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.

If you were six when you came here, and you are now...," he said, and paused as if waiting for her to fill in her age.She signed as she thought the matter over."Are you still awake, Anora?""I was counting."After much silence, Niall said, "Dinna you know how to count?""Of course I know how to count. How would I be able to keep track of my sheep if I did not know how to count?...

He leaned close to her and took a deep breath, unsettling her. "You smell of lavender. I wouldna believe a shepherdess would smell so fine.""I bathed in a tub full of lavender this morning, just for you, so it seems, as I knew you would appreciate the effort.

She was still of the opinion that if she threatened him sufficiently, he would leave. It had worked well for her before - on two separate occasions. Not that the men had been so well muscled - or half naked.Then she frowned. What if under the sheepskin covers, the man was entirely bare? That would put him at more of a disadvantage, she decided.

Micheil growled an oath and shoved through the crowd into the circle. “They’re too young to take up fighting,” he argued. “No one would accost them.”“Were those lads on the whisky wagon too young to be waving their dirks at brigands armed with claymores, then?”That stopped Micheil in his tracks. He drew his weapon.Donal grinned. “That’s better. Let’s dance, shall we?

Then she smiled.But there was something different about this one. Like she’d decided something, and it had to do with him.This smile hit Donal like a fist to the gut. He got the distinct impression that he might be in a different sort of trouble than he’d ever been in before. But this trouble, he might come to enjoy.

Some things a man canna last at.

I would do anything for you, lass. You only have but to ask. Sleep now, and we will leave soon.""I am...ready for more," she whispered.He laughed. "'Tis good to know. I have been ready forever.

But know this, the lass will wed you -- her words -- and if you wed another in the interim, it will go badly for you."Marcus smiled. He loved her and if it was in his power to do so, they would be wed.