Branded By a Warrior (13 page)

***

Elisabeth had noticed the looks she re
ceived due
Broderick’s possessiveness towards
her tonight. His people had noticed, his men had noticed
,
she was met with overwhelming welcome and warmth. His people were genuinely happy to see her on
Laird Broderick’s
arm. Of course she had also been
the recipient of several vile looks from hopeful young maidens who were obv
iously in love with their fine
him
, not to be unexpected. She was positive she had met no finer man than Broderick; he could make a nun swoon.
Of course there would be women falling at his feet. The thought made her irritated.

Growing uncomfortable at the eyes on her, s
he had tried several attempts to
distance herself from Broderick. E
ach attempt
was expertly
countered;
he
k
ept her at his side all night. He needed to touch her in some fashion; if she got too far away he would simply move closer. Usually such possessiveness would irritate her, yet she couldn’t be mad at him, she simply smiled and pretended she didn’t notice how he hovered.

The wedding had been inspiring, just what her heart needed. In this desperate time, she needed to be reminded of love, of vows and of the future. She refused to let her heart harden, seeing Isobel, seeing the young couple before her promise their lives to each other gave her hope.

Once the wedding was over the mass of people moved to the keep, where the banquet was set up, a small group of
musicians
played in the corner as everyone found a seat.

***

Broderick
had never
felt more powerful than when she walked beside him,
it was as if he felt he could conquer the world. She was his equal; he had never met another woman he’d be more willing to follow into battle, or bed.

Broderick helped Elisabeth be seated to his right, a
place
normally
reserved for the wife of the laird, a chair that had b
een empty for over ten years
.
His brother had taken the seat across from her; he smiled at Broderick with a knowing look
as he watched him
tuck her in
. The brothers
had never seen another wom
an sit in their mother’s chair, nor had any member of the clan. It was widely known the chair of the boys’ deceased mother always stayed empty.
The clan took notice.

The sight of Elisabeth regally smiling and waving to his people as they sat at the head of the table
pleased Broderick
;
his mother would have loved Elisabeth.

“What do ye think of my peopl
e Elisabeth?” H
e asked, leaning forward so only she and Kendrix could hear him.

Turning t
o address him, “Ye should be proud Broderick, I’ve never experienced such genuine warmth and welcome before
.” S
miling brightly.

Kendrix leaned forward too, “Wait till ye taste the wedding feast Elisabeth, ye may never want to leave this castle again lass! Oh and the music, I hope ye like da
ncing lass, our people dance!” H
e teased in earnest.

***

Chuckling
she watched as dish after dish came out of the kitchens,
honey
mead flowed freely, tankers clanked and the MacMillan peopl
e celebrated. Conversation flowed freely, Kendrix and Broderick kept her well entertained with their stories from their youth. She had never laughed harder, the brothers were a joy to be around. She ate until she was sure she couldn’t eat another thing.
The mead
tasted
like ambrosia, she felt a delightful tingle in her face
after her third goblet.

She watched as couple after couple made their way to the large open area of
t
he keep
where people were
starting to dance.

From his chair, Kendrix had noticed Elisabeth
her bouncing her feet and clapping along
to the music. She smiled
at
passing dancers with happiness while she drank her mead and became rosy cheeked. Rolling his eyes to the sky, he had given up on his older brother, the lass needed to dance.
He had waited long enough for Broderick to make his move, annoyed at his older brother
,
he knew just want to do.

Just as the musicians started a new tune Kendrix stood up and
offered his hand to Elisabeth, “Would you care to dance
Elisabeth
?”

Smiling with joy
she looked up at him
, “I would be hono
red Kendrix, I love to dance!” T
aking his hand she allowed him to help her from her seat.

The two walked away from the table without a backwards glance to Broderick
, quickly joining the dozens of dancers floating around the room.

Elisabeth was so thankful that Kendrix asked her to dance; she
had a great affi
nity with music, she had patiently been waiting for Broderick to ask her to dance
.

Holding Kendrix’s strong
arms
,
he swept her into the quick paced dance with ease, twirling her
around;
a laugh escaped her lips as she circled around the room.
She had missed dancing and music; she forgot how much happiness it brought her.

Forgetting her troubles, she got lost in the music and enjoyed her dance with Kendrix.
He was an excellent dancing
partner;
he made her laugh and never once stepped on
her toes.

Kendrix kept her out on the dance floor for over three songs, by the end of the
third;
her face felt like it was going to split from smiling and laughing so much. Kendrix and the surrounding dancers had been an absolute delight; it was exactly what she needed.

