She entered the hall at the same time he did from the opposite side. With a cry that told her exactly how worried she'd been about him, she raced into his arms.She could hear the reverberation of his laugh in his chest as he lifted her up and spun her in his arms. Still in his embrace, he set her feet back on the ground and pressed a quick kiss on her lips, the brevity of which she suspected was due to their audience. His voice was low and husky. "Miss me?"-Kenneth Sutherland & Mary of Mar

Kieran unfolded the letter and scanned the scrawled message.... 'Beware an English assassin.' He knew exactly what this meant.

Duncan faced him and glowered. "You're the only man I know who could cause a scandal whilst out senseless.

I promise ye, lass, I'll keep ye safe. No one will harm ye." He grasped at anything he could think of to dry up her tears. "I offer ye the protection of my body and my sword arm for as long as we bide together. And any time ye might have need of them after."Her whole frame shuddered with a silent sob."Please, lass." He stroked her from the crown of her head to the base of her spine. She shivered under his touch, so he didn't do it again. "Elspeth, sweetheart, ye dinna have to cry so.

Mary dragged in a long breath as the kiss eased to an end, but she wouldn't look at him. Her cheeks were red, her eyes downcast.Mal put his hand under her chin, gently tilting her head up. "Don't feel shame, love. There's nothing shameful about kissing a man because you enjoy it."The look in her eyes when she finally met his gaze wasn't shame. It was defiance, and fear.

Ye have to be bold, lad. We're told that ladies want cringing politeness from a gentleman, but what they really want is a bit of forwardness, even carnality. It's exciting for them.

He snorted. If she was truly the one he sought, she was not safe in the least. "Mayhap we could go together."..."Nay," she said, taking Niall's arm firmly and forcing him to retire to her bed, shocking him that she was so determined and concerned. "Lie down. I will do this. You cannot go anywhere. What if you fell off your horse on the way?...""I wouldna' fall off my horse," he said. "I was born to the saddle.

Anora signed, then retook her seat. "I believe you are the most handsome man I have ever encountered."Niall raised his brows at hearing the news. "Whatever made you think to say that, Anora?""Poor Matthew, he has a weak chin and an unmanly nose. Now you, your jaw is strong and persuasive.""I thought you said I was demanding.""Commanding, you said. And you have the loveliest dark brown eyes, like a stormy dark sea.""That you have never been on.""Aye.

Oh, how she loved the braw Highlanders, his boldness as he'd regard her with his discerning gaze, and how she wished he'd touch her with his hands in the same places and not with just his eyes.

The front of the man's kilt suddenly became very wet and Ian's eyes widened in surprise."Did he just piss in a Munro kilt?"Ruairi smiled. "I think he did.""The bastard has nay respect