Chapter 7
"Conner, ye really daenae have to bring me flowers," Leah said as her heart went to him.
It wasn't that he wasn't handsome, he was.
Leah had noticed the way the servants swooned for Conner.
Conner was a sweet man with a heart as gentle as a lamb.
And as fond of him as Leah was, Conner couldn't hold a candle to Killian.
"I wanted to thank ye," Conner stammered as embarrassment kissed his cheeks.
"Aye, and ye have with the bouquet ye brought me earlier this mornin’,” Leah answered. “I daenae need fresh ones throughout the day. Are ye sure there's still some left for the other lasses?" Leah asked, hoping that she didn't sound too rough with him. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him.
"They'll grow back," he answered unapologetically.
"Conner, please. You've given me too much as it is. So much so that I daenae even ken what to do with them. I'm flattered, truly, but ye can stop," Leah said, trying her hardest not to break his heart.
She bit her lower lip as she studied his reaction.
He bobbed his head as the wave of rejection claimed his gentle smile.
The guilt settled in her heart. She reached for his arm to give him just the gentlest of encouragement.
But before her fingertips even brushed over Conner's sleeve, it was snatched.
"I'll thank ye kindly to be givin' me a word with the healer," Killian said. His voice was stern and unyielding. Conner's eyes widened as wide as Leah's.
"Laird MacMillan, what exactly are ye doin'?" Leah asked through gritted teeth, trying to hide her annoyance for Conner's sake.
"I need to speak with ye," Killian answered, his voice silky smooth. Despite not knowing the laird all that well, Leah could feel the lashing of his words like leather straps going down her spine.
"Conner here was—" Leah started, only to have Killian cut her off.
"Just leavin'."
"Me laird, if it's all the same to ye, I believe the lady doesnae want to go with ye," Conner said despite his voice cracking with fear. Killian paused, and as if Conner had pumped Killian up with hot air, Killian straightened. Leah didn't understand how he could double in size almost instantly.
"And I believe that if ye daenae leave now, I'll have ye thrown in the stocks for a week," Killian countered.
"Be nice," Leah scolded as she watched Killian's eyes flare with anger and defiance.
She didn't flinch at the sight of him but lifted her head as if daring him to press her any further.
His lips twitched, giving her the reprieve she had been craving.
At that moment, everything became clear.
Killian wasn't truly mad; he was just flexing his authority and defending his territory.
Leah didn't know whether or not to be impressed by his interest in her or worried by the strict rules he was putting in place.
"Ye'll leave," Killian turned to Conner. "Now."
"Aye, me laird," Conner answered as he glanced at Leah for confirmation. She gave a polite nod and flashed him an apologetic smile.
"Ye dinnae have to be so mean," Leah grumbled the moment Conner was out of earshot. "The lad was just bein' nice."
Killian's eyes narrowed as he shook his head. "Daenae be fooled, he was lookin' for a bit more than just to be polite."
"Ye daenae ken that," Leah answered, jerking her arm out of Killian's grasp. "And what is with ye comin' over here out of nowhere and interruptin' the lad? Where did ye even come from, to begin with?"
"Do ye really think I daenae ken every nook and path in me own home?" Killian said, his tone condescending and harsh.
"Fine, but why does it matter who I talk to? Conner was only bring me flowers."
"I ken very well what the lad was doin'," Killian snapped as he pulled Leah closer to the tree line.
"Ye need to stop," Leah demanded and put her foot down. "Ye cannae act this way. Are ye a bairn? Nay. So why do ye think that ye can just push and pull people about at whim?"
"I'm the laird."
"So ye are, but does that mean ye have to act like a savage? I've met men far tougher than ye," Leah continued as she pushed down the fear swelling within her. It was one thing to cross the laird, but Killian had pushed one button too many, and she had had enough. "And ye daenae scare me."
"Savage, ye say?" Killian hissed. "That's what ye think I am now? Let me show ye just how savage I can be."
"What are ye doin'? Killian, put me down," Leah demanded as Killian snatched her by the waist. The world spun about as she landed on his shoulder, seeing the world from behind.
"How dare ye," she hissed and began thrashing about. "What is this madness? Ye cannae be doin' this."
"Says who?" Killian asked as he slipped through the tree line. Panic shot through Leah as she watched the gray stones of the castle vanish behind the veil of pine branches.
"Everyone. Ye're nay savage, now put me down," Leah said as Killian came to a sudden stop. Killian pulled her from his shoulder and set her firmly on the ground. His expression was as dark as the storm clouds brewing overhead.
"What on earth gives ye the right to treat people the way ye do? Did yer faither nae teach ye manners?" Leah growled. Killian's eyes narrowed as righteous indignation flashed through his eyes.
"Me faither taught me a great many things," Killian said, malice mingled with disgust as his words spewed at Leah like venom. "Even taught me how to kill."
It wasn't fear that rippled through Leah as Killian began to circle her. She could hear the unspoken words that only pain and torment could bring out. Seeing Killian so wound up gave her cause to pause. She pulled in a long, deep breath and let it out.
"Ye daenae scare me," Leah said in an even tone.
"I should," Killian retorted. "Every man should frighten the likes of ye. Or do ye nae ken how fragile ye really are? I could snuff the light out of yer icy blue eyes with the press of me thumb."
"And why would ye want to?" Leah challenged as she stepped closer.
