A Warrior's Perception (26 page)

She turned to look at Kagan and tears stung at her eyes as she watched his back disappear into the garden.
He was a man and cared not that she had been hurt. He only cared whether or not she was virgin. Why did it matter? Why was her heart breaking over what he thought?

Andra stalked through the garden like a mad woman for hours, fuming over Kagan's words and actions. He was pushing her beyond her control and she did not care for it. He was a brute and nothing else in her eyes. She kicked at the loose pebbles on the path and cursed at his god for making such an overbearing egotistical callous man.

She closed her eyes and envisioned him in his finest hour, atop Demon, sword in hand. His hair blew in the wind and his face was painted in crimson and silver. His war cry could be heard far and wide as he galloped across the battle field to meet his enemy. His enemy would fall like flies beneath his awesome power and survivors would flee to safety and beg his forgiveness and compassion. He was dark and proud in his victory and Andra groaned as his legs swung from Demon and he declared his victory to the land.

Even in her present state of agitation at him, she still wanted him. He was glorious and she wanted him to take her into his chiseled arms and leap onto Demon's back with her in his clutches. She wanted to ride into the sunset in his powerful arms.

Andra took a deep ragged breath and opened her eyes. Her breath caught in her throat as she stood face to face with the biggest Scot she had ever seen. He was nothing less than massive and Andra knew she had seen him once before. She quickly sized him up and smiled as sweetly as she could up at his warm friendly handsome face.

His dark raven hair blew across his face in the light wind, covering his eyes. He was six foot and at least ten inches and a solid wall of rippling huge muscle. Andra's eyes scoured his perfect body, taking in his entirety. He was gorgeous. His kilt fit rather snugly across his hips and begged for his stomach muscles to be touched. They were tight and extremely pronounced and led up to a sleek, hairless stone chest.

He could have been a statue erected by the gods and could not have been more perfect. His battle scars crisscrossed his chest and arms and one faint scar ran from his nose to his earlobe, but they pronounced his appearance even more.

“
Milady,
”
he bowed,
“
ye are a vision of absolute loveliness and it delights me to find someone as beautiful as yeself within my sights.
”

Andra smiled and tried to calm her beating heart,
“
Thank ye.
”

“
Care to walk with me,
”
he offered his arm,
“
I am Darten and ye?
”

“
My name is Andra,
”
she answered as she took his muscled arm,
“
I am a guest here, are ye?
”

He grinned and it sent shivers up her spine as she looked up into the pools of warm gray in his handsome face. He had Kagan's eyes and her mouth went dry. Now she remembered, he was one of Kagan's men in the ballroom so many years ago. He was the first one Andra had seen and had been lustily staring at. Her face paled even though she knew he was oblivious to her thoughts.

“
What is wrong?
”

“
Ka... Laird McKregan is expectin' me to sup with him,
”
she lied. She never went to the table when she knew Kagan would be there and snuck to the kitchen when she grew hungry.

“
Then come,
”
he turned taking her with him,
“
Allow me to escort ye to the table.
”

Andra did not have time to protest as he pulled her along the path,
“
The garden is lovely this time of year, especially in the center, where all the exotic blooms are kept. Ye should see 'em, on a moonlit night, under the stars. They are enchantin' and it is rare one gets to see the best of several countries at once.
”

“
Perhaps ye could show 'em to me sometime?
”

“
It would be an honor,
”
he whispered,
“
Howe'er, their beauty can'na compare to ye.
”

Andra blushed and looked away. She liked this charming Scot, even if he was flirtatious and looked so very much like Kagan.

As they walked, he plucked a pale blue bloom and handed it to Andra,
“
It's beauty is dim next to ye.
”

“
Such words,
”
Andra smelled the bloom,
“
If ye be tryin' to steal my heart, actions often speak louder than words.
”

“
Then I may steal a kiss from ye dreamy lips and die a happy man,
”
he teased,
“
And the man who has captured ye heart better hope I am'na a better kisser.
”

“
And it seems ye nose is in need of another breakin' little brother,
”
fumed Kagan at the steps of the keep.

