Lucas was able to follow Ella through the keep until they reached her bed chamber door. There was no mistaking her mood, as she slammed the wooden door behind her. Torn on how to proceed, he swallowed the last bit of his fear and knocked on the door. No answer came.

“Ella, please, let me explain,” he begged, knocking again. “Lass tell me what troubles ye? Please?”

“Lucas, just leave me be,” she said through the door.

“I willnae, lass. Now let me in…” he said, nervously looking back and forth down the corridor. The last thing he needed was a maid to see the new Laird begging at the lass’s door. “Ella…” he said. “Yer being daft, lass, let me explain.”

Magnus came down the corridor catching the moment and shaking his head, “What troubles the lass?” he asked.

Lucas ran his hand through his hair, shrugging he looked at his friend. “Th’ lass isn’t familiar with our ways, she must’ve heard me arguing with ye and Calum against havin’ her stay.”

“What th’ hell was she daein’ in the council hall?” Magnus asked.

Truth was Lucas wasn’t sure if she was even aware of what she was doing in the council hall, but he couldn’t for the life of him think of any other reason she would run and lock him out of her chambers.

Ella whipped the door open. She looked up at him, her eyes rimmed in red and filled with fury. Och, she was definitley in the council hallway and heard incorrectly, he thought. “Ella, ‘tis not what ye think lass.” He tried reaching for her, but she swatted his hand away, turning instead to slam the door in his face. He stuck his foot in stopping her and she backed away, reluctant but allowing him entry.

“What do you want Lucas? To force me into a loveless marriage where once again I have no say as to my fate!?” she said.

“Ella, ye don’t understand. That’s exactly what I dinnae want. It wasnae like what ye heard, ye have to let me explain.” He looked at her, wanting nothing more but to take her into his arms, and explain everything. He wanted to take away all the hurt and betrayal she felt, wiping it away with his kisses. But her anger was unrelenting. Damn she was stubborn, he thought.

“You might as well send me back to Evans, at least then I would be able to go back to my own country and people,” she said, and Lucas had had enough. The mere mention of the bastard’s name was enough to send him into a rage, let alone the suggestion that he would send her the man, willingly. He fully entered the room and slammed the door hard behind him, locking the latch. He would have his say without disruption.

“I’ll not have ye even think such a thing!” he shouted at her, blind with rage. Evans was not an option. He would wage war with the entirety of England before he would consent to leave Ella in the control of the man who killed his father and would force her into an unwanted marriage, into an unwanted bed. She was his and his alone. No other man would touch her, while he drew breath, least of all Evans.

“What would you have me do then Lucas? I’ll not be treated like property and that is exactly what you and that blasted council were doing. Making decisions that affect my life without my input. I deserve to have a say in my own future. I would’ve never believed you would be speaking against that. It makes you no better than my father or Evans!” she shouted, as she backed away from him toward the back of the room and the bed.

No better that her father? Is that what she thought? His blood boiled. He struggled to bring his anger under control. Everything move he made, every thought he had since they arrived at the keep was what was best for Ella. Nay, every waking thought he’d had since waking in that blasted barn had been consumed by her.

“I’ll show ye lass, that I’m nothing like yer da or that bastard commander,” he said, walking toward her. He moved her against the stone wall by sheer force of his nearness. He looked into her eyes and watched her defiance as he pulled her face toward his. He brought his mouth down onto hers in a damning kiss, determined to show her exactly what he thought of her comparison. She fought him, using her hands to push against his chest, but he refused to let her go.

He felt the wetness of her tears and thought better of continuing the kiss. Anger or no, he wouldn’t force her into anything. She relaxed her hands against his chest, and his breath caught. No other woman had ever caused his passion to flair like Ella. He used a free hand to caress the tears from her face, his own anger fading as desire rushed in to replace it.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, lass. I’ll never force ye intae anything,” he whispered. “I need tae explain what ye think ye heard.”

“The old man said…”

“Nay, I’m the Laird, lass, your ways and ours are not the same. A MacGille willnae force a marriage. There is no decree. Calum was tryin’ to force me tae make the right decision by ye and the clan is all.”

“You won’t force me to marry you?” she asked.

