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With one move he snatched the offending chain and hurled it to the floor while, at the same time, he bent her backwards, pinningher on the table. She struggled, letting out a series of indignant squawks.

“Séamus!”

Maxwell laughed. “Yell all ye like, but Séamus is of little use to ye with only one hand.”

“Ye’re a brute.” Her eyes were dark, gold-flecked, as she glared up at him. “Ye’re enjoying this.”

“Have ye nae learned yet, Aileen MacAlpin, that I can dae wi’ ye whatever I wish and ye cannae stop me.”

His gaze was on her lips and he bent his head as if poised to take her in a kiss.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Holding her breath, Aileen closed her eyes, anticipating the touch of Maxwell’s warm lips on hers. With his rock-hard body pressed against her, she had no hope of resisting him. He was so close she could breathe in the smell of the salt-sea on his face and absorb the fresh scent of the cold wind in his hair.

He stayed as he was for several more seconds and Aileen found herself counting. One… two… three. Then his bulk shifted, he released her pinned arms and stepped away.

She leapt to her feet hardly knowing whether to be enraged at his high-handed treatment or disappointed that the kiss she’d been waiting for had not eventuated. Rubbing her gloved-arms she scowled at him.

“As I said. Ye’re a brute MacNeil.”

His lip curled in a sneer. “And ye? What kind of woman would chain a man who had nae harmed her?”

She turned away so he could not see the doubt in her eyes. “Ye dinnae understand.”

He pshawed loudly. “If ye but explained more of yer purpose in keeping me, mayhap ye’d make sense to me. I ken nay more than that ye are using me as bait tae capture me braither the Laird Everard, and that ye and all yer crew are in thrall to Andrew Sutherland. I dinnae ken what he wants wi’ me braither.”

Aileen hesitated. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him the full story. That her master wished to destroy the MacNeils. For years they had interfered with his ships, at times blockading the passage near to, hampering Sutherland’s ships from journeying south to the mainland with their stolen bounty. Everard MacNeil had cost him dearly by forcing his ships to sail the longer, more dangerous, easterly route to deliver their cargo.

Instead of revealing the truth, she held her tongue. She could withstand Sutherland’s fury at her failure to deliver the Laird MacNeil by compensating him with Maxwell’s capture. Should Maxwell escape, her own father’s life as well as both Finn’s and Séamus’s lives would be at risk. Sutherland would not hesitate to put them both to his sword simply to punish Aileen.

She could never hold Maxwell to his vow once he learned he would be tortured and would meet a shocking death at Sutherland’s hands.

“I’m nae yet at liberty tae answer yer questions, MacNeil.”

He dipped his head, giving her the hint of a bow. “In that case, milady, I shall take me leave. I’ll be more comfortable sleeping on the deck near the other oarsmen than I’d be in here. And I’d like tae remind ye, I’m nae yer prisoner. ‘Tis me choice tae continue wi’ ye all tae Dunrobin Castle.” He swiveled and stormed to the door, wrenched it open and departed into the darkness.

Aileen huffed. The man was altogether too proud for his own good. Let him suffer the cold for the rest of the night. What did she care?

She returned to her hammock, determined not to allow thoughts of Maxwell and his pig-headedness get in the way of what was left of a peaceful night. But, try as she may, the longed-for oblivion in the land of dreams eluded her. She groaned, cursing Maxwell, as her confused thoughts roamed again and again over him. She was in awe of him but she despised him, she wanted his company but she shunned him. Most dangerous of all was her reaction to the press of his body on hers and his closeness. Even as she’d struggled, she’d yearned to enfold him in her arms and let his mouth consume hers.

She’d wanted him to kiss her. Now, curse the man, he’d left her in a flurry of wanting and the feeling her body was being consumed by flames. A strange new aching need robbed her breath, leaving her bedeviled and sorely confused.

Huffing in frustration, she rolled over and stepped out of the hammock. She reached for the bottle of whisky on the shelf and poured herself a dram. As the fiery liquid rolled over her tongue, Aileen reviewed what Maxwell had said. He wasaccompanyingher to Dunrobin Castle of his free will.

Her stomach lurched. Was it possible MacNeil intended to pit himself against Andrew Sutherland? Could he prevail against the laird’s might?

After helping herself to another dram, and considering this new possibility, she returned to her hammock, tucking her fur cloak around her. In no time, she slept, waking before many hours had fled. It was time for them to sail on.

The men were already at their oars when she braced herself against the cold and walked along the deck. Trusting herself with no more than a swift glance, she dwelled for a moment on Maxwell’s broad back as he bent and pulled on the oars. She sighed and turned away, not wanting him to notice her gazing at him with longing.

Although the wind had dropped, there was still a strong breeze blowing and the sail was full. They moved at a good pace, although by now the ocean was becoming rougher as they entered the North Sea, where the weather was always unpredictable.

She joined Ewen, taking her seat beside him, placing her hand on the heavy oak rudder. Séamus and Finn were in the stern along with two of the youngest crew members. Séamus, as thearmorer, was in charge of the ship’s weapons, an assortment of two-handed claymores, knives, dirks, lances, and axes, as well as his, Finn’s and Aileen’s own bone-handled dirks. He and the lads were engaged in the constant cleaning and sharpening required as protection against the salt sea-air.

Finn was responsible for tautening the bows and fletching with fresh feathers where they were needed. She grinned at Aileen. “I hear there were certain shenanigans afoot last night with our prisoner.”

Aileen shook her head. “Aye. Shenanigans indeed, but from now on ye need tae ken he’s nay our prisoner.”