My Daring Highlander (24 page)

If
she
was the one rejecting him, that
was something altogether different. But he didn’t think that was
the case. She was crying because she cared about him.

Seona backed away. “Go, Keegan,” she
whispered.

But he didn’t. He watched her retreat.
This spurred his instincts to pursue her, to capture her, to make
her see he would never abandon her.

He took a step closer. “I fear no man,
not even your father.”

“Well, you should.” She retreated
behind a chair.

“Why are you so afraid of him?”
Keegan’s own father was a loving, jovial man. Of a certainty,
Conall MacKay could be vicious in battle, but with his family, he
was warm. However, Keegan knew all fathers were not like him.
Evidently, Seona’s father was just the opposite.

“He could have his
men
kill
you,
Keegan. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

His muscles tensed at the potential
threat and the challenge. “Not without a fight. And I wager I’d
take a few of them out before they did me in.” He stepped forward
again.

“Keegan, please.” She squeezed her
eyes shut and shook her head.

“The MacKay guards always watch my
back.” He hoped that would ease her mind… though he was
well-trained in protecting himself.

She looked down, appearing suddenly
defeated, her unbound hair shielding most of her face. “I didn’t
want to tell you this, but you leave me no choice.”

Warning prickled at the back of his
neck. “What?”

“Last year at home, I danced with a
man, the youngest brother of the MacSween chief. My father
disapproved because he did not see him as suitable. Aunt Patience
said there was a rumor started that MacSween kissed me and it grew
out of proportion. MacSween was murdered a short time later, in
Inverness. My father probably ordered it done. Do you understand
what I mean now?”

“Aye, your father is ruthless, and he
will not approve of me.” Keegan had already guessed her father
would have a negative opinion of him, since he was not a chief or
titled. Still, that would not dissuade him from asking for her
hand. If her father attempted to kill Keegan for his boldness and
his interest in Seona, then he’d best be ready for
retaliation.

“When I go home, I want you to stay
here,” Seona said.

“What? Are you mad?” Annoyance gored
Keegan. “I would never do that. Do you take me for a
coward?”

“Nay! I’m trying to protect
you.”

“Well, I intend to protect you. And I
can’t do that if I’m here and you’re traveling across the country
with Haldane on your heels.” His words were low but firm. The last
thing on earth he’d do was stay here, safe, while she faced danger.
Though her idea irritated him, he understood why she’d suggested
it. She worried about his safety because… mayhap she cared about
him a great deal. He hoped.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears
welling in her eyes again. “I should’ve never…”

“What?”

“I didn’t mean to lead you on… and
lead you into danger. I should’ve never allowed you to… kiss
me.”

“Saints, Seona.” Could she not see
that he cared for her? ’Twas not as if he merely wanted beneath her
skirts. She had stolen his heart.

She stared at the floor, her blush
evident in the candlelight. “I ken I acted very… wantonly. That was
wrong of me.”

He ground his teeth. Aye, he knew he
shouldn’t have touched her in the most intimate of places but… he
ached. Not only his groin, but his chest and his whole body ached
for her. He sucked in a deep breath, trying to dispel his need but
naught helped.

“I should not have teased and tempted
you,” she said.

“You didn’t. I am the one
to blame for leading you astray. You’re an innocent and I shouldn’t
have touched you.” He forced himself to say the words, to be a
gentleman. ’Twas true he
shouldn’t
have touched her, but he did not regret it. Nay,
he wanted to touch her again, more than anything, but he would keep
his hands to himself if that was what she wished.

She watched him, her blue eyes
darkening in a most tempting manner. Was she thinking of how he’d
touched her? He could think of little else, himself. Her skin was
so soft and silken his fingers itched to trail over her again. When
he tried to sleep at night, he had burning, erotic dreams about
stroking, kissing and licking her… everywhere. Imagining being
naked with her in bed made him yearn so intensely he could scarce
breathe.

“I shouldn’t have… given you
pleasure,” he said, remembering how she’d shattered in his arms. He
loved how passionate she was.

Her skin turning bright pink, she
licked her lips. How he craved another taste of them. He moved
closer to her, thankful to see she didn’t move back.

“I was wrong to… slide my hand up your
thigh beneath your skirts,” he whispered, feeling like the most
debauched rogue, but unable to stop himself. Aye, he wanted to
tempt her as much as she tempted him. He wanted her to remember the
pleasure he’d given her.

Her breathing altered but her stare
never wavered from his. She swallowed hard.

“I should not have touched you and
felt how wet you were… how aroused,” he whispered in an intense
tone. “Because now I cannot forget it. ’Tis all I can think
about.”

Her eyelids were growing heavy and her
gaze more heated by the moment.

“You have no inkling how you make me
ache,” he went on. Indeed, at the moment he was so hard he was
almost dizzy with arousal. “I want you, Seona. Always.” Knowing it
was time for him to be completely honest with her, he drew in a
deep breath. “I love you.”

“Keegan. Nay,” she breathed, shaking
her head and squeezing her eyes shut. More glistening tears leaked
out.

Though her reaction was like a punch
to the gut, he shoved the chair out of his way and drew her into
his arms. “Don’t cry, lass. I’d hoped… you might like to know how I
feel.”

“Aye.” She looked up into his eyes. “I
love you, too, but— ”

“That’s all that matters.” Bittersweet
joy latched onto him. Aye, if she loved him, he would do anything
to have her. He’d move heaven and earth to make her happy, to keep
her safe, to keep her by his side always.

She shook her head. Grasping the plaid
across his upper body, she buried her face against his chest and
sobbed.

