Highland Seer by Willa Blair Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Willa Blair
Micheil isna able, as ye saw for yerself today. I need yer help.”
“I have responsibilities to the Lathan.”
“I ken ye do. But the Lathans have fighting men aplenty. Ye’ve trained them well. Jamie has told me so.”
Donal’s habitual frown turned positively fierce and his eyes narrowed at that statement. Did this man own any other expressions?
“Have ye spoken to Jamie about this, then?”
“Nay, I havena. I wanted to give ye a chance to think on it. To sound ye out before others became involved.”
“Why me? Bram is skilled, as are all the Lathans here.”
“Ye’re the best, Donal. And ye’ve trained countless lads...”
“Ye make me sound like an auld man.”
“Nay.” Ellie took a breath, then a step toward him. And another. She had to convince him. “Ye have the experience my clan needs. But ye’re far from old.” When she reached him, she rested her fingers on his arm to add emphasis to her words. His eyes widened a fraction. She heard his breath hitch. When the heat of his skin started burning her from her fingertips to her toes, she clenched her fingers and drew them back. Her cheeks heated as she clasped her hands together.
He remained still, watching her through slitted eyes as his chest rose and fell with his breath. He’d allowed her touch, though it was improper. She knew he could have removed her hand and thrown her bodily from his chamber with no effort at all. That he should have. The muscle jumping in his jaw gave the only indication her touch still affected him.
She swallowed and licked her lips. “Ye are the man I need, Donal.”
He didn’t flinch, but his eyes narrowed again.
“Do ye, now? Has yer Sight shown ye this?” Quick as a viper, he uncrossed his arms and grabbed hers, lifting her onto her toes. His lips waited a whisper away from her mouth, taunting her. “Are ye certain that’s all ye need me for, Ellie? Is that why ye came to my chamber?”
Startled, she shoved against his chest. She had as much success as pushing against a fire-warmed granite wall. He didn’t resist, didn’t shake her, merely stood, as if waiting for her to decide what she would do. As if he held all his power leashed, under tight control. His breath on her lips fanned the flames in Ellie’s face. Her heart thudded as his chest muscles flexed beneath her fingers.
“Nay. Aye.” She pushed again with one fist, torn between making him release her and making him listen. “Nay!”
He let go of her suddenly. Ellie nearly fell as she lost the support of his grip. He steadied her, then released her again and moved toward the door.
“I’m sorry, lass. I shouldna done that.” He spread his fingers, then clenched them into a fist. “Yer touch...ye make me forget my place.”
Ellie shook with the effort it took to keep from crying out. His place? Nay! Couldn’t he see she was more than a laird? A woman? Why did he think he must also be a laird to be suitable for her? All she had to do was look at the scars on his arms, shoulders, and chest. They were badges of honor, valor, and survival. Exactly the lessons her lads needed to learn. Did the bloody treaty mean so much to him that he would refuse her even now? What a fool she was to forget that damned Lathan treaty, even for a moment. Donal graced her keep only because of it.
She lowered her head, but that brought his lower half into view and made her blush hotter, thinking of what waited beneath his trews. She had little experience enticing a man. A few weeks with her husband were poor preparation if she meant to wage a battle for this man, but battle she must. If she failed to convince him to see her as a woman, then she must appeal to his sense of duty, though that would be a poor reflection of what she’d seen in her dream. The man had been reaching for her. The expression on his face, though dimly seen, had betrayed his longing. “Dinna be sorry, Donal,” she whispered, then looked up and captured his gaze. “Truly, I’m no’
“I have responsibilities to the Lathan.”
“I ken ye do. But the Lathans have fighting men aplenty. Ye’ve trained them well. Jamie has told me so.”
Donal’s habitual frown turned positively fierce and his eyes narrowed at that statement. Did this man own any other expressions?
“Have ye spoken to Jamie about this, then?”
“Nay, I havena. I wanted to give ye a chance to think on it. To sound ye out before others became involved.”
“Why me? Bram is skilled, as are all the Lathans here.”
“Ye’re the best, Donal. And ye’ve trained countless lads...”
“Ye make me sound like an auld man.”
“Nay.” Ellie took a breath, then a step toward him. And another. She had to convince him. “Ye have the experience my clan needs. But ye’re far from old.” When she reached him, she rested her fingers on his arm to add emphasis to her words. His eyes widened a fraction. She heard his breath hitch. When the heat of his skin started burning her from her fingertips to her toes, she clenched her fingers and drew them back. Her cheeks heated as she clasped her hands together.
He remained still, watching her through slitted eyes as his chest rose and fell with his breath. He’d allowed her touch, though it was improper. She knew he could have removed her hand and thrown her bodily from his chamber with no effort at all. That he should have. The muscle jumping in his jaw gave the only indication her touch still affected him.
She swallowed and licked her lips. “Ye are the man I need, Donal.”
He didn’t flinch, but his eyes narrowed again.
“Do ye, now? Has yer Sight shown ye this?” Quick as a viper, he uncrossed his arms and grabbed hers, lifting her onto her toes. His lips waited a whisper away from her mouth, taunting her. “Are ye certain that’s all ye need me for, Ellie? Is that why ye came to my chamber?”
Startled, she shoved against his chest. She had as much success as pushing against a fire-warmed granite wall. He didn’t resist, didn’t shake her, merely stood, as if waiting for her to decide what she would do. As if he held all his power leashed, under tight control. His breath on her lips fanned the flames in Ellie’s face. Her heart thudded as his chest muscles flexed beneath her fingers.
“Nay. Aye.” She pushed again with one fist, torn between making him release her and making him listen. “Nay!”
He let go of her suddenly. Ellie nearly fell as she lost the support of his grip. He steadied her, then released her again and moved toward the door.
“I’m sorry, lass. I shouldna done that.” He spread his fingers, then clenched them into a fist. “Yer touch...ye make me forget my place.”
Ellie shook with the effort it took to keep from crying out. His place? Nay! Couldn’t he see she was more than a laird? A woman? Why did he think he must also be a laird to be suitable for her? All she had to do was look at the scars on his arms, shoulders, and chest. They were badges of honor, valor, and survival. Exactly the lessons her lads needed to learn. Did the bloody treaty mean so much to him that he would refuse her even now? What a fool she was to forget that damned Lathan treaty, even for a moment. Donal graced her keep only because of it.
She lowered her head, but that brought his lower half into view and made her blush hotter, thinking of what waited beneath his trews. She had little experience enticing a man. A few weeks with her husband were poor preparation if she meant to wage a battle for this man, but battle she must. If she failed to convince him to see her as a woman, then she must appeal to his sense of duty, though that would be a poor reflection of what she’d seen in her dream. The man had been reaching for her. The expression on his face, though dimly seen, had betrayed his longing. “Dinna be sorry, Donal,” she whispered, then looked up and captured his gaze. “Truly, I’m no’