Page 57 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

Ailis’ mouth twitched faintly. “They chose ye.”

“They did.”

She looked away toward the fire. The flames had almost gone out, leaving only a red glow beneath the blackened logs.

“And now, Kerr is angry because he did nae get me?”

“It is more than anger.”

Ailis turned back to him, and Gordon held her gaze.

“Men have gone to war over less than a broken betrothal, lass.”

The last of the amusement left her face.

“Kerr would truly do that?”

“He has spent years nursin’ the grievance.”

Gordon could see the question forming before she spoke it. “How dangerous is he?”

“Dangerous enough that I would nae have ye walkin’ beyond these walls alone. He attacked the village to send a message. He kens ye are here, and now, I must have me men watchin’ every corner and ye at all times.”

Color slowly drained from her cheeks.

“Kerr has nearly two hundred men who owe him loyalty,” Gordon said quietly. “And he has lands borderin’ ours. He kens the roads. He kens our weaknesses. A raid is one thing. A war would be another.”

Ailis’ breath seemed to catch. Gordon watched the fear move through her.

It was not the fear she showed when she was angry. This was quieter. It settled into her eyes, made her shoulders draw back, and made her look suddenly younger than the woman who could stand before him and challenge every decision he made.

He hated seeing it. More than that, he hated knowing he had brought her into the middle of it.

He rose. Ailis looked up as he came toward her.

He intended only to reassure her. Nothing more.

He told himself that as he crossed the space between them.

“Nay matter our differences, lass,” he said, “ken this. I will protect ye.” His voice was steady. There was no doubt in it because he meant every word.

Then his hand settled at her waist, and he did not think before doing it. The touch was instinctive, an attempt to anchor her when he felt the tension running through her.

The instant his palm met her through the gown, Gordon knew his mistake. Heat coiled low in his stomach, sharp and immediate.

Ailis went very still as Gordon looked down at her and found her staring up at him.

Those blue eyes were wide, no longer frightened of Kerr. They were fixed upon him. And that look was far more dangerous.

Her lips parted slightly. Gordon’s fingers tightened for the smallest fraction of a second before he forced them to release her.

He stepped back.

The cold air between them felt like punishment.

Ailis did not move, and neither did he.

The study had suddenly become too warm despite the dying fire.