Her heart pounded against its cage as she dared to step closer to the wild beast. Panic shot through Killian's ire like a bolt of lightning shattering through an oak tree.
He stumbled back as if her words struck him harder than any battering ram.
"I wouldnae," Killian whispered. The kindness in his eyes left just as quickly as it came. He cleared his throat and stepped closer to her. Leah flashed the same defiant glare he had for her. "Doesnae mean that others won't though."
"Ye need to trust me," Leah said.
"I trust nay one."
"There's yer problem. How can ye live in peace if everyone is yer enemy?"
"Because everyone is," Killian grumbled as he inched closer, crowding Leah.
"I'm nae," she whispered as if his words hurt. And she'd be lying if she said they didn't. There was something about Killian's proximity that caused her skin to tingle. She wanted to reach out and pull him into her. The pain that she could see scarred him more than any battle wound.
"Ye and I have a deal," Killian said so low that Leah found herself gravitating closer to him.
"Aye, I ken," she answered breathlessly as her eyes continued to drift to Killian's bowed lips. "I havenae forgotten."
"Then ye'll understand why I want ye to remain unattainable."
"Ye want me to be a hermit? Ye cannae expect me to be here for two months and nae meet people."
"Ye can meet the clan, but I'll nae have any of them touchin' ye, is that clear?" Killian barked; his order rattled Leah to her core. She folded her arms across her chest and stepped back.
"I'll nae be bullied by the likes of ye," she said.
"I ken I gave me word that I'll pose as yer beloved, but right now, no one kens about what we are, or arenae at the moment…
" Leah said as she tried to keep the story straight in her head.
But Killian's musky scent that mingled with the pine was causing her head to grow foggy.
"Ye're mine," Killian growled. "I'll nae share ye with anyone."
"Killian —" Leah started to protest, but before she could get another word out, Killian's hands molded to her face and drew his lips to hers.
Leah stumbled back, expecting to fall into the void behind her.
Instead, Killian's hand slipped from her face to her waist and caught her at the small of her back.
Leah's heart fluttered wildly as her body melted in Killian's embrace.
His mouth was softer than any flower pedal and far gentler than a baby's giggle.
The world faded. Even the happy chirps of the birds overhead were but a distant melody playing somewhere in the world.
Leah drew her hands to Killian's chest. His frantically beating heart throbbed against the palm of her hand.
And as much as she wanted to savor the moment, she wasn't going to let Killian distract her.
"That wasnae fair," she whispered as she tried to regain her senses. The world was a fusion of colors and tingling. It felt as if she could float into the sky and drift into the furthest reaches of the heavens.
"I'll nae apologize."
"I wouldnae want ye to," Leah answered as she slowly blinked the world into view. Swallowing hard, she stepped back, wishing she didn't have to let him go. But what choice did she have?
The separation was earth-shattering. Leah blinked as if she'd been under some spell.
Her gaze shifted to Killian. He towered before her like the highland warrior he was with his broad shoulders and seductive, smoldering eyes.
His kiss lingered and burned her lips, yet she secretly desired more.
How could a man so brutish be so tender?
It was a conundrum Leah wished to explore deeper.
"Ye're to remember our deal," Killian hissed as his eyes shifted from her to some distant point beyond the tree line.
"And ye should have a bit more faith in people," Leah said, drawing Killian's attention back to her. "Nae everyone is yer enemy, Killian. There may be a few bad apples in the bunch, but it doesnae mean that they all are."
"I'd rather dump the basket and be rid of them all," Killian said.
"And now I see why they call ye mad," Leah clapped back, shocking Killian. He arched his eyebrow and stared at her as if he couldn't figure out if he was impressed by her courage to stand up to him or if he was allowing her to second-guess her response.
"Ye've been warned." His voice was rough and grave.
"Tis nae like I could stop ye from doin' anythin' ye wanted to do," Leah said as her thoughts jumped right back to Killian's body pressed against hers.
Oh, how easy it would have been for him to take her right then and there.
The thought caused her body to shiver. Leah found herself grateful for the wind as it suddenly kicked up around them.
"And now ye see why I'll nae have anyone touchin' ye," Killian said. "Ye cannae trust anyone."
"Even ye?" The words slipped from Leah's lips before she could reel them back in. Killian's response startled her. Instead of ire, he stepped closer, filling the space between them with his presence. There wasn't an inch that Leah couldn't see or feel Killian.
"Especially me," he answered as Leah's breath hitched. The world came to a crashing halt as Killian's hand scooped around her head. She stared at him as the anticipation of tasting the honey from his lips once more flooded her.
"Killian…"
"Ye're mine, wee healer, and I'll thank ye kindly to refrain from thinkin' ye can have other admirers."
"Only for two months," Leah whispered as she reached to the tips of her toes, inching to kiss him once again.
"I'll nae remind ye again." Killian's lips brushed against hers as he spoke. The yearning was drowning Leah. She watched as the corner of his lip twitched and, in a flash, his hand was gone. The warmth from his touch lingered on her skin, making it even more apparent that he had separated from her.
"Yer word, healer."
Leah's head swam as she tried everything in her power to remain focused. Killian was asking her something. What it was, she didn't know. But it was Killian, and the longing to gain his favor was growing.
"Aye," she answered after a few drowsy moments.
"I mean it."
"As do I."