The Ranger Read online

  She tilted her head, looking up at him. Again, she felt as if she’d misjudged him. “And you remembered?”

  He didn’t respond, but the way he was looking at her sent a flicker of unease whispering down her spine.

  He wanted her.

  Suddenly the tiny room felt like a trap. She looked to the door, but whether intentionally or not, he’d moved around to block it.

  “Why did you bring me here?” she asked.

  He took a step closer, his eyes glinting dangerously in the semidarkness. He took her chin in his hand and tilted her face to his.

  Her pulse spiked with panic. He was shorter than Sir Arthur—perhaps by an inch or two—but somehow his size seemed threatening. It took everything she had not to shirk away.

  “I wanted to show you what you would have as my wife. This room would be at your disposal. You will be one of the most important ladies in the kingdom. That is why you are here, Lady Anna, is it not? To renew talks of our betrothal?”

  “Aye,” she whispered, trying to control the shakiness in her voice.

  His eyes bored into her, challenging. “Is that what you really want?”

  Her heart pounded furiously. She forced herself to nod. “Aye.”

  “Then prove it,” he demanded. She blinked questioningly. “Kiss me.”

  Her eyes widened with shock. “I … I …”

  She struggled with what to say. Oh God, she couldn’t.

  And he knew it. His gaze hardened. “Are you playing games with me, Lady Anna? I assure you I’ve no wish to be cuckold to another man. Recall that it is you who came to me this time.” His thumb slid over her bottom lip and she sucked in her breath, frozen in fear. “Decide what you want before you do something that cannot be undone. Once we are betrothed, I assure you I will not tolerate this foolishness.”

  Anna’s cheeks flooded with heat, shamed by the truth of his accusations.

  She pushed aside her fear, trying to remember why she was here. Trying to remember how important it was for her to succeed in forming this alliance. This was their chance. Why was she being so foolish? It was only a kiss.

  “My lord, I’m sor—”

  He dropped his hand from her face. She exhaled with too much relief.

  “We should return to the Hall,” he said stiffly, coldly. “Your brother will wonder where I’ve taken you.”

  She nodded, feeling helpless, knowing what she should do but unable to get the words out.

  Damn Arthur Campbell to Hades for doing this to her! For confusing her. She’d been prepared to do this before he’d returned.

  “If you don’t mind, my lord, I’m tired and would rather retire to my chamber.”

  He nodded. “Take your time. Perhaps you might wish to borrow a book?” Her gaze shot to his, knowing he was trying to tempt her. “We can discuss this in the morning.”

  He turned to leave. But then he seemed to change his mind. Before she realized what he was about to do, he’d pulled her in his arms and brushed his mouth over hers. Anna froze, too startled to resist.

  His lips were cool and hard, not unlike the man. She caught the faint scent of wine, but it was over before she could process anything else.

  He smiled, looking down at her stunned expression. “You have the night to decide. But if you want this betrothal to go forward, I’ll expect a response tomorrow. One a bit more enthusiastic than that.”

  Ross had no idea how close he was to death.

  Arthur gripped his dirk in his hand, every muscle straining against the bloodlust pounding through him. All he had to do was take a few steps, slipping out from his hiding place in the shadows behind the door, and plunge his blade deep in the bastard’s gut.

  He’d kissed her.

  He’d taken her in his arms and put his mouth to hers.

  Something inside Arthur snapped. Every instinct urged him to strike out and kill the man who’d dared to touch what belonged to him.

  But at the last minute, something stayed his hand. Killing Ross would put an end to his mission. He’d be forced to flee, and his opportunity to destroy Lorn would be lost.

  It took every shred of control he had left not to move. But he let Ross walk out of the room. He let him live. This time.

  Anna, however, would not escape his wrath so easily. He was going to make damned sure she had only one answer to give Ross in the morning. This planned betrothal of hers was about to come to a decisive end.

  Ross’s footsteps had barely faded before Anna started to follow him. As she reached the door, Arthur slid out of the shadows to block her path.

  She gasped. Any fear she might have felt quickly faded in the sudden flash of anger that set her eyes blazing. “How dare you spy on me!” She tried to push him out of the way, but he clasped her wrists in his hand. “Let go of me, you have no right.”

  He spun her into the room and shut the door behind him. “I have every right,” he seethed. “You aren’t going to marry him.”

  He could see her cheeks flush in the candlelight. Her chest—her incredible, too-ample chest that he couldn’t stop dreaming about—heaved with righteous indignation. That sweet face with its adorable, stubborn chin lifted to his. “Yes. I. Am.”

  He didn’t like her tone at all. Not one bit. His eyes narrowed. “You couldn’t even kiss him.” He leaned closer, inhaling the sultry warmth of her fury. “How will it be, do you think, to bed him?”

  She made a sharp sound of outrage. If she’d a dagger in her hand, Arthur had no doubt it would now be stuck between his ribs. But her tongue eviscerated just as painfully. “I suspect I will get used to it. Perhaps even come to enjoy it. Sir Hugh is a very handsome man. And he seems quite determined, don’t you think?” Her eyes taunted. Challenged. Driving him insane. “Yes, if it’s anything like that kiss, I imagine I’ll come to enjoy it quite a lot.”

  He grabbed her arm. “Stop.” He shook her to him. “Stop.” He felt as if he were going to explode. Feelings he’d kept so long contained had been whipped to a frenzy by her taunting words. Feelings he didn’t want to acknowledge. Feelings he couldn’t let out. His head spun. His chest burned. God, it hurt. He had to make her stop.

  “Why?” she demanded, leaning closer to him. The tips of her breasts grazed his chest, and he shook—he actually shook, every inch of his body poised on the knife-edge of restraint. Heat pulled him down a dark vortex of lust and desire. He wanted to crush her to him. To kiss her. To ravish her senseless. To make her scream his name and his alone.

  “Why should I stop? It’s the truth. Sir Hugh strikes me as a man who sees what he wants and won’t let anything stand in the way until he gets it.”

  He knew she was goading him, but he didn’t care. Arthur knew exactly what he wanted, damn it. Her.

  He swore, knowing the battle was lost. He took her into his arms and crushed his mouth to hers, giving in to the powerful feelings that had been waging war inside him.

  He kissed her like he’d never kissed another woman before. He kissed her with all the passion that had been building inside from the first. He kissed her to make her stop. He kissed her to wipe away the hateful images she’d branded in his mind. He kissed her so she would never think about another man again.

  But when she melted against him in silent surrender and opened her sweet little mouth to his with a sigh and a moan, he wasn’t thinking about missions or alliances, enemy clans or revenge. Nay, all he was thinking about was making her his.

  Fifteen

  Anna knew she was being rash, knew she was provoking him, but she didn’t care. Anger blinded her to anything but the need to lash out.

  She hated him for interfering. For making her hesitate. For getting in the way of her plans.

  All she’d ever wanted to do was protect her family and keep the people she loved safe. And now, when she had the chance, Arthur Campbell stood in her way.

  He confused her. Confounded her. Made her care about him and then pushed her away. He saved her and protected her one moment, and then