Page 15 of Highland Guard
“But you’ve almost compromised my virtue.”
“What the devil is the matter with you? Are you daft? I’ve never laid a hand on you. Since when I have ever made advances?”
They paused, staring at one another from opposite sides of the well, both trying to catch their breath.
Margarite said, “Oh, wait. I ken what this is. You want me to do the courting. Aye, I’ve heard of this from my cousin, Seoirse. She says a man pretends he doesna want you, but deep inside, he’s lusting after you.” Margarite lunged again, and the chasing begun in earnest.
“Well, your cousin is wrong. What kind of daft advice is that?”
Kieran tripped and had no time to react because the next thing he knew he was flat on his back and Margarite was straddling him, pulling at his plaid, and literally pinning him to the ground beside the well.
“Damn it, woman, get off me!” he bellowed.
Margarite was not listening because Margarite was untying her blouse.
“Do not ... do not take your clothes off. Anyone can see, stop that,” he shouted and clasped her ties together, trying to close it.
Not to be deterred, Margarite ripped the front open completely and embraced his face with her ample bosoms. Kieran was pinned to the ground, making muffled sounds of protest, trying to wriggle free from under her. He finally came up for air, growling like an angry bear, as he hauled her to the side so he could untangle himself.
“Margarite, get a hold of yourself, you silly woman.”
“I ken you’ve wanted me, but you dinnae need to control yourself. I’m here for the taking Kieran, I’m all yours,” she shouted and pounced towards him again.
“Bollocks!” he yelled, panicked that he was about to be suffocated with heavy bosoms again and scrambled out of the way. But Margarite grabbed his plaid and pulled him back down. As Kieran fell forward and hit the dirt, hard, he knew in that moment he had managed, once again, to attract a completely crazed woman.
***
Chapter 5
Henderson Land, Glencoe
After a lengthy tussle, Kieran finally untangled himself and escaped. Albeit somewhat ungracefully. He was crawling away quickly on all fours, cursing under his breath and trying to loosen one ankle from Margarite’s firm grip. She had one arm wrapped around his calf muscle and grid locked. “Margarite, damn you, let go of my ankle.”
“No, I ken you love me. You just want me to fight for our love. This is a test.”
“Woman, this is not a test. I dinnae want to marry you!” he practically roared. He was wheezing. Kieran finally had his ankle loose. He got to his feet and tried to scramble away from her clutches. His leine was torn, his plaid askew, and his sheathed sword was dangling down the side of his calf.
