He pulled his shaft from her hand and his arm from under her, then left the bed, swooping the top sheet with him.
And he certainly didn’t like that he had to wipe himself off while her gaze followed his every movement, her eyes wide and curious. He threw the sheet in the corner, then returned to bed. Not close to her.
If she noticed, she didn’t act like it. She crawled to him, putting her head back on his chest. “That was amazing,” she whispered.
“It’s no’ exactly a feat.”
“Why didn’t you make love to me? Am I too small?”
“No,” he said, in half truth. He’d never thought he would curse his size before he’d been between her spread legs, glaring down at himself.
“Then why didn’t you? Were you afraid to get me with child?”
“That’s no’ the reason.” He wished that was the reason.
“Then what?”
“You still have your virtue. Your future husband will demand that.”
“Husband? I don’t know if you realize this, but being kidnapped by a gang of mercenaries severely curtailed my husband hunt.”
“You could go to America. Marry a rich man there.”
“I don’t want to go to America.”
“I read your letters, Anna.”
She stiffened. “Why are you telling me this?”
“I read the one from the railroader’s daughter writing about her brother.” The brother had planned to ask Llorente for Annalía’s hand. “I’ve heard of their name before. They have more money than the queen. You could go there—”
“Aleix already turned down his suit.”
“Did he, then?” he said, his voice deadened. Why should that surprise him? Court had obviously lost his mind during those moments when he’d thought, What if I just keep her? Lost his mind thinking she might come to want him for more. “Still, there are options, but only if you’re…intact.”
“Would you demand that of me?” She rolled over on her stomach and propped her chin on her hand. “If you were to be my husband?”
I’d take you any way I could get you, he thought again. “I doona consider those kinds of things.”
“Why?”
“Because I never plan to marry.”
“Did a woman hurt you?”
“No.”
“I don’t believe you. Why else wouldn’t you want a woman to have all your own?”
“No woman’s hurt me.”
“So the issue is that you don’t want one woman. You want your harem.”
If she only knew…. After tonight, she’d ruined him. Her hands brushing her nipples as he took her with his mouth. Inward shake. “Why settle for one when you can have many?”
“It isn’t as if men stop having other women after marriage.”
With you as his wife, this one would.
“But it’s been repeatedly explained to me that though a man might require others, he has the need to possess one woman to call his own, the need to protect her and any children they have. It must be so, because both marriages and affairs go on. If you ignore that need, you’ll miss out on so much, MacCarrick,” she said softly but with conviction. She curled up next to his side again and laid her arm over his chest. His eyes briefly closed with pleasure.
“Enough of this talk.” Perhaps before he let her go, he would explain to her that not all men were like that. That she should expect better.
Let her go.
Let passionate, brave, beautiful Anna go. She’d come along as punishment, no doubt. For all his sins. She was his perfect torment.
“So after you reunite me with my brother, you will just leave me behind like all the others.”
He didn’t hesitate. “Aye.”
“Then I thank you for not ruining me further. Because I will have a family and children.”
Barely hiding his exasperation, he asked, “Then why had you no’ married earlier?”
“I won’t tell you—you’ll think I’m silly.”
“Tell me.” When she didn’t answer, he squeezed her to him.
She sighed. “I was waiting for someone…for someone I could love. I know you probably think it’s a fanciful notion, but I’ve seen it.”
Court had too. His parents had been mad for each other. “Then you could marry where you chose to?”
She nodded against his chest. “In the beginning, yes, but I couldn’t find anyone, so the choice was taken from me. After Pascal, I understand how vulnerable I am as long as I’m unwed.”
He’d avoided asking her about her future because he’d known he wouldn’t like her answer, but now he said, “What will happen to you once your brother retrieves you?”