The Highlander's Bride(15)
Cullen laughed. “Is that how you see men, as boastful?”
“Pride too. Lord, there isn’t a man alive who doesn’t possess an overabundance of pride.”
“A man should have pride,” Cullen said in defense of all men.
“As long as he can handle it. Too much could be a detriment to his character.”
Cullen nodded. “I agree with that.”
“Good, so we’ve now established that you can build a fine fire, you don’t boast, and you don’t overindulge in pride. Tell me more.”
“Enough about me. What of your qualities?”
She laughed with such glee that it caused him to chuckle. “My father would say I have not a one, and I would say I could always use more.”
Cullen suddenly felt odd, sitting there on the bed with her, talking like newly acquired friends when in essence she was not a friend at all, but the woman who forced him to wed her in exchange for his son’s whereabouts.
“You frown. Something troubles you,” she said.
“This scene,” he admitted, waving his hand out in front of him. “It is odd sitting here conversing with a stranger who is my wife.”
“We are merely a means to an end for each other. There isn’t any reason not to be civil about it. We both will do what we must to get what we want. You want your son. I want my freedom. We both will benefit, with no loss suffered by either of us. I’d say our bargain was a worthy one.”
“Put like that, it sounds justifiable.”
“It is justifiable. We’ve made no unreasonable demands on each other.”
His brow shot up.
Sara folded her arms across her chest. “Speak your peace.”
“You have dictated the terms from the beginning. I have no recourse but to follow them.”
“If you viewed it as merely an equitable bargain, you’d see it as favorable and have no problem.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that you dictate the terms.”
“True enough.”
He laughed. “I don’t like being dictated to.”
“In this case I don’t think you have a choice.”
He leaned forward. “There’s always a choice.”
“Not this time.”
Her smug, singsong tone punched him right in the gut, and he’d be damned if he didn’t retaliate. “I think otherwise.”
“Really?” she asked calmly. “And what do you intend to do about it?”
He pressed his nose to hers. “I intend to bed you when and where I choose.”
Chapter 7
Sara leaned back with a confident shake of her head. “The choice remains mine.”
He laughed gruffly. “You think so?”
“Do you intend to force me?”
“I won’t have to.”
She wanted so badly to slap the sinfully confident sneer off his face. But such an action would only foster his self-assurance, giving him the upper hand. Of course, she could just let him have his way and be done with it.
Why didn’t the notion sit well with her?
Too many people dictating to her? Too little control of her life? Too frightened of how she might feel or respond?
“Just surrender and leave it to me. It will be easier that way.”
Surrender?
She didn’t have the luxury of surrender. She had to look out for herself, which meant she’d need to seduce him to have it her way, on her terms.
“I agree surrender is the easier way. I’m sure you’ll enjoy surrendering to me.”
He laughed hysterically. She didn’t think he’d stop, and of course, it was amusing to see how he so foolishly misjudged her, so she chuckled herself.
Cullen held his stomach and in between final chuckles said. “I haven’t laughed until it hurt in a long time.”
“So glad I could amuse you.”
“Oh, you did, you truly did.”
“This encounter at least served a useful purpose,” she said.
“And what is that?”
“We both learned that neither of us like to be dictated to.”
“It could prove a problem.”
Sara smiled. “Not really.”
“I’m amazed.”
“Not awed?”
He shook his head. “You truly believe it will go your way?”
“Of course, but then so do you—” She stopped his protest with a raised hand. “—believe it will go your way.”
“I need to remember that you’re quick-witted.”
“You need to know many things about me if you’re to have your way with me, but then—” She winced as if her remark would be painful, though not to her. “I believe you referred to me as a stranger? Whereas I’ve already learned some things about you.”