Chapter 3 #2
She continued without even taking a breath but noticed that Finn’s face warmed at the mention of her father and sisters.
“I was suspicious of you, at first, Laird Crawford, because my uncle, Maximillian, inherited the title of Viscount of Pemberton but none of the wealth. Ever since we moved in with him, we have been fighting about me marrying his son, Herbert. My uncle is sneaky, and conniving, and our last fight, he threatened me.”
Finn had dipped his chin lower, a silent demand for her to take a breath, and she paused to oblige.
She wanted to please him with a show of obedience to stay his anger and also to perhaps make her upcoming request more desirable.
Although, when her eyes flicked down on her exhale, she noticed that he extended and then curled his fingers into a tight fist at her last revelation.
Keep going, this has to work…
She rolled her shoulders back and sat up straighter before continuing in her lengthy explanation.
“When Herbert and I spoke in the aftermath of the argument with his father, he vowed that he wouldn’t marry me and that he would change his father’s mind by any means necessary.
When you suggested it last night, I was instantly upset with you for even thinking that my cousin was responsible, but now that I think about it, he might be the only one with the ability to do all of this.
” Thalia gestured around her head and also between the two of them.
“I also think that my uncle had a hand in this —”
Finn’s scowl had only grown deeper, and suddenly, he reached across with both large, calloused hands and grabbed her smooth face. “Miss Sinclair, ye are going to pass out if ye daenae remember to breathe.”
She obliged again, quickly, but his hands remained on either side of her face. “Less words,” he growled impatiently.
His touch seared its mark into her flesh, and the pressure of the simmering heat between her hips made her next breath a laborious one.
She tried to hide a squirm with an exaggerated inhale, hoping to quiet the distracting warmth, but his eyes caught the movement.
She watched as his dark gaze traced a long line up from her shifting, exposed knees to her racing heart and then back to her eyes.
“Okay,” she managed to say.
“Good,” he replied slowly. “Now, why are ye telling me all of this?”
“It’s just too intricate of a plan to execute without the mind of a snake. He has to be involved.”
His eyes searched hers, and she continued. “I know I can be difficult sometimes and outspoken…” Finn’s playful grin made her breath catch, and his gaze dropped to her parted lips before returning to meet her eyes.
“But — now that I’m out of the way, so to speak, my uncle will try to force my younger sister, Diana, to marry Herbert.
She is meek and young, and her life is just starting.
” Thalia’s chest twisted, and her bottom lip started to quiver at the mention of her younger sister.
She cleared her throat of the lump in her throat and blinked away any trace of tears, and Finn’s gaze never left hers. She couldn’t hide from him.
When he was sure that she was ready to answer him, he pressed her again, “Ye still havenae answered my original question, Thalia. Why are ye telling me all of this?”
The way he says her name sent a shiver down her spine that she could tell he noticed. “I —” She cleared her throat again. “I need your help and protection to go back to England and save my sisters from my uncle.”
The silence rested uncomfortably around them, and Finn finally dropped his hands from her face. She had grown used to the warmth of his touch on her bare skin and instantly missed the connection.
Did I go too far? Surely, he has to help me, right?
“No. Leave me.” He stood quickly and gestured toward the bedroom door.
His abrupt motion drove her to stand as well. “Wait! No, please, Laird Crawford. I could give you money!”
“No, lass. Now leave.” He turned away from her, expecting her to leave on her own as he had demanded.
Obedience be damned, I need this!
“I could give you lands!” she pleaded and started to follow him as he paced around his room.
“I have lands, lass. Just go,” he said over his shoulder through gritted teeth and flailed his arm sideways in the direction of the door.
Without thinking, she lunged forward and ensnared his arm in a tight grip.
He snapped his head around quickly. His eyes burned a hole through her hand, but she did not let it go.
His glare finally flashed up to meet hers, clearly enraged by her touch which destroyed her resolve. Desperate, she started to beg, “Please? I’ll give you anything you desire. You must help me, Laird Crawford. Please? Did you not hear me?”
Finn’s glare shifted to a look she could not quite place as he exhaled and turned the rest of the way to face her. The confusion of his sudden change loosened her grip, and she felt his hardened muscular arm glide under her soft hand.
He’s… not mad? Or — is he?
His chin dipped; the look he wore was almost sinister in nature. His features darkened, a predator setting his sights on his clueless prey, and she froze. He took a deadly step toward her, and her step backwards was unexpectedly halted by the dark wall; she was trapped.
“I must help ye?”
Her throat bobbed as she gulped and pressed her back against the cold, stone wall.
“Anything I desire?”
He stood tall, directly in front of her, their height difference more apparent than ever, and he inhaled the raw scent of her sudden arousal. His solid, rough hand cupped her face softly again, but this time, she leaned into the touch without thinking.
A wet heat gathered low and rested between her legs. Her eyelids went heavy and then widened in fear when he moved his other hand to grip her hip. Her eyes flashed up to meet his, a silent plea to halt his actions.
What was I thinking? He could take me right here, and no one would know it. I could scream…
Thalia tried to swallow, but her mouth was suddenly dry and coarse. Finn’s hold on her was firm, and her eyes bore into his, another silent plea.
Please, no. Not yet…
His large grip traveled from her hip up her side, gathering the fabric of her shift, and she squeezed her eyes closed, hoping he wouldn’t cross that line yet. She sensed him easily when he leaned his face in closer to whisper into her ear, “Do ye have any sense of danger?”
Her breath hitched, and her lips parted at the warmth of his closeness, but she stayed silent. “Do ye ken that I could ask for several things of a woman like ye?”
“I —” was all she could manage to say as he closed the space between them.
“Especially a woman like ye, standing near bare in me rooms this late at night.” The sting of his breath on her neck sent shivers down her spine, and his grip intensified.
If that’s what he wants, and he will help me after he gets it, then he can have it.
Her body was red hot at the implication, and she let the relent escape her parted lips without giving it much more thought. “As I said, Highlander. Anything.”
She felt his smile grow along the edge of her earlobe before he pulled it into his mouth and gently bit down on it. A challenge.
Instead of shrinking away from it, Thalia leaned into the sensation as if she was resolved to let him have her. Her hands rested on his arms, and her hard nipples pressed into his.
“Leave,” he whispered in her ear and then stepped back. His denial stung, but she instinctively reached out and gripped his arm again.
“No! Wait! Is there nothing that you desire? Truly?” Her desperation was palpable as was her arousal.
Finn’s glare rested on hers as she looked up at him through her long lashes. He inhaled and rolled his shoulders back. Thalia watched as a laundry list of unsaid desires passed across his face until he finally settled on the one that he wished to share with her.
A devious grin played at the corners of his mouth. His features were somehow even darker than before, and her eyes went wide with unease. “I desire an heir, Thalia Sinclair.”