Taming the Scotsman Read Free

your services.”
    He arched his other brow as a bit of amusement went through him, and he taunted her before he could stop himself. “My naked services?”
    A high blush rose to her cheeks, making her eyes appear more green than gold. “Most certainly not. I’d much rather have you clothed, but if ’tis your custom to walk about bare, well then, I suppose to each his own.”
    For the first time in years he was actually amused. She was a cheeky, bold lass. Unlike anyone he’d ever met before.
    Of course, he’d never before met an unknown well-born woman while he was lying naked in his bed.
    And somewhere deep inside was the question of whether she would be so bold where it counted most…between his fur covers.
    His shaft stirred instantly at the thought and grew more rigid as he swept his gaze over herbody. Aye, she was ample enough to be well worth the savoring. Lush hips and breasts. Probably no more than a year or two younger than he, she would make a fine morsel to nibble.
    One that would probably last out the night until they were both well sated and spent.
    Aye, she had a nice rump. One a man could grab on to and—
    “My lord,” she said firmly, like a tutor addressing an errant, daydreaming child. The tone instantly intruded on his meandering thoughts about her “attributes.” “I am here to procure your services as an escort.”
    He frowned at her words. “My what?”
    “I need a man to accompany me to England.”
    Nay, his mind roared as he remembered all too well what had happened the last time a woman had said those words to him.
    That was the last thing he needed said to him today of all days. Most especially out of the mouth of a beautiful blond woman.
    She took a step back at his snarl.
    “I beg your pardon?” he growled.
    She swallowed. “I need a man to take me to my aunt’s home in England.”
    It was all Ewan could do to stay in his bed and not tear down the walls.
    Surely the Fates were mocking him with this. How could this happen to one man twice in the same lifetime?
    “Why?” he asked.
    Unaware of the fury roiling inside him, she cleared her throat. “I am engaged to be wed to a man I cannot stomach, and I need you to escort me in safety to my aunt’s home so that I won’t have to marry the toad.”
    Ewan cursed foully at that. It echoed off the stone walls around them. “Are you daft?”
    “Most definitely not.”
    “Then why would you come to me?”
    “Because you are the most feared man in Scotland. No one in my father’s clan or my betrothed’s would dare stop you from taking me.”
    “Aye, well, you can forget all about that happening, love. There’s no power on this earth or beyond that could make me take you to England. Now hie yourself out of here and—”
    She stiffened. “I can’t.”
    “You mean you won’t.”
    “Nay,” she said, twisting her hands in the fabric of her brat. “I mean I can’t go back there.”
    “Whyever not?”
    “Because I’ve already left a note saying that I ran off with you.”

Chapter 2
    B y his face, Nora could tell she had just uttered the most horrific words imaginable to the man. His skin tone was a strange, mottled mixture of fury, disgust, and disbelief.
    “What the hell do you mean you left a note?”
    Judging by the wrathful gleam in his icy blue eyes, she had most definitely said the wrong thing.
    Suddenly, Nora was terrified, and that didn’t happen often. Indeed, her father oft said she had been born without a single fear in her body.
    But right now her heart hammered with panic at the sight of his barely leashed wrath. Ewan MacAllister was no small man, and she had no idea just how dangerous he might prove when riled.
    “I had no choice,” she explained, hoping to offset his temper at least a small degree.
    “Woman, we all have choices.” Ewan came off the bed and winced as if a fierce pain had shot through his head.
    The fur fell away from his naked body as he buried the heel of his hand against his left eye