Page 63 of Kidnapped by a Rogue
“The truth is,” he told her, “I feared I’d die of pleasure.”
She tilted her head. “Then why did ye not let me finish?”
“Because ye don’t really want to,” he said. “You’re only doing it to keep me from touching you.”
“If it gives ye pleasure, what does it matter why I do it?”
“Because I want to give ye pleasure, not just take it. I want to touch ye, to feel your body against mine, to be inside ye and hear ye cry my name,” he said, resting his palm against her cheek. “I want to make love to you.”
Her eyes went dark and she bit her lip, and he caught a glimmer of the lass who had pulled him into a deep kiss outside of Huntly Castle. She was tempted, but something was holding her back.
Just what was she afraid of?
“Ye can’t have a child, so ye needn’t worry you’ll end up bound to me,” he said.
“Or you to me,” she said in a tight voice.
Then why the hell not? And what did she mean by that, anyway? He was desperate to have her in his arms, but she was cooling by the moment.
“If you require a true handfasting to do it, I’m willing.” He nearly choked on the words, but he didn’t see where pretending and actually being handfasted would be much different. Either way, they’d be sharing this bed, and he could not have any other women.
“Although I’m flattered by such aheartfeltproposal,” she said, “I must refuse, for your sake as well as mine.”
Judging by the way she picked up the pillow and fluffed it rather vigorously with her fist, he must have phrased that badly. With all the blood drained from his head and filling his cock, he could not think properly.
Ach!He was even more confused and frustrated than before. The only thing he knew for certain was that Margaret was not going to reveal her secrets tonight. When she turned her back to him again, he felt as if she’d drawn an invisible line down the bed between them that he dare not cross.
And he had never felt lonelier in his life.
CHAPTER 17
Finn could take the punishment the men meted out at practice each day. At least he felt he was making progress with them. But after three more nights of tossing and turning beside Margaret, Finn could not take much more. And Margaret showed no signs of changing her mind.
He was in a foul mood and well on his way to getting stinking drunk when his brother plunked down beside him. The other men in the hall had taken one look at Finn and had the sense to leave him alone with his whisky.
“Ye look terrible,” Bearach said, giving him a harder-than-friendly slap on the back. “That bride of yours must be riding ye hard.”
“Mind your tongue.” Finn kept his gaze fixed in front of him and willed his brother to disappear.
“Ach, that Maggie is something to look at,” Bearach said. “Acts all quiet and proper, but I’d wager she’s a wildcat under the blankets.”
“Don’t speak about her like that.” Finn’s head began to pound as he slowly turned to face his brother. “In fact, I’d ask ye not to foul her name by speaking of her at all.”
“If you’re having trouble satisfying your bride, little brother,” Bearach said, “I’d be happy to take a turn and show her what she’s missing.”
Finn grabbed Bearach by the throat and lifted him off the bench. Speaking each word slowly, he said, “Stay away from her.”
“It won’t matter if I do,” Bearach said with a smirk. “She’ll come to me, just like Curstag did.”
“Is minic a bhris béal duine a shorn.”Many a time a man's mouth broke his nose.
Finn was very close to planting his fist in his brother’s face when he heard the rustle of a gown and looked over his shoulder to find his mother fast approaching.
“Let go of him!” his mother shouted from still several feet away. “What in God’s name is wrong with ye, Finn?”
“I mean it. Stay away from my wife,” Finn said an inch from Bearach’s face before dropping his brother back onto the bench.
“Ha, you’ve fallen for the bitch, haven’t ye?” Bearach laughed and slapped the table. “Thought you’d learned your lesson. You’re a damned fool.”
