Page 8 of The Mad Highlander

8

I ris found herself settling into her new home after just a few short days. The sprawling gardens, elegant architecture, and luxurious furnishings had impressed her. However, there was one thing that continued to nibble at her bones, Cayden.

Despite being his bride-to-be, he had done little to speak to her or even share a meal. Cayden appeared disinterested in getting to know her and would only approach her occasionally to inquire about her comfort or settling in. This lack of attention was beginning to weigh heavily on Iris. She understood that their marriage had been arranged against her will, but that didn’t excuse him from getting to know her.

On top of her irritation with Cayden, she still hadn’t heard anything about her brother or what his plans for getting him back were. Their agreement for a marriage of convenience would be for nothing if Ashton was’t retrieved.

Her only source of sanity amidst all the problems had been Robyn and Margot who never failed to provide an excuse for Cayden.

Irritated by the situation that had left her feeling helpless, she made her way downstairs, hoping to see Cayden at the table.

Her hopes sank when she entered the dining hall to find Margot and Robyn and no sight of Cayden. Turning to a passing maid, Iris forced a smile. “Where is the Laird this evening?”

The girl seemed panicked but quickly recovered and curtsied. “In his study, Me Lady.”

“I see, an’ is he busy with an important meeting or any kind of clan discussions.” She raised her eyebrows in question, determined to put an end to how things were developing.

“Nae, Me Lady, nae that I am aware of,” the maid replied. “Laird of McLaren has just left, and that was his last visitor for the evening. There is naebody with the Laird at present.”

Margot and Robyn exchanged confused glances, remaining silent when Iris nodded. The table had been set for four people, and Iris wasn’t about to let things slide.

“Very well, since the Laird is too busy to dine with us this evening, then I shall be dining with him. Have one of the other maids help ye, an’ take the two places that have been set for me an’ the Laird up to his study along with a tray of food.”

The maid glanced nervously in Margot’s direction, waiting for the older woman to give her some kind of indication that she should listen to Iris.

“That is if the Laird’s maither doesnae object, of course.” Iris placed her hands on her hips and turned to Margot with a questioning smile. She wanted to make a point to her husband-to-be, yet she didn’t want to step on any toes and jeopardize the friendships she had made.

Lifting her hands in the air, Margot made a gesture of surrender. “I dinnae object, Cayden forbade us from interfering in his affairs, so ye willnae hear any objections from me.”

Robyn sniggered, looking away when her mother glared at her.

“Would ye mind doing that for me?” Iris turned back to the maid, feeling encouraged when Margot hadn’t objected. It was nice to know that the ladies were on her side, even if the mischievous glint in Robyn’s eyes had concerned her a little.

“Aye, Me Lady,” the maid sprang into action and hurried to gather all the things.

“Well, something had to change sooner or later.” Robyn bit on her lips reaching for an apple.

“Ye be quiet, an’ dinnae get involved.” Margot narrowed her eyes at her daughter, yet failed to hide her amusement as she carried on eating.

Iris left the dining hall, determined to get some answers from the Laird even if she had to force them out of him.

Minutes passed before she found herself waiting at the study door, two maids poised at her sides with trays of cutlery and food. Raising her hand to knock, Iris noticed the flickering light that poured out from the crack beneath the study door. The only discernable sound coming from the room was the gentle scraping of a quill against parchment.

She took a deep breath and knocked.

“Who is it?” Cayden’s deep voice carried through the wood.

“I have food; can I come in?” she asked, her voice trembling with nervousness and anticipation. The idea had seemed like a good one at the time, yet she hadn’t anticipated how nervous she would be when it came to execution.

The scratching ceased. “Iris?” Cayden sounded more than just a little confused.

Her heart pounded furiously as she worked up the courage to respond. “’Tis me,” Iris replied and pushed the door until the heavy oak gave way beneath the tips of her fingers.

Cayden looked up from his desk, a look of sheer curiosity mixed with confusion on his face. “Iris. What brings ye here?” he asked, putting his quill down.

The small room was cluttered with rows of shelves that lined the walls from end to end. Even the large mahogany desk seemed far too cluttered with rolls and rolls of parchment accompanied by leather-bound ledgers. The flickering candlelight cast shadows over all of the mess. It seemed clear to Iris that Cayden’s study was possibly the only room in the entire castle that Margot hadn’t had a hand in organizing.

