The Sinner Read Online Free PDF Page A

existed.
    When Alex reached her, he clamped his hands around her waist and lifted her off the rock. His eyes never left her face as he slid her down his body, every inch of her rubbing against the scorching heat of his muscular frame. Glynis’s knees were weak before her feet touched the ground.
    Alex’s eyes had a wild fierceness and a hunger that sent her pulse racing.
    “Aye,” she whispered and held on as he leaned her backward.
     
    *  *  *
    Battle lust throbbed in Alex’s veins and left him hard. When he turned and saw Glynis on the rock, he would have killed to have her. He had never wanted a woman as much as he wanted Glynis MacNeil right now.
    From the moment their bodies touched, he felt as if it had been ordained that they should join. Her body melded to his as if she had been made for him alone. Alex kissed her with all the lust pounding through him, his tongue thrusting, possessing. He had to have her.
    He heard Duncan call his name through the haze of lust, but he didn’t give a damn. Nothing mattered but this woman’s sweet mouth on his. She was a wonder under his hands, responding with an awakening passion that had him yearning to lie her down and take her on the sand.
    The sharp prick of a steel point in the middle of his back was a bit harder to ignore than Duncan.
    “I appreciate ye saving my daughter from your miserable pirate relations,” the MacNeil said close to Alex’s ear. “But unless ye want to leave here with a wife, you’d best release her now.”
    Alex wanted her so much that he could almost have agreed to a life in chains just to have her this once. But when Glynis’s eyes went wide with panic, he came to his senses. Slowly, he straightened and forced himself to release her.
    Glynis swayed on her feet, as if her legs might not hold her. When Alex started to reach for her, her father gave him a quelling look and put a firm arm around her shoulders.
    Alex glanced left and right, taking in the circle of men around them. What madness had taken hold of him to kiss the chieftain’s daughter— and to kiss her like that —in front of all of her father’s warriors? Alex hadn’t given a thought to the other men on the beach. Nay, he hadn’t even seen them.
    Stealing a kiss from a willing lass was no grave offense, so the MacNeil probably wouldn’t kill him. On the other hand, his timing was verra poor, and any fool could see that he hadn’t meant to stop with the kiss.
    “What do ye have to say for yourself, Alex Bàn MacDonald?” the MacNeil chieftain demanded.
    “If I said I was sorry for kissing your daughter, we’d both know I was lying,” Alex said. Then he turned to Glynis, who looked as dazed as he felt. “I am sorry, lass, if I embarrassed ye.”
    Alex wished he could speak with her without all the others watching, so he could ask her if she was all right. But if he did have Glynis MacNeil alone now, he knew damned well they wouldn’t waste the opportunity talking.

CHAPTER 4
     
    DUNSCAITH CASTLE, ISLE OF SKYE
TWO MONTHS LATER
     
     
    A lex waved to his cousin, the chieftain of the MacDonalds of Sleat, who was making his way down to the shore from Dunscaith Castle to meet him. Connor’s shoulder-length black hair blew behind him as he jumped from rock to rock.
    “Have ye started to regret taking the chieftainship yet?” Alex asked, as Connor helped haul the boat up onto the beach.
    “Every day,” Connor said with a dry laugh. “How do our clansmen on North Uist fare?”
    “They’ve lost a good deal to the raiders, but they won’t starve,” Alex said. “The fishing is good, and the other supplies I delivered should see them through until the next harvest.”
    After climbing up the hill, he and Connor crossed the narrow bridge to the castle, which was built on a rock off the headland.
    “Ian and Duncan are here as well,” Connor said. “We have clan business to discuss.”
    Inside, the hall had clean rushes, and the servants were sober. This was a far