My Notorious Highlander (Highland Adventure 5) by Vonda Sinclair Page B

lying if she told him she'd never thought of him. But every time she'd imagined his face, she'd experienced a surge of conflicting emotions. Of course, he was devastatingly attractive in a dark and dangerous sort of way, but she'd also thought him a cold-blooded killer. Though she now knew that wasn't true, she still felt uneasy around him. She didn't quite trust him. When enraged, would he switch suddenly and become that man who'd executed her foster brother?
    "You're still frightened of me, aye?" he asked, giving her a speculative look.
    "Nay." 'Twas a lie, but she didn't want to appear weak. That was something she'd learned with the Keiths . Never show your vulnerabilities. Besides, she wasn't as afraid of Torrin as she was a few days ago.
    "I don't believe you," he murmured.
    She forced a smile, a brave front. "As I told you before, I fear no man."
    "Prove it." His tone was soft but challenging.
    "What?"
    "Prove you're not afraid of me." Though his eyes dared her, his lips quirked into a faint teasing grin.
    "I'm here alone with you, with no one else to protect me should you fly into a murderous rage. What more proof do you need?"
    He lifted a brow. "Kiss me."
    His soft words stunned her speechless and she could do naught but gape at him. His gaze traveled to her lips, then lifted to delve into hers once again. He was serious… deadly serious.
    "Are you mad?" she demanded, once she had the power of speech again. "Nay!" She turned and marched back to the exit door, praying the storm would end soon, not because she was repulsed by him, but because the thought of kissing him threw her mind and body into a tizzy. She did not like the sweltering, disturbed feelings he gave her. She was a strong, independent woman, and he wanted to take away her power and control. She knew he could do it easily. 'Twas one thing she'd become more and more aware of over the past couple of days.
    "Coward," he murmured just behind her in a teasing tone.
    Should she run out into the storm, or be brave and face him? "This is a church, in case you haven't noticed. ' Twould be sacrilege," she whispered.
    "Are you thinking God cannot hear you if you whisper?" he asked.
    "Nay, of course, 'tis only…" What? She didn't know, but she couldn't kiss Torrin in a church… or anywhere.
    "Kissing is not a sin," he said in an intimate tone that made her crave exactly what they were discussing.
    "Some would disagree with you for it incites…" She snapped her mouth shut.
    "Incites what?"
    She bit her lip refusing to utter the word lust to him. Saints! He did make her lustful. The last time she'd felt that way, with MacBain, it had resulted in naught but embarrassment and a shattered heart.
    "I thought you a brave lady… but alas, 'tis not true."
    "Don't tease me, MacLeod," she warned, sending him a glare that she hoped would make him back down.
    "Why not? 'Tis fun." He smiled. Blast! He had a beautiful and compelling smile.
    "For you, I'm certain," she muttered, annoyed with herself because of her response to him, and annoyed with him for prickling his way beneath her skin.
    "I will make the kiss fun for you as well," he promised. "The added benefit is that I won't tease you anymore, once you've proven your bravery."
    "You are naught but a manipulative rogue."
    He grinned, a look of pure mirth, and she could not look away. "I'll not argue with that. Would you kiss a knave in the… nave?"
    Before she could help herself, she snorted with laughter, for they were indeed standing in the nave of the church. Reverend MacMahon would castigate them severely if he were to hear their conversation.
    Torrin glanced around behind himself, then whispered, "No one will see us."
    "God will see us," she reminded him, hoping he would cease his pursuit.
    "God sees us wherever we are, not just in churches."
    She blew out an exasperated breath. "You are mad. Why on earth would I want to kiss you? You're but a thorn in my side."
    "Well, there are many reasons. There is naught thorny