Page 7 of The Wolf Laird's Obsession
He waited for more, but she gave him none.
Stubborn lass.
He studied her face. The way she tried to compose herself. Control herself. Talking as if they were speaking about frivolities, not her fate.
“Did yer braither order ye?”
“I am here because it is needed,” she replied steadily, though the smallest flare in her nostrils showed. “That is what matters.”
Needed.A word he didn’t like. But he lived by it. Bled by it.
He leaned in close, enough to see the different hues of blue in her eyes. Too close now to ignore the faint scent of heather that clung to her. He found himself drawing closer despite himself.
“And what do ye want in exchange?” he asked.
Sorcha’s brow furrowed, as if the thought offended her. “Want?”
A brittle laugh threatened to burst out of him. “Aye. Everyone wants something.”
He circled her once, assessing her slowly, and just as before, she did not waver under his eyes, a defiance in her stillness.
She did not answer him.
She willnae break easily. Good.
“Ye’re nae who I expected.”
Her fingers tightened slightly, barely noticeable. “Aye, I ken.”
Rowan stopped in front of her again, the motion bringing her within reach. He could see her pulse beating rapidly at her throat, a flush spreading across her skin.
His hand flexed once. He did not allow himself to wonder what her skin would look like, flushed for another reason.
“So, will ye take me with ye, me Laird, or nae?”
She still held that same steady, infuriating resolve. Like she was offering herself for battle rather than marriage.
His breath caught. A stupid, traitorous pull low in his gut.
He forced his lungs to stay steady.
“Nay,” he said at last.
The air seemed to tighten as the word hung between them.
She did not react. Not even when the word should have cut. Not even when most women would have flinched, begged, or looked down to conceal their shame.
She just stood quietly.
Does she nae care at all?
Her composure unsettled him more than anger ever could.
CHAPTER THREE
Sorcha’s stomach plummeted as if she fell off a cliff. At first, she could not react, shocked by his answer.
Nay? I should have expected this. But we need the alliance. I need to convince him to marry me.
