Stolen By The Scottish Rogue (Kilts & Kisses 2)

I shake my head. No, Malcolm McAuley is… well, he’s crude, for one. He’s a scoundrel. A rogue. A pirate. A wicked man with wicked intentions, and they all involve me.

“Princess.”

His voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and I blush.

“What,” I snap.

He grins. “Are they about me?”

I frown at him. “Excuse me?”

“Whatever naughty thoughts you’ve got going on in that pretty head that has you blushing like that.”

And, of course, I blush even deeper.

“I was not,” I hiss.

He grins before he nods up at the sky, the wind starting to whip harder around us.

“There’s a storm coming.

I swallow, following his look and balking at the heavy black clouds rolling closer.

“Are we safe?”

His jaw tightens. “Yes.”

“That was hardly convincing.” I shiver, biting my lip as I glance up at the sky. “We should turn around.”

He frowns, shaking his head.

“You’re going to risk our lives because your worried about what’s going to happen to you when you get caught kidnapping me?”

He chuckles. “First, princess, I’m not kidnapping you.”

“I beg to differ.”

“Noted,” he growls. “And for two, going to shore with a storm coming in like this is the most dangerous thing we could do.”

I scowl at him. “What?”

“We won’t beat the storm to shore, which means it’ll hit us before we can get softly in, and just batter us into it.”

I stare at him. “So, we just stay out here?” I squeak.

Malcolm’s jaw tightens. “Yes.”

He jumps down from the wheel, nodding at some ropes tied around a post in the main mast.

“Give me a hand with these.”

“No.”

He turns, frowning at me. “Excuse me?”

I purse my lips, folding my arms over my chest. “I said no,” I mutter petulantly. “Do them yourself. I’m not your ship slave despite you kidnapping me like one.”

His jaw grinds. “Do you see those storm clouds coming our way?”

“I see someone who didn’t plan this kidnapping out every well.”

His gorgeous, fierce blue eyes blaze into mine, taking my breath away.

“You’re a bit of a brat, aren’t you?”

“Should’ve thought about that before you kidnapped—”

Malcolm growls, turning away from me and striding for the sail ropes. He yanks on them, and I swallow as my eyes dip to his bulging arms as he manhandles the rope. The sails drop, and he lowers them quickly before tying them off and jumping to the sail at the back of the boat. He rolls that one down too and secures it before moving to the wheel and locking it in place.

I stare at him, fear starting to ripple through me.

“Wait are we really not going in?”

“No, we’re really not.”

I turn, paling as I stare at the storm clouds billowing like smoke over the sky.

“You can’t be serious.’

“Oh, but I am, princess. We fold sails, drop anchor, and ride it out.”

“Ride it out?” I balk, staring at him. “You’re mad!”

He grins. “Perhaps.” He jumps down the stairs from the captain’s deck again, moving toward the heavy anchor and heaving it over the side with a splash into the pitching waves.

“Now, I’m going down to the living quarters to drink whiskey and strap myself in for the ride. Are you coming?”

“With you?” I snap. “Not a chance.”

He looks amused as I glare at him.

“I’ll be staying right here, thank you very much,” I huff.

Malcolm chuckles. “Up here, on deck, during that storm?” He shakes his head, grinning. “Who’s mad now?”

I glare at him.

“Let’s go princess,” he growls, beckoning.

“No.”

“Now,” he growls, the smug look fading. “It’s not safe out here with the sails down. The boat’s going to be spinning and pitching,” he says loudly, his voice rising as the wind starts to howl.

“I’ll take my chances up here. You’re insane if you think I’m going down into that bedroom with you.”

“Still trying to convince yourself, are you?”

My eyes narrow at him.

“Convince myself of what?”

“That you’re not dying for me to kiss you again.”

My jaw drops.

“You… you scoundrel!’

Malcolm just chuckles, gesturing with his head. “Let’s go.”

“No!”

“I’m not asking.”

“And I’m not doing it.”

He looks at me for one more second, the boat rolling hard as the black clouds swirl overhead. The wind begins to howl, and I shiver.

“Princess—”

“Don’t you ‘princess’ me! I’m staying right—hey!”

I scream, kicking and thrashing as Malcolm snatches me up. My legs kick the air, my head shaking wildly side to side as he manhandles me close to him and drags me down into the belly of the ship. He kicks open the door to the flower and garland festooned quarters where I was getting ready for my wedding earlier, hauling me in before turning and kicking the door shut. I lurch against him and he growls as he lets me drop from his powerful arms.

“Don’t you touch me!”

Malcolm rolls his eyes as he turns and shoves the heavy dead-bolt across the door.

“You’re welcome.”

“For what?” I snap.

“For saving your life.”

I roll my eyes.

“Because staying up there?” He shakes his head. “That’s madness.”