Fury and disbelief swept over Ronan as he gazed down at Kara, dressed in a drab servant's gown.

“Ye ken the lass?” Una asked, turning her gaze to Ronan.

“Aye,” Ronan grunted, stepping into the room and glaring at Kara. “Leave us.”

With one last suspicious look at Kara, Una obliged. Ronan shut the door behind them, continuing to glower.

Kara took a faltering step back, her green eyes wide, her tongue darting out to lick her dry lips. At the action, an irritating stab of lust pierced him. He’d been furious with her ever since she’d tried to preen for him at supper. Even so, she had looked desirable in that gown, cut just low enough so that he could see the smooth milky white flesh of her breasts. The memory of it had plagued him all day.

“Want tae tell me why ye’re hiding in this castle in peasant’s clothes?" he bit out. "How’d ye get out of sight of Beathan? Luag?"

“I can help with whatever you’re dealing with,” she replied, evading his question. “With—with the clan. I just—”

“So ye thought tae sneak here on yer own? Spy on me?” he demanded.

“If that’s what it takes—yes!” Kara snapped.

“Christ, woman, ye drive me mad! Ye’ll get back tae the manor and if ye do something like this again, I’ll have ye in yer chamber under lock and key!”

“You can’t—"

“I can,” Ronan snarled. “Ye donnae ken what’s happening with the clan, and ’tis best that ye donnae, for yer safety.”

“I. Can. Help,” she insisted. “If there's some conflict going on, that affects everyone who lives on your lands—including my family. Do you really think I’m going to just sit in that manor like—like one of your mistresses and wait for your messenger to tell me he can't find my family? Do you think I’ve traveled—that I’ve come all this way to fail my grandmother? I won’t. I can't. If I have to disguise myself and follow you to find out what's going on, I’ll do it as often as it takes!”

They stood only a hair's breadth away from each other now. Fury and lust battled for dominance as Ronan glared down at her, until lust won the battle. With a frustrated growl, he captured her mouth with his.

Kara gasped into his mouth as his hand went to her breast, kneading it. It was plump and ripe in his hand, and he ached to suckle it.

Kara moaned, returning his kiss with such ferocity that he stumbled back. But she wasn't going to win this battle. He reached out, yanking her body close to his, keeping his mouth latched to hers as he turned, pressing her against the wall.

“Ye make me mad, lass,” he whispered, releasing her mouth to suckle the soft flesh of her throat. He kept his gaze locked on her eyes as his mouth lowered to her bodice, nipping and sucking at her flesh, before yanking it down and releasing her breasts from its confines. “Mad with lust. With an ache only ye can fill.”

He seized her nipple with his mouth, and she threw her head back, letting out a whimper as he suckled. He wound his hand through her hair, forcing her to look down at him.

“Tell me who ye are, lass,” he growled, reluctantly releasing her breast from his mouth. His cock ached to be inside her, and the force of his lust flowed through him, but he held himself still. “Tell me who ye are and I’ll give ye what we both want.”

Hesitation flared in her eyes, warring with desire.

“All—all right,” she whispered, her voice wavering. “But you have to promise me one thing.”

“What?” he whispered, lowering his head to pepper her throat with kisses.

“That you’ll not have me arrested for witchcraft.”

Her words briefly stayed his lust. He looked at her with surprise, but her eyes, even clouded with desire, were serious.

“Kara—”

“Your word, Ronan.”

“I donnae believe in witches,” he said, and relief flared in her eyes. He leaned forward and again nipped at her throat. “Now. Will ye tell me?"

“Yes,” she whimpered. “After. I promise. But please—Ronan, I can’t wait. I need you to—"

The words were barely past her lips when he knelt down before her, hiking up her gown. She gasped as he lifted her legs, spreading them over his shoulders as she gripped the wall to hold herself steady.

His eyes met hers as his mouth devoured her center, and Kara's hand flew to her mouth to stifle her cry. He took his time feasting on her sweetness, licking and probing her with his tongue, until her body shook and quavered her release.

“Please, Ronan,” she gasped, tugging at his hair as he continued to taste her. “Oh God . . . please . . .”

“Please what, lass?” he rasped, removing his mouth from her and lowering her quivering legs to the floor. He stood, stroking his aching cock, his eyes pinned to hers. “Tell me what ye want.”

“I want you,” she whispered. “I want you to take me.”

He obliged her with a growl, sinking his hot member into her center, groaning into her neck at the delicious sensation of her clenched tightly around him. He began to thrust, pounding her against the wall.

It was possible that anyone passing down the corridor could hear them, but he didn’t care. In the moment, his entire world was Kara; her soft pliable body against his, her green eyes wild with desire, her quim welcoming him inside of her. Their breath came out in spurts and gasps as they moved together, and Ronan seized her lips as he thrusted. When he tore his mouth away from her, he rasped, “I’m going tae fill ye, lass.”

Kara whimpered in response, reaching up to tangle her hands in his air. He leaned forward to suckle the side of her throat, some primal need urging him to brand her. “Take all of me, Kara."

“Yes,” she whispered. “Please. . . oh God, Ronan . . .”

It was the sound of his name on her lips that made him come, and he cried out as he spilled his release inside of her. Kara’s body trembled against him, and he held her close as her own release claimed every part of her.

When she stilled, he stepped back from her, out of breath. She looked like a seductress, with her gown lowered to reveal her luscious breasts, her hair tousled, her eyes filled with remnant lust. A renewed rush of desire stirred his loins.

“I wish tae make love tae ye properly, in my bed, over many hours," he whispered.

Kara flushed as she straightened her dress. He stepped forward, clutching the sides of her face.

"But first . . . ye gave me yer word. Who are ye, Kara?"