When Highland Lightning Strikes by Willa Blair Read Free Book Online Page A

say?”
    “I ken this isna a proper topic for a man and woman, newly met.” She pulled her hands from beneath his and glanced around nervously. “Alone. But…”
    “Whatever it is, tell me.”
    “He plans to marry ye into another clan, to make an alliance in his stead. To get rid of ye…and keep me for himself.” Shona huffed out a breath, as though saying the words rid them of their import.
    “He does, does he?” Angus didn’t know whether to be angry or amused. Though he’d been passed over for the chieftainship, his pedigree still had such value—when it served Colin’s purposes—he could act in the laird’s stead. “Did he mention which clan he had in mind?”
    Shona’s brow furrowed. “I’m no’ certain. He and Uncle Seamus mentioned several, but the laird did seem most taken with MacDonald.”
    Angus frowned. The MacDonald clan had the advantage, he assumed from Colin’s point of view, of being located about as far from MacAnalen as one could go in the western isles. But Ruari MacDonald had threatened to slit Angus from gizzard to guts and throw him over the side of the first boat he could take into deep water, if he ever came back there. During a visit he and Gregor made with their father several years ago, Ruari caught Angus kissing his sister, Elizabeth. Angus, being too much a gentleman, hadn’t revealed Elizabeth kissed him first and was fumbling with his belt when Ruari found them in the barn. What was a healthy lad to do when a lass offered such enticement? But Ruari saw the way her chemise had slipped off one shoulder, and that was more than enough motivation for him to threaten Angus, and for his father to order the MacAnalens off his land. At least the MacAnalen had talked them out of spitting Angus on a sword—or marrying the lass on the spot, even though she was promised to a Sutherland.
    Angus folded his arms over his chest. “It sounds as though he’s given this some thought.”
    “Aye.” Shona unclenched her hands and laid one on his forearm. “I dinna wish to marry Colin. And if he marries ye to someone else, if he forces ye out of the clan…” Her voice trailed off. “Ye are the only man here I trust.” She lifted her gaze to his.
    He didn’t see any tears glimmering in her eyes, but he suspected they weren’t far away. He lost himself in their brown depths. Heat flared and grew into…more, and for a moment, Angus was tempted to take her in his arms and ravish her mouth, to distract her from her fears. But anyone could have seen them leave the village together.
    He contented himself with lifting a hand to her cheek, enjoying her skin’s warmth as she leaned her face into his palm. She trusted him? He liked that, though he wasn’t sure why she would. She was wise, however, not to trust her uncle. Seamus would ignore a tryst if it did not suit his plans. Hell, her uncle would ignore her virgin’s blood on her dress if it suited him. Not that she was in any danger of being ruined. Not by him. Angus would never harm Shona.
    Still, Angus was fairly certain no one would stumble across them this far from the village…and he was tired of resisting the temptation she offered. He couldn’t see the harm in a kiss. He’d tried to kiss her when he was well into his cups and she’d pushed him away. Would she allow it now, when the only thing intoxicating him was her?
    He plucked a primrose and tucked it between her fingers, then told her, “I’m not sure ye should trust me.” He smiled as he leaned toward her, holding her gaze and giving her a fair chance to deny him. This time, she did not push him away. Perhaps because there was no convenient puddle of ale behind him? But he lost that thought when his lips brushed hers.
    She accepted his feather-light touch without flinching. Instead, she leaned into his kiss, pressed her lips firmly to his, and lifted a hand to his chest.
    Angus’s blood roared into a blaze, skipping past the first tiny flame to become a full