Wicked Laird: Brethren of Stone Book 2 Read online

  A soft knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. “Yes,” he yelled.

  “It’s me,” Elle called.

  Every muscle tensed as he rose to answer the door. He wanted to be near her, he always did. But now wasn’t the time. He needed to plan his next move and, honestly, he was still upset about earlier. He wanted more from her. The truth was that he wanted her to return his feelings.

  Opening the door only wide enough to greet her, he leveled her with his stare. “Now, isn’t a good time. What do ye need?”

  Looking down the hall, she stepped closer to him. “Can I come in please? I wish to have a private conversation.”

  He gritted his teeth. “Elle, I don’t think—” but he didn’t finish.

  Her hand came to his chest and she gently pushed him backward. “I’ll only keep you a minute.”

  “Fine,” he grumbled, unable to resist her.

  As she moved into the room, she snapped the door closed behind her. Then turning back to him, she looked up at him with her luminous eyes. “Tell me what you meant earlier about how your anger was your problem and not mine.”

  He gave her a long look. He especially didn’t want to discuss his feelings now. He was angry about what was happening, angry that he was making the same mistakes over and over. “Elle, I’ve got plans to make. I don’t have any more time today to—”

  She stepped close to him. “When I told ye today that I only wanted to be your employee, I want ye to ken that it isn’t because I don’t care fer ye.”

  “Ye care fer me?” It soothed him somewhat. But it wasn’t enough.

  “I do.” She rested her hands against his chest. The touch was light he could smell her sweet scent like spring flowers after a rain and the feel of her was making his manhood twitch with need. Excitement rushed through his veins. “I only said that because I…” she took a breath and, he couldn’t help himself, he wrapped his hands around her waist so that their bodies came together.

  “Why?” he asked.

  Nibbling on her lip, she looked up at him. “I don’t want to get hurt. At least not by you. You are the one thing that’s been good for so long and I don’t want to ruin it the way everything else in my life ends up ruined.” She drew in a breath. “And you…you deserve a woman who can give you all the best in life.”

  Those words were like a punch in the gut. Words failed him, so instead, he captured her lips with his own. Her hands came up around his neck pulling him closer as he slanted her mouth opened and swiped his tongue against hers.

  She moaned, pressing closer, and he slid his hands down the fullness of her hips to come around her behind and bring her closer. He nearly came undone. The kiss lengthened and deepened. Without real thought he lifted her into his arms and carried her to his bed. He didn’t have a plan. But as he lay her down, his weight on top of hers, he wanted her more than anything he’d ever desired in his life.

  Her lips were devouring his and, for a moment, he tried to pull back. Thoughts played through his head distantly. She’d never been with a man. It shouldn’t be like this. He should wait. But when her legs locked about his waist and the juncture between them pressed to his manhood, all his best intentions left the room.

  They began to move together. Their clothes still separated them but the rhythm was delicious. And then it wasn’t enough.

  More…he needed much more.

  Ripping at the buttons on his shirt, he heard them pop, scattering along the floor. Pulling the sleeves down his arms, he tossed the garment letting it sail across the room. He didn’t bother to check where it landed, he’d hardly lifted his lips from hers.

  Still kissing her, he started on the tiny row of buttons on the front of her dress. He wished she’d worn the more simple clothing. As he finished the last button, he nearly growled with frustration to find a corset and chemise underneath. What did a man have to do to touch a little skin?

  He tugged the dress down her arms so that it pooled around her waist. “Elle,” he murmured as he began kissing a trail down her neck and across her collarbone.

  “Blair,” she returned.

  He loved the breathy sound of her voice, the way her legs slightly trembled around him.

  “Blair,” she said again with more urgency.

  “I ken, love,” he said. “I’m working on these damn strings.”

  “No, Blair. Do you smell smoke?” She started to push at his chest.

  Focusing on the room, he stood up to find a thick cloud of black smoke filling the room. “Hell and damnation,” he roared, as he spun around.

