A Warrior's Perception (6 page)

Andra trusted Calin and she reached up to meet his lips with her own. He came down hard and swift. Andra caught her breath as his tongue darted into her mouth. She waited for her loins to ache, but they didn't. Kissing him back, she wanted to be pulled back into that place of wondrous emotion from so long ago. He released her lips and slid his hands up her waist and then slowly to her breast. His fingers trembled as he unlaced the bodice. She frowned as he slid his hands under the fabric and forced her breasts out from their hiding place.

“
What are ye doin'?
”
she asked in an annoyed voice.

“
Showin' ye how a man touches a woman when he wants her.
”
He hastily grasped her breasts and groaned despite trying not to do so.

“
Out of pity?
”
she questioned.

“
What?
”
Calin laughed and shook his head in disbelief.

“
Surely, there are a hundred girls here more worthy than I,
”
she stated as she pulled away from his mouth and tried to straighten her gown.

“
Let's get married,
”
he offered.

She slapped his hands,
“
Whate'er for?
”

“
To make babes and lay naked on the shores of our sweet country. To be together for the rest of our lives.
”

“
Nay,
”
she all but cringed at the thought of getting married,
“
Nay, I'll na burden myself with marriage.
”

Calin ran his hand through his hair in confusion. He was sure Andra had known why he had wanted her to come. She had teased him since he was ten years old, and now she either thought she was too good to marry him or was interested in another man.

“
I want ye to be my wife, I ha'e done well for myself and can put ye in a comfortable home and we can ha'e many children and ...damn, the only reason I came back to this land was to get ye,
”
he muttered as he scratched his head.
“
Ye can'na deny me this, I ha'e waited far too long.
”

Andra stood perfectly still as she realized Calin was serious. Men were heathens, all of them. She slowly shook her head as her childhood ideology of Calin disappeared. He was just another man trying to force a woman to see his side of the table, just another man who wanted to shove his shaft into a woman's loins to pleasure himself with no regard for the woman's plight.

Andra pulled herself together and tightened the laces on her gown,
“
I ha'e na intentions of gettin' married to ye or anyone else and I certainly do'na want to ha'e babes. I will'na make much of a wife to anyone, I know naught of womanly duties nor do I ha'e any desire to learn of 'em. I am na the right woman for ye. Ye deserve someone better.
”

“
What must I do to prove myself to ye or do ye belie'e yeself too good for my touches?
”
he hissed as he turned on his heel and cursed under his breath.

“
There is nothing to prove. I donna want to marry ye,
”
she replied coldly.

Calin refused to take her no for an answer. He turned and grabbed her arms and crushed her to his body,
“
Ye will marry me or I will make love to ye right in this very spot, ruinin' ye for another man. Na one else will get what I ha'e waited for. What I ha'e dreamt 'bout for so very long.
”

“
And what exactly ha'e ye been waitin' and dreamin' 'bout?
”
asked a deep oddly familiar voice from behind Andra.

Calin released Andra as if she were an asp and bowed his head as he sank to one knee.

“
Well, what ye been waitin' and dreamin' 'bout?
”
The man demanded an answer in a voice as deep as the recesses of hell and the color drained from Andra's face.

“
For my beloved Andra milord,
”
he quickly answered as he stared at the ground.

Andra closed her eyes as tight as she could and tried to convince herself that it was not Laird McKregan who stood behind her. She prayed that it was not the voice that had charmed her years ago in the stables. Hastily covering her head with the cape, she turned to see her estranged savior. She strained to see the face that loomed above hers, all too aware of the man's body heat radiating across her skin and she trembled as her arm brushed his.

“
Stand and be off with ye, this lady is'na for yer takin',
”
he ordered.

Calin stood and briskly walked away toward the faint glowing light from the gathering, leaving Andra to her doom and gritting his teeth every step of the way. He cursed himself for feeling like a child caught in some ill begotten act and quickly made his way out of the trees.

