“I wish to speak to the lady alone, Rodrick. Please stand watch from outside.”
The laird was being overly cordial, and even with her limited experience of them, Willow could tell that Keegan was beyondirritated with his man-at-arms. Rodick had no choice but to obey, and he rolled his lips between his teeth to hide his smile.
“Of course, me laird. Anything ye wish.”
Keegan’s carefully constructed exterior failed, and he glared at the man. “That’s enough, Rodrick. Get out.”
The man-at-arms was nearly shoved from the room, and Willow stood a few paces inside the study, waiting for Keegan to unleash his wrath upon her.
“Ye will speak to me, lass, regardless of the fact that yer interpreter stands outside.”
Willow glared, looking at the door. The bastard had removed her means of communication with him, and that would be his greater frustration. Willow would not speak directly with Keegan if it were the last thing she did.
“What forces should I expect from yer brother come the exchange?” He raised his brows at her, waiting, but she held fast. “Will he be amenable to the exchange at all?”
She didn’t say so much as a single word nor nod her head for the laird. Keegan stormed across the floor until they were standing nearly nose-to-nose. Willow held her spine straight, refusing to be made smaller for the man’s dominating presence.
“Enough of yer games, lass. Answer me questions.”
He was a ball of fury, and Willow didn’t flinch. As she looked at him, she raised her brows, tilting her head ever so slightly. It was a silent communication of “Or what, me laird?” What would he do, after all, since he had given his word that she was not to be harmed?
Would he go against his own word?
Her mind was spinning; this dangerous game between them ignited a deep well of flames within her belly. She thought of his lips again, how they’d crashed onto hers when they’d argued previously. Would he do so again? Did she want him to?
Perilous actions were apparently in her blood today because Amelia could not stop herself from challenging the laird further.
“I think ye’ll find that yer tactics of gettin' me to talk are a bit lackin'.” Her eyes darted to his waistline in a daring move that even she could hardly believe she was guilty of.
Keegan’s glare turned predatory, his eyes sweeping over every inch of her and appraising it like a slab of meat. He cocked his head as he towered over her, walking her backward a few steps until the backs of her legs met his desk.
“I will do whatever is necessary to get me answer from ye, lass. And I daenae believe ye will say the same should I be forced to employ morecreativetactics than a simple kiss.”
Challenging him like this was a fool’s errand, and Willow should have known better. Men like this didn’t back down. Still, it was too much of a joy to see the laird so worked up, getting beneath his skin igniting something in her blood that was as intoxicating as it was rash.
“I would verra much like to see ye try.”
They both remained unmoved by the other for a time, the stalemate drawing out the tension until Willow feared she would be swallowed whole by it. When Keegan leaned forward, she could sense his move to get her retreating, so she didn’t push herself away. Willow allowed the man to invade her space so thoroughly.
“Such a feisty little thing, eh?” Keegan whispered low, his breath stirring over her lips. “It is like yewantto be punished.”
Willow reeled slightly, flicking a stunned gaze up at the laird. And then he kissed her once more. She was helpless to stop the way his mouth claimed hers, and one of Keegan’s hands went to the middle of her back, pulling her forward against his chest.
Magic wove into the fibers of her being as Keegan thrust his tongue between her lips, exploring her as he gripped her tight. She took everything he gave, rising to each action and meeting it with her own. They kissed as they argued, a passionate fury of back and forth that left neither of them ahead of the other.
It was divine, or rather sinful, the way Keegan took hold of her, the heat of his touch burning through the fabric of hergown, especially as his hand traveled over the curves of her arse. Willow’s entire body thrummed, an indescribable feeling of desperation for more—though she wasn’t sure what that could mean.
What is this between us? Why does it feel as though I might perish without more of whatever it is?
Keegan gripped her soft flesh beneath her hip, and Willow yelped against his lips. The rough caress was not just a surprise but a command from the laird’s body to her own. It responded,sheresponded. Willow could not help the way it took over her from the inside out, her yearning growing more intense like oil poured on a flame.
Knock, knock, knock.
They yanked apart from one another, the two of them staring wide-eyed at each other as they both fought to catch their breath.
What have ye done, Willow?
“Me laird,” Rodrick called through the closed door, “the council has assembled for the meeting ye requested. They await yer presence.”