Page 30 of My Highland Love

Her eyes narrowed. “What sort of threat is that?”

“The kind I will enforce with relish.”

Elise jumped to her feet. She swayed slightly. Marcus started forward, then stopped when she fisted her hands at her sides.

“Ooooh.” She drew the word out in a long frustrated breath. “You are an arrogant knave, Marcus MacGregor, not to mention foul natured. Does it give you pleasure to threaten me?”

“Threaten you?” He gave an exasperated laugh. “I haven't given you even a small sample of my power.”

“I advise you to keep such threats to yourself,” she said through clenched teeth.

“God help me, I should turn you over my knee—which is what I planned in the beginning.”

Elise took a step back and he advanced. “In fact, if you have any defense, say your piece now, for you shall receive the only recompense your sex allows.”

“I have nothing to tell you.” She retreated another pace.

Marcus halted. Bloody hell, were his suspicions right? “What are you hiding, Elise?”

Her eyes flashed but not before widening enough to tell him he'd caught her off guard. “What could I possibly—”

“You're a fool if you expect me to believe you simply want to visit Michael. We both know he is well. Who do you meet when you leave Brahan Seer?”

Her eyes lit with indignation.

Feminine fury. Had he hit the mark? Had she taken a lover?

The blood pounded in his ears. “You would risk death—or worse—for a common liaison?”

Her expression flashed to hauteur. “Any assignations I have are none of your concern.”

Relief rammed through him. Womanly pride drove her, not fear of discovery. Why, then, the insistence on going to Michael's?

She turned, but he caught her wrist and whirled her around. “What are you hiding?”

Elise clenched the hand he grasped. “Is it so hard to believe someone might care enough about another human being to take a risk?”

“You expect me to believe you are so foolish?”

She gave a harsh laugh. “Believe what you will.”

“I believe you are lying.”

“Why bother coming for me, then?”

For the thousandth time, Marcus saw Elise as Katie MacGregor had been when she was found raped and beaten. He yanked Elise to him, his mouth crashing down on hers. She shoved at his chest, but he only tightened his arms around her and roughened the kiss. He thrust his tongue inside her mouth and felt her body stiffen in surprise then slacken against him. Her breath quickened. Marcus remembered the couch only a few feet away, but she abruptly wrenched her mouth free. He hugged her close, burying his head in her hair.

“Elise,” he whispered hoarsely. “When I think—” his voice caught. “They had their hands on you.” He hugged her even closer. “Never again.”

He kissed her neck, placed gentle kisses behind her ear and down to where neck met shoulder. She gasped, and he lifted his head to look down into her wide eyes. He lowered his mouth to hers, tenderly this time, moving slowly until her lips softened beneath his. She gave a sudden small gasp, then pushed away, her hand going to her lips. He focused on the action.

“Ohhh,” she drew out the word on a soft breath.

Marcus stepped toward her. She backed up until the chair before his desk barred her retreat. He halted, his body inches from her. She gripped the top of the chair, then stepped aside, shoving the chair toward him. Marcus reached for her. The chair hit his shin. Pain shot through his leg, but he stumbled forward, grabbing for her. His fingers closed around thin air as she dashed for the door and disappeared down the corridor.

Chapter Six

Movement to his left caused Marcus to jerk his head in the direction of the woman emerging from the kitchen into the hall. She was not Elise. The woman's brown hair had fooled him for an instant. He shoved his chair back, rose from his seat, and strode to the kitchen. He stepped aside for another serving maid as she hurried past into the hall with a plate of food in hand. He scanned the kitchen. Elise wasn't among the women serving the evening meal.