Highland Warrior by Connie Mason Page B

make you smile again.”
    Without waiting for an invitation, she plopped into his lap and wound her arms around his neck. “Do you nae remember how good we were together?”
    “Are you trying to make Niall jealous?” Ross asked.
    “Niall isna half the man you are. I doona belong to him. I am yours for the taking, Ross.”
    “Take her, MacKenna; you deserve each other.” It was his wife’s furious voice.
    Ross jumped to his feet, spilling Seana on the floor. “Gillian, I thought you had retired for the night.”
    “I forgot my shawl,” Gillian said, retrieving the garment from the back of her chair, where she had left it. “I hope you both enjoy your evening.” She slanted Seana a contemptuous glance and walked away.
    “Damn you!” Ross gritted from between clenched teeth as he started after her.
    Seana reached up and grasped his leg, stopping him in his tracks. “The MacKay lass hates you. Doona make a fool of yourself over her, Ross.”
    Ross shook his leg free and lifted Seana to her feet. “No one, man or woman, makes a fool of Ross MacKenna.” So saying, he took off after Gillian.
    “Ross,” Seana cried, “doona go to her!”
    He paid her no heed.
    “ ’Tis no use, lass,” Gizela told Seana. “Accept it. You have no power over the laird. He belongs to the MacKay lass. ’Tis the way of it, and there is naught you can do to change the hand of fate. The flame hasna won yet, and there is heartache to come, but I have seen the laird’s future, and you have no place in it.”
    Seana gave Gizela a vicious shove. “Where did you come from, old woman? Go away. You know naught.”
    Spinning on her heel, she flounced off.
     
    Ross was in a foul mood when he entered the solar and stormed into the bedchamber. Knowing that his kinsmen thought him a besotted fool made his blood boil. He had a wife, and she had damn well better begin acting like one. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Alice disrobing Gillian. Wearing naught but her shift, Gillian tried to hide herself behind her maid.
    “Leave us!” Ross barked.
    “Nay doona go!” Gillian cried with equal fervor.
    “Alice,” Ross warned when Alice wavered.
    Turning, Alice fled. Gillian reached for her chamber robe. Ross tore it from her fingers and tossed it aside.
    “What do you want, MacKenna?”
    “I should think that would be obvious. My kinsmen believe I am a besotted fool, that I am weak for letting you deny me my marital rights.”
    She backed away from him. “I doona think you are besotted with me—far from it. I think you are wise to realize we doona suit.”
    His face set in determined lines, Ross reached for her, bringing her against him. “I have been too indulgent with you. I was wrong to deny myself what I wanted.”
    Gillian struggled, but to no avail. “Why do you want a woman who doesna like you?”
    His grin was not comforting. “I can make you like me. I can make you like everything I do to you. Have you forgotten our wedding night? You burned in my arms. You writhed and gasped and screamed with pleasure. Why are you denying yourself the joys of the marriage bed?”
    “For the very reasons you just named,” Gillian shot back. “I doona want to burn or writhe or scream. I doona want to feel pleasure with you. I am a MacKay.”
    “Foolish woman,” Ross growled. Then he kissed her.
    But Ross wanted more than just kisses. He wanted to touch her hot, wet center, to make her respond, to exult in sweet victory when she climaxed in his arms.
    He wanted to conquer her, body and soul.
    He wanted to burn in her flame.
    Scooping her into his arms, he carried her to the bed and followed her down. Her shift came apart in his strong hands, and he tossed it aside. Then he rolled on top of her, sliding his uninjured palm along the smooth length of her thigh.
    “You feel good,” he muttered. “Better than I remember. You’re a bonny lass, Gillian.”
    To Gillian’s shame, she was enjoying the weight of Ross’s body atop hers. All her