Page 71 of To Wed a Wild Scot
Logan dragged his sleeve across his damp forehead.
Christ, he was nervous. An enormous, nervous husband with a fierce, burning desire for his tiny, innocent wife wasn’t a promising combination.
If she did let him near her again, he’d just have to be careful, that’s all. So very careful. No letting his weight rest on her. No rubbing or squeezing. Certainly, no squeezing—
“Logan? What’s wrong?”
Logan jerked his gaze toward her.
She hadn’t moved, but her eyes were open now, and she was regarding him with a furrowed brow. “You’re grimacing, as if you’re in pain.”
It’s not my pain I’m worried about, but yours.
Unfamiliar heat crept into Logan’s cheeks. “It’s just the carriage. It’s cramped.”
Juliana straightened in her seat and concealed a yawn behind her gloved hand. “Yes, I expect it is, for you. Will we stop to change horses soon?”
They’d already stopped once, but Juliana had slept through it. “Yes, at Aviemore.”
“How far is it fromAviemore to Dalwhinnie?”
Her voice was strained, and Logan knew she was thinking about her father. “Another thirty miles or so. We’ll travel as quickly as we can, and with any luck we’ll reach Guildford by the end of the week.”
They changed horses at Newtownmore and again at Etteridge. By the time they pulled into the inn yard at the Castle Arms in Dalwhinnie, dusk had fallen. Logan shook some life back into his stiff limbs, then descended from the carriage and approached Stokes, who was just dismounting. “Secure three rooms for tonight, Stokes, if you would.”
Juliana was overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious for her father, and likely dreading a repeat of last’s night amorous fiasco. Only a savage would bother his wife with his attentions under such circumstances. Since he wasn’t certain he could keep his hands off her, it was best if they each had their own bedchamber.
Stokes raised an eyebrow, but he said nothing, only tossed his reins to the waiting ostler, then disappeared into the inn.
Logan returned to the carriage and offered Juliana his hand. She placed her gloved fingers in his palm, and he couldn’t help but notice his hand swallowed hers.
Juliana decided against dining in the bedchamber. Logan tried not to take this as an indication his wife didn’t wish to be alone with him, and escorted her down to dinner without complaint. After they’d dined he took her back upstairs, but he didn’t venture into her bedchamber. Instead he offered her an awkward bow as he hovered in the doorway. “I’ll bid you goodnight now, Juliana. I wish you a pleasant evening.”
She’d passed by him to enter the room, but now she jerked around to face him. “You’ll bid me good…you mean you’re not staying with me tonight?”
Logan’s eyebrows shot up. She almost sounded disappointed. “After last night I thought you’d prefer it if I—”
“No. I don’t prefer it.”
If it hadn’t been for the furious blush in her cheeks, Logan might have thought he’d misheard her. “You, ah…you want me to stay here tonight? With you?”
She turned toward the looking glass, biting her lip and stealing glances at his reflection. “You’re my husband, Logan. Of course I want you to stay with me. That is, if you want to. I understand it if you prefer to have your own bedchamber.”
She thought he’d rather sleep without her? Logan shook his head, stunned. “Idon’tprefer it.”
When he met her gaze in the mirror she looked quickly away, and tenderness swelled inside him. She was nervous, and he…well, he was theman, for God’s sake. It was his responsibility to reassure her. If he couldn’t find a way to help his bride relax, tonight was sure to end in disaster, just as last night had.
He closed the bedchamber door, came up behind her, and rested his hands gently on her shoulders. “Are you anxious, Ana? There’s no need to be.” It wasn’t quite the truth, but this was one of those rare instances where the truth wouldn’t do either of them any good.
Juliana met his gaze in the mirror. “I, um…well, aren’t all new brides anxious?”
Logan, encouraged by this reply, ventured to press a chaste kiss to her temple. She smelled delicious—like something fresh and green. He inhaled deeply, his head swimming as her scent flooded his nose. “Aye, I think they are, but I’ll do my best to see it isn’t as terrible as it was the first time.”
“Oh, no! I don’t think…I didn’t mean for you to think…it wasn’tterrible.”
“Unpleasant enough, though?” Logan grinned to take the sting out of his words.
Her cheeks reddened. Logan was still half-dazed by the scent of her skin. He didn’t step back when she turned to face him. She was so close she was nearly in his arms. He gathered her gently against him, tightly enough so she could feel his body brush against hers, but not so tight she could feel anything…distressing.
