Page 105 of To Wed a Wild Scot
When she didn’t answer, he gave her a lazy grin. “Come closer,bhean, and I’ll explain anything you like.”
Juliana’s gaze snapped from his chest to his face. Oh, yes, that’s right. She’d come to demand an explanation from him, hadn’t she?
She crossed her arms over her chest and did her best to look outraged. “I had a most enlightening conversation with Emilia just now. She overheard me call Gracebhig galla, and do you know what she did, Logan?”
The playful grin she loved so much hovered at the corners of Logan’s lips, but he didn’t answer. Instead he crooked his finger at her, beckoning her forward.
Juliana swallowed. His wet skim gleamed, and the sprinkling of dark hair on his chest made her think of that alluring trail of hair low on his belly. It was just as well that half of him was submerged in the water, or else she’d never get this scolding over with.
“Her eyes went as round as tea saucers, and she asked me where I’d heard that phrase. I told her you called me that, andthendo you know what she did, Logan?”
The grin widened, but Logan only crooked his finger at her again.
Juliana hesitated. Well, perhaps it wouldn’t do any harm to take a tiny step closer. “Shelaughed, Logan. She laughed so hard I began to fear she’d give birth right there in the drawing room.” Juliana inched another step closer to him, but took care to remain out of his reach. “It seemsbhig gallaisn’t the sweet, loving endearment I thought it was.”
“Closer,dùr bhean.”
Juliana edged a bit closer, but she was enjoying teasing him too much to give in just yet. “Well? What do you have to say for yourself?Bhig galla, indeed.”
“Closer, Ana, or I’ll have to come get you myself.”
Juliana took two tiny steps forward, until she was mere inches away from the edge of the tub. “She also told me whatbeag deomhanmeans, so don’t think you’ve gotten away with that one. Really, Logan, what sort of husband calls his wife a little demon?”
“The sort of husband who has a little demon for a wife. Take your hair down,leannan.”
“Ah, nowleannanis much better. Sweetheart is a proper endearment for a wife.” To reward him, Juliana began to draw the pins from her hair. She gave him a teasing smile as she dropped them to the floor, one by one. When she’d discarded every pin she shook her hair loose, letting it fall over her shoulders and down her back in thick waves.
Logan’s blue eyes darkened as he watched her. When he spoke, his voice was low and husky. “Now your dress. Take it off,àlainn bana-bhuidseach.”
Juliana was about to obey, but her fingers paused on the button at the back of her neck. “Alainn bana-bhuidseach? You’ve never called me that before. What does it mean?”
Logan’s gaze swept over her and an impatient growl rose from his chest. “Take off your dress, Ana.”
“No.”
Logan raised an eyebrow at her. “No?”
“That’s right, no. Not until you tell me whatàlainn bana-bhuidseachmeans.”
Logan’s blue eyes glittered at the note of challenge in her voice. “It means beautiful witch. Now take your dress off.”
Beautiful witch? She hadn’t expected that. It wasn’t really a proper endearment, but his rough voice and heated gaze made a shiver of desire dart down her spine. Juliana quickly loosened the few remaining buttons and slid the dress off her shoulders.
Logan stared as she slowly worked the dress down, his gaze devouring every creamy inch of skin as it was revealed. “Your chemise, too.”
Juliana drew her chemise over her head.
Logan’s lips parted in a groan when she stood bare before him. “Yes. Now come here, Ana.” He shifted in the tub, drawing his legs open, and nodded at the space between them. “Right here.”
“I can’t. There’s no room,” Juliana teased, biting her lip.
Logan patted the water in front of him, sending it sloshing against the sides of the tub. “There’s more than enough room for you, wee wife.”
“Hmmm. I don’t know. Isn’t the water cold?”
“No, but even if it was, I’d soon warm you.” Logan crooked his finger at her again, and his lips curved in a seductive smile.
Juliana gazed at him—the damp, dark waves of his hair, one lock now lying across his forehead, his taut, muscular body, the smile in his hot blue eyes—and she gave up the fight. There was simply no resisting her husband.