“Nay, ’Tis true, I want to marry ye, ‘twould be the strongest way to protect ye from Evans and his men. But I’ll nae force ye, ever. I want ye tae want to be mine of yer own free will.”

He leaned in and kissed her again, this time softly, searching for not just her lips, but also her acceptance. He felt the heat between them build the longer his lips were on hers. Her breathing became ragged, and surprising him she used her tongue to pry his lips open. Urging him to deepen the kiss. The relief she felt at knowing he would not force her into anything drove her passion. Her taste was rousing, and his throbbing cockstand was proof he couldn’t get enough of her nearness. He used one arm to stabilize her between his body and the wall.

His lips left her mouth and he trailed hot, intense kisses down her throat. He grabbed at her dress, pulling down the front until her round, perfect breasts were exposed to the cool air causing her dark nipples to constrict into budded tips. He sighed, leaning back to take her in. He would never tire of looking at her, open and revealed for him. Her skin shone like porcelain. She was beautiful. An intelligent, challenging woman who made his head spin. He would never tire of her.

“Lucas…” she moaned bringing his head forward, leading him, as he took one of her breasts into his mouth. Teasing first one taut nipple, then the other with his teeth. He lifted her into his arms and moved her over to the bed, laying her on top of the warm plaids.

“I want tae take care of ye. I need tae take care of ye, Ella, let me show ye, please…” he begged, kissing her again, using his tongue to explore her mouth and using his hands on her downy skin. He touched her in places where he knew no man had touched her save him, gladly bringing her pleasure. She arched her body closer to his. She placed her hand on his chin and kissed him back, responding to him eagerly, just as he taught her, nodding into him, giving him the permission he sought to continue. “Yes Lucas, please show me…”

All of the anger between them dissipated as she pressed her hips up into his, begging for the release he know only he could provide. He lifted her skirts and spread her legs, dipping his head and nipping at the sensitive spots behind each knee. Her lips parted, and she instinctively buckled at the tickling pressure as he moved his hands up her thighs, rubbing and kneading her. She smelled of sweet rose, outdoors and her own feminine scent, heady and intoxicating, driving him up toward the center of her sex, as he kissed the insides of her thighs moving slowly, rationing his need, and savoring each piece of her along the way. Stopping only to caress the blond curls that sat where her legs met. They were the only thing standing between him from what he wanted most, yet he reveled in their silken softness.

“Open for me, sweet lass,” he said sweetly, and she complied giving him a light moan of ecstasy as he slipped his kiss down onto her most secret pleasure. He used his tongue to find the height of her sex, licking and tasting her. He leisurely circled the center of her need. Making her beg for release, he knew he would give, but not quite yet. She moaned and urged him closer. He buried himself into her sweetness.

His heart began to pound heavily in his chest as his own manhood hardened in a way he had never known. All in response to her. He needed to prove to Ella and to himself that he was able to love her in a way no other man ever could. He wanted to wipe any thought of giving in to Evans or her father from her mind. His urgency took hold as he sped up his movements. He had never tasted anything as sweet as Ella in her passion. She bucked wildly as he adjusted his body and movements to give her more of what she yearned for. Her moistened center driving him mad with need, he kissed and suckled harder. When he couldn’t bear her pleasure alone any longer, he used his free hand to release his manhood from the confines of his kilt and gripped his erection solidly. He stroked himself in time with his kisses, as Ella tensed, moving beneath him. Tension coiled in his middle. The friction of his own hand mixed with the scent and sounds of Ella’s love causing him to barely hold onto control. She screamed out as he brought her to her release in a fevered pitch, and at the same time his own seed spilled out in an explosion of relief and pleasure. He collapsed onto her, his breathing as ragged and tortured as hers. She was heaven in all of its forms. She brought him to heights he hadn’t known were even possible. He would never let her go. He gently lowered her skirts and adjusted himself on the bed, taking her into his arms.

They laid together for a while, as he watched the light go from day to twilight. Lucas stroking her hair, and claiming her warmth for himself. He didn’t want to break the spell of their coupling with words, but no longer could he allow her to believe that he would force her into an agreement that would change both of their lives.

