Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 99593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
He took another step towards her. “Because I command it.”
She stayed as she was, though her legs weakened some, but her resolve held firm. “Am I in danger? Is that why you command it?”
His green eyes continued to blaze. “You dare question me?”
“I only wish to understand, my lord.”
“You don’t need to understand,” he said, stepping closer. “You only need to obey me, wife, a duty you seem to be failing.”
Esme’s resolve melted with the way he towered over her like a bird of prey who could devour her with one bite. She took a step back, hitting the thick tree trunk. She went to move but Torrance was quicker. He stepped closer, trapping her against it with his body while he rested one hand against the thick bark.
Instinct and fear had her offer an apology. “Forgive me, my lord. I will do better.”
“Is that a promise, wife?”
She kept her head down, not wanting to meet his eyes that surely raged with anger. “Aye, my lord.”
“Look at me when you answer me,” he snapped.
She raised her head slowly, fearful of seeing the fury in his eyes and of him seeing the fear in hers and extended an apology as she did. “Aye, my lord, it is a promise.”
Esme eyes held his, not sure of what she saw in them, though she thought the bold green color softened.
“What am I to do with you, Esme?’ he asked quietly.
She didn’t know how to respond to him, or what he expected of her. She said what she thought he would want to hear, though it slipped out as a question. “Whatever you wish, my lord?” His response shocked her.
“I wish to kiss you,” he said, and lowered his lips to hers.
She braced herself, remembering how harsh his kisses had been and was shocked.
His lips were gently against hers as if unsure, as if only becoming familiar with her. Faintly they brushed across hers causing an intense shot of pleasure to race through her. He must have felt or sensed it since his lips turned stronger against hers and surprisingly, and disturbingly, she responded. He kissed her with strength, and not a trace of harshness, and as if he could not get enough of her.
When he pressed his body firmly against her, she felt the hardness of his manhood poking her, and she gasped.
He ripped his mouth away from hers and pounded his fist against the bark. “You are a fool!”
She felt his sharp words like a slap in the face and turned her head away from him.
Torrance stepped away from her, anger returning to his eyes. Then he reached out and grabbed her arm, forcing her to keep step with his fast strides all the way to and through the village, people trying to avoid the troubling scene, and into the keep.
Once in the Great Hall, Torrance shoved her away and ordered, “To your bedchamber until I command otherwise.”
Esme was only too glad to seek refuge in her bedchamber, away from his anger and glances of pity from the servants.
As she hurried off, she heard him shout, “Ale and food in my solar, NOW!”
Torrance paced in front of the table in his solar, the servants winding their way around him to set food and a jug of ale on the table. He stopped pacing as soon as the door closed behind him and filled his tankard with ale and took a generous swallow.
He slammed the tankard on the table and grumbled when he spotted the scratches on his knuckles from punching the tree in the woods. He shook his head and went to the hearth to stand in front of it and let the heat wash over him.
He had called himself a fool too late. He should have done so before he kissed her, but he couldn’t resist her lips, berry red from the cold. They raised an ache in him that he couldn’t ignore.
It was too soon. The time not right and it might never be. He had to stick to the plan, find out who betrayed him before he could trust anyone before it was too late. It was the only way.
He buried his annoyance in the remainder of the ale, then filled his tankard again. He was glad for the interruption when a rap sounded at the door.
Brack entered.
“Let it happen again, and you will feel my wrath,” Torrance yelled after the door closed. “And I assume you are wise enough to know of what I speak.”
“Forgive me, my lord,” Brack said with a bob of his head. “I will see that my lady doesn’t go into the woods unattended again.” To avoid more admonishment, he asked, “Did your meeting go well?”
“Aye, since the defeat of Clan MacLeish other clans seek to gain my favor, fearing they will be attacked next. And with rumors spreading about what fate awaits Chieftain Ryland… none wish to take the chance of possibly being drawn and quartered.”