A Fire Within (These Highland Hills, Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

well and finally justified their proscription." Caitlin smirked and
shook her head. "So, if ye're of a mind to choose that incident as
validation for whatever dark and dirty acts ye seek to do while
at Kilchurn, yet intent is sadly muddled."
    "Ye'd hear no argument on that from me," he said as he moved
toward her, "if my intent truly was dark and dirty. But surely a wee
kiss from a bonny lassie wouldn't be such a dastardly thing."
    Darach drew up before her. Instinctively, Caitlin backed away
until she was pressed against the cabinet. She couldn't help it-no
woman could.
    From even across the expanse of a room, the big Highlander
exuded a powerful, intimidating presence. But up this close ...
Suffice it to say, the vast disparity in their size and relative strength
froze the blood in her veins and choked the breath from her body.
Surprisingly, though, at the same time Caitlin felt her heartbeat
quicken with anticipation.
    The realization angered her. He was the most handsome and
exciting man she had ever met, yet he nonetheless presumed
far, far too much. In the past, she-not the man-had always
determined the pace of a dalliance, if there even was to be one.
Indeed, even that disastrous business with David Graham had
initially been of her doing.
    She slid her hand behind her back and gingerly placed it in the box of instruments. Immediately, her fingers grazed one of the
knives. With the greatest care, she moved her hand down until
she felt a smooth metal handle and gripped it.

    "Nay, a wee kiss wouldn't be such a dastardly thing," she replied, forcing the response past a throat gone tight and dry, "if
the lass were of a mind to accept it. But this lass hasn't the least
interest in being kissed, and especially not by the likes of ye."
    The smile on Darach's fine, firm lips didn't waver, but a wolfish gleam flared in his eyes. She had tossed down the gauntlet,
challenged him. Caitlin belatedly admitted that was her second
mistake. The big Highlander was quite obviously a predatorand his favorite prey appeared to be women.
    "On the contrary," he said, his voice dropping to a husky
whisper. He leaned close, propping both hands against the wall
on either side of the cabinet, enclosing her in the prison of his
arms. "I think ye are interested, and especially by the likes of
me.
    Darach's head lowered toward her. No amount of reasoning
or protest would stop him now, Caitlin realized. Nothing, save
one thing. She pulled her hand free from behind her and pressed
the knife to the side of his throat.
    "Think again, ye arrogant knave," she growled. "Think again,
or suffer the consequences."
    He paused a hairsbreadth from her lips. "And would ye truly
slit my throat over a wee kiss?" He smiled. "I think not."
    With that, Darach MacFarlane took her mouth, covering it in
a gentle, achingly tender, and most practiced way. It was as if a
bolt of lightning shot through Caitlin, from her lips to the tips of
her toes. She went rigid, couldn't breathe. Yet, at the same time,
she wanted nothing more than to arch up to meet him, to deepen
the kiss, to press into the length of him and never let go.
    She whimpered, and the blade lowered to her side, then fell
to the floor. First one arm, then the other, snaked about Darach's neck. She couldn't help it. And it was, after all, but one wee
kiss.

    His mouth opened hungrily over hers, his lips slanting in
ardent, demanding possession, his arms moving to encircle her
and pull her yet closer. Caitlin met his onslaught with a fiery one
of her own. It was foolish, mad even, but for a glorious instant
more she couldn't help herself. Then reason, traitorous and most
unwelcome, crept back in.
    He was no better, indeed, likely worse, than David had been.
David, leastwise, had treated her with a circumspect restraint
for months, courting her with the most gentlemanly overtures.
He, at least, had paid her respect, even if it, in the end, had been
mainly due to her