“I was hoping that we could have a meal together,” Iris replied, her voice soft as she beckoned the maids into the room.

His confused expression transformed into a fierce glare as the two girls cleared off a table next to this desk and began to set out the food and silverware.

Iris could feel the tension in the room escalating with each passing moment as Cayden’s piercing gaze bore into her. She knew that her request was unexpected and perhaps even audacious, yet she refused to let fear hold her back any longer. She dismissed the maids with a kind smile and watched as they shut the door behind them.

Cayden remained quiet, his eyes never leaving her for a second.

She felt a sense of anticipation building up inside her as she waited for him to speak. After what seemed like an eternity, he let out a heavy sigh, and Iris braced herself for what was to come.

“Iris, ye ken that this is quite irregular,” he said, his voice laced with something close to frustration. “I have important work to attend to here, and I cannae be bothered with trivial matters. I eat when the work is done.” He gestured to the stacks of parchment on his desk as he pursed his lips in irritation.

“Trivial matters such as eating with yer wife-to-be,” Iris stated indifferently.

“If that is how ye choose to see it.” He clenched his jaw in frustration as he sat back in his chair.

“I ken very well that ye have other duties, Me Laird; I am nae a fool. I have been patient with ye, learning all I can about this castle an’ the people who live in it. I am carrying out me end of the bargain an’ learning as best I can how to be yer wife. When exactly are ye planning on rescuing Ashton? I have nae heard a word about that?” She lost her cool and snapped at him, taking a step toward the desk.

Cayden just looked at her, lifting his hand to stroke the stubble that had begun to form on his chin. He seemed thoughtful as he kept his gaze on her. She would have given anything in the world to know what he was thinking behind that deeply intense gaze.

“Ye dinnae have to eat with me if it doesnae please ye; yer maither an’ sister are company enough for me, but at least tell me of yer plans,” she pleaded with him, feeling vulnerable in his presence when he refused to utter even a single word. To her great surprise, Cayden stood, pushing himself up with his hands on the armrests of his chair and rounded the desk until he was facing her. Iris stood there, rooted to the spot as he stopped in front of her and leaned against the edge of the desk with his hands behind him for support. The room was silent enough to hear a pin dropping; no matter how brave she told herself she was, she couldn’t deny the fact that she was terrified of him.

“What do ye want to ken, Iris?” His eyes were dark as he locked his gaze onto hers.

“How come ye’ve been avoiding me since I got here?” She searched his face for an answer, feeling the change in her breathing as her chest began to rise and fall with every breath.

“There are things that need me attention. I cannae come an’ find ye every time there’s news of yer brother,” he growled at her, clenching his jaw.

Iris stood her ground, feeling her courage rising as she read between the lines.

So, there is news regarding Ashton.

“I demand an answer, Me Laird. I will nae leave until ye give me the answer to me question. What is happening with Ashton? Are ye any closer to finding him?”

“Aye.” The Laird waved his hand dismissively in the air.

“Aye?” she asked, breathing through her nose. “That’s all ye have to say about it? Why didn’t ye tell me ye were closer to findin’ him?”

“What would that accomplish?” He stood up from his desk. “Do ye want me to update ye hourly with how close we are? All ye need to ken is when we are gettin’ him back. Until then, it doesnae matter how close we are to findin’ him; we havenae found him until we have found him.”

Iris folded her arms across her chest. “Aye, well, it would be nice to ken.”

“For what?” the Laird asked. “Do ye have suggestions on how to infiltrate Castle Murdoch? Or storm it? Do ye ken the best way to deal with that bloodthirsty clan? How should we deal with the Laird’s men if they give us problems? What is it exactly ye want to ken, and why do ye want to ken it.”

“I dinnae want to ken any of that!” Iris was shaking. “Why do ye have to say such things? I only want to ken that I will see me brother again.”

“And me tellin’ ye that we are slightly closer is nae goin’ to give ye that, is it?”

Iris felt like crying, but she would not do so in front of Cayden. She had to be stronger than that. He might be a donner, but he was the only one who could bring her brother home. She could not do it, and her cousin could not do it. Laird O’Brien was her only hope, and it didn’t help that he infuriated her so much.

“It still doesnae explain why ye have to avoid me so much. Ye talk of me as Lady O’Brien afore we are even married, but ye willnae sit down for supper with me, and ye have meetings as soon as we arrive back at the castle. I fear I might never see ye again.”

