Page 8 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

He rose at the same time she did, and she cleared her throat like she intended to speak.

“Me Laird,” she said with a small curtsy.

“Ma’am,” Gordon responded without batting a lash.

They glared at each other again, neither speaking or looking away first. Then her brows furrowed into a tight knit, and she arched her brow.

“Is that all ye have to say, Me Laird?” she queried, eyeing him still as she moved from where she stood. She scoffed again, the dry sound tickling his ears. “I see ye are a man of few words.”

Gordon did not miss the dryness in her tone, but he did not respond to it either.

Does she think she kens the kind of man I am after only a few minutes in me presence?

“Is it that ye have nothin’ to speak of? Or ye simply daenae wish to speak to me?”

“Would ye wish me to say more?”

“Aye,” she fired with an eager nod.

“Why?” he argued right back, his eyes burrowing into hers as he tried to understand. “Is there something ye wish me to say?”

Her cheeks flared crimson as she took another step toward him, striking her point with a gesture of her hand.

The move brought her scent to him.

Lavender… It was a blend that reminded him of fresh linen and heather. Warmth instantly spread through his insides as he inhaled another breath, dragging her into his lungs before he realized it.

A low heat pooled in the pit of his stomach just from that quick whiff of her scent. He instantly remembered the night she had walked into his study two years ago. He also remembered how every part of him had hardened when she had gasped in shock at seeing him in his undergarments.

Ailis challenged him again now. “Ye daenae wish for this marriage any more than I do. Ye can at least admit that, and we may come to an agreement that we need nae bother each other.”

“If it is ye freedom ye desire, rest assured, ye will have it still. And I will have mine. I only agreed to this because of me brother.”

And I willnae be able to deny him this, unless, of course, ye daenae want it.

She went very still at that. Like his words struck a raw nerve. He saw her fingers tighten in the skirts of her earasaid then her chin lifted a notch even higher.

“Daenae insult me!” she said, her expression hard. “This marriage is a farce, and I willnae let ye think that ye opinions matter much to me. If it is freedom I seek, I shall have it, and I have nay need for yer permission.”

He nodded. “Very much so. I daenae intend to make ye take leave from me for any reason. We’ll simply wed because it is what our family wishes.”

“Or we can nae wed at all?” She took a step toward him, still countering. “That is still an option, ye ken.”

“Is the thought of a weddin’ to me that distressful?”

“Daenae tell me it isnae for ye, either.”

“Ye wound me, Ma’am.”

She rolled her eyes, dismissing his words as she let out a rough chuckle that did not reach her eyes. “Ye arenae easily wounded, I am certain,” she replied. “And we both ken I am right. Disagreein’ to this weddin’ is best for us both.”

“It isnae.”

“Why nay?” That crease formed on her brow again, but he found himself drawn to her lips instead as she asked, “Do ye wish to wed me?”

Gordon felt that terrifying surge of energy rush through him again from that glance. This time, it tightened his muscles. He forced his gaze to meet hers, commanding himself not to stare at her lips or anywhere else but those blue eyes pulling him in.

“Because our families wish that we marry.” His voice kicked up a notch with that response, but she still did not flinch. “Our brothers wish it. And they might be right. An alliance between our clans will strengthen us.”