A Warrior's Perception Read Free

soft supple body.
    He pulled back and silently cursed as he tore away from her. She slid down his hot, sweaty body, such sweet torture. She leaned back against the wall, breathless and lost in lusty heat and he was right there with here. He turned quickly on his heel, fists at his side and stalked away, away from her, his traitorous horse, and from the sweet release he had almost lost control of.
    He prayed to his god, Dagma, to give him strength not to turn back and finish what had begun. Only seconds from losing all restraint, he did what a warrior had to do in times such as these, he slammed his mighty fist into the closest tree and cursed the likes of which a pirate would have been proud of. The tree shuddered and bent under the savage onslaught. Its pain was his. Pain, glorious pain burst from his knuckles revealing the crimson stream of his mortality. He welcomed it as his shaft eased.
    How in the name of Dagma had a sixteen-year old virgin seduced him, Laird Kagan McKregan, lover to many far and wide?
    He cursed under his breath as her words to Demon mocked him. .. .bareback against my legs....yer wild heart beat with pleasure....to be astride ye, dear dark, powerful warrior...
    “ Dagma! ”
    His furious footsteps slowly eased as he entered the keep through the main entrance. He had simply gone too long without a woman in his bed. That was it by Dagma. He would nip that problem in the bud before the night was over.
    His roguish smile had returned when he reentered the ballroom in his full glory. Duncan laughed heartily with Kagan's men. They boasted and told tales of battle. The ladies, maids, wives, and even the respected elder women swooned in the warrior's presence. Kagan eyed them all, each one was tall, dark haired, and their skin was the color of goat's milk. He frowned, all of them suddenly seemed weak and inferior compared to the girl in the stable.
    “ Come my laird; join us in drink, in song. We celebrate this mighty night, yer victory, and yer glory! ” Duncan announced loudly.
    “ Aye! ” shouted his men, his friends.
    The massive handsome laird took the offered cup and drained it to the last bitter drop, thirsty for its cure.
    “ Aye! ” he proclaimed in his deep baritone. “ Peace has been restored to the highlands and her borders are secured. Drink and celebrate our good fortune and return. To my sworn brothers, to victory, and to...our women. ”
    “ Aye! ” answered his men holding their cups into the air.
    As his cup was refilled, he watched Ell'andra sneak through the balcony doors and head up the stairs in the shadows. His thoughts traveled. He wondered if she would think of their encounter in her dreams. Would she envision him as a knight in shining armor, a dark sinister warrior, or a dark swarthy pirate hell bent on stealing her virginity? He smiled as he edged up the steps and followed her footsteps down the hallway. He watched her slip through her bedchamber doors and wondered why there was no lock on it.
    Ell'andra. Ell'andra Duncan of Shinonoble Keep, a beauty hid right before my eyes for all these years.
    He turned and slowly made his way back down the staircase to the awaiting crowd. Perhaps now was as good a time as any to become betrothed. He was well into his twenties and would soon need sons to inherit his titles and lands.
    He raised his large hands as he entered the crowd to quickly put a stop to their tongues. When the laird spoke, all listened and even the proud Duncan bowed to his presence.
    A hush fell across the room as he spoke. “ It is with great pleasure that I come to the mighty Shinonoble Keep. My victories ha'e been just and good and my lands are rich with bounty. Now, it is time for me to take a wife. Accordin' to King James, I must take a wife in five years’ time to ensure my estates are entrusted to my lineage, so there will be a great gatherin' at McKregan Keep in four years. Pray thee all, keep yer daughters intact and I shall choose amongst our people.