Donna Grant - Untamed Highlander

“I think she is going to give Galen a run for his money on the food around here,” Lucan said with a laugh before they entered the castle.

Hayden blew out a breath as his mind struggled to process all that he’d heard. Just what had Isla made the brothers promise? He feared he already knew what it was, and he’d be damned if he let anyone take her head.

It seemed an eternity before he saw the flicker of light from her window. Hayden didn’t hesitate to unleash his god and vault onto the side of the castle. He climbed his way up to the tower and stood in her window.

He paused, content to watch her without her notice. She looked miserable and exhausted. She looked lonely.

Hayden no longer concerned himself with the feelings that always arose when he saw Isla or thought of her. There was nothing he could do to stop them. He could try to act against them, but stopping them had proved futile.

She turned then and spotted him. “I’m not in the mood, Hayden. Please go away.”

He ignored her and jumped through the window. He landed softly. “What did you ask of the MacLeods?”

Isla rolled her eyes and began to unbraid her hair. “That’s none of your concern. Please leave.”

“Not until you tell me what I want to know.”

“You’ll be waiting a long time then.”

Irritation filled him. He’d asked a simple question. Why couldn’t she answer it? “You want them to kill you, don’t you?”

She lifted a shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. “What difference does it make?”

“It makes a difference.”

Her gaze jerked to his, and she narrowed her eyes. “Is that so? It seems that I remember quite plainly how you said you couldn’t stand to be near me. In front of everyone in the hall. What I do with my life is no concern of yours.”

“Just tell me. Please.” He hated to beg, but the need to know exactly what she had asked of the MacLeods drove him.

“Oh,” she stormed and threw up her hands. “Fine, Hayden. Aye, I did make the MacLeods vow to take my head.”

“Why?”

“Would you rather be the one to kill me? I’m sure they won’t mind if you step in for them. You’ll know when Deirdre has control of me, so don’t hesitate to do your duty.”

“Stop!” he bellowed. He stared at her, his jaw clenched tight as he fought the fury inside him, fury at her for turning to the MacLeods. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it. Now tell me why, Isla.”

She blew out a breath and glared at him. “Because I don’t want to live like this anymore. When Deirdre does find me, my death needs to be quick before she can cause me to hurt anyone else.”

“You really want this?”

“Do I want to die? Nay, but neither do I want to live in constant fear of hurting the people who I call friends.”

That made Hayden remember Ian and what brought him to her to begin with. The thought that she now shared her bed with Ian soured his stomach. “I suppose that includes Ian.”

“It does,” she answered without hesitation.

“It didn’t take you long to replace me in your bed, did it?”

Her ice-blue eyes went wide with shock and then anger. She took two steps and slapped him hard across the face.

Hayden hadn’t predicted that. His cheek stung, and he knew if he looked in a mirror there would be an imprint of her hand. He jerked his head around to give her a piece of his mind when she raised her hand to hit him again.

He captured it before she could connect it to his face a second time. To his surprise she raised the other, which he easily caught. “Not a good idea, Isla,” he ground out as he pushed her back against the wall until she was trapped.

“You’re an arse, Hayden.”

“Maybe, but at least I give my lovers a day before moving someone else into my bed.”

“You know nothing. Nothing. You speculate and assume.”

“I know what I see.”

Her chest rose and fell with each heavy breath, anger coming off her in waves. Her beautiful ice-blue eyes were bitter and hard as she glared daggers at him.

He realized then just how close to her he was. He could feel her heat, her softness, and the passion coiled tightly within her.

And it was his undoing.

He tried to look anywhere but her eyes. It was only her fury that kept him from kissing her. He’d be damned if he’d make that mistake again and get caught up in her body, forgetting everyone and everything.

Isla couldn’t believe Hayden would actually think Ian was her lover. She had never dared to slap anyone before. As soon as her hand had connected with his face, the need to hit him again had been too powerful to resist.

It had released something inside her, released the anger that had built.

But Hayden had been too quick. He’d ensnared both her wrists and trapped her against the wall. The cool stone to her back, and his warm body at her front.

It took less than a heartbeat for her indignation to turn to searing desire. She didn’t want to feel anything for Hayden, especially after he had embarrassed her so, but her body refused to listen.

Hayden’s face was breaths from hers. She stared into his fathomless black depths and knew she was his, knew resisting would only cause herself more heartache. There was no getting away, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to.

Aye, he had hurt her. Terribly. But what he made her feel, how he made her come alive whenever he was around, was beautiful and like a dream come true.

It was something Isla never thought to experience for herself, yet here it was, right in front of her. Could she — should she — walk away?

Hayden seemed to understand at that moment that something had changed. His gaze searched her face, and he leaned down as if to kiss her when suddenly he began to pull back.

Isla wanted Hayden, wanted all the distrust and anger that came with him. Without a second thought she rose up on her toes and placed her lips on his.

He jerked and stood motionless. Isla kissed him again, and this time Hayden came out of his stupor. His mouth greedily devoured hers in a kiss that left her breathless and aching for more.

His lips were firm yet gentle, demanding yet seeking. His tongue swept into her mouth and stole her breath — and her soul. His kiss was urgent, passion-filled, and seductive.

It never entered her mind not to give all of herself in return. She opened her body, opened her heart and dove into the seductive passion she knew awaited her in Hayden’s arms.

She wanted her arms around his neck, to feel the slide of his silken hair through her fingers, but he still held her wrists. Imprisoned, trapped by his solid body.

The feel of his hot, hard shaft against her stomach sent flutters of excitement through her. Her blood turned to fire and heat settled between her legs, throbbing and insistent.

His hands flattened against her palms for a moment before he threaded his fingers with hers. Connecting them, uniting them on the basest of levels.

Yet Isla couldn’t help but feel as if an invisible thread wove them together, binding them in ways only they would be able to detect.

Hayden moaned deep in his throat and leaned his body against hers. She wanted to wrap her hands around his arousal again, to feel the steely strength of his cock as she brought him pleasure. She wanted to take him into her mouth until he came, until he shouted her name.

His hands caressed down her arms to her sides then to her back where he crushed her to his chest, locking her tightly against him, as he turned them away from the wall. He bent her over his arm as his mouth traced a hot, wet trail from her jaw down her neck.

One moment they were standing, and the next Isla was on her back on the bed. She stared up at Hayden as he looked down at her. His black eyes watched her with a measure of lust and wonder. Unable to stop herself, Isla ran a thumb over his wide lips.