Andra looked from one to the other. The resemblance was uncanny. Darten was at least six inches taller and several inches thicker than his brother but Kagan held a more potent threatening stance.
A lion verses a cub.

“
Ell'andra, this is Darten McKregan, my little brother and very adept womanizer,
”
Kagan drawled.

“
Aye, we ha'e met,
”
answered Darten,
“
And I seem to ha'e fallen for this bonny exotic woman.
”

Kagan raised his eyebrow and leaned against the doorframe,
“
Unfortunately she is mine, na matter what she may ha'e told ye.
”

“
Nay.
”
Darten stared at Kagan letting his words escape from his thoughts,
“
My big brother claims a woman? Nay, it is'na possible! Ye be a woman's man, a lover of sorts...can'na see ye settle for just one.
”

Andra's eyes and heart hardened and she jerked her hand from Darten.
“
I donna belong to ye,
”
Andra smiled through clinched teeth,
“
I belong to na man, especially na a womanizin' heathen,
”
she turned to Darten and took his arm as Kagan's mouth twisted,
“
Ye were walkin' me to the table?
”

“
Of course, milady.
”
Darten smiled and swept her up the steps to Kagan.

“
I will take her,
”
Kagan shot at Darten.

“
Whate'er for? I'll na be a burden to ye lordship. I am sure ye ha'e pressin' things to do 'fore ye sup,
”
Andra stared at Kagan's now dark menacing eyes and held her ground,
“
Besides, Darten is quite capable and strong and he will see to me.
”

Kagan turned and stalked into the keep like a raging bull. Darten's laughter rang out across the courtyard as Andra stuck her tongue out at Kagan's back.

Kagan watched her eat, her appetite was huge. She teased and fussed over Darten during the meal, occasionally touching his hand. Kagan's disdain poured forth on his frowning lips, his notched brow, and flinching jaw. His brass cup gave under the pressure from his hand and wine ran down his palm and onto the table. He stood, turned on his heel, and left the pair as they drizzled each other with compliments and the wine bottle was replaced with another one.

An hour later, Darten escorted the tipsy beauty to her bedchamber. She clung to his arm to keep her balance as she scaled the never ending steps. Her head spun slightly and her lips were rather numb.

“
May I steal a kiss from my brother's woman?
”
Darten's voice was low and teasing.

“
Only if ye promise to tell him e'ery detail,
”
she drawled,
“
Tell him I was extremely willin' and in full passions.
”

“
I promise, he will know e'ery savory detail and they will fall on his thick head like a rainstorm.
”

At the top of the steps, Andra reached up on her tippy toes and met his lips as his head bent. She giggled and fell forward into his warm arms. He swung her up into his strong arms and carried her to her door, opened it, and stepped inside.

Andra was loose lipped and the wine had melted her shell,
“
Now, look here, in the arms of gallant warrior who has rescued me from the wine of McKregan Keep and ye look so much like my beloved, ...
err
, I mean my betrothed or whate'er he thinks he is.
”

“
Ye lover?
”
Darten asked as he kicked her door shut behind him.

“
Nay, lover he is'na. He does'na touch me 'cause I say nay and 'cause he finds me unappealing. He falls fast asleep when he drops like one dead into my bed,
”
Andra groaned as the room spun faster,
“
He only wants to control me.
”

Darten carefully laid his parcel on her bed among the pillows.
“
I find ye temptin’, beautiful, and enchantin’. I would lay down my sword to bed ye woman. It would be a good death to hear ye whisper my name in sweet surrender.
”

“
Why donna he say things like that?
”
Andra sat up as Darten sat down on the edge of the bed.

“
Takes a better man than me to understand him. Now, how 'bout that kiss so I can further plague our dear Kagan.
”

In her drunken stupor, she kissed him. She kissed a Scot warrior with a heart of steel. She kissed her Kagan, at least in her mind she did. She met his tongue in heated need and grabbed his mane, crushing herself to his body. His name was on her lips as the alcohol tried to claim her.

“
Kagan....,
”
she whispered between breathes,
“
I need ye.
”