirk in his hand, every muscle straining against the bloodlust pounding through him. All he had to do was take a few steps, slipping out from his hiding place in the shadows behind the door, and plunge his blade deep in the bastard’s gut.

He’d kissed her.

He’d taken her in his arms and put his mouth to hers.

Something inside Arthur snapped. Every instinct urged him to strike out and kill the man who’d dared to touch what belonged to him.

But at the last minute, something stayed his hand. Killing Ross would put an end to his mission. He’d be forced to flee, and his opportunity to destroy Lorn would be lost.

It took every shred of control he had left not to move. But he let Ross walk out of the room. He let him live. This time.

Anna, however, would not escape his wrath so easily. He was going to make damned sure she had only one answer to give Ross in the morning. This planned betrothal of hers was about to come to a decisive end.

Ross’s footsteps had barely faded before Anna started to follow him. As she reached the door, Arthur slid out of the shadows to block her path.

She gasped. Any fear she might have felt quickly faded in the sudden flash of anger that set her eyes blazing. “How dare you spy on me!” She tried to push him out of the way, but he clasped her wrists in his hand. “Let go of me, you have no right.”

He spun her into the room and shut the door behind him. “I have every right,” he seethed. “You aren’t going to marry him.”

He could see her cheeks flush in the candlelight. Her chest—her incredible, too-ample chest that he couldn’t stop dreaming about—heaved with righteous indignation. That sweet face with its adorable, stubborn chin lifted to his. “Yes. I. Am.”

He didn’t like her tone at all. Not one bit. His eyes narrowed. “You couldn’t even kiss him.” He leaned closer, inhaling the sultry warmth of her fury. “How will it be, do you think, to bed him?”

She made a sharp sound of outrage. If she’d a dagger in her hand, Arthur had no doubt it would now be stuck between his ribs. But her tongue eviscerated just as painfully. “I suspect I will get used to it. Perhaps even come to enjoy it. Sir Hugh is a very handsome man. And he seems quite determined, don’t you think?” Her eyes taunted. Challenged. Driving him insane. “Yes, if it’s anything like that kiss, I imagine I’ll come to enjoy it quite a lot.”

He grabbed her arm. “Stop.” He shook her to him. “Stop.” He felt as if he were going to explode. Feelings he’d kept so long contained had been whipped to a frenzy by her taunting words. Feelings he didn’t want to acknowledge. Feelings he couldn’t let out. His head spun. His chest burned. God, it hurt. He had to make her stop.

“Why?” she demanded, leaning closer to him. The tips of her breasts grazed his chest, and he shook—he actually shook, every inch of his body poised on the knife-edge of restraint. Heat pulled him down a dark vortex of lust and desire. He wanted to crush her to him. To kiss her. To ravish her senseless. To make her scream his name and his alone.

“Why should I stop? It’s the truth. Sir Hugh strikes me as a man who sees what he wants and won’t let anything stand in the way until he gets it.”

He knew she was goading him, but he didn’t care. Arthur knew exactly what he wanted, damn it.
Her
.

He swore, knowing the battle was lost. He took her into his arms and crushed his mouth to hers, giving in to the powerful feelings that had been waging war inside him.

He kissed her like he’d never kissed another woman before. He kissed her with all the passion that had been building inside from the first. He kissed her to make her stop. He kissed her to wipe away the hateful images she’d branded in his mind. He kissed her so she would never think about another man again.

But when she melted against him in silent surrender and opened her sweet little mouth to his with a sigh and a moan, he wasn’t thinking about missions or alliances, enemy clans or revenge. Nay, all he was thinking about was making her his.

Anna knew she was being rash, knew she was provoking him, but she didn’t care. Anger blinded her to anything but the need to lash out.

She hated him for interfering. For making her hesitate. For getting in the way of her plans.

All she’d ever wanted to do was protect her family and keep the people she loved safe. And now, when she had the chance, Arthur Campbell stood in her way.

He confused her. Confounded her. Made her care about him and then pushed her away. He saved her and protected her one moment, and then ignored her the next. He was an outsider, a man who kept himself apart and seemed as if he didn’t need anyone. But he was also lonely, a man who’d been forced to the periphery by gifts that set him apart.

Did he want her? Did he need her?

One way or another, he would have to decide. Time had run out for them both. So she pushed. Knowing he was jealous. Knowing he’d seen the kiss Sir Hugh had given her. Knowing he was struggling for control.

She wanted him so badly. Standing so close to him, all she could think about was how good he smelled. How the dark shadow of his beard made him look even more ruggedly handsome. How tall he was. How broad his chest was. How soft his mouth looked even when white with anger. How she would give anything if he would take her in his arms and never let go.

Pain stabbed her chest. Why didn’t he want her? Why was he holding back?

So recklessly—desperately—she taunted him, wanting to hurt him as he’d hurt her. So what if it was a lie? So what if the thought of herself in bed with another man made her blood run cold? Enjoy? She could barely stop herself from trembling in fear in Sir Hugh’s presence.

When he snapped, she had her reward. Anna found herself in his arms with his mouth on hers, and he was kissing her with all the passion and emotion of which she’d dreamed.

He devoured her with his mouth and tongue. She moaned, sinking deeper into the kiss, wanting to feel every inch of his body against hers.

His big hands slid possessively over her, down her back, over her hips, slipping down to cup her bottom. He groaned in her mouth, kissing her deeper and harder as he molded her more firmly against him.

Sensation exploded inside her in a shimmering wave of heat.

Oh God, it was perfect! Chest to chest. Hip to hip. The hard evidence of his desire wedged intimately between her legs. She knew she should be shocked by the size and feel of him, but all she felt was excitement. Excitement that made her heart race, her skin flush, and her body tingle.

They were plastered together, but it wasn’t close enough. Restlessness built inside her with each delicious stroke of his tongue and each possessive caress of his hands.

She matched his boldness with her own. Her hands gripping the hard muscles of his arms, his shoulders, his back. She wanted to feel every inch of him under her fingertips, to sculpt every muscle with her palms. To hold his strength under her hands.

It made her feel ... wild—heady with desire.

She’d never experienced anything like this. Her body had seemed to come alive. Her responses came naturally, as if she knew what she was doing. It was happening too fast to think. Desire had grabbed hold and would not let go.

He was pressing against her more insistently, rubbing his manhood against the most feminine part of her. It made her feel strange and tingly—warm and achy. But it wasn’t enough. She circled her hips harder against the thick column of flesh, craving the friction. Craving a deeper connection.

His mouth dipped down her throat, kissing, devouring. The scruff of his beard singeing a path across her flaming skin. The small room blazed hot and sultry with passion.

His hands slid around her waist, moving up to cup her breasts. She gasped, pressing harder and harder against his manhood as her back arched into his hands. He muttered something that sounded like a curse and rubbed his thumbs over her turgid, aching nipples, as his mouth feasted on the tender skin just above the edge of her bodice.