  How had McKenzie gotten to the boat so quickly? But as he turned, he saw his shirt ablaze on top of the desk. He’d inadvertently lit it on fire.

  Crossing the room in a two long strides, he grabbed the garment and snuffed out the flame. Then crossed to the porthole to toss the garment out into the water.

  But as he did it, smoke poured from the room.

  Elle coughed and jumped from the bed, then threw open the door.

  “Fire,” someone yelled from the deck.

  That was the moment that Blair realized just how bad this was going to be. It might have been better if it had been McKenzie after all.

  He jumped in front of Elle to cover her, and began fumbling with her buttons once again. He used to be good with a ladies’ buttons. What had happened to him?

  But he didn’t get them done in time. As he reached the buttons at her breasts, he heard Will from the hall. “Blair Sinclair, ye’ve gone and done it now.”

  Elle heard Will and her eyes widened as she looked up at Blair. He scowled back, his eyebrows drawn together, his mouth pinched. His fingers slowed as he continued to do her buttons.

  “Aye,” he answered without turning.

  “Ye ken what this means?” Will said.

  Elle peeked over Blair’s shoulder to see several men standing on either side of Will. She noted that he’d pulled a pistol from his belt. Why would he do such a thing?

  “Aye,” Blair repeated, his shoulder’s straightening. “Put yer pistol away. There’s no need fer that.”

  He was still shirtless and Elle couldn’t help but let her eyes wander down the length of his muscular torso. She’d like to run her hands over the sprinkling of hair on his chest. How would it feel? She couldn’t get too worried over Will. He’d never hurt his brother. “Why does Will have a gun?”

  “He’s defending yer honor, love,” Blair rumbled as he closed the last button and turned to face the other men, still blocking her from their view.

  “My honor?” She squeezed her eyebrows together. McKenzie had come in and out of their cottage freely. And though he’d never touched her that way, the entire town believed he’d taken liberties. What honor was left? “There is no need fer that.” She tried to step around Blair, but he tucked her behind him again.

  “Ye agree, then, to Stone’s terms?” Will asked. Elle couldn’t see him but he spoke in a low rumbling voice that had an edge of danger.

  “I agree. We’ll take care of it first thing in the morning.” Blair grabbed the edge of the door. “Now give me a moment to explain to Elle.”

  “Make it quick,” Will said. “Then I’ll escort her back tae her room. She’ll not stay here tonight.”

  “Fine,” Blair nearly growled and then closed the door.

  Much of the smoke had cleared but a foggy haze still hung about the room. Elle swallowed a lump that had risen in her throat. “Blair, what just happened?”

  “Elle,” he reached over and put a hand on each of her arms, gently rubbing up and down them. “We’re to marry in the morning.”

  She couldn’t hold in the gasp that escaped her lips. “Marry?” She tried to pull away but his grasp tightened. “We can’t marry.”

  “We can and we will.” His hand dropped from her arms.

  Now that he wasn’t touching her, an emptiness filled her insides. “But we didn’t even…and my reputation is already…and—”

  “Elle.” He bit the word ou
t, his voice harsh. “I’m sure ye don’t want to be tied to me but—”

  “That isn’t true at all,” she protested, trying to touch him. He backed away.

  “But Will didn’t just come to help me. He came to watch over you. Be a guardian of sorts since ye don’t have one and Stone didn’t trust me to be the gentleman. My brother takes his duties as an overlord very seriously and he’s made himself your and Ailean’s unofficial benefactor.”

  Elle closed her eyes and then slowly opened them, trying to make sense of these words. “Why would he get so involved? Take my side over yours?”

  “Why would I rush into freezing cold water? Fight for this land against McKenzie? It’s what Sinclairs do. We’re a hard-headed bunch as yer about to learn.” He turned then. “Have yerself ready for the ceremony by nine.”

  “Blair, we shouldn’t do this. I can tell by yer voice ye don’t want to. We’ll just sit down and explain to Will together.”

