To Tame A Highland Warrior

Page 79

“Yes, you are,” Gibraltar enunciated sternly. “I am posting the banns tomorrow, and in three weeks’ time you are going to marry someone.”
Jillian whirled around to face him, her eyes flashing. “You should know I became his lover.”
Elizabeth fanned herself furiously.
Gibraltar shrugged.
Elizabeth gaped, first at Jillian, then at her unresponsive husband.
“That’s all? A shrug?” Jillian blinked at her father disbelievingly. “Well, while you may not care, I hardly think my husband-to-be would cheerily accept it, do you, Da?”
“I wouldn’t mind,” Quinn said quietly, startling them all with his unannounced presence. “I’d marry you on any terms, Jillian.”
All eyes flew to Quinn de Moncreiffe, whose broad golden frame filled the doorway.
“Good man,” Gibraltar said firmly.
“Oh, Quinn!” Jillian said sadly. “You deserve better …”
“I’ve told you as much before, lass. I’ll take you on any terms. Grimm’s a fool, but I’m not. I’ll marry you happily. No regrets. I’ve never understood why a woman’s supposed to be untouched when a man’s expected to be as touched as possible.”
“Then it’s settled,” Gibraltar concluded quickly.
“No, it’s not!”
“Yes, it is, Jillian,” Gibraltar said sternly. “You will marry in three weeks. Period. End of conversation.” He turned away.
“You can’t do this to me!”
“Wait.” Ramsay Logan stepped into the doorway behind Quinn. “I’d like to offer for her too.”
Gibraltar assessed the two men in the doorway and slowly turned his regard to his daughter, who stood, mouth ajar.
“You have twelve hours to choose, Jillian. I post the banns at dawn.”
“Mama, you can’t let him do this!” Jillian wailed.
Elizabeth St. Clair drew herself erect and sniffed before following Gibraltar from the study.
“What on earth do you think you’re doing now, Gibraltar?” Elizabeth demanded.
Gibraltar leaned back, resting on the sill of the window in their bedroom, the hair on his chest glinting gold between the folds of his silk robe in the soft glow of the firelight.
Elizabeth reclined on the bed nude and, Gibraltar marveled, breathtaking. “By Odin’s spear, woman, you know I can refuse you nothing when I see you like that.”
“Then don’t make Jillian wed, love,” Elizabeth said simply. There were no games between her and her husband, and there never had been. Elizabeth firmly believed most problems in a relationship could be cleared up or avoided entirely by clear, concise communication. Games invited unnecessary discord.
“I don’t plan to,” Gibraltar replied with a faint smile. “It will never go that far.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Elizabeth removed the pins from her hair, allowing it to cascade in golden waves over her bare breasts. “Is this another one of your infamous plans, Gibraltar?” she asked with lazy amusement.
“Yes.” He sank to the edge of the bed beside her. He ran his hand down the smooth shape of her side, contouring the lovely indentation of her waist, soaring over the lush curve of her hip. “If she hadn’t admitted that she’d become his lover, I might not have felt so confident. But he’s a Berserker, Elizabeth. There is only one true mate for each Berserker, and they know it. He cannot allow the wedding to take place. A Berserker would die first.”
Elizabeth’s eyes brightened, and understanding penetrated her sensual languor. “You’re posting the banns to antagonize him. Because it’s the most effective way to force him to declare himself.”
“As always, we understand each other perfectly, don’t we, my dear? What better way to bring him back at a run?”
“How clever. I hadn’t thought of that. There’s no way a Berserker would allow his mate to wed another.”
“Let’s just hope all the legends about those warriors are true, Elizabeth. Gavrael’s da told me years ago that once a Berserker makes love with his own true mate, he can no longer mate another woman. Gavrael is even more Berserk than his da. He’ll come for her, and when he does, he’ll have no choice but to tell her the truth. We’ll get our wedding in three weeks, no doubt about it, and it will be to the man she wants—Grimm.”
“What about Quinn’s feelings?”
“Quinn doesn’t really believe she’ll marry him. He is also of the opinion that Grimm will come. I spoke with Quinn before I made Jillian choose, and he agreed to do this. Although I must admit, Ramsay certainly surprised me with his offer.”