I hide my face so they can’t see me smile. The approval of my two older Clan brothers means more to me than the fucking world.
“She have any kin?” I ask in a low voice, so no one hears.
Keenan shakes his head. “Nay, lad.”
“And isn’t that part of the fucking problem,” Nolan mutters with a sigh. It is.
They take their leave at the library entrance. I square my shoulders and enter the room, just as another high-pitched scream rents the air, peppered with vulgar words that should never come out of the mouth of a pretty girl.
The room’s darkened, the shades pulled. Aisling’s tied to a chair in the center of the room, facing away from me. Rope’s lashed about her body, and anger suddenly surges within me. Who the bloody hell roped her here?
That’s my job.
Cormac’s sitting at a desk chair, his feet propped up, reading a book. He smiles when I enter, and places the book on the table.
“Tiernan, y’alright?”
I jerk my head at him, because I’m watching her reaction. She stills at the sound of my name and tries to crane her head to look at me, but she can’t see me from where she sits.
“Oh, I’m good, brother. You?”
“Right as rain,” he says with a grin.
“You the one who brought her here?”
Cormac sobers, looks to the girl, then nods. He doesn’t meet my eyes, but watches her.
“Aye. Keenan’s orders, brother.” His tone is apologetic. No doubt Keenan told him my purpose, and Cormac knows I’d have preferred being the one who brought her here.
“Sorry, mate,” he says, scrubbing a hand across his brow.
I shrug. “Keenan’s orders, you had no choice.” But my tone holds an edge I can’t control. “But you tell the others, Cormac.” His brows rise. I rarely give the others orders, but I fucking mean it now. “I’m the only one that lays a hand on her from here on out.”
Cormac nods. “Aye, brother, you have my word.”
His word. The Clan’s most powerful verbal contract.
“Tell all of them. The guards. Our brothers. She’s my charge now.”
“I’m no one’s bloody charge!” she screams.
I smile at Cormac and nod toward the door. “I’ll take it from here, brother.”
Cormac pushes away from the desk and heads to the door.
“Sideboard’s recently filled.” Cormac looks with concern at my injuries. “Could use a drop of the good stuff, aye?”
I nod. “Will do, thanks.”
He leaves. The door shuts behind him, and I throw the deadbolt.
She’s fuming, muttering under her breath, as I take out my phone and text my brothers.
I’ve got her in the library. Please ensure we aren’t disturbed. Where will I bring her when we’re finished here?
A few responses come back immediately.
Lachlan: Good luck, brother
Nolan: Aye, no disturbing the peace
Keenan: Your room will be prepared.
I smile grimly. Thank you.
I hear a scuffle of feet outside the door, guards put in place to keep anyone out.
“You let me out!” Aisling screams behind me. “If you don’t, I’ll fucking scream until I’m–”
“You will not.” My voice is casual, but it holds weight. She listens.
Make my day, little girl.
“Scream again, and I’ll gag you.” I go to the sideboard and pour myself a shot of Jameson. I inhale the pungent fumes, close my eyes, then down it in one gulp. I welcome the burning sensation that heats me to my belly, place the shot glass down, then grab a larger glass. She’s quiet as I pick up the ice with my tongs and drop it into the glass. I uncork the bottle of scotch and take my time mixing myself a drink. Once I’m done, I walk around in front of her.
She sits across from a large, overstuffed armchair and a footstool. I place my glass on the table, sit down, and cross my ankles, watching her. Christ, even now, she’s gorgeous.
The rope’s tight about her body, and the scant clothing she’s wearing’s torn. Her skin’s chaffed where she’s strained against the rope, reddened and puckered. I want to loosen her bonds, lay her out, and kiss the places where the rope dug into her, but even as I let my imagination roam, I can imagine what I’d do with those ropes. How I’d bind her. How I’d have my way with her, unable to stop me.
Even with her wild blonde hair and her bright blue-gray eyes narrowed in anger, there’s something about her that draws me to her. She’s savage and fierce, nearly begging to be conquered.
She opens her mouth as I sip my drink, and I hold up a finger.
“Careful, Aisling,” I say, my tone laced with warning. “I meant every fucking word I said. You scream again, and I’ll gag you. Be a good girl, and I’ll untie your bonds. Now which will it be?”Chapter 6AislingSomewhere hidden deep in the recesses of my mind, I remember who he is. And maybe even who I was. Tiernan, Fiona’s older brother, but I knew him when I was a different person, in another place and time.