The Seduced by Donna Grant Read Free Book Online Page A

sent a missive to The Sinclair two days ago,” Alistair said into the quiet, as if reading Innes’s thoughts. “He was willing to meet, but now that Donald has attacked, I doona know where we stand.”
    She tried to swallow, but her mouth was too dry. “Give him Donald. Let the Sinclairs exact their justice.”
    “I’m sure they will want that, but Donald is family. I’ll punish him myself.”
    Daman shook his head and looked pointedly at Innes.
    She shivered, remembering the fury she’d witnessed in Donald’s gaze before Daman intervened. Donald would’ve killed her.
    “Hmm,” Alistair said. “Good point, Daman. But Donald willna be leaving the dungeon so he can no’ hurt Innes.” Alistair walked to the round table near the hearth and motioned Daman over. “I’ve made a map of our land, as well as where we border with the Sinclairs and the Blairs.”
    Innes watched as Daman strode to the table and braced his hands on the wood as he let his gaze wander the map. Occasionally, he would point to something. Alistair would then explain the area in detail.
    While the men studied the map, Innes kept thinking of marriage. She touched her lips, her stomach fluttering as he recalled how Daman had turned and trapped her between him and the wall.
    Chills raced along her skin as she remembered the feel of his lips – firm and eager – and the way he’d held her.
    As if there were no tomorrow.
    In some ways, there wasn’t. Not for them.
    Innes waited until both men were too engrossed in the map and their planning – Alistair talking and Daman either nodding or shaking his head – to notice her before she got up and quietly exited the chamber.
    She made her way back downstairs to the kitchen. Innes pushed up her sleeves and began helping a few others clean up from the meal. More and more people left the clan every day. Pretty soon, it would only be her and Alistair.
    She stopped washing dishes as it hit her. No, she wouldn’t be with Alistair, she would be with her new husband far away from here. Her marriage would foster peace between the Sinclairs and MacKays. That also meant that Alistair would have the backing of the Sinclairs.
    It would be enough to keep the Blairs away. The Sinclair clan was the strongest around. No one went against them. The support of the Sinclair clan would allow Alistair to find himself a wife and procure another ally. Hopefully their people would return by then.
    It was the only way to survive.
    Why then did it feel as if she were doing the wrong thing? Why did it feel as if her place was to remain right where she was?
    Innes was so conflicted. She wanted to help save her clan, but she also wanted Daman. The way he looked at her, it was as if he knew her. Which was silly, since they’d just met. She had been visiting him every day for years, but he didn’t know that.
    Did he?
    Innes finished the washing and dried her hands. She walked from the kitchen as Daman was coming out of the solar, his head swiveling as if he were looking for something.
    As soon as he spotted her, he walked to her and took her hand. Excitement coursed through her when he laced his fingers with hers. She lifted her skirts with her free hand and followed him up the stairs all the way to the battlements. She sucked in a breath when the cold air hit her.
    Daman turned to face her as he pulled her against him. His heat enveloped her, wrapping them in a cocoon of warmth. He gently touched her face with first one hand, then the other. One hand slid into her hair and around to the back of her head. His gaze was intense, the desire palpable.
    There were no words needed between them. The passion was too great, the need too forceful.
    She rested her hands on his chest and wished that there were no clothes between them. She ached to be pressed skin against skin. Everything she thought, everything she was centered upon Daman.
    His eyes lowered to her mouth a heartbeat before he kissed her.
    Innes wrapped her arms around his