“
Andra? Dare ye to ha'e a romp in the trees with a mere pup of a man? A lady would'na ha'e so willingly met a man unaccompanied in the dead of night less it was her lover,
”
he teased with a soft chuckle under his breathe.

Andra's anger flooded her mouth,
“
And what say ye bout sneakin' round in the woods pryin' into other peoples affairs?
”

“
Perhaps I too look for a lover to occupy my time.
”

“
Rogue!
”
she hissed.

“
Harlot,
”
he teased.

“
Oh ye insufferable beast!
”
she sneered as she stepped backward trying to escape his overpowering presence.

He laughed and grabbed her waist as she tried to flee,
“
We should try to find yer chaperone. Unless ye prefer to sneak round with the likes of me?
”

“
Let go of me!
”
she demanded as she struggled to free his hands from her waist.

Kagan grinned as he met her unsaid challenge,
“
Shall I pack ye o'er my shoulder, kickin' and screamin' back to the gatherin'? Then shall I raise yer skirts and whip yer bare bottom in front of the peerin' eyes?
”

“
Ye would'na dare!
”

She hissed profanities as she pushed against the steel wall in front of her.

“
Oh, but I would,
”
he laughed as she pinched his chest below his right nipple.

“
Get yer filthy hands off of me ye blackguard savage heathen!
”

He pulled her closer and softly threatened,
“
Calm yer tongue 'fore I find a place for its fire to nestle.
”

“
Heathen, dare ye to threaten me with filthy words!
”
She breathed loudly as she felt his hands press against her back. Her skin tingled under his as she remembered his touch.

“
Tell me yer name woman or suffer my punishment!
”
He growled as he bent to kiss her fire filled lips.

Andra stiffened at his words. His voice filled her body and his threat pulsed through her veins. She refused to let it happen again, refused to be used for his enjoyment.

“
I ha'e already had to suffer yer punishment and found it na to be to my likin',
”
Andra whispered to his chest as she lowered her head.

“
What is yer name?
”
he ordered.

“
Ell'andra Duncan and I swear that if ye donna let me go this instance I will be forced to harm ye,
”
she quietly but firmly advised as his hands cupped her butt.

“
Ell'andra,
”
he whispered to the wind.

It was not a name he had forgotten and as he squeezed her backside, he knew it was not a body he had forgotten either. He was lost in thoughts of a stable and lost in the aroma of honey and vanilla when the air was wretched from his lungs by a solidly planted small fist to his gut.

He caught his breath and crushed her hips to his. She dug her nails into his chest and kicked his shin. She snorted and stomped his foot. He did not give, did not flinch, and did not let her go. At this point, she knew she had no other option, so she relaxed and leaned into his chest. She pressed her cheek to his chest and placed her hands onto his hips.

She felt his body soften as his hands glided up her back and to her shoulders. Slowly edging her leg between his as he slid the hood from her face and cupped her chin in his hand, she waited for the perfect moment to render him helpless.

With sugar on her lips she whispered in a gentle voice,
“
Please forgive me, it's just that I am afraid.
”

“
Ye ha'e na reason to fear me,
”
he whispered back as he bent his head.

He brushed her soft lips and whispered into her mouth,
“
I will'na hurt ye.
”

Kagan groaned as her hands slid up his rib cage and spread across his chest. Her touch was heaven and he smiled as her hands trembled as they edged back to his hips. Her grip tightened as he hungrily took her lips in a thunderous kiss. Kagan's rumble of anger erupted as her knee landed between his legs. He let her go and clutched his loins. He recovered enough to grab the edge of her cloak as she ran. It tore free from her shoulders and wilted under his fist.

Damn that hurt! I played right into her vicious little hands. She is indeed going to be a challenge and I look forward to conquering her as I should have long ago.

Kagan straightened as he took several deep breathes to ease his pain. He calmly gathered his wits. She had won this battle, but the war was far from over. His blinding smile and hearty laughter went unheard as he made his way to the faint light. Gods in the heavens, the woman had fire in her soul! Perhaps this battle was not yet over; he would have to hurry before she left the gathering. He would not let her have the last laugh tonight.