“Did ye want me to join ye?” heasked, nipping her ear and then brushing kisses down her neck to hercollarbone. She shivered in his arms.
“I wish I’d wanted it a little lessthan I did,” she admitted, her voice full of misery.
He lifted his head from where hehad been kissing her collarbone and caught her eye. “I like verra much that yelong for me to join ye in bed.”
“Do you?” The suddenly doubtfullook on her face made him ache to reassure her.
“I do. I wanted to come directly toye last night and bury myself between yer welcoming thighs, but Cameron wouldnae quit talking.”
“And you could not refuse yourbrother’s request,” she said in a soft voice.
“I could nae. Are ye angry?”
“Angry? No. I’m happy. I wish,well… ’Tis nothing.”
“What do ye wish? Tell me what yedesire and I’ll give it to ye.” At this moment, he wasn’t sure he could refuseher anything.
“I wish I had family that loved methe way you clearly love your brothers. The only person who loves me is Angus,and while I do think of him as family, it would have been nice if my fatherloved me, or if…” Her words trailed off into awkward silence, but she didn’tneed to finish her sentence. He knew what she’d been about to say. She wantedhis love. She already had more of him than she understood, and the amount she’dmanaged to claim already worried him. If he were to lose her…or to forgetCatriona because of the wild emotions Marion sparked in him…
“It’s a foolish girl’s dream,” sheblurted.
“Marion,” he started, not even surewhat to say. “I— Ye mean a great deal to me.”
She looked as if he’d hit her. Hecursed himself. He wanted to give her something she wanted, something that inher mind meant she was important to him. “I’m going to make certain yerbedchambers are readied today.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, lookingeven more dejected than she had seconds ago.
He frowned. “Do ye nae want that?”
“I didn’t,” she said, surprisinghim, “but I’m thinking now that it is possibly best.”
“Why are ye thinking it’s bestnow?” he demanded, losing his temper. The woman was making him crazy.
“You took my love from me like athief in the night!” Accusation barbed her words. “From this point on, I refuseto give you any more.”
“Love kinnae be stolen, woman.”
Her eyes popped open wide, and herjaw clenched. “It can! You took mine without my knowing it, but my eyes arewide now,” she said, motioning wildly in the air. “From now on, I’m going toguard my heart from you. You won’t give me yours, so I refuse to give you moreof mine.”
“Laird,” came a deep voice fromoutside of the cave. “Yer brother is wondering if ye’ll be returning or if wecan cease the training now.”
“I’m coming,” Iain roared, withouttaking his gaze from his wife. “I must go.”
“Go, then!” She waved a hand athim.
He’d never been dismissed by anyoneother than his father. He crossed his arms and stared, unblinking, at her. “Yeleave,” he ordered, regretting the words as he said them. A wounded lookflickered in her eyes. “Marion,” he reached for her as she scuttled away fromhim.
“I’ll be happy to leave!” shegrowled and stomped out of the cave.
In one stride, he caught her by theelbow and swung her around. “Marion,” he whispered hoarsely while wrapping hisarms around her. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I’m hurting ye. I dunnae want to.”
“I know you don’t mean to hurt me,”she replied as she pushed against him for space he refused to give her.Finally, she stopped trying when he simply tightened his hold. Her stormy gazelocked with his. “I’m sorry for my temper.”
He noted she did not take back thewords about guarding her heart from him, yet he released her. When she did nottake a step back, he laced his fingers with hers. Now that he had her love, hewanted more, not less. He was in no position to ask it, though.
“Was there a reason ye sought meout down here?” he asked.
“Yes. I wanted your consent tochange some things in the kitchen. I, er, saw that the bread was quite stale atsupper. I think I can be of help to the women who do the cooking.”
