Page 24 of To Claim His Highland Bride

Rowena’s lids twitched as if she had suddenly become aware of someone watching her. She opened her eyes abruptly, her gaze totally alert and without fear.

Marcus’s muscles locked with tension as her gaze fastened on his face. She stared at him without speaking, and Marcus suddenly found himself uneasy. He reached out awkwardly and touched her cheek. “I’m sorry to wake you. I wanted to make certain you were well. I left you abruptly before. I apologise for that.”

She didn’t answer.

His hand dropped away from her face to rest at his side. “Is there anything you need?”

“I need something to do on this ship. You are putting Bryce to work. How can I contribute as well?”

“Every task on this ship is far too strenuous for you. Besides, you are my wife.”

“In name only.” She set her chin. “Do other wives sail with their husbands? And if so, what do they do all day besides sit in the cabin reading?”

“Very few women live their lives at sea, but those who do serve meals, clean quarters, or keep financial and inventory records. Things that I am certain you have never done in your life.”

Her gaze narrowed. “Then that just proves how little you know of me, for I am quite capable of accomplishing all those things. I will begin with tidying up your cabin on the morrow. Once that is done, you can decide whether I start with the financial records or the inventory. I am quite good with numbers, besting my two older brothers many times during our classroom days. Orrick was another story. He excelled at anything academic.”

Marcus set his jaw. An inventory of his portion of the treasure would be helpful so he could divide things evenly between the families of the two-and-thirty men he’d lost. He shrugged, not wanting to appear too enthusiastic about her offer. It shouldn’t surprise him that she’d been raised with the same education as her brothers. The MacLeods seemed quite progressive where women were concerned. “So be it. Having you involved in the daily routine of the ship might help perpetuate the ruse of our wedded bliss.”

Rowena blushed. “We’ve been married one day. I doubt anyone expects such from us anytime soon.”

“This should be our wedding night.” Marcus flushed with annoyance as he deliberately let his gaze wander over her upper body that was not hidden beneath the coverlet. His gaze lingered on her breasts beneath the delicate linen of her night rail. Had there been more light, he was certain he would see the pink tips he remembered so well from past explorations.

“Fear not. I have no expectations of you, and I certainly can control my reaction to you.”

With her challenge, Marcus’s temper ignited, and all thought of keeping his distance fled. She could control her reaction to him, could she? He took a step towards her until he towered over the bed.

Her eyes went wide as she shuffled backwards, tangling herself in the covers as she did. Instead of putting distance between them, she had trapped herself in the centre of the bed.

He smiled at her predicament as he recalled that he’d always found her high spirits more than a little exciting. She had always been a challenge, and that heated his blood now as it had in the past.

Her eyes grew brighter as though expecting him to crawl into bed beside her. He knew that would be a mistake, but the need to touch her was great, so he reached for her hand, intending to pull it towards him so he could press a kiss to her palm.

Rowena chose that same moment to shift backwards. As he clasped her hand, she pulled him off balance and towards her body. She wrenched her hand away in order to free it. Too late. His knee hit the edge of the bed and he fell not next to her as he tried to manoeuvre while falling, but directly on top of her, pinning her beneath him.

Rowena shrieked, then continued to struggle beneath him.

Fearing he might be crushing her with his weight, he grabbed her by the hips and rolled so that his back lay against the mattress, forcing her to straddle him.

She had the ability to leave the bed any time she wanted, and yet she stayed atop him. Her chest rose and fell beneath the delicate fabric of her nightclothes. The temptation to raise his hands to cover her sweet mounds, exploring at his leisure, grew stronger by the second.

Marcus fisted his hands, trying to regain control of the aching need that flared inside him. He forced his gaze to her face and his breathing suspended. The same desire that heated his blood reflected in the dark depths of her eyes.

Marcus swore beneath his breath and reached for her hips again. He lifted her off his body, setting her down gently before he shifted off the bed. He stayed beside her, still overly aware of the heat of Rowena’s body and the scent of heather on her skin.

“That was unfortunate,” she said, with a hint of disappointment.

Marcus fisted his hands once more, desperately trying to keep them to himself when all he wanted was to reach for her and pull her against him once more. “It won’t happen again.” He took a step back, then another until he stood beside the chest of drawers that held his clothing and extra bedding. He withdrew a pillow and a wool blanket, settling them on the hard floor in front of the door. “I’ll sleep here. You keep the bed.”

“These are your quarters. Should I sleep—”

“No wife of mine will sleep on the floor.” He settled onto the blanket and turned away from her. “Blow out the candle and get some sleep. You’ve got a busy day tomorrow taking inventory of my portion of the treasure from Sandwood Bay.”

Moments later, she extinguished the candle, pitching the chamber in darkness. Even then, he could still recall the feel of her body pressing against his. With an inward groan, Marcus settled more deeply into his pillow. He doubted he would find any reprieve in sleep tonight or any night while Rowena remained on his ship.

Chapter Ten

Rowena woke after a troubled night of broken sleep and rolled to her side, glancing at the door. Marcus was gone. His pillow and blanket were neatly folded and set on the table in the centre of the chamber. Disappointment flared before she caught the emotion and forced it deep inside. Marcus had work to do on this vessel. And now, thanks to her persistence last night, so did she.