Page 32 of The Chief's Wild Promise
Bran’s attention snapped up. “Ye should understand such a sentiment … yer clan’s honor matters greatly to ye.”
Their stare drew out, and she shifted in her seat, uneasiness fluttering in her belly. “Ye think that’s all I care about?”
He quirked an eyebrow. “I know ye’d die to defend Meggernie.”
Her breathing grew shallow. She would—although soon she’d be taken from this place, from her people.
“Iadmireyer loyalty to yer clan,” he said then, surprising her. “Ye’d never kneel before an enemy.”
Not like I did. The words were unvoiced, yet they shivered in the air between them.
Her skin prickled at this observation. Somehow, he’d managed to compliment her and cast a slur upon himself. It struck her then that it wasn’t so much his clansmen’s disappointment in him that galled him—but his own decisions. Her chest tightened. The man was far too hard on himself. Of course, she’d thrown those things in his face during that meeting with her father.
She wished she hadn’t now.
“Maybe not,” she said softly. “But I’d be wiser to bend sometimes … it would make for an easier life.”
His sensual mouth tugged up at the corners. “An easy life would bore ye.”
Surprise jolted through her once more before she gave an unladylike snort. “Aye … probably.”
Another pause followed. Talking about herself made her uncomfortable. She needed to bring the focus back on him. “Yer father’s been dead a while … why haven’t ye taken a lass to yer bed in that time?”
Mackinnon growled an oath, reached up, and dragged a hand down his face. “Christ’s bones … can we leave this be?”
She flashed him an arch look. “Ye brought it up, remember?”
“Aye … the wine must have turned me witless,” he replied with a grimace.
She laughed, appreciating the wry edge to his humor. “It’s good ye are being honest with me,” she replied. “It will make thingseasierbetween us.”
Their gazes locked then and held, silence swelling between them.
“I felt ye should know,” Mackinnon answered finally. “That way, if I fumble … ye’ll understand why.”
Nerves fluttered in her belly, and she glanced away. “Since I’m not experienced … I probably wouldn’t notice anyway.” She swallowed then, embarrassment sweeping over her in a hot, prickly wave. “We shall learn together.”
“Aye.”
“There’s no need to rush things … we have all night.” She broke off then, flushing. “And I can teach ye what I like as we go.” Her mouth snapped closed then. Dear Lord, what had she just said?
His gaze hooded in a way that made her heart flutter. “Ye will?”
She nodded mutely, even as her face burned like a hot coal. She couldn’t believe she’d blurted out such a thing. What must he think of his MacGregor bride?
Her pulse thumped in her ears while he stared at her for a few moments. And then, to her relief, his lips lifted at the edges into one of his rare smiles. “Ye never fail to surprise me.”
“I do?” Frankly, she’d shocked herself. She was starting to sweat now, suddenly far too aware of him. They were seated a few feet apart, but it felt too close.
He nodded. “Yer boldness is something to behold.”
She pulled a face, not sure whether his comment was meant as praise or a rebuke, before taking another gulp of wine. “Things aren’t always what they seem,” she blurted out, heat flushing over her once more. “Ye don’t have to scratch far beneath the surface to discover much of my confidence is bluster.”
Her heart slammed against her ribs then. What was wrong with her tonight? Deliberately avoiding his eye, she put her cup down next to the hearth.No more wine for ye!
Resisting the urge to fidget, she eventually forced herself to look at him. A groove had etched between his eyebrows, although he now watched her in a way that both exhilarated and frightened her.
Makenna’s breathing hitched. Somehow, he made her feel … seen.