Page 42 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander

She stood bared-chested before him, unashamed, bold as brass.

Judging by the spark in his eyes, Ryder was enjoying the show.

“Usually, only the stable boy would be in here at this hour,” he said as he moved toward her. His gaze was direct and seemed to carry with it the power to hold her in place. “But if it makes ye feel better, I’ll kill anyone who sees ye in this state.”

“I dinnae think that is necessary,” Morgana scoffed as she plucked a blanket off one of the stall doors and wrapped herself in it.

She turned around, her heart fluttering wildly. What had gotten into her? Was it sheer stubbornness that was giving her the courage to defy her husband and Laird?

“Did I tell ye to put that on?” Ryder growled.

Morgana’s body trembled, betraying her. She hadn’t expected him to be so close. And yet there he was, a hairsbreadth away from her. She closed her eyes as she let the blanket fall to the floor.

“What are ye doin’? I thought ye said ye wouldnae touch me,” she breathed as she turned back to face him.

“And am I touchin’?” he countered as his eyes roamed over her, taking in her nakedness.

She watched him devour her with his eyes in the dim torchlight. Her heart fluttered wildly, the anticipation wreaking havoc on her as she wondered what he was about to do.

“Ye really are a stunning creature.”

Heat rushed through her and flooded her cheeks. She licked her dry lips as he handed her back the blanket.

Confusion rippled through her, shattering the illusion she had built up around her.

“Ye’ll need this,” he said, stealing one more glimpse of her. “I expect ye to use the servants’ passages. Stay out of sight, understand?”

Rejection pricked her heart as she took the blanket to cover her nakedness. Flustered and frustrated, Morgana couldn’t help but wonder how could he just stand there and not do anything.

Unless he didn’t want her.

“Aye,” she whimpered, disappointment curling around her heart and stealing her hope.

She turned to the door and paused as the rain came in sheets.

“Dinnae tell me ye’re afraid of the water,” Ryder teased.

“Nay,” she answered, refusing to look back at him. He was toying with her. “Waitin’ for the lights in the kitchen to go out. Wouldnae want anyone seein’ me now, would we?”

“In just a blanket? Nay, that view is mine and mine alone,” Ryder asserted as he pulled her to him and crushed his lips to hers.

His kiss was searing, hungry,insatiable. Morgana wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to keep him anchored to her. How long had she wanted this.

The blanket dropped to her ankles, and Ryder seized the moment, cupping her breast. Morgana moaned as the warmth of his hand spread through her. It was as if she had stepped into a furnace.

“Say ye understand,” Ryder growled as he backed her up against the wall. “Swear to me that nay one will ever see ye like this.”

He kissed down her neck as he pinched her erect nipple, sending a bolt of pleasurable pain to her core.

“Aye, I swear,” Morgana whimpered as his hand moved down the length of her body, tracing the curves of her hips until his fingertips grazed the button of her trousers.

With a flick of his wrist, her trousers dropped to the floor. Then, his fingers trailed down her mound to tease her wet folds. Her breath hitched when she felt his finger slide inside her.

“Swear to me ye’ll never pull another stunt like this again,” Ryder said as he pumped his fingers deeper into her.

Morgana threw her head back. The pleasure was overwhelming. It was as if he could play her like a fiddle, getting her to agree to whatever he wanted.

“Ye’ll never leave the castle without my permission. Swear it to me.”