Colin swallowed heavily. If he dreaded returning home now, how could he bear living with her…being married to her? The question was still ringing in his head when he heard the splashing and unintelligible mutterings of a female.

Colin moved into the shadows, welcoming the diversion, curious to discover who was foolish enough to swim alone and in the dark. A second later, he knew the identity of the fool. The familiar hiss followed by a “Damn you, Colin McTiernay!” left no doubt as to who the night swimmer was—Makenna.

Shaking his head in exasperation, Colin tied his horse to a nearby branch and turned to reprimand her for once again ditching her guards. Before he could utter a word, he was struck dumb and immobile.

Unaware of Colin’s presence, Makenna rose out of the water completely nude. She threw her head back to wring out her hair. The action thrust her pale breasts upward. Colin watched unable to breathe as the droplets of water slid down the curvature of each full swell to her navel and then lower.

The cresting moon provided just enough light to reveal a level of female perfection he had not realized was possible until now. Colin knew he should move, say something to let Makenna know he was there, but he was finding it difficult to breathe, let alone speak. Instead, he stared transfixed and became, for the first time since he could remember, unmistakably—and worse—uncontrollably aroused.

The concept was inconceivable. He had always been able to contain his passions. He could blame the unexpected reaction on his empty bed. He could claim that seeing any naked woman would make him hard with need, but it would not be the truth. Makenna Dunstan was incredibly beautiful.

Her face, no longer hidden by her mass of fiery hair, revealed delicate facial bones and a full mouth. Her skin was the color of pale cream mixed with a bare pink tint. Long, wet tendrils fell behind her shoulders down to the middle of her back, softening her athletic appearance. For the first time, Colin could see both her strength and her femininity. Makenna was not a fragile, ethereal fairy creature, but a woman made for a man.

Makenna reached for her chainse and pulled it on. The worn cloth clung to her wet skin. Knowing now what secrets it hid, Colin wanted to reach out and rip the gown off her. He wanted to touch her skin and discover if it was as soft as it looked from the shadows.

Colin leaned back against the tree trunk and forced himself to take a deep breath. He had no idea what was happening, but he had to stop it. There was one sure way to end this violent need coursing through him and that was just to talk to her. Makenna could drive a man to the brink of insanity faster than anyone. Surely, three words from her and the world would be righted again. He opened his eyes and moved out from the shadows.

Makenna was wrapping the gold belt of her bliaut around her waist when she heard the crack of a twig break beneath someone’s foot. “Who goes there?”

“It is I, Makenna,” Colin said softly, emerging halfway out of the trees. He was waiting for his body to calm, but the fire in his loins seemed to grow only hotter when her eyes found his. Independence, strength, and passion shimmered in the bright emerald depths.

Makenna was startled by Colin’s sudden appearance and low voice. He was half in the shadows, but she could still see his muscles rippling beneath his leine. The very way he stood was unlike any other man. She had never met anyone who was so at ease with himself as Colin McTiernay. Still, she always sensed he felt alone. He had the unswerving loyalty of his men, yet he never seemed to be one of them. Colin remained emotionally distant—even with his commanders.

She doubted anyone saw or even cared how isolated he was. Colin towered over everyone. He was undoubtedly the most skilled warrior his men had ever met. He exuded unbelievable strength just by his sheer size. Yet his blue eyes reflected a kind of lonesomeness she expected few saw.

Makenna suddenly realized she was staring at him. Pride immediately lashed out before he would realize the nature of her thoughts. “Decided to follow me yourself tonight, did you, McTiernay?”

Colin had thought for one moment they were going to have a real conversation, or at least a civil one. Her eyes had revealed concern and a longing for something right before they turned bright with indignation. The woman was a mixture of emotions, most of them incredibly exasperating. “No, it was by sheer accident I stumbled upon you still dripping from the loch,” he contended, pointing at her wet tresses. “Where are Gorten and Brodie?”

“Where do you think?” she retorted, jutting out her chin and placing her fists on her hips.

Colin rolled his eyes at her childish stance and waved his finger at her pose. “I think you find enjoyment in doing whatever I ask you not to do.”

