Page 96 of Bound to a Warrior
“And afterwards we’ll talk, which we have been trying to do all day,” she reminded him. “Perhaps it would be best if we had food brought to your bedchamber so that we won’t be disturbed. After all, we have much to discuss and I have yet to eat.”
“That might be wise.”
Finally, she ran her hand beneath his shirt, her fingers crawling along his muscled chest. “So then we’ll give it a try and see how it works?”
“Aye, we’ll give it a try.”
They approached the keep steps, his brothers, father and mother stood waiting, obviously wondering what had gone on between her and Duncan, and if he would do anything about her defiance of his order.
He threw the reins of his stallion to Reeve and said, “See to him.” Then he turned and scooped Mercy up, flinging her over his shoulder and giving her bottom a slap. “I have to see to Mercy’s punishment.”
He was demonstrating his authority over her and it annoyed the heck out of her. She’d been the one who handled the matter and rather wisely, proposing a settlement that worked for them both and now he goes and makes it seem like he’s handling the matter his way.
What to do about it?
The solution came quick and it was simple. As he walked up the steps to the keep, she raised her head and sent everyone a victorious grin.
Chapter 28
Duncan lay spent, Mercy spread naked over him.
“It certainly worked,” he said with a laugh. “I’m not agitated anymore, but I am famished.”
Mercy raised her head off his chest and grinned at him. “So am I.”
He slapped her naked bottom gently. “Then let’s eat.”
They scampered out of bed, Mercy reaching for her blouse. He snatched it out of her hands.
“I like you just the way you are.”
“The room holds a chill,” she protested rubbing her arms.
He grabbed his plaid and wrapped it around her shoulders, though left her breasts partially exposed. “Better?”
“Much,” she said and hurried to the table.
They took seats opposite each other and Mercy began munching on a variety of foods. Duncan poured them wine, then rested back in the chair. He had much he wished to discuss with her, but for the moment he simply wanted to enjoy the sight of her.
Her dark hair was tousled from their vigorous lovemaking and her neck and breasts were dotted with love bites that already were beginning to fade. God, but he loved this woman.
“Eat,” she urged with a sweet laugh, shoving a thick piece of cheese at him. “You claimed you were hungry.”
“I am,” he said snatching it from her, though he didn’t tell her that it was she he hungered for all the time.
“What did the soldiers want?” she asked.
He was glad she asked for they needed to talk. “You.”
“But you already told them I wouldn’t be returning to my father.”
“For some insane reason they thought I might have changed my mind.”
“I wonder what my father wants from me,” she said.
“I was thinking the same. Perhaps you have something that belongs to him.”
“No,” Mercy said, shaking her head. “I left with only the clothes I wore. And Mother had no intentions of bringing anything more than a satchel. Mother always planned everything. So I knew when she frantically began throwing things in a satchel and demanding I leave and wait at the river’s edge, a favorite place of mine, that her decision had been made in haste and out of necessity.”
