Charming the Chieftain by Deanie Roman Page B

shoulders drooped. Feeling foolish, she moved closer to his side and threw the knife down.
    “Please forgive me, I had no idea you were expected.” She pursed her lips, giving Aeden a reproachful glance.
    Fergal dipped his chin, yet made no acknowledgment of her apology. It was just as well. Her nerves were frayed and she had little patience for idle chat. She excused herself and walked from the cave into the sunlight. A bath, at last she would have a bath. Her spirits lifted when she feasted her eyes upon the glistening water that beckoned her weary bones, and she longed to sink into the river’s cool depths and soak her aching limbs. Her mind set, she hastened over to Aeden, who was now on his feet. She shoved down her anger at the man’s obstinance and marched over to him and tapped his shoulder. Caught off guard, he spun around and forced her backwards, her arms whirling as she tried to keep her balance. He lurched forward and grabbed her arm before she dropped to the ground.
    Disconcerted by his touch she cast about for something to say. “Chief, you should not be up and about.”
    A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “We are back to titles I see.”
    Watchful, he lowered the arm on his injured side and winced.
    “Did you pull your threads?” Concerned she reached out to him.
    He shook his head and took a step back. “I’m fine. What is it you wanted?”
    Rebuffed, she stopped herself from asking to see his wound. “I should like to bathe in the river.”
    He regarded her, his expression inscrutable while at the same time he instructed one of his men. “Fergal, see to the perimeter.”
    He bowed, which sent his myriad of braids a-bob. After his departure, an awkward silence ensued.
    “All is clear.”
    “Do not stray from the inlet,” he ordered.
    About to take her leave, his fingers caught the edge of her sleeve to trail down the back of her hand. She stared down at it expecting to see a line seared into her skin.
    “Take care.”
    The heat that forever emanated from him seeped into her clothes. She lifted her gaze. Unexpectedly, a wave of raw emotion overwhelmed her and she stood supplanted, unable to move fearing she would drown under the weight of its intensity.
    • • •
    “One thing’s certain. The lass will need patience and a high tolerance for shyte when she joins with your brother.”
    Aeden frowned. The very idea that Addis would be allowed to claim Elisande as his wife set his teeth on edge.
    “’Tis no’ settled who she weds.”
    He pretended not to notice Ronan’s raised brow.
    “No? I understood the lass were meant as a consolation to soothe Addis’s almighty vanity.”
    Noncommittal, Aeden shrugged, but his friend pressed his point.
    “A man is no’ likely to forget such a humiliation. An
áilleach
like your one will pacify him for a time anyway.”
    “Any woman would do, you ken as well as I.”
    Images of Elisande sharing a bed with Addis caused his stomach to roll. Addis didn’t deserve such a treasure. If a sour-tempered woman could ever be considered as such — but then, he always did prefer fiery to sweet.
    Ronan shook his head. “Onora has spoken of her niece’s winsome ways for far too many years. You are fooling yourself, brother, if you do no’ believe those stories have whetted the appetite of every able-bodied man in the clan.”
    Aeden skewered his friend with a menacing glare.
    “And your appetite, has it been roused as well?” His tone was deadly quiet.
    Smiling from ear to ear, Ronan replied, “Aye, Chief. Greatly — any man would be pleased to entertain such a lively woman in his bed.”
    Aeden scowled, unimpressed with Ronan’s glib tongue. He could not bear the idea of Elisande giving herself to any man except himself. Just the vision of her naked and in the arms of another man filled his belly with bile.
    After some moment’s contemplation, he looked at Ronan. An unspoken agreement passed between them.
    “We’re going to have a devil of a time