Free In the Warrior’s Bed by Mary Wine Page A

want to ruin his own daughter’s name?”
    “He’s a greedy pig. Daughters must be dowered if they are to wed well.”
    Cullen stared at his king for a long moment. His temper flared and he left the chair behind to pace. He suddenly recalled just how sweet Bronwyn had looked that day on the hillside, her face full of delight. Her eyes had sparkled and at first he’d thought he was imagining her. The woman he’d seen this morning was nothing like the one he’d dreamed of. That idea sent his temper up a few more degrees. He wasn’t a man who hated, but McQuade was earning it. “McQuade is a menace.”
    James chuckled. “Now that is something that I shoulder more than ye do, my friend. The McJames are no the only clan that McQuade raids. McKorey is shooting me daggers since I allowed McQuade and his sons back into the royal hall. McAlister is no doubt penning me a letter expressing his displeasure over McQuade being allowed the benefits of laird when the man raids his neighbors like a common thief.”
    Cullen offered his king a shake of his head. “Did I mention that I’ve no desire to be king?”
    “There’s many a day I feel the same.” Jamie offered him a tankard. Cullen refused it with a quick shake of his head. Jamie chuckled.
    “Ye had better watch out, Cullen. It looks like that lass has ye hooked.”
    Cullen scowled. “Can I no be angry because my name was dragged through the mud in this scheme?”
    “Aye, but that’s no the only reason ye want to run the man through. Ye were undressing the lass with yer eyes.”
    Cullen didn’t answer. Since he didn’t understand his thoughts on the matter there was no point in trying to explain anything to the king. “’Tis the truth that I thought her interesting when I met her. She denied me her name. Now I know why.”
    Cullen forgot the king for a moment as he considered just how satisfying it would be to have Bronwyn in his hands without her father and brothers around. She’d blushed for him. All their family issues aside, he’d sparked enough interest in her to turn her cheeks scarlet. Beneath his kilt, his cock stiffened.
    James waved his hand. “I dinna want to know what yer thinking. Just remember that murder is a high crime, man. Even I canna change that. Ye’ll have to find a way to deal with McQuade without running the man through. Yer free to leave court.”
    Cullen inclined his head toward his king before turning around.
    “I could order her father to place her at court.”
    Cullen turned in a swirl of kilt pleats. “Do not.” His voice cracked like a whip, full of emotions he didn’t understand beyond knowing that he wanted to deal with Bronwyn personally. The royal guards standing silently behind the king moved their eyes to stare at him now. Jamie only grinned.
    “Yer mighty defensive, lad. I’ve a mind to see what sort of daughter the man has raised.”
    With a shrug, Cullen returned the grin. “Since everyone seems to think I’ve already had the lass, maybe I should keep those wagging tongues from spreading lies for once. Providing ye have no objection to such a match.”
    The king’s face turned pensive. It was hard to tell what the man was thinking; he hid his emotions with the years of wearing a crown.
    “Have a safe journey, Cullen.”
    “Aye, yer Majesty.”
    The king lifted one finger. Cullen stood still, his breath freezing in his chest while he waited to hear his monarch’s decision.
    “Ye have my permission to wed the lass, providing she kneels at the altar of her own free will. She’s nae like her kin and I’ll nae see her forced to wed.”
    “But I have yer permission?”
    “Aye, and my blessing. But promise me ye will nae name yer first son after me. We’ve too many James in Scotland nowadays.”
     
    Nae like her kin…
    Well, that remained to be seen. Cullen ground his teeth as he covered the distance toward the doors. Fans opened and whispers rippled away from him like waves in a pond. His temper strained