Page 58 of To Wed a Wild Scot
Juliana worried nervously at her lower lip. He seemed to be following her thoughts with distressing accuracy.
“It’s not legal otherwise,” he added.
She’d been afraid of that. No, that wouldn’t do. The thing had to be done right. Very well, then, once she and Logan were wed they’d consummate the marriage. Only once, of course, to make the thing legal—
“There are other reasons to consummate too, aside from that.”
Dear God, did he actually want todiscussthe other reasons? Wasn’t the whole business nerve-wracking enough without having to reflect on it beforehand?
“Are you eager to share my bed, Juliana?” His low, husky voice brushed against her nerve endings. “Because I find myself very eager for our wedding night.”
Eager?Juliana’s cheeks went hot. The thought of sharing a bed with Logan Blair made her feel…
She didn’t know how it made her feel, aside from strange—a touch fluttery in the belly, and oddly breathless. It was worrying, to say the least. If she couldn’t eventhinkabout it without her wits scattering, how did she propose todoit?
“You don’t need to look so worried. It won’t be as bad as all that.” He gave her a teasing smile. “There’s even a chance you’ll find the whole thing…pleasurable.”
Juliana’s eyes widened. Pleasurable? My goodness, was he flirting with her?
Her gaze caught on his curved lips, and once again the memory of his mouth on hers overwhelmed her, making her stomach leap. If the rest of it was anything like his kiss, she might find it pleasurable, indeed. She wasn’t sure if that made it better, or worse. “I daresay you’re right, and there’s not a thing to worry about. Why, I’m sure it’ll be over before it’s hardly begun.”
Logan choked back a laugh. “Fuilteach ifrinn, lass.”
She stared at him, puzzled. What had she said? More to the point, what hadhejust said in reply? At this rate she was going to have to learn Gaelic.
“For my own part,” he added with a slow smile. “I hope it lasts all n—”
“Logan!”
Juliana was burning with curiosity to hear his next words, but she never got the chance. They’d reached the Sassy Lassie’s inn yard, and a young lady with dark hair rushed toward Logan, a welcoming smile on her red lips.
It was the girl from the other day. The one who’d brought Logan the packet of letters.
The one he’d been flirting with.
Juliana had never seen a man leap from the saddle as quickly as Logan did when he saw her running across the inn yard. “Hello, Alison.”
She came barreling toward him, and he caught her just in time to keep her from crashing into him. “Here again after only a week? Why, Logan! Did ye miss me, lad?”
Logan cast an uneasy glance at Juliana. “Well, ah…I’m always happy to see you, Alison, but we came for our letters.”
The girl drew back and pursed her lips in a pout. “Letters! Is that all? How can ye be so cruel? One of these days I’m going to throw ye over for a man with a warmer heart, Logan Blair!” She slapped him lightly on the arm, and her pretty pout dissolved into a smile even more alluring than her sulk had been.
Juliana sat frozen atop her horse, an unpleasant weight settling on her chest as she watched the girl tease and flirt with him.
She was young—not more than eighteen or so—with abundant, shining raven hair piled in an untidy knot atop her head. Her translucent skin shone like a pearl, and she had the widest, most thickly lashed blue eyes Juliana had ever seen.
The beauty of the girl’s eyes didn’t seem to be lost on Logan. He was looking down at her with a smile unlike any Juliana had seen on his face before. He looked as if he’d been asleep all this time, and had only awoken now, when this beautiful girl rushed into his arms.
Juliana quickly averted her eyes, aware she’d been staring at the two of them. She slowly dismounted, unsure what to do next. Courtesy demanded she wait for Logan to introduce her, but he was far too busy gazing admiringly at the girl’s smiling lips and generous curves to remember his manners. At least, that was how it appeared to Juliana.
All at once, she wished herself anywhere but here.
Was this ravishing girl the reason Logan hadn’t wanted to marry her? Was he in love with her? It looked as if the girl was besotted with him, but while there was clearly admiration and affection in his gaze, if he felt anything deeper, his expression didn’t betray it.
Not that it mattered to her if Logandidlove the girl, Juliana thought dully. Once he’d served his purpose in England he’d return to Scotland quickly enough. This girl could have him all to herself then, with Juliana’s compliments.
It was nothing to her what he did.