Several times she caught Broderick’s eye as he conversed with others at the table, she had been tempted to stick out her tonged at him like a child.
There were things about the man she still didn’t
understand;
he was an enigma, a puzzle. He kissed her with so much passion, yet he could tell he didn’t truly trust her. She knew he had his reasons, but it hurt. He had been so possessive tonight, yet, he had not asked her to dance. Maybe he wasn’t a dancer she mused as she finished dancing with Kendrix.

“I need a drink Kendrix
.
”
S
he stated
breathlessly
after the third dance had ended.

“Come,
let’s
take you back to the brooding wolf, maybe h
e’ll finally ask ye to dance?” H
e joked as they approached the table where Broderick sat.

Sliding into her seat with
a happy
sigh, she drank deeply from her cup in appreciation. This was the most activity she had gotten in weeks; it felt incredible, and tiring.
Beside her, she heard Kendrix cry off.

“I bid you ado Elisabeth, I must seek out my
next
dance partner for the evening
.” B
owing to her, Kendrix winked as he walked away.

***

Broderick couldn’t take his eyes off her all night,
“Ye are a skilled dancer as well? Is there an
ything ye can’t do Elisabeth?” H
e asked, smil
ing at the angel at his right.
The few kisses they had shared had sparked a desire he didn’t know existed.
He had watched her dance with his brother, jealousy had coursed thro
ugh his veins, a feeling he hadn’t experienced in many years.
A feeling he did not like at all.

“I have yet to find anything I
cann
a
e
master
.” S
he smirked as she
finished off her goblet of mead, giggling into the cup.

Holding out his hand, “Dance with me my love
,
” he whispered so only she could hear.

Seein
g the beautiful redhead nod, he pulled her closer as
he entwined fingers with her yet again. Walking
h
and in hand
he ran his thumb over the top of her soft hand.
Swinging
her out into the rotating couples with expert skill before bringing her body
spinning back into his embrace.

“
Broderick, please d
innae call me your love.
” S
he whispered against his neck as they danced to the sensual music that filled his hall.

“Why?” H
e retorted instantly in a husky voice,
pulling
her even closer.

Feeling her chest expand against his made his blood boil, the sexual tension between them vibrated, he looked down at he
r rosy face and
locked eyes with her.

“It ma
kes me feel things I should nae.” S
he professed in compl
ete and utter honesty with him, her cheeks flushed a vibrant shade of pink.

Taking her into a series of tight turns, he kept her close and whispered into her ear, “
tell me what you feel
my l
ove
.
” S
inking his fingers gently into her hip with emphasis as they spun around the room.

“I want you
.
”
S
he
confessed,
quickly gasping with shock that she had actually said that.

Her words floored him; he could feel her heart pounding against his chest, the erotic way she swayed with him as they danced. It was as if the words came out before she had a chance to stop them, complete honesty from
his
queen.
It pleased him greatly.

Turning together into a wide turn he leaned down and whispered into her ear, “I want
you
my queen, I want all of you
.” H
earing her suck in a breath at his words, he smiled to himself as they danced.

He had never been one for dancing, but with Elisabeth it was magic. They danced as one, effortlessly and sensual. Her every touch made him hard with desire for her.
Warm desire emanated from them as they looked into each other’s eyes as they rotated around the room with other dancers. The world was forgotten.

The famous dance they were so deeply engrained in required them to separate and spin
individually;
releasing her reluctantly
,
he
did the steps before turning back. Running his hand across her hip as they came back together he
looked into her eyes and saw tears
, fresh raw tears
.

“What is wrong lass?”
H
e questioned immediately, bringing her closer so none could see her cry, he knew she would be embarrassed.

“Acciden
t, someone ran into my shoulder.” S
he admitted trying to banish her tears.
The floor was indeed crowded, little room to maneuver caused the occasional run in from time to time.

Entwining his fingers with hers again he pulled her over into a secluded corner of the hall and searched her face, “Would you like to go upstairs lass?
As l
aird
I cannot join you just yet, but if you’d like to go rest I’ll come up in a bit. The d
ogs are up there waiting for ye
.
”

***

Nodding in agreement
she clenched her jaw in attempt to stop the tears of pain from rolling down her face. She
was
weary
and her shoulder throbbed
in agony
, she needed to lay down
, the quietness of his room sounded heavenly right now.

“Go on upstairs
love
, I’ll see you soon,” he ordered as he gently nudged her in the direction of the tower rooms.
She felt him watch
her walk away, one hand holding her injured shoulder
until she disappeared down the darkened corridor.

As laird,
s
he
knew he
had to stay for several mor
e hours before he could turn in.
She knew if he could have joined her, he would have. Feeling the tears of pain roll down her face she heard the music fade
in the background as
she
rubbed her throbbing
shoulder.