  “I am not the one whose voice says we shouldn’t do this. That’s yers. Goodnight, Elle.” Then he opened the door again and swept his arm toward the exit to gesture it was time for her to go.

  Not knowing what else to do, she left. But the dread that had been building in her stomach threatened to overtake her completely.

  Chapter Twelve

  Blair sat on the edge of his bed and held his hands to his head. He was a fool. A bloody idiot who deserved what he was getting. A forced marriage with a woman who didn’t want him.

  He had to face the facts. Women, they wanted to lay with him. But they didn’t want to be with him. Look at his past. He’d been too busy to notice in his younger days but it was no coincidence that the two women he’d wanted to be with didn’t want him. For different reasons of course but it was ending the same result.

  That wasn’t true either. Elle was without a family to defend her honor, which should have meant that she didn’t have to marry someone she didn’t want. But his family was so bloody meddlesome that she was still being forced into an unwanted marriage. Her situation was worse than his.

  Tossing himself backward, his head hit the pillow. He’d like nothing more than to fall asleep. Allow the blissful ignorance of dreams to overtake him. But his manhood still ached and his mind spun in circles.

  Perhaps if they did marry, he could change her mind. Prove to her he was kind and caring. As a laird he’d provide an excellent life for her and Ailean. She’d have to see that wouldn’t she?

  He got out of bed. These were the words he should have said to her.

  Making his way down the hall, he was determined to tell her all of it, how much he’d do for her. But when he reached the door, he realized there would be no getting in. His brother sat against the wood frame with a pillow behind his head. He obviously didn’t intend on going anywhere.

  “Yer not getting in.” Will’s voice dropped low, sounding far more like their brother Stone than he’d ever heard Will before.

  He gave his brother’s leg a soft kick. “I just want to talk to her. Besides, we’re marrying in the morning. What’s the harm of seeing her now?”

  Will stood up then, his arms crossing. “Ye’ve gone mad if ye think I’m letting ye in. Tonight, I’m her brother not yers.”

  “I haven’t gone mad, ye’ve gone completely daft.” Blair stepped into his brother’s face.

  “If she were my sister, ye’d not be askin’ to be in her room the night before the wedding. Ye’ve been takin’ advantage of her and ye ken it.”

  That made Blair’s blood boil. His fist clenched at his sides. “Stop meddling like an old woman. I’ve been protecting her. Feeding her and her brother, keeping her safe from a tyrant.”

  Will rolled his eyes, which only fueled Blair’s anger. Then Will gave Blair a small push backward. “Ye mean ye moved her into yer cottage, ye’ve takin’ liberties with her, and ye—“

  Blair didn’t allow him to finish. He planted his fist in his brother’s face instead. Blood spurted out of Will’s nose but he gave a grin as he lunged at Blair, sending him flying backward into the wall before they both crashed to the floor.

  Wrestling back and forth, Blair tried to turn Will over so that he could pummel Will’s face again.

  “Blair?” He heard Elle’s voice behind him. “Will? What are ye doing?”

  Will turned to look back and Blair used the opportunity to fling Will over his head with his legs. Than he jumped up and rushed toward Elle. Reaching her side, he picked her up as he moved her into the room and then slammed the door behind him, clicking closed the lock.

  “Blair.” Elle pushed at his chest even as he held her in his arms. “What the bloody—”

  Planting his lips on hers he silenced her with a kiss. One of his hands snaked up into her hair, while her hands ceased pushing and snaked about his neck, pulling him closer.

  Slanting open her mouth, he kissed her until they were both breathless, even as Will pounded on the door. “I wanted to tell ye, lass,” he said as he raised his head. “That I’ll be a good husband to ye.”

  Her eyes grew round and her puffy lips fell open. “I’ve no doubt that ye will.”

  He leaned down, and kissed her again, his insides relaxing a little at the coil of tension loosened. “Ye won’t regret marryin’ me, I swear it.”