Rolling over onto his side he faced her. Her eyes were closed and the stress and fear that lined her face was gone. He smiled at the sight of her so relaxed. He wished for her to always look this way, feel this way with him.

“I dinnae know what ye heard lass, but I dinnae take what is between us lightly,” he said, quietly. She looked up at him, her eyes the color of misting fog, masking her true emotions. She offered him a weak smile that faded too quickly. He could tell she was retreating away from him, even in the afterglow of what just occurred between them. She was protecting herself. He understood, but wished it wasn’t so.

“It’s getting late, should we not make an appearance for the evening meal?” she asked, deftly changing the subject. Lucas was annoyed by her apparent indifference, but he would not leave this her bedchamber until he felt satisfied that she understood his position.

“The meal will keep,” he said, he had no appetite and Magnus would hold the announcement of his lairdship until he arrived. It was more important that he and Ella reach an understanding. He didn’t want to be the cause of any of her anguish. “Do ye nae want tae marry me?”

“Oh Lucas, it’s not that. Don’t you see, I don’t want you to marry me because you or I feel there is no choice,” she said, solemnly. “I want to have some type of freedom in my life, and choice. Even without force, once again I feel that freedom being ripped from my grasp.”

He understood. He didn’t like that she felt trapped, least of all by him. He had to make her see marriage to him may be the best way to ensure her protection. As far as he as concerned she was his, he would want no other. But he would die defending her whether she was his wife or not. As long as she chose to stay at Cadney, he vowed no harm would come to her.

“As the Laird of my clan, I can offer you an army of protection. Commander Evans will never hurt ye again, lass. I owe ye my life, and I ken marriage is a large step for both of us. Tae marry me isnae a decision ye have tae make right now,” he said. “Ye can have yer freedom, if that ‘tis what ye need. I’ll not take it from ye.”

“If I refuse to marry you, but stayed here in the keep, would I become your mistress?” He could see the worry etched in her face, her questions were giving away her fears.

“Nay, lass. As hard as it would be tae nae touch and hold ye like this all th’ time whether yer my wife or nae. I want ye only to be mine in the truest way. I want tae marry ye. I want ye tae want tae marry me. I’ll never tell a soul what has occurred between us, ye’ll nae be ruined by my hand, and I’ll never regret it, but ye mean more tae me than a mistress ever could, and I’d spare ye the shame. If ye choose tae stay, I hope that someday ye’ll agree tae be Lady MacGille, my partner, help me tae lead our people.” Something flashed behind her gaze at his admission. This was his proposal and he meant every word. He knew she believed him, but did she believe enough to say yes?

“So, if I am not your mistress, but refuse to be shipped off to France, even if you, as the Laird, thinks it is for my own best protection, will I still be able to stay?” she asked. God, France again, he was starting to regret ever thinking of the blasted country. He didn’t want her to go to France any more than she wanted to go. Yet it hung over them like a black cloud.

“Lass, I promise, ye’ll never hae tae set foot in that damn country unless it is something ye want!” he was exasperated, but when she flinched, he thought he may have shown her a little too much of what he was feeling. Trying to remember her life has not been easy as of late, and her questions were her way of sorting out all her options, he vowed to be more patient with the lass. “Of course, my wife may someday ask tae go tae Paris on a honeymoon, I would gladly oblige,” he added smiling down at her, trying to add a little levity.

She playfully slapped him on the chest and he took that as a cue to stand. Leaving her bed was hard but soft hues of pink and gray light coming through the small window let him know that it was time to take his leave and attend the evening meal.

“Lucas, may I think about it?” she asked.

He nodded, “Aye, lass,” he said, kissing her firm on the mouth. She leaned up into him and kissed him back, but there was a coolness in her kiss Lucas hadn’t felt from her before.

“Will ye join me at the evening meal?”

“Aye, but I’d like to change my dress and freshen up if you don’t mind. I will follow you in a few moments?” she asked. He nodded again in agreement. As he left the room for the great hall, something nagged at the back of his mind. He didn’t like that she needed time to consider his proposal, but he understood. It was his honesty about his feelings causing a distance between them that didn’t sit well in his chest. He felt as though he’d lost a piece of her trust. He silently vowed that he would do whatever it took to win it back.