“Ye fear that, do ye?” The Laird took a step closer to her. “Ye ken most people are afraid they will see me again, but ye are afraid that ye won’t.”

“Och, I didnae mean it like that, and ye ken it.”

“Aye, and how do ye mean it?” The Laird raised one eyebrow.

How can a man be so intoxicating and infuriating at the same time?

Tension filled the room as he took a step closer. Cayden seemed intrigued by her bravery. He closed the distance, bringing them closer until Iris could almost feel his breath on her face. The look in his eyes was something different. Primal, yet filled with desire.

Iris was surprised by the look of desire in his eyes, and she found that he had backed her against the wall. It scared her, but she had a sense of superiority at eliciting such a hungry look.

Her eyes locked on his as she studied the different shades of blue that made the pit of her stomach coil with desire. She found him attractive, there was no denying that even if she wanted to.

Cayden’s eyes seemed to fill with confusion as he looked down at her, his expression darkening.

What is he thinking?

Iris searched his eyes again, and for a moment, she saw a glimmer of something more than annoyance or skepticism. She saw a flicker of longing, of a desire for something different. The hardness in his face was no longer there as he gazed down at her so tentatively.

“Do ye nae want me? Is that it? Is that why ye have been avoidin’ me? Or is it that ye are scared of me?” Iris asked.

The Laird grabbed her, his eyes wild as he pulled her to him. Her body slammed into his, and she gasped, but the gasp was soon hushed by his lips. Her eyes fluttered shut as they kissed. Her heart pounded in her chest, threatening to escape and explode.

He used his tongue to part her lips, searching the warm depths of her mouth with a fierce hunger.

A deep growl of satisfaction and longing escaped his throat as he pulled her against his chest, using the tips of his fingers to gently massage her arms.

Iris felt as if her body had lost all function in the wake of his touch. Her desires caught flame and soared as he placed his hands on her hips and gently caressed her skin through the fabric of her dress. Before she knew what was happening, Cayden had picked her up, lifting her in his arms before placing her buttocks down on his desk.

Her arms moved as if they possessed a life of their own as her fingers slaked up his chest, exploring the contours of his chest before moving over his shoulders.

Cayden responded in kind as a deep growl escaped his throat, his hands moving up her sides before halting right beneath her breasts. His thumbs gently caressed the bottom of her breasts, sending a shiver of desire through her body.

She moaned in pleasure, wanting more of him as she tilted her head back and allowed him to kiss a path down her jaw and over her neck. The hot sensations coursing through her body drove her wild as she tangled her fingers in his hair, drawing his head closer to her neck.

Cayden suddenly stopped as he lifted his head and looked into her eyes. The sheer amount of confusion she noted in the icy depths of his gaze ended the moment.

Her eyes darted back and forth across his face as she wondered what had just happened. It was as if her challenging words had not come from her, and then he had taken her like a wild predator taking its prey. She breathed heavily, her lips still tingling. Hopping off the desk, she hurriedly fixed her dress and stepped away from him.

What are we doing?

Her mind ran wild with questions as he cleared his throat.

“We leave in a fortnight to get yer brother. That is all I can tell ye at present. Ye have what ye came for.” He seemed to search her face before hesitating, making Iris wonder if he was about to kiss her again.

Cayden turned to leave and shut the door behind him, walking almost as quickly as he’d pushed her against his desk.

Iris felt a wave of confusion engulf her body as she lifted her hand to her mouth, gently feeling her lips. The flesh still tingled from his caress, making her wonder how he really felt about her. She lowered her hand with a sigh and ran her tongue over her lips.

She had come to hear news of her brother, but she had not kissed him for that reason. When she thought about it, it was not she who had kissed him, but he who had taken her and ravaged her with his lips on his desk. Still, she had welcomed it and enjoyed it. She had not fought back against it because of the way it had made her feel.

She had thought of kissing him. They were to marry; it was impossible not to consider it. It was far better than she had imagined.

And Ashton is almost safe.

Her heart beat faster again, but this time because of the news he had given her. It was a gift that she barely deserved. He owed her nothing, yet he was risking his life and the lives of his men.

Iris longed to have her brother back but stopped herself from thinking of his return until he was safe. That had become easier to do now that her mind was filled with the kiss.