It is said that Braden MacAllister, English baron and proud Highlander warrior, can fell an enemy with a single blow -- and a woman with a single kiss. But not Maggie, it seems. For the fire-haired beauty, determined to end the long running feud that rages between their clan and it's common foe, is immune to Branden's attempts to stop her foolishness. But stop her he will, once he gets the meddling minx alone...and favors her with a passionate caress and an irresistible kiss. No matter how she trembles beneath Braden's sensuous touch, Maggie must not yield! As long as this feud continues, the lives of her brothers are at stake. And though Braden is known to have bedded many a lass, he has given his heart to none. But dare she dream that by assuring peace for her clan she may also be claiming the most magnificient Highlander for herself?

London, during the reign of Henry II

Handsome as sin and more dangerous than the devil himself, Braden MacAllister had but one affliction in life.

He adored all women.

At a score and five years, he had claimed more hearts than anyone could count and charmed more women than there were stars in the heavens. It was said that on the hour of his birth, the midwife had been enthralled by the newborn's playful air. The woman, who had helped bring over three score wee bairns into the world, had instantly proclaimed Braden a bane to any lass foolish enough to give her heart over to one such as he.

For the boy had the devil in him. 'Twas plain for any to see.

Braden himself didn't know why women fascinated him so. He only knew that he adored them all -- young, old, single or married, beautiful or plain. It mattered not, for each woman possessed a special flame within her that he found irresistible, and in return, women were fascinated by him.

Wherever he went, feminine heads came together with gasps and giggles as they relayed his reputation to each other. Those who knew his bedroom skills firsthand lorded it over those who only knew him by rumor.

Braden always responded to the women he met with a roguish smile. Never was he too busy to stop along the way to pass a moment or two with a willing female.

Indeed, he lived for the sensual. Lived for the sound of soft, feminine sighs of pleasure whispered in his ear as he reveled in the giving of pleasure to his lover. He could never consider himself well sated until his partner had found her own satisfaction at least three or four times.

And Braden loved to be well sated.

His family claimed it was a terrible addiction he had.

For his life, he didn't know what it was about women that captivated him so. Perhaps it was the smell of them, the feel of their soft, supple limbs sliding against his naked skin.

Nay, he decided, 'twas the taste of women he loved best.

And right now he was surrounded by three women who were vying for his attention.

The Ghent sisters.

Well, only two of them were still from Ghent; the other, Piety, had married Rufus of Nottingham the winter past. And though Braden liked the old earl a great deal, it really was a shame for such a vibrant young woman to be shackled to a man thrice her age. Especially when said man spent more time tending his hawks and hounds than he did doting on his beautiful bride.

Piety, in great contradiction to her name, had been making advances toward him ever since his arrival in England three months past to visit with his brother and swear homage for his English lands to King Henry II.

Ever one to avoid unpleasantness with the English when he could, Braden had deftly sidestepped the young woman's seductive contrivances and machinations.

When he had received a letter earlier that day from Rufus requesting his presence to talk over some Scottish lands the earl was thinking of sellIng, Braden had thought little of it. Until he had arrived to find the three women in residence while the earl and his brothers had departed that very morning for France.

Braden's first inclination had been to leave. But what mere mortal man could refuse such fruits of heaven when they were literally laid bare before him?

It was certainly more temptation than Braden could resist. Not that it took much in the way of temptation for a hedonist such as he.

If the women were content to seduce him, then he was certainly content to be seduced.

The three women pushed him down on the bed and were starting to make free use of his body for their pleasure. Delighted to let the ladies have their way with him, Braden relaxed and simply enjoyed what they offered.

A Web designer by trade, Kinley MacGregor is the highly praised author of A Pirate of Her Own and Master of Seduction, which received a K.I.S.S. Award and was chosen as a Doubleday Book Club Award and was chosen as a Doubleday Book Club alternate selection. She lives outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, three sons, and assorted pets.