Lord of the Isles: International Billionaires VIII: The Scots by Caro LaFever Page A

needed her now.
    “I forgive you.” She placed the words between them, careful and gentle. “I forgive you for being mean when we were young.”
    Rage flooded his face, turning his skin ruddy. “Forgive me?”
    “Yes, I—”
    An abrupt jerk cut her off. He slammed her into his broad chest and the reality of his strength and presence made her mind go dim. He leaned into her, his red face and blazing eyes and tight lips a mere inch from her own. “I’m the one who should be doling out the forgiveness.”
    “Okay. Let’s both forgive each other. I’ve done it, now it’s your turn.” She kept her gaze on his, meeting his anger with patience. “I’m waiting.”
    He ignored her words and instead, looked at her mouth. A flash of awareness zipped through her, cutting past her compassion and desire to help. Another very different kind of desire blossomed inside, making her heart pound in a frantic beat.
    No, no. This man needed her to be a friend.
    She tugged and pushed, trying to get out of his grasp before they both did something that would hurt in the long run. Yet, he didn’t loosen his grip. He tightened it, instead.
    Now, she felt him all along her body. Not as a person who needed forgiveness and help, but as a man who needed a woman. His broad chest pressed on her tender breasts, and through his jeans and her own, she felt his growing erection.
    “Why are ye trying to get away from me all of a sudden?” he snarled, his eyes flashing to hers, the anger in them simmering. “Tired of waiting for my forgiveness, already?”
    “We shouldn’t be doing this.” This being getting hot and very, very bothered. She tried to keep her focus on her compassion, yet the heat of his body penetrated her clothes, making her skin sweat. His bigness, the bulge of his biceps underneath the wool sweater and the breadth of his muscled chest, made every female inch of her…horny. “Oh, crap.”
    “Doing what?” His straight brows furrowed in momentary confusion, and then a sly grin slid across his mouth. “What do ye want to be doing, lovely Lilly?”
    One big, heavy hand landed on her rump and pulled her into him, bumping her into what was now a rigid erection. He was big down there, too. The errant thought shot straight into her brain and then right down to her core. She forced herself to look into his face with a placid stare. “Iain. You need to let me go. Now.”
    The anger was still there in his gaze, but there was also latent heat. She supposed she should be happy to see something besides the dullness that had scared her last night. This was wrong, however. He needed her help, not her lust.
    “Now?” His mouth curved and his dark lashes went half-mast, making his gaze sultry and knowing. “Now I’m thinking ye might be good for something more than blethering on and irritating me.”
    Lilly could see this man had had his share of females when he’d been well. The curve of his lips told her he knew what to do with a woman when he had her. The knowing in his eyes told her she better stop this right away before she succumbed to his temptation. “No.”
    The curve disappeared into a sneer. The lashes rose to uncover the return of his rage. “No? I didn’t ask a question.”
    This time when she pushed, he dropped his hands from around her and stepped back, his gaze glittering with animosity.
    Something very like disappointment and hurt trickled through her, but she ignored it. Wrapping her trembling arms in front of her, she gave him another patient stare. “I’m here to help you, not take advantage of you.”
    “Take advantage? Of me?” The sneer went wider as he eyed her body. “I’m thinking ye couldn’t if ye tried.”
    She might be smaller than him by a good bit. Yet she’d make an instant bet that if she tugged on those messy, brown curls and pressed her mouth to his, they’d be in his bed in seconds. Whether he agreed or not, that would be taking advantage of him. Better not to say it though. This man