Page 31 of To Claim His Highland Bride

The crewmen nodded, even Gordon. Rowena forced herself to breathe as the feel of Marcus’s grip against her ribs limited the expansion of her lungs.

“I was not attacking her to be malicious,” Bryce said, standing once more. “I trusted that she was serious about the armour protecting her and that she would come to no harm.” He looked about at the others gathered. “We all wanted to know if the armour worked.”

Marcus’s eyes blazed. “And what if Rowena’s claim had been wrong and your blade pierced her chest? What then?”

“I did not think beyond the strike.” Bryce’s shoulders slumped as he turned his gaze to Rowena. “I’m sorry.”

The fight seemed to leave Marcus at the apology as his hold on her relaxed. “That was a dangerous thing to do, Rowena.”

“It proved my point. This armour is infused with fairy magic. Wearing it will protect me from physical harm.”

His scowl deepened. “From a blade perhaps, but I doubt it will keep you from drowning if someone knocks you overboard.”

She hadn’t considered that, though she wasn’t ready to go back to the cabin without finishing what she had started. “Help me pass out the remainder of the shortbread and ale then I will go back.”

She could see he wanted to refuse yet knew he could not. Instead, he grabbed the shortbread and handed them back to her. “Continue. I’ll remain by your side until you are done here.”

She nodded and returned to handing out the shortbread. By now, word had spread to those men below deck that something unusual was happening above, and even those who had been sleeping came to gather their refreshments.

The last person to gather their evening treat was the man Marcus called Eck. He hesitated taking the shortbread when his gaze lit upon her momentarily before covering his response with a brilliant smile. While she helped the cook clean up, she stepped away from Marcus and Eck, but was close enough to hear the two men talking.

“What a lovely sight to behold, especially her arse. From now on I think lasses should wear trousers,” Eck murmured, ceasing his observation at Marcus’s harsh glare.

“That’s my wife you are ogling.”

“Then I suggest you take her back to your quarters and stake your claim.”

“It’s not that easy, you fool,” Marcus ground out.

Eck shrugged. “All of your professions of duty and penance might have held up before you married the girl. But I can see since you returned from Dunvegan with your bride in tow that you are a changed man.”

Marcus opened his mouth to reply but Eck continued. “Deny it all you want, my friend. You are a changed man since Rowena has come into your presence again. So I say either stop the charade and bed her or let some other man have her. That doesn’t seem like a tough choice to me.”

Marcus turned to stare at her for a moment, his gaze moving over her like a lover’s soft caress. As he strode to her, her breath caught and heat warmed her blood. “What was it you hoped to accomplish by plying the men with ale and sweet treats?”

He looped his arm through hers and turned her towards the captain’s quarters. “I thought it was the best way to see if any of the men reacted negatively to me.”

She heard him grunt. “Other than Bryce, did any of them?”

“I doubt Bryce would have stabbed me, especially in front of the others if I had not encouraged it. He had plenty of opportunity to do me in before we set foot on this ship.”

Marcus grunted again. “You’re probably right about that.”

“One man did have an interesting response.”

At the cabin door, Marcus stopped to open it, allowing her to move past him. “Who?”

“Your cook identified him as Gordon.”

Marcus nodded. He turned back towards the door. “Eck and I will take care of this. I’ll sleep better tonight knowing he is in the brig.”

With a hand on his arm, Rowena stopped Marcus from leaving. “I am safe enough tonight in your company. Let him believe he has succeeded in sending me into banishment in your chamber.”

“Our chamber.” He left the door and turned back to her until there was only a small gap between their bodies. He inhaled, his nostrils flaring as he slid his hands down her back, across the supple leather, until he reached the curve of her hips. He lifted her slightly. The impact of his hardness impressed on her body and her mind, sending a jolt of desire to her very core.

Rowena held back a groan, wondering why they were fighting what had always been so natural between them. On the ship and in such close quarters, avoiding each other was near to impossible. There was no middle ground for them any longer.

She had to decide.