Read Online The Highlander's Reward by Eliza Knight - Free Book Online
Authors: Eliza Knight
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perplexing expression and words. “Not as sweet as ye, lass. We need to go back inside. We must marry in front of my men, and then we will return to Sutherland.”
She nodded slowly, reaching up to touch her lips. “I will marry you, but in name only. I won’t allow you to…to…kiss me again.”
He frowned. “In name only?”
“I won’t be a true wife to you.”
“What the hell does that mean?” The woman was exasperating! He didn’t understand a damn thing she was talking about.
Her face flamed a charming red. “I won’t allow you to consummate the marriage.”
“Ah,” he said, finally understanding. If he had to agree now, then he would, but if he was going to marry her, he was eventually going to bed her. Her lips were too sweet to never kiss again. And he ached to know what other charms she held. “I will only kiss ye again when ye ask it of me. Fair enough?”
She nodded solemnly, folding her hands in front of her and looking toward the ground. “You will honor my request? Even when you are in your cups?”
He frowned. “What? My lady, I assure ye, I never get so deep in my cups that I’m not in complete control.”
“Truly?” She sounded so surprised he wasn’t sure if he should be offended or not.
“Aye.”
“Hmm… That is one thing Glenda was wrong about then.” She wiped slightly trembling hands down the front of her skirt.
He raised a questioning brow. “Who is Glenda?”
“My maid. She told me all about the ruthless Scots before we left England.”
“Where is she now?” He would tell this maid a thing or two.
“She’s still in England.” Her tone was sad and her face fell slightly.
“No maid came with ye?”
“Nay.”
“Why were ye going to Stirling?” He had his suspicions that she was meant to marry. There was no other reason for a beautiful English maiden to make the trip and without a maid unless one had been promised upon her arrival. If that were the truth of it, he was in a lot more trouble than he originally thought. A spurned fiancé—English at that—would not take lightly having his bride stolen.
Arbella just shook her head. “I shall tell you at another time. Let us get the deed done and be on our way.” She started to walk around him.
“My lady.” He stayed her with his hand. “We will have to make a show of a consummation for all to believe we are married in truth. If not, then they may suspect otherwise. No need to cause such suspicion.”
She chewed her lower lip. “A show?”
“Aye. A bloody sheet. After the ceremony, I will come to ye. But I will keep my promise. ‘Twill be for show only.”
He heard her deep inhale and slow exhale. “All right.”
Magnus let her go then, watching the gentle sway of her hips as she went. Her innocent kiss still burned on his lips. He would have a hard time keeping his promise. But getting her to ask him for a kiss and more would be a thrilling challenge. One he fully intended to succeed at—sooner rather than later.
The ceremony went relatively quickly. Arbella mumbled her vows while Magnus fairly shouted them. Then the abbot said, “Ye may kiss your bride.”
Arbella’s blood ran cold. The way Magnus had kissed her outside left her a trembling, confused mess. She’d never known that kissing a man could be that way. And now she would have to repeat the act.
Part of her wanted to, desperately. To taste him, to feel his warm lips pressed to hers. To feel herself wrapped in his embrace and to enjoy the delicious sensations that ran rampant through her body when he held her. The other part of her feared kissing him again. Would he expect more? What would the abbot think if she were to show such wanton interest in her husband? Oh, God, he was her husband!
Her vision blurred and dizziness swept through her. She would faint, she knew she would.
But before she fell, Magnus slid his hands around her waist and gently tugged her closer. His mouth descended on hers as she took a breath. Her lips
She nodded slowly, reaching up to touch her lips. “I will marry you, but in name only. I won’t allow you to…to…kiss me again.”
He frowned. “In name only?”
“I won’t be a true wife to you.”
“What the hell does that mean?” The woman was exasperating! He didn’t understand a damn thing she was talking about.
Her face flamed a charming red. “I won’t allow you to consummate the marriage.”
“Ah,” he said, finally understanding. If he had to agree now, then he would, but if he was going to marry her, he was eventually going to bed her. Her lips were too sweet to never kiss again. And he ached to know what other charms she held. “I will only kiss ye again when ye ask it of me. Fair enough?”
She nodded solemnly, folding her hands in front of her and looking toward the ground. “You will honor my request? Even when you are in your cups?”
He frowned. “What? My lady, I assure ye, I never get so deep in my cups that I’m not in complete control.”
“Truly?” She sounded so surprised he wasn’t sure if he should be offended or not.
“Aye.”
“Hmm… That is one thing Glenda was wrong about then.” She wiped slightly trembling hands down the front of her skirt.
He raised a questioning brow. “Who is Glenda?”
“My maid. She told me all about the ruthless Scots before we left England.”
“Where is she now?” He would tell this maid a thing or two.
“She’s still in England.” Her tone was sad and her face fell slightly.
“No maid came with ye?”
“Nay.”
“Why were ye going to Stirling?” He had his suspicions that she was meant to marry. There was no other reason for a beautiful English maiden to make the trip and without a maid unless one had been promised upon her arrival. If that were the truth of it, he was in a lot more trouble than he originally thought. A spurned fiancé—English at that—would not take lightly having his bride stolen.
Arbella just shook her head. “I shall tell you at another time. Let us get the deed done and be on our way.” She started to walk around him.
“My lady.” He stayed her with his hand. “We will have to make a show of a consummation for all to believe we are married in truth. If not, then they may suspect otherwise. No need to cause such suspicion.”
She chewed her lower lip. “A show?”
“Aye. A bloody sheet. After the ceremony, I will come to ye. But I will keep my promise. ‘Twill be for show only.”
He heard her deep inhale and slow exhale. “All right.”
Magnus let her go then, watching the gentle sway of her hips as she went. Her innocent kiss still burned on his lips. He would have a hard time keeping his promise. But getting her to ask him for a kiss and more would be a thrilling challenge. One he fully intended to succeed at—sooner rather than later.
The ceremony went relatively quickly. Arbella mumbled her vows while Magnus fairly shouted them. Then the abbot said, “Ye may kiss your bride.”
Arbella’s blood ran cold. The way Magnus had kissed her outside left her a trembling, confused mess. She’d never known that kissing a man could be that way. And now she would have to repeat the act.
Part of her wanted to, desperately. To taste him, to feel his warm lips pressed to hers. To feel herself wrapped in his embrace and to enjoy the delicious sensations that ran rampant through her body when he held her. The other part of her feared kissing him again. Would he expect more? What would the abbot think if she were to show such wanton interest in her husband? Oh, God, he was her husband!
Her vision blurred and dizziness swept through her. She would faint, she knew she would.
But before she fell, Magnus slid his hands around her waist and gently tugged her closer. His mouth descended on hers as she took a breath. Her lips
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