Page 7 of Claimed by the Obsessed Laird (Highland Bride Hunt #1)
He offered her his arm, and the two of them made their way back down the aisle and towards the Keep, which had already been decorated for the upcoming celebration.
Her lips tingled from the pressure of his kiss even as a handful of people paused to offer their congratulations.
She did her best to keep a smile on her face as he accepted them on behalf of the new couple and prayed that the twisting tension in her belly was not obvious to anyone else.
She made her way to the Great Hall of her new home for the first time and found it filled with music and food clattering down onto large wooden tables that ran the length of the stone floor.
She clung to Camron’s arm for dear life, and they took their seats at the head of the table, the two of them gazing down across those who were to be her subjects from this moment on.
She had never thought of herself as a woman with any real power before, but now, she’d have to find a way to reconcile this version of herself with what they expected of her.
She shifted slightly in her seat, the hard wood digging into her back, and she stole a glance at Camron out of the corner of her eye.
His eyes seemed to be fixed squarely ahead, and she wondered if he was beginning to doubt his decision.
“Lady MacLeod!”
A voice drew her attention, one that she recognized at once.
Glancing around, she saw Archie, the man she had met the night before, standing there, a beaming smile on his face.
He bowed low and took her hand, brushing his lips across it lightly.
Isla was immediately cast back to the memory of how Camron’s mouth had felt against her; the warmth of his body so close to hers, the welcome of his tongue as it caressed her lip…
“Look, I’ve made yer new bride blush,” Archie laughed.
Isla stiffened slightly, not sure whether she should argue with him, but Camron didn’t seem to react, his mouth set in a hard line. He cocked an eyebrow at his cousin in acknowledgement, and Archie turned his attention to Isla once more.
“Perhaps I could tempt ye to a dance, my lady,” he offered.
She shot another look at her husband, expecting him to put up some kind of a fight, but then, she recalled her promise to herself, the one she had made when she had arrived here.
She had sworn she would not make herself palatable for him.
If he wanted her as a wife, then he’d need to accept everything that came with it.
She smiled at once and rose to her feet, offering her hand to Archie.
“Of course, sir,” she replied. “What kind of celebration would it be with no dancing?”
Before Camron could say a word in protest, she rose to her feet and allowed Archie to lead her on to the floor, offering him a broad smile as she did so.
Archie returned it, and she could have sworn that she saw a glint in his eye that spoke to something more, though she did not think much of it as he swung her around amongst the small crowd of gathered dancers who had already begun the day’s festivities.
“Now, ye must tell me if I go too fast for ye,” Archie remarked as his hand came to her waist. “I ken that some lassies arenae able to keep up with me.”
But, even as he spoke, she found her gaze drawn over his shoulder. Towards her husband, who was watching the two of them with a narrowed gaze and a glower that made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
Archie’s hand pressed against the small of her back, attempting to pull her attention back to him, but before she could do as he asked, Camron rose to his feet and strode towards them.
The crowd parted easily to make way for him, as though they could all sense his fury as well as she could. When he reached her, his top lip curled into a snarl, and he grasped her by the wrist.
“Come,” he ordered her, his voice low and leaving no room for argument.
She stared back at him as Archie stepped away from her swiftly. For a moment, she thought that she would argue with Camron and tell him that she was perfectly capable of choosing who she wished to dance with, but the look on his face silenced her at once, and she knew that she could not dare.
He pulled her through the crowd again, leading her outside the hall, all eyes on them, though none made a move to stop him.
She knew why, but it infuriated her. No wonder he was so arrogant as to think he could demand such things from her with no warning.
Everyone here treated him like some sainted king who they could not stand against, when he was just a man, like any other.
As soon as they reached the corridor outside the hall, she yanked her hand away from him and raised her eyebrows furiously.
“Where are ye taking me?” she demanded.
“To my chamber,” he answered, barely sparing her a glance.
His voice echoed off the walls around them, and she was suddenly distinctly aware of the pressure of the flowers woven into her hair. She rushed to catch up with him as he took off once more, closing the distance that stood between them as she continued to remonstrate with him.
“I was in the middle of a dance!” she protested. “With yer cousin, no less! Ye cannae just?—”
They rounded the corner to his chambers, and she suddenly found herself against the wall.
Camron was pinning her between his body and the cold stone.
She was not sure which was more unyielding.
The breath fled her lungs instantly. Though he was not so much as laying a hand on her, she could feel the twisting desire building in her once more, the memory of his lips on hers enough to silence her protestations.
He moved a little closer, like an animal inspecting its prey. She did her best to meet his gaze, but it felt like it was piercing straight through her—under her plans to make herself so unappealing to him and through to the part of her that could not disguise what she truly felt for him.
Her heart thudded beneath the confines of her virginal dress.
How much longer would she stay that way?
There were just a few inches between their faces, and if he kissed her like he had in the chapel, she would be helpless to resist, and she knew it.
The question, of course, was whether he knew it and whether he would take advantage of her weakness.
She had little clue, but she knew she wanted to find out.
Her hands trembled at her sides, almost able to feel the weight of his body beneath her, on top of her, around her…
He lifted his rough hand to her cheek, dragging it along her skin. Inadvertently, she closed her eyes and swallowed hard, trying not to let him see her reaction, but she could feel the goosebumps bursting across her skin under his touch, as impossible to deny as the air between them.
“Do you want more, lass?” he asked, as he continued to drag his finger along her skin, moving down, lightly, the barest touch, as infuriating as it was thrilling.
She opened her eyes once more and tore her gaze away from him, her cheeks flaming red. “Nay,” she protested, and his finger stopped at once. She let out a slight gasp at the sudden restraint, and he chuckled.
“I’m no’ sure I believe you, lass,” he murmured. “But I’ll take you at yer word.”
With that, he stepped back from her. She flexed her hands, fighting the urge to grab him and pull him back. But she knew he would only lord it over her, use it as proof that she wanted him, despite what she said, and she could not allow him that satisfaction.
From the way he looked at her, it was clear that he enjoyed this. Enjoyed seeing her squirm with want despite denying it.
And then, just as quickly as he had dragged her from the main hall, he pulled back. He drew in a long breath and ran a hand through his hair.
“Get some rest while ye can,” he ordered her. “Ye’ll soon need yer strength.”
With that, he turned away, back towards the feast. For a moment she thought of going after him, but she knew in her heart of hearts that he would just turn her around and force her back here.
He might not intend to take her tonight, but that did not mean he was in any rush to see her dance the night away with someone else.
No, he wanted to keep her for himself, under lock and key, if that’s what it came to, she was sure.
She slumped back against the wall and closed her eyes, tipping her head back against the cool stone and trying to bring herself back down to earth. More than anything, she loathed herself for still wanting him, still wishing that he would turn on his heel and come back.
How was she to keep up the act if he could have such an effect on her with a single touch? She had little idea, but she supposed she had the rest of the night to find out.
Slipping into her new chambers, she glanced around, taking in the darkened red on the walls and the glossy stone at her feet. The party beyond may have just been beginning, but all she could think of was how much she wanted to divest herself of her party clothes and rest.
Because if what he said was true and she truly needed all she could get, she did not intend to waste a chance for some peace and quiet. Something told her, after all, that peace was going to be very hard to come by now that she was his wife.
And he would go out of his way to make sure of it.