Chapter 12

12

I t was long after sundown. Finlay skulked near the outskirts of the village, pulling his hood over his face to hide his appearance. Murdoch's men had been everywhere. He had found it impossible to traverse the village even with the crowd, fearing that he would find a dagger in his back as soon as they caught sight of him. He knew he was late, and so he knew he was going to have to make it up to Anne. When darkness became his ally, he made his way to the tavern and pushed the door open, entering to find a rowdy crowd. The music filled the tavern and the smell of ale thickened the air. Finlay cast his gaze around, hoping to find Anne waiting for him.

She was there, but she wasn't waiting for him at all. Instead, she was standing beside some old fool, tilting her head back and laughing as though he was the most interesting man in the world. Finlay's lip curled and a snarl rippled out. His body bristled with jealousy, a jealousy that he had no right at all to feel. He had told her plainly that he did not and could not offer her marriage. Was it such a surprise that a beautiful and eligible woman like her sought the things he denied her with another man? It may not have been a surprise, but it still stung like a scorpion's tail. His nostrils flared and he grit his teeth together, hating the sight of her with another man.

She deserved a husband of course. She deserved all the riches of marriage and love, but this old fool wasn't good for her. Surely she must have seen that! He was lecherous and gnarled, like some old tree that should have been uprooted a long time ago. Yes, he was rich. His fine clothes displayed that truth, but what were riches compared to other things? Things like the kiss they had shared…

He shook the thought from his mind. No, he needed her to make things right. That was all. This other man was interfering with his plans and Finlay couldn't have that at all. He wiped the snarl from his face and replaced it with a placid smile, while he approached her calmly. He clasped his hands behind his back, however, in an effort to hide his fists, for the tension curled his hands into tight balls.

"Excuse me," he nodded, interrupting their conversation and turning straight to Anne. "I'm sorry for being late," he bowed his head. The other man's eye twitched and he took great affront at being interrupted.

"My dear, dae ye know this man?" he asked.

"Oh, Colm, dinnae worry, he's just a friend who said he would meet me for dinner," Anne said. She barely turned to look at Finlay and spoke with such a carefree attitude that he wondered if he mattered to her at all. His lips parted at the mention of the word ‘friend'. It stabbed at his heart, and he wondered if he should be petty and ask her if she kissed all her friends like she kissed him, but he thought disparaging her reputation would not do him any good.

"Well, ye should know better than tae keep people waiting, especially ones who are sae lovely. I can assure ye, my dear, that I would never keep ye waiting. Ye would be my highest priority," Colm said, preening like a peacock.

"That is very good tae know," Anne said. She was actually encouraging him. Of all the cheek! Finlay frowned. It was one thing to pursue other men, but right in front of his face like this? Finlay was not going to let her get away with this.

"I was unfortunately taken away on errands, but I am here now and I'm sure, Colm, that ye would nae want tae intrude on another man's appointment, but if Anne daes wish tae spend a wee bit more time with ye, then I would be happy tae withdraw. I just need tae speak with her alone for a moment," Finlay turned his attention from Colm to Anne as he spoke, practically hissing the words through his teeth. He widened his eyes, trying to make it clear to Anne that he was not going to leave this matter here, and he certainly was not going to allow her to stay with Colm.

Colm was about to speak, but Anne beat him to it. "I'm sure this will only be quick. I think Finlay has told me all the important things already," she said, and whirled her body around, heading towards the staircase where they could have a little privacy. She walked up the steps to the upper level. The music receded into the background. Finlay left Colm in a daze as he marched after her, a deep, determined furrow resting on his brow. He wanted to make sure Anne knew exactly where he stood. Just because he couldn't offer her marriage didn't mean that he wanted nothing with her! He had the words ready on his tongue and was eager to fire them like arrows, but as he ascended the stairs, she rounded on him and jabbed a finger in the air as she spoke.

"Dae ye think ye hae the right tae forget about the promise ye made me and then chastise me for spending time with a man who was kind enough tae keep me company?" she asked in harsh, high-pitched words. Fury was etched upon her face and she had a wild look about her. The unbridled nature of it gave him pause and startled him. "Ye hae some nerve, Mister Ross, acting jealous after ye tell me that ye cannae offer me marriage, after ye leave me waiting in that tavern for hours," her tongue lashed through the air.

Finlay bristled at the mocking way she used his title, his fake title. He did not like her tone, for it cut too close to the truth.

"I am nae jealous of him. He is naething but a preening fool who hae tae high an opinion of himself. I thought ye would hae better taste than that," he said spitefully.

Anne lifted her head and turned it away slightly, closing her eyes to feign indifference. She crossed her arms as well and tilted her hips. "He is actually a fascinating man who hae accomplished many things, and more importantly, he was there while ye were nae."

"Is that what this is about? I already told ye that I'm sorry for being late. I hae matters tae attend tae," he said again, well aware that it was a weak excuse, but he could hardly tell her the truth.

"Oh aye, matters , well, it seems clear what matters tae ye. I would hope that I would rank higher on that list after this afternoon," she said, and then he realized that she wasn't pushing him away because she wasn't interested. In fact, it was quite the opposite. She was punishing him because she wanted him and she was dismayed that the evening had been lost. Well, perhaps not all of it had been lost.

He arched an eyebrow and mirrored her posture. "Sae ye dinnae think about sneaking off tae the forest with him then?"

Anne continued to appear snooty. "We would nae need the forest. He hae a room in the tavern."

