The Highlander's Bride(38)
It took him a moment to remember how he had come to be beside her, and he was glad that they had remained together throughout the night. Their bodies were warm from the shared heat, and his sleep undisturbed by nightmares.
He felt good, as if he’d slept soundly for the first time since Alaina’s passing. He felt strangely renewed and comfortable. So much so that he just wished to remain as he was, relishing the peaceful moment.
A groan and the beginning of a stretch interrupted his brief peace, and he smiled when Sara suddenly realized where she was, her body springing taut like a bow.
She lifted her head to stare at him, startled out of sleepiness.
“Good morning,” he said, hoping to ease her concern.
His innocent ploy didn’t work; she popped up but remained sitting beside him, looking bewildered.
“You were having nightmares, and I attempted to comfort you.” He shrugged. “I fell asleep alongside you in the process.”
She appeared speechless, which he found hard to believe. The woman was never at a loss for words, and he could only assume that sleep still partially claimed her.
She reminded him of a cornered animal frozen in fear. He reached out, laying his hand on hers. “You settled peacefully in my arms and I settled peacefully into slumber.”
Her face turned soft then, her eyes gentle, and her whole body seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
“Thank you,” she said, to his surprise.
He thought she might rant at him and tell him to keep to himself, that she didn’t need his concern, his comforting. He had never expected a thank-you.
“I remember now you asking me if I wished to talk about my disturbing dreams.”
“I did, and the offer still holds.”
“I appreciate it,” she said with a tentative smile. “Perhaps some other time.”
“I’m all ears.”
“That you’re not,” she said with a grin. “You are a good-looking man.”
“And you are a beautiful woman.”
Suddenly, once again, she appeared a cornered animal. “I am not.”
He playfully squeezed her hand. “Do you call me a liar?”
His teasing accusation startled her silent, and as he took in her eyes, wide in disbelief, and her rigid posture, he realized that it was likely she had never been told she was beautiful. He felt a twinge of sorrow for her and for all those who had failed to see the beauty in her.
Still holding his hand, she finally found her voice. “You can’t mean it?”
“I simply speak the truth. You are a beautiful woman.”
“Have you rubbed the sleep from your eyes?” she asked with a laugh.
“Whether in the dawn of first light or the gray of dusk, your beauty remains the same.”
“That is so very lovely.”
“Finally,” he grinned shaking their locked hands, “you accept my sincere compliment.”
A tinge of pink painted her cheeks, and the idea that he could make her blush delighted him and widened his already foolish grin.
She gave a quick nod and turned her head for a moment, he assumed to hide her cheeks’ staining a deeper pink. The blushing response reminded him that she was a woman in all ways possible. She merely masked her various aspects as a safeguard, and probably more so for no doubt having been hurt more than once.
“I was thinking,” he said. “We struck a bargain and I gave my word, and I believe it also prudent that we consummate our vows so that your freedom is guaranteed.”
Sara eased her hand out of his. “I appreciate it, but it’s not necessary.”
“I gave you my word.” He heard and felt his irritation. Why would she argue with him? It was for the best and she knew that, which was why she had made it part of the bargain. Why, suddenly, didn’t it matter anymore?
“I release you from that part of the bargain.”
“A bargain is a bargain,” he found himself arguing.
“My bargain, my decision,” she said, and scrambled to her feet.
He followed by jumping to his feet and grabbing hold of her arm. “Our bargain, our decision.”
With a huffed laugh and a shake of her head, she said, “Spit it out, Scotsman, what you’re really saying is you want to have sex with me.”
Damned if she wasn’t right, but then what had she expected when they flirted with challenging each other to surrender? How could she not have expected sparks to fly and some to ignite? Especially since, for his own part, he had been so long without a woman, just as she had never been with a man. It had always been a situation bent on an explosive ending.
He yanked her up against him. “And you want to have sex with me,” he declared.
Chapter 15
Sara almost exploded, but instead tempered her anger when she begrudgingly admitted to herself that he spoke the truth. She had forced the issue of him bedding her as a practical one. They had then taken on a challenge of their own, both of them wanting to take charge of the situation until finally it became obvious that by sealing their vows it would settle all issues, the most important one being that it would protect her. Her father would not be able to annul her marriage and force another husband on her.