God, she ripped his heart out. He
pressed his face against the thick softness of her unbound hair. He
relished the sleek feel of it. Her hands tugging at his plaid made
him want to rip the material from his body and revel in the warmth
of her smooth skin against his. Her stomach pressed against his
hard shaft. He forced himself not to respond, not to grind into her
as his instincts urged.

He kissed her temple. “Please, I beg
of you, stop crying and tell me why you’re so upset.”

She sniffed and wiped the tears from
her eyes with a handkerchief. “You.”

“Why?”

“You overwhelm me. You make me feel…
things I never thought possible.”

“I feel the same way.” Just as
overwhelmed in her presence, especially if he touched her, or held
her as he was now. He never wanted to let her go. ’Twas almost as
if she was a part of him. And to be away from her felt as if a
piece of him was missing.

Embracing him tighter, she pushed her
lower belly against his erection. Grinding his teeth, he barely
quelled a moan. His hands slipped from her waist to her hips and
tugged her closer. The feel of her delectable body sent arousal and
raw need pouring through him.

He was glad to see she’d stopped
crying. He needed to ask her something very important, but she
turned her face toward him. So tempting he could not resist. He
captured her lips to taste her sweet and salty kisses.

“Mmm.” He wanted to devour
her.

An almost imperceptible click sounded
behind him, and then a shriek rent the air. He spun.

Lady Patience stood on the threshold,
her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide as platters.

Chapter Eighteen

“You beast!” Lady Patience rushed
forward with a limping gait, grabbed an embroidered pillow and
swung it at Keegan, catching him on the shoulder. “Get your hands
off my niece and get out!”

“Calm yourself, m’lady,” he said.
“I’ve not harmed her.” ’Slud, why hadn’t he barred the door? Now
he’d gotten Seona into trouble.

Her aunt persisted in swatting his arm
with the pillow. Daft woman. If she truly wanted to do him harm,
she’d have to find a better weapon.

“Get out!” Patience
demanded.

“What is happening in here?” Lady
Isobel asked from the open doorway.

Thank the saints. Maybe she would be
the voice of reason. “I was but talking to Lady Seona,” he
said.

“Liar!” Patience yelled, whacking him
with the pillow. “You had your mouth on her, you swine!”

“You’re right,” Keegan admitted,
seeing the perfect opportunity. “I have compromised the lass. Now,
I will have to marry her.”

Lady Patience froze, her mouth hanging
agape, eyes wide. Isobel and Seona looked much the same.
Speechless.

“I will do the honorable thing,” he
said. “I take my responsibilities seriously.”

Their expressions were so comical he
almost grinned, but forced himself not to. He was not
joking.

With renewed fury, Patience resumed
bludgeoning him with the pillow, which he easily fended off with a
lifted elbow. Isobel smiled wickedly.

“You are mad,” Seona whispered,
blushing bright pink.

“What the devil is going on?” Dirk
asked from the doorway, his guard beside him.

“Keegan has compromised Lady Seona and
now he will be forced to wed her,” Isobel said,
grinning.

Dirk’s brows lifted. “Could I have a
word with you, Keegan?”

“Get out! Rogue! Barbarian!” Lady
Patience landed a blow to his shoulder, but not with the pillow
this time. ’Twas a fire poker. He grabbed the weapon and yanked it
from her, getting his hand covered in soot in the
process.

“Damnation!” He strode into the
corridor to speak with Dirk, then deposited the fire poker against
the stone wall. He glared at the black smudges on his hand and
shirt sleeve.

The door slammed behind him, leaving
him alone in the corridor with Dirk.

“Harpy,” he muttered under his
breath.

“Come.” Dirk motioned, limping back
along the corridor with his cane.

“What are you still doing
up?”

“I heard a woman yelling. I couldn’t
very well ignore it. Isobel rushed to see what was happening and I
followed.” He opened his bedchamber door and motioned Keegan
inside. The room was very floral, lacy and feminine.

“Have a seat.” Dirk nodded toward the
dainty chairs next to the hearth, then poured whisky in two small
stoneware cups. He handed one to Keegan.

“Slàinte,”
they said at the same time, then
Keegan downed half his shot of whisky.

Dirk sipped leisurely, then eyed
Keegan with a bit of devilment. “A word of advice—if you’re going
to slip into a lady’s bedchamber, make sure you don’t get caught by
her chaperone.”

Not amused, Keegan sent him a mock
grin. “I figured she was in her own chamber, or still flirting with
MacMillan in the great hall.”

“Well, thank the saints you weren’t
naked,” Dirk said.

“Indeed,” Keegan muttered, taking a
seat on one of the chairs. “I should’ve barred the
door.”

“What was this about her father
forcing you to marry her?”

“Mayhap he will. I hope.” Indeed,
’twas Keegan’s fondest wish.

Dirk dropped into the chair opposite.
“Years ago, when I was a wee lad, the MacKays and that branch of
the Murrays were enemies.”

A cold frisson of dread slithered
through Keegan. “In truth?”

“Aye. When Da married my stepmother,
that helped smooth it over because, through her mother, she was
distantly related to the Murrays.”

Keegan nodded. “Now that you mention
it, I remember my da talking about conflict with them many years
ago, when he was a young man.”

“Aye. I’m hoping the Murray chief
doesn’t get riled up again because of what’s going on with Lady
Seona. Not that I fear him or his clan, but his second cousin is
the Earl of Tullibardine, leader of all the Murrays. He has a
massive army.”

Keegan hadn’t meant to put the whole
MacKay clan in danger. But he couldn’t help falling in love with
Seona. And he was glad he’d finally told her. He’d loved her for
months.

“Peace is important to me,” Dirk said.
“I don’t want the MacKay clan crushed because of some minor
offense.”

“You mean because I’ve been caught
with her?”

“That and the fact she was not able to
marry the MacKay chief as her father had arranged.”