Chapter 26

Davina stopped before the ball and then checked the distance to the hole. Just as she took her stance, an arm slipped around her waist. Her heart skipped as her body tingled at the awareness of Ian.

“Does yer Uncle Aiden ken ye are dressed like this, lass?”

“Nay.” Her voice was breathier than she’d prefer.

Ian pressed against her bottom and heat pooled in her nether regions, as it often did when Ian touched or kissed her. However, this was different as she’d never felt his rigid male part against her before. Her breasts swelled and became heavy as her nipples tightened beneath her linen shirt. His presence and touch created the strangest and most pleasant sensations.

At the touch of his lips on her neck, Davina could no longer hold on to the club.

His hands slipped under her shirt and his fingers grazed across her stomach before sliding further, burning her bare skin right above her breeches. As much as she tried to control her breathing, it became labored as his hands caressed her sides, slowly inching their way toward her aching breasts. He continued to find the most sensitive areas of her neck and Davina arched back against him, but his hands stopped just short of her breasts and he pulled away. “I missed ye, lass.”

Davina didn’t even attempt to suppress the shiver his warm breath against her sensitive flesh produced.

“Aye. I’ve missed ye.”

At that, Ian’s hands fell away and he turned her toward him. “If ye missed me, why haven’t ye called on me?”

Davina stiffened at his words and she took a step back. “I willna court ye, Ian.”

He pulled her back to him, his hands going beneath her shirt again, his fingers now burning her back.

He didn’t argue, but instead kissed her. Gently and lovingly, a passion simmering just below the surface. Then he pressed forward and she clung to him as tightly as he was holding her. Goodness, these breeches allowed her to feel parts of him that she’d not been able to when dressed in full skirts. As he pressed against the apex of her thighs, an aching need developed and she grew warm. She wanted to wrap her legs around his hips only to bring them closer.

“If ye’d court me, we could enjoy these encounters more often.”

Davina let his words sink in. Oh, she always knew he was a rake, or at least he used to be, and he had quickly reverted to his old ways.

“Oh, ye are wicked,” she said with a huff as she pushed away. “Ye will no’ seduce me into courtin’ ye.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t wish to be courted, kissed, and aye, even seduced if they were married, but she would not lower herself to chase him, and no amount of caresses could change her mind.

Ian’s eyes darkened and there was a subtle shift in his smile.

“Would ye like to ken how wicked I can be?”

Goodness, what did he mean by that and did she really wish to know? “Uncle Aiden gave ye leave to court me and this is the first I’ve seen ye.” She fisted her hands on her hips, determined not to let him sway her with words or touch.

“Aye, but he also willna give me permission for more until I prove that I can manage ye.”

Irritation spiked and Davina narrowed her eyes on Ian. “I doona need to be managed.”

He remained unfazed. “Perhaps, perhaps not.”

Davina’s mouth popped open. How dare he?

“Regardless, I issued a challenge to ye to court me and if I back down now, which I willna, yer uncle will never believe that I can control ye.”

“Control?” Davina took a step forward, her index finger poking at his chest. “I’ll have ye ken, Ian Grant, no man will control or manage me.”

This was not going well, but Ian was determined to stand his ground. He reached out and pulled her close once again. Words would never work with Davina, and seduction had served him well in the past. “If ye but give in, we can enjoy so much more.”

She tilted her head and studied him. “What if I doona want more.”

Oh, she wanted more, of that Ian was certain. He’d just begun giving her a hint of what was to come. “I want ye, lass.”

“For what?”

“As my wife, my mate.” Ian gently caressed her cheek. Davina was much like a filly being brought to saddle and reins for the first time. With the right words and touch, eventually she’d allow him to ride her.

Ian nearly groaned at his own analogy, but it was accurate and soon, hopefully, they would ride.

“Ye are beautiful and desirable, Davina. My heart beats for ye, and I’ve a longin’ for ye like I’ve never experienced before.”

“I willna let yer honeyed words, sweet touch and tempting lips sway me, Ian Grant. Ye are a rake and yer talents and charm willna change my mind.”

Talents? He could not help but smile at her description. “Aye, many talents, lass. Ones I long to share with ye once ye’re mine.”

“Then court me properly and I may let ye share yer talents.”

“Nay.” He slid his hands down her back and cupped her perfect bum and pulled her against him. If he got any harder, his breeches might tear, but Davina needed to feel what he wanted, needed, and what they could share together. It wasn’t just intimacy that he wished to share with her, but everything that he was and who she was, and to settle into a life together. But to get there, he would use everything he had to get to her concede. “I must stand my ground to win yer uncle’s approval.”

In a blink, her eyes narrowed and her hands came against his chest, pushing him away with a force unexpected by someone so slight.

“Then go court my uncle.”

“As he is taken, it is unlikely he would accept my suit.” Ian grinned at her.

“Then find someone else who will court ye because I willna.”

Her words stopped him and a chill ran through him. Did she really wish he were courting, or being courted, by someone else? “Have ye been toyin’ with my affections, after all, Davina?”

She looked down and kicked her toe in the dirt. “Nay.”

Relief replaced the fear he had momentarily experienced.

“Then ye must prove to me that ye arena.”

She frowned and looked up at him. “If I doona court ye, ye will not think my heart is true?”

“Aye.”

“Do ye think I’d let ye kiss me if I dinna care?” she demanded. “Do ye think I go around, actin’ like a rake, kissin’ and caressin’, and moving on?”

“Nay.” He took a step back. How the blazes did she turn this on him?

“I am not ye, Ian Grant. When I make up my mind that I want someone, I stand my ground. I doona go sniffin’ around skirts in London for years like ye.” She stepped forward and started poking him in the chest again. “Ye ken I want ye, but I willna court ye.”

He grabbed her hand and flattened it against his chest. She was stubborn, but so was he. The grander prize was winning her, which he would never do if Aiden didn’t believe he could manage her. “Then, as ye stated when I first kissed ye, we are at an impasse.” He took a step back and bowed. “I will wait fer ye, but not for long, Davina. It is up to ye to court me, or we willna court at all.”

She gasped. “Ye are serious?”

“Aye.” With that he turned and strode back to his horse and grabbed the reins. He would mount it and ride off, making his point clear, but given his physical condition--which he often suffered from when Davina was near--it was impossible to ride his horse with any comfort. Instead, he led it to the trail through the woods. And, as much as he wished to look back to see if she watched or was coming after him, Ian did not. He must stand his ground.

Blast, he was headed back to Annagburn Manor, not home. Well, his leaving would lose all the impact he intended if he turned around now. Besides, Aiden was probably in the distillery and a glass of whisky, or two, or three, was exactly what he needed right now.