Highland Warrior by Connie Mason Read Free Book Online Page A

never trust a MacKenna,” Gillian maintained. In fact, she intended to jump out of bed as soon as Gizela left and meet the MacKenna on her feet, not lying helplessly on her back.
    “I will leave you now, lass,” Gizela said as she slipped through the door.
    Gillian leaped from bed and fumbled about for her clothes.
    “Are you going somewhere?” Gillian’s head snapped around toward the voice. She was surprised to see her husband’s leman standing in the door opening.
    “What do you want?”
    “Do you know who I am?”
    Aye, you are the MacKenna’s leman.”
    Seana appeared startled. “Did Ross tell you about me?”
    “He did, and I wish you joy of him.”
    “What is that supposed to mean?”
    “It means I want naught to do with your lover. You may have him with my blessing.”
    Seana preened. “You doona know what you are missing. Ross is an extraordinary lover. I have had none better. How many lovers have you had, Gillian MacKay? Is Angus Sinclair your lover?”
    “If not for MacKenna, I would have wed Angus.”
    Seana glared at Gillian. “If not for you, Ross MacKenna would be my husband. Doona think I am leaving Ravenscraig because you have married the laird. Think you I will be replaced in Ross’s affection by a woman not fit to lick his boots? Heed me well, Gillian MacKay: Ross is mine. ’Tis my comfort he will seek at the end of the day. Interfere with me and what belongs to me, and you will suffer the consequences.”
    Gillian’s first inclination had been to be lenient toward Seana, but after hearing her out, Gillian changed her mind. Obviously the woman was a troublemaker. MacKenna’s leman had made it perfectly clear that she would resort to violence to get what she wanted. Gillian was just perverse enough to want to thwart Seana’s plans.
    A commotion on the staircase alerted the women to the bridegroom’s imminent arrival. Cursing beneath her breath, Seana made a hasty exit as Gillian, too flustered to face all those men in only her shift, dove into bed and pulled the sheet up to her neck. Scant seconds later, the door burst open.
    The sight of the MacKenna being carried on the shoulders of his kinsmen almost undid her. She wanted to howl with laughter, but was too wary of what came next to succumb to the whim.
    “Put me down, lads.” Ross laughed. “I doona want to look foolish before my bride.”
    “You can carry him back out, for all I care,” Gillian muttered.
    Ross sent her a sharp look but said naught as he was set upon his feet and quickly divested of his clothing. Gillian gasped and looked away, but not quickly enough. She saw more than she wanted to see. His manhood, even at rest, was impressive. Gillian could not deny that everything about Ross MacKenna was magnificent.
    If he wasn’t the enemy, she might be more amenable to the marriage. But how could she welcome into her bed a man she had been taught to hate? The man whose clan had killed her brothers?
    “In you go, lad,” Gordo said as he lifted a corner of the bedcovers.
    A round of laughter ensued as Ross slid into bed. Shocked when she realized a roomful of men were leering at her, Gillian scooted as far away from the huge, nude body as she could get. From the corner of her eye she noted that it wasn’t just Ross’s kinsmen who had gathered in the bedchamber. Among the MacKennas were a handful of MacKays, including her father and brothers.
    Horrified, Gillian wondered if everyone intended to stay and watch Ross claim her. She knew of the barbaric custom and raged against it.
    “Get out! All of you,” she demanded.
    “You heard the lass,” Tearlach said as he shooed everyone from the chamber. “A wedding night is a time for privacy.” Once the room was cleared, he retreated through the door and closed it behind him.
    “You took the words out of my mouth,” Ross said once they were alone. “No one needs to know what goes on in our private chambers.”
    Gillian sent him a speculative look. “Do you mean