Free The Highlander's Bride Trouble by Mary Wine Page B

otherwise.
    “Ye are making yer way, in whatever fashion ye might.” He smoothed the soap over her
     shoulders with slow motions. “Doing the best ye can for yerself. That is nae an excuse,
     it is being resourceful.”
    She grunted softly. “Be careful, ye’ll have the Church after ye for nae telling me
     to accept me place as a woman.”
    “I prefer ye being strong enough to face me without shivering.” He was rubbing the
     soap into her hair. “The place for me woman is standing firmly at me side.”
    She heard a soft sound of male approval from behind her.
    “I am nae conceding anything to ye, Laird MacLeod.”
    He snorted. “Insist on laying the sharp side of yer tongue on me, lass, and ye’ll
     have to forfeit the rest of yer bath.”
    She whipped around, the water splashing up into her face. “Do nae instruct me, Laird—”
    The bar of soap went flying toward the shore, and he had his hand curled around her
     nape before she heard it land.
    “Saer.”
    His teeth were bared at her, and his face was only a few inches from her own. The
     warmth of his breath against her lips made them tremble and yearn for another kiss.
    “If I want to let me title impress a lass, I do nae have to suffer sitting inside
     the Earl of Ross’s castle.”
    “Well, do nae do so for me.” She shoved at him but ended up with her hands flattened
     against his hard chest.
    He was going to kiss her.
    But he didn’t.
    She pushed against him again, but he didn’t give even a tiny amount of space. Instead,
     he held her nape, keeping her in place as their gazes held.
    “What do ye want?” she demanded, unable to remain silent. It felt like she was coming
     apart inside.
    “I want to know why I am drawn to ye.” His fingers gently massaged her nape, sending
     a tingle down her spine. He moved closer, so close she felt his body heat through
     the water. “I see yer face in me dreams.”
    But she couldn’t admit it. She shook her head, fighting against his grip until he
     tightened it.
    “Do nae lie.” He bit out the three words. “Insult me. Slice me with yer words, but
     never lie.”
    She lifted her chin, trying to break his hold on her neck. With a soft snort, he let
     her go. She dove into the water, swimming away, escaping. But her lungs burned, and
     she had to surface at last. When she did, Saer was nowhere, the surface of the water
     giving her no hint as to where he was.
    He surged up from beneath the surface of the water beside her. For a moment, she was
     stunned by the sight of his powerful body erupting from the water like some sort of
     pagan god of centuries past. He shook his head, water flying off the ends of his hair
     before he opened his eyes and looked at her.
    “I’m going to teach ye how to enjoy yer own body…”
    His warning hadn’t even sunk completely into her senses when he reached for her. Saer
     proved his strength again as he plucked her from the water and tossed her over his
     shoulder. Water streamed off both their bodies as he walked up to where they had left
     their clothing. He grabbed his kilt and shook it out with one hand. The fabric fluttered
     to the ground, the edges still rippling as he laid her out on it.
    “What ye are doing is proving ye are no different than any other man I have ever met.”
    He followed her down but didn’t trap her beneath his body. She felt no less pinned
     though, for he settled beside her, his elbow on the ground and his head resting in
     his hand. He laid his leg over hers, keeping her on her back.
    A soft moan escaped her, as she bit into her lower lip to keep herself from voicing
     how exposed she felt. She would never let him hear her cry.
    “I will nae rape ye, Nareen, I promised ye that already.”
    He had, and that strange sense of complacency moved through her. She refused to consider
     it trust, because she would never trust any man.
    “I wish to rise.”
    He stroked the side of her face, his fingers delightfully warm. “Say me