"As dae ye," Finlay said, leveling his gaze towards her.

She opened her eyes wider and pressed her lips together. "I am nae gaeing tae hae a relationship with ye purely on yer terms, Finlay. I am nae gaeing tae be conditioned by yer rules alone, and I am nae gaeing tae sit around and wait for ye. It is nae fair," she said. Despite her brash appraisal of the situation he could sense the genuine hurt in her voice and felt guilty. The sensible part of his mind told him that she was right, and to be fair to her, he should walk away and allow her to find happiness with a man who could give her what she deserved. However, there was another part of him that was attracted to her fiery eyes and her red lips, a part of him that knew he would always regret walking away from her.

So he didn't walk away.

He stepped towards her.

Her eyelids twitched and her arms relaxed by her side.

"I dinnae expect ye tae sit around and wait for me," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "In fact, I'm quite certain that I'll end up haeing tae chase ye all around this clan, or even all around the Highlands, and I'll be quite willing tae dae sae."

He was standing directly before her and breathing in her scent. The air was alive and pulsing with desire, and he found himself drowning in her eyes. Her chest heaved, her neck trembling with her quickened pulse.

"All this from a man who turned away from me earlier. Are ye still determined tae protect my future?" the words dropped from her ruby lips. The naked desire was plain in her eyes and after seeing her with another man, Finlay knew he wasn't going to be able to turn away from her twice. Once had been hard enough, and if he did so again he knew she would never give him another chance.

"I'm determined tae dae something," he said, and then his words were suffocated by her breath as he wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her into him. A soft moan escaped her lips as she melted against him and they rekindled the embrace that had rocked their souls earlier. The anger was burned away, replaced by hot tension as he slammed her against the wall. He clasped one of her hands. Their fingers twined together and she squeezed his hand tightly as she shuddered with pleasure. They broke apart for a moment to catch their breath and take stock of the moment. He wanted to give her one more chance to turn away, but instead, she kissed him again, sealing their fates as they tumbled into an inferno of their own making.

They crashed through the door of her bedroom and it slammed shut behind them. The bed creaked as they fell upon it, and then his hands were all over her, eager to free her body from the prison of that dress. He kissed her neck and collarbone as he peeled it away, and then he gazed upon the heaven of her body. The curves were voluptuous and feminine. The pale skin was dusted with light freckles. He was filled with desire as he drank her in. She giggled sheepishly, looking fey as she drew her limbs around her, seeking to shield herself. But then he touched her, and she opened like a blooming flower, with dewy moisture waiting within.

Her kisses were soft, and her moans softer. Their breaths were heavy as her hands pulled at his clothes. She groaned as she ran her hands over his taut muscles, exploring every inch of him. They whispered into each other's ears as they rolled about the bed. Everything about her was perfect. His body was hard with arousal. The blood rushed like thunder and a storm cracked within his skull. He dragged his tongue down her body, along the valley of her breasts, following the rising curves that brought him such sweet delight. When his tongue flicked against her hard, pink nipples, she shuddered and he wanted her to experience this again and again. His hands ran down her flesh and he found other sweet places to touch, places that made her squirm and squeal.

By the way she reacted, it was clear that she was experiencing this for the first time, as she should be for such a noble and virtuous girl. There was a moment when he wondered if he should pull back, but he was too far gone and then she pulled him closer, needing to be near him. He was intoxicated by her skin and her sweet breath, by the playful moans that cascaded through the air. He loved the taste of her thighs and the smoothness of her stomach. She was an entire world to be explored and he wanted to uncover every secret. He wanted to hear every whisper.

His lips trailed down her body, while her hands reached around, seeking his arousal, but it was always just out of reach because he was so preoccupied with her. His artful fingers delved into her dewy depths. Long breaths shuddered out of her as he beckoned the pleasure forth, curling his fingers to elicit as much sweetness as he could. Her body went tense and then it relaxed, pulsing in this rhythm over and over again. Her breaths deepened and her skin glowed, while her forehead glistened with sweat. Again and again, he made her writhe. A dreamy look came upon her face as she gave him everything, as she became this beautiful thing of exquisite delight.

And then she had him, pulling him up so that he lay flat against her. His broad chest pressed against her breasts. Their heartbeats thundered against each other, and their bodies throbbed with heat. He pressed against her, hard and ardent, barely able to keep his thoughts straight. He was lost in the moment. Everything else was a blur, and the rest of the world could have been consumed by fire for all he cared. There was nothing but her, Anne, the sweetest music, the joyous melody, the most intoxicating temptation. She was an obsession. She was lust. She was love.

His body roared as he trickled over her like a river, every muscle twitching with intent. He buried himself in the crook of her neck and was awash with her scent. Her hair was matted to her scalp, clinging to the hot sweat that made their bodies sizzle. He reached down and pulled her leg up, his fingers squeezing her flesh, while he plunged deeper and deeper into her. There was a flare of pain in her moans, but she was soon overwhelmed with pleasure. Her body arched like a bow as he fell into her, losing himself deeper and deeper into this well of passion. His vision was blurred and he was a creature of his senses now, tasting her, touching her, loving her. Every thrust took him closer and closer to the ultimate pleasure and his body was moving to the melody of her heart. The rhythm flowed like a crashing tide, bringing him closer and closer to a sweet climax, making him gasp and writhe, clutching onto her because he knew if he let go he would spiral down into an abyss and he wasn't ready to go yet, he wasn't ready to go at all…