  Her eyes welled with tears and he watched as she blinked them several times. “Oh Blair,” her breath caught. “I couldn’t ask for a better man than ye.”

  Reluctantly, he set her down. “I’m glad to hear ye say that.” Then he took a step back. “Now, I’m gonna let ye rest while I go face Will’s fists. I’m gonna catch hell fer this.”

  Elle watched him leave as she nibbled her lip in worry. Not about Will. She didn’t think he’d really hurt his brother.

  She’d never doubted for a second that Blair would make a fine husband. He’d make the best. How could he doubt that?

  It was her who wasn’t good enough for him.

  By insisting she talk with him, she’d condemned him to a life with her. A woman who had no family, who brought nothing but trouble.

  The right thing would be to leave. But then what would happen to Ailean?

  Letting out a cry of frustration, she paced the room. What if she married Blair? Would he grow to resent her? She’d have to make sure she was a perfect wife.

  She sat on the bed, threading her fingers. She needed to sleep so that she could be a beautiful bride in the morning.

  At least she had a few dresses from Eliza. She’d never had a sister before, but a sister-in-law would be nice. She honestly wished Eliza was here now. She’d like to have another woman to talk to.

  Her brother wouldn’t even attend her wedding. That made tears well in her eyes. Of all the silly things to cry about.

  But it only added to her worry that this wedding was doomed for failure.

  Covering her mouth with her hand, she lay down on her pillow and willed herself not to cry.

  She thought she’d feel better after sleep but the truth was, the morning dawned grey and bleak, and her mood was equally dark. She dressed and opened her door, seriously considering again just leaving.

  But as she slid the door open, Will fell into her room. “What the…” he yelled.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” she murmured as she took in his face. His nose looked broken.

  “What are ye doing?” he asked sitting up. He turned to her, giving her a scowl.

  “I think I should be getting you a cold compress.” She bent down, to look at his nose. “I think it’s broken.”

  “Not the first time,” he grunted. “But I’ll get Blair back. I just decided I wouldn’t mangle him right before his wedding.”

  She winced. “Why does there have to be a wedding?”

  Will’s eyes widened. “Ye don’t want to marry my brother?”

  “Of course I do,” she answered, meaning every word. “But he shouldn’t have to be strapped with me just because I went into his room.”

  Will shook his head. “Yes, h
e should. Besides, ye’re perfect for him.”

  She caught her breath. Those words warmed her. “I’d rather he said those words.”

  “He will,” Will stood. “If yer ready fer breakfast, I’ll take ye to the galley.”

  She tried not to sigh. While she appreciated Wil’s words, she was less enamored with how much he’d stuck his nose into her affairs. “I don’t need ye to escort me.”

  “I think ye do.” Then he gingerly pulled himself up to standing. “Yer gonna love havin’ a big family.”

  She quirked a brow. He must be jesting. “Are ye always so involved with one another?”

  “Oh yes,” he answered giving her a painful looking grin.

  “Wonderful,” she answered without enthusiasm. Will really wasn’t giving her many choices here. It looked as though today would in fact be her wedding day.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The weather didn’t improve as the sailors assembled to bear witness to the nuptials.

  Elle had taken some time after breakfast to dress her hair but everything she did didn’t feel like the way she’d pictured her wedding.

  Not that she’d pictured it a great deal. But when she had, she’d at least been happy. Not that she’d ever anticipated a love match but she hadn’t considered that he wouldn’t at least be a willing party. Her groom was being forced by his family.

  Shaking her head, she tried to clear these thoughts. He cared for her, Elle knew he did or he wouldn’t have kissed her like he had or protected her. She just wished he’d made the choice to marry her.

  As she stood between the captain and Will, Blair approached. He looked handsome as ever but his face was pinched and serious. No smile touched his lips.

  It was then a tear finally slipped down her cheek. She tried to brush it away before anyone noticed but Blair saw it anyway. His chin pulled back as his mouth tightened.