Chapter 10 #2
Willow was to answer him in the affirmative, agreeing to answer any and all questions he might have in that thick skull of his. But she chewed on the inside of her cheek, disregarding the fact that what she was doing was childish and dangerous.
I daenae care. I am still too angry with him.
Worse, Willow still hated the way Keegan’s proximity affected her. It was like her skin hummed and warmed at just the sight of him, and as his stare flicked to her lips and back up, she felt them burn under his brief appraisal.
She did not respond to him, keeping her mouth sealed shut. Keegan’s brows rose, then his eyes squinted just a hair.
“I am sure ye’ve heard me, lass. I will speak to ye about yer brother.”
Willow held firm, unspeaking. To her right, Rodrick’s strained chuckle whispered through the air. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, seeing the man-at-arms struggling to keep in his laughter and failing miserably.
Keegan snapped his attention to the man and glared full-blown swords in his direction.
Were the laird’s expression enough to kill, Rodrick would have dropped dead in moments.
Funnily enough, Rodrick only laughed harder when Keegan eyed him, and Willow could see the vein throbbing in the laird’s temple.
After a moment of recovery, Rodrick looked to Willow with a smile. “The laird would like to speak to ye about yer brother.”
“I heard.”
Exasperation lit up Keegan’s face, and his brows shot to his hairline. Willow contained the smirk that was trying to break free and turned back toward the laird from nodding at Rodrick.
“I may nae be yer laird, lass, but I am the laird of this castle, and I wish to speak with ye.”
Willow blinked pointedly, her expression that of practiced innocence that did not reflect her guilt.
“Rodrick,” she turned toward him, “would you please inform the laird that I willnae be speaking with him at any point lest he once again deceptively hide the truth.”
Keegan looked ready to explode like a cannon, and the sight was damned delicious.
Willow allowed herself the smile she’d been fighting, and as the laird ground his molars, he sucked in a breath through his nose, his eyes closing.
When he looked to Rodrick, he waited with his brows raised high as Rodrick repeated Willow’s words.
“The lady has informed me that she willnae be speaking with ye, me laird. Do ye have a response?”
Narrowing his eyes, Keegan stared between Rodrick and Willow before landing his stare on Willow.
“Ye may inform the lady that I need to speak with her regardin' her brother.” He hesitated, but at last, his pride sat behind him as the laird gave Willow what she had asked for without words. “And I am sorry that I misled her before and promise nae to do it again.”
Rodrick looked entirely surprised by the laird’s apology, and Willow had to admit that she didn’t think Keegan would give her one at all, let alone in front of one of his men.
Grinning all the more, Willow cast her gaze on Keegan with a pleased smile, happy as the cat who got the cream. “Rodrick, would ye tell the laird that I accept his apology, and I am at his disposal should he wish to discuss me brother. Though, I will, of course, still require yer service, Rodrick.”
Keegan’s jaw worked as he held her stare. “How gracious of ye, me lady. Please follow me to the study where we might speak more privately.”
The three of them left the Great Hall, Willow and Rodrick following after the laird as he walked a short distance down the corridor to his study. He opened the door wide and allowed Willow inside before stepping between Rodrick and the entrance.
“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 beyond irritated 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 more creative tactics 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 ye want to 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 her gown, 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, she responded. 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.”
“On me way, Rodrick,” Keegan replied, eyes still locked on Willow.
He ducked his head, took another breath, and then returned his attention to her, whispering so that Rodrick would not hear him through the door.
“We arenae done with this conversation, lass. I willnae see you avoid our…discussion.”
And with that, she was left in the study to try and comprehend what the bloody hell had just happened.