“Not everything, McTiernay. But I admit to a wee amount of pleasure when I can rid myself of the two overseers you charged to ruin my life.”

“I did not realize that keeping you safe and well was contrary to your future plans.”

She took a step forward and replied through stiff lips, “My safety was never an issue before you arrived.”

Colin took a step even closer. “The Dunstans were never a threat to anyone till I arrived.”

“I’ve seen your army, Colin. We’re still no threat.”

Colin felt a muscle in his jaw flicker angrily. “If you knew me before I…” He paused and took three deep breaths. The woman was baiting him, and he was reacting to her gibes. “You should realize the folly of such assumptions. If you did, you would have made damn sure Gorten and Brodie were with you tonight.”

He had stopped himself, but Makenna knew exactly what Colin had been about to say. “Before I married your sister.” It only proved once again that she was right to refuse her father and remain unwed. A marriage was between two people, not three. And Deirdre would always be there. She was Colin’s first wife, her best friend, and their only commonality.

“I doubt your men wanted to go swimming with me.”

Makenna Dunstan could try a saint. Before Colin realized it, he was shouting at her. “If you want to swim, tell me, and I’ll take you.”

“Never, McTiernay,” she hissed. “I’ll not have you or your men hanging about while I’m unclothed. I’ll ride with your men, I’ll even hunt with them, but I’ll be damned if I swim with them!”

“Mo Chreach! My commands are not requests that you can choose to follow or disregard. Gorten and Brodie are to be with you each and every time you venture outside the town wall, and if I hear of you leaving again without them as escorts, amaid, you won’t be leaving at all.”

Makenna’s eyes flashed with fury. She could not choose which angered her the most, his command that she be followed about, his threat to confine her if she disobeyed, or that he had just called her a foolish woman. But, foolish or not, she recognized the seriousness of Colin’s threats. He meant them. He truly thought her to be unsafe alone in the lands and waters she had known her entire life. Even worse, if he believed her to be unsafe, so would her father. There would be no reprieve.

“Fine. They will be aware of whenever I leave, but they will have to keep up. I refuse to slow for your men.”

Colin closed the distance between them with one last stride and clutched her arm before she could retreat. “I want your word, Makenna. You will tell Gorten and Brodie each and every time you leave the town walls.”

His grip was strong, but not painful. It was meant to secure, not harm. Only by struggling would she hurt herself. The concept that he could both render her helpless and be in control of her fate was maddening. Makenna was tempted to stand silent and wait him out, but one look into his deep blue depths, she knew that despite her stubbornness, he would win the battle. “You have it,” she whispered.

Colin immediately let go, knowing her pride would bind her to the promise more than any threat he could make. With Alexander’s failing health, there was great debate over the fate of Lochlen and its people. Many neighboring lairds were here to witness a marriage and decide if the Highlander was to be called friend or enemy. They came with small armies, poised not only to protect but also to attack.

If Makenna Dunstan were captured, a battle for her release would follow, and Colin would lose a critical advantage. He needed to keep the size of his army a secret until he knew whom he would call ally and foe as the new Dunstan laird. As such, he would protect anything, or anyone, who could be used as leverage against him. And if that meant caging the exotic wild creature, he would.

Colin had chosen Gorten and Brodie to be Makenna’s escorts with extreme care. Both were masters in all of her fields of comfort. Expert horsemen, they could ride, hunt, and if necessary disarm her if she decided to draw her sword against them. He doubted she would. Makenna was foolish, but not unintelligent.

“I assume by making me swear this oath it means you’ve decided to stay,” Makenna said, her voice fading into hushed stillness.

Colin answered with a single nod.

“It’s a mistake, McTiernay. You and I will never work. Hasn’t the last few minutes proven that? I know you don’t like the Lowlands. How could you? My people treat you horribly. They don’t deserve you or what you could bring them. I don’t understand why you don’t leave. No one would think less of you.”

Colin was taken aback by her statement. Not one person, including Alexander and Deirdre, had ever acknowledged the poor behavior of the Dunstans. “I would think less of me, Makenna. Honor demands that I stay.”

“Nay, it is your pride that makes you resist what you know you should do. You hate it here. You have to,” she said softly, pleading for him to agree. Instead, he shook his head.