Sins of the Highlander (A Highland Erotic Romance) by Dawn Halliday Page B

servant to resume shaving him. “What could it be?”
    Though his mouth suddenly felt dry, Niall couldn’t balk now. “I have been your loyal servant for many years, sir. I have served you alongside you in France and Spain during the Four Years’ War—”
    The laird pinned him with narrowed blue eyes. “I know who you are and I know every deed you’ve accomplished on my behalf. There is no need to waste my time by rehashing all of them. Get to the point, MacRae.”
    Niall bowed his head in acquiescence. “I have come to ask for your permission to marry your sister.” When the Mackenzie gave him a blank look, Niall added, “Lady Aileen.”
    For a moment, the room was silent. The razor scraped against Mackenzie’s skin. And then the laird pushed the razor away and burst out in laughter. Niall stared at the floor, forcing his fists not to clench as the laird’s mirth swirled around him, squeezed his chest and suffocated him.
    Mackenzie wrapped his arms around his belly. Recovering between chuckles, he said, “Do you realize how many men have asked me for fair Aileen’s hand? How many of you greedy bastards desire her lands? And she is fair to look upon, isn’t she? I daresay having her in your beds appeals as well.”
    Niall met his laird’s eyes, his cheeks burning. He didn’t want to think of any of the other men who’d asked for her hand. He knew their motives had no connection whatever to his own.
    “Eight.” Mackenzie’s hands flew up into the air in a gesture of amazement. “Did you hear me? Eight! And the other seven had much more to offer than you, MacRae. You are lowborn, landless and penniless—far less worthy than any of the others.”
    “I have been loyal and faithful to you,” Niall ground out.
    “That you have.” The laird shrugged. “But so have many others. What has that to do with anything?”
    “I care naught for her lands,” Niall said stiffly.
    “Oh, aye.” Mackenzie snorted. “Be that as it may, my answer to you is no.”
    “I will take good care of her,” Niall pressed. “I will prove to be a worthy husband.”
    John blew out a frustrated breath. “Sure you realize that there must needs be more to my decision than soothing my loyal warrior’s fancy for my alluring sister?”
    “I admire and respect her. Deeply.” Niall’s face was on fire.
    The laird narrowed his eyes. “Admiration and respect mean nothing in a marriage. You lust after my sister, do you? Well then, go pound your frustrated cock into one of the castle wenches and you’ll forget about Aileen by morning. In fact, despite what some might say to the contrary, I am generous. I shall send Agnes to you tonight.” His tongue ran over his lips. “You’ll enjoy her, I daresay. She’s one of my favorites.”
    Niall wasn’t moved. “No thank you.”
    The laird merely snorted. “We’ll see.”
    “I am in…I am very fond of Aileen, sir. We have known each other for many years. If you recall, I was fostered at Dornoch. She feels the same.”
    “Does she?” John slid to his feet and took a step toward Niall, tilting his head, his eyes glinting dangerously. “‘Aileen.’ So you speak of her familiarly, do you? Are you so well-acquainted with her? Have you been fucking my sister, MacRae?”
    Niall straightened. He couldn’t lie to the laird. Nor did he want to. If he couldn’t have her, he was more than willing to face whatever price the Mackenzie would have him pay for his sins.
    Yet he didn’t want Aileen to suffer for what they’d done.
    As he hesitated, the laird raised a hand. “Wait. Don’t speak.” He took another step forward, and now he and Niall were within arm’s length of each other. “I don’t want to hear it,” he said under his breath. “I trusted you with my sister’s life and with her virtue. You know what must be done if I ever learned of such a breach of honor from you.”
    Niall met the laird’s icy eyes unflinchingly.
    Mackenzie continued. “I don’t want to know