Page 70 of Deception of a Highlander

Nausea rolled over Mariel. Her comforting words turned acidic in her mouth.

“I can protect myself.” Blair pulled the dagger from her pocket.

“Blair,” Mariel said gently. “Dougal would never allow anything to happen to you, no matter the cost to himself. Perhaps Kieran keeps you here to avoid Dougal being harmed in protecting you.”

Blair’s brows knit together, and the hard line of her mouth softened.

“Ah, Blair, I see ye’ve arrived.” Kieran’s booming voice interrupted their conversation. He eyed his sister warily as he approached.

Blair looked up at him and smiled. “I have arrived indeed, brother, on the back of the mule you sent to carry me.” She stood on her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you for seeing to our safety.”

“Ye’re welcome,” he replied slowly. “Now, go on and get settled. Ye know where yer room is.”

She gave a compliant nod and strode from the hall with a bewildered Kieran staring after her. He addressed Mariel in a low voice, “ye’re helpful to have around.”

She did not avert her gaze from the heat of his dark stare. Heaven help her, she welcomed it. He offered comfort she did not deserve and yet could not turn away. She needed this. She needed him.

Powerful arms braced on either side of her head, trapping her where she stood. His body crushed against her with a thrilling heat. The length of his desire stood prominent between them and elicited the hungry throb between her legs once more.

His lips brushed the sensitive skin along her neck. His tongue flicked out in wicked invitation, and a shiver of anticipation wound through her.

“I dinna think I can wait for tonight, my love,” he said raggedly.

My love. Mariel’s heart tripped over itself. Had he meant to say that?

“Blair will take a while to get settled,” she replied, her voice husky.

Grinning like a rogue, Kieran swept Mariel into his arms and carried her across the great hall.

“Kieran!” She glanced furtively around the open room. “Someone might see.”

“Then let them. I am no’ ashamed of ye, Mariel.” His brow furrowed with the sincerity of his words. “Never could I be ashamed of ye.”

* * *

Mariel lay awake while Kieran napped beside her. His skin was slick with the exertion of their lovemaking. The hard lines of authority on his face smoothed out under the relaxation of his slumber, and she found herself struck with his youth. He could not be older than five and twenty. Still older than she, but not old enough for the level of responsibility upon his shoulders.

The setting sun cast streaks of gold across his cheek, accentuating the dark black stubble shadowing his jaw. She stroked his face and savored the rasp against her palm. He grunted once but did not turn away.

There was only one thing she could do. Only one option. Her stomach churned. After dinner, once everyone was in bed and they were completely alone, she would take action. She would do what must be done.

This would end tonight.

CHAPTER 26

Kieran’s mouth watered at the trencher of roasted meat before him. The smoky tang of crisped fat overpowered the burning grease from the light sconces around them.

Mariel stood by his side in a pale blue dress that made her skin look like cream and roses. He brushed the curve of her lower back with his fingertips before settling into the chair at the head of the hall. A possessive gesture he knew would not be missed.

He loaded his plate with more portions than usual, eager for a solid meal after two days of being too busy to sit and enjoy his food.

“That’s quite an appetite ye’ve got there, Laird.” Colin gave him a bawdy grin from across the table. “What would a man need to do to work up such hunger?”

Kieran threw him a dark look in silent warning to still his tongue.

Mariel turned toward Colin and grinned. “Clearly, you wouldn’t know. Your portions look rather meager.”

Laughter filled the table, and easy conversation resumed without the suggestion behind Colin’s jest.