Page 24 of A Flawed Scotsman

He blinked several times before rolling off of her but kept the dagger at her throat.

“What the hell are ye doing here?”

Esme swallowed while he groaned and moved the dagger away. “I w-wanted to talk.”

Before she could see anything, he pulled the bedding up to his waist. The look he gave her was a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. “Now?”

She remained silent as he shoved the dagger back under the pillow and yawned loudly.

When he gave her a questioning look, Esme shrugged. “I suppose it could have waited until morning. But, ye see, I cannot sleep and I thought it would be a perfect time to speak without interruptions.” She gave him what was, hopefully, a friendly smile.

Ruari shook his head and raked his right hand through tussled hair. “I suppose ye are right. What do ye wish to speak about?”

Caught by surprise at his patience, she scrambled to sit and lean back on the headboard. Her injuries smarted, and she grimaced at the reminder that much healing still had to happen.

“First of all, what do ye expect from me once we are married? Am I to submit to yer every whim?”

“Whim?” He remained on his back, but now both arms were under his head. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was completely nude.

“Aye. Husbands can make a woman’s life miserable.”

“Esme,” he started and stopped. “What is really bothering ye?”

She sighed. “I do not know ye. We are to marry and spend our lives together. What if ye do not care for me?” She hesitated. “I know it is not a high price to pay, not compared to keeping my clan safe.”

He rolled to his side, the bedding slipping from his waist to his unclothed hip. The man’s body was distracting her from why she was there. Esme curled the hand closest to him to keep from reaching out to touch him.

Chapter Eight

Ruari wasn’t sure why the beauty was truly there, in his bed, but he thanked the gods for it. If they were to be married, he preferred a woman who was bold and confronted situations.

The lovely woman had more freedom than he did at the moment being that he was totally naked. Upon further consideration, perhaps he was not at a disadvantage upon noting the way Esme’s gaze kept moving over his body when she thought he didn’t notice.

After allowing the bedding to slip precariously low, he met her gaze. “I would not ask ye to do anything that ye would find distasteful. I look to my uncle, Robert, for the way he treated his wife. Always with respect and mindful of the position he placed her in. Although as yer husband, I would have final authority over ye, I do believe ye should have a say in matters that are important to the marriage.”

For a long moment, she studied him as if assessing the truth of his words. “What if I defied ye?”

“I would hope ye would not without a strong reason. Do not mistake my being fair to mean I would allow ye to walk over me.”

Esme looked to the doorway. The door had swung almost closed and he wondered what she would do next. “Do ye think ye and I will be compatible?” When she turned back to him, her gaze roamed down from his chest. “I-I do not know much when it comes to what occurs between a man and a woman. My maid tells me sometimes couples are not compatible in bedsport.”

His cock stirred at her perusal and he fought not to slip a hand under the bedding. “There is only one way to find out.” Ruari allowed his gaze to touch on her lips before traveling down to her breasts. The flimsy chemise did a poor job of hiding the firm mounds beneath.

Esme inhaled sharply. “Will ye kiss me?”

It was a mistake. There was nothing to stop them from taking it too far. It had been an entire season since he’d last laid with a woman so, at the moment, he was not strong enough to keep from taking her fully.

“Aye, I will.” Ruari reached for her, sliding a hand around her neck and pulling her down to him. Upon their lips touching, his entire body came to life, but he refrained from drawing Esme against him.

At first, she did nothing. But soon, Esme responded to his kiss. Ruari deepened the kiss, pushing his tongue past her lips and she reacted by opening for him. When her hands slid from his shoulders to embrace him, he fortified himself. However, moments later, at the feel of her plush breasts against his chest, he could not stop from wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close.

Being she was injured, Ruari was gentle when he rolled her over him and then ran his hands down her body. Esme had the most delightful figure; a small waist, wide hips and long legs. While their tongues twisted around the other, each of them took turns suckling.

She was passionate. Possibly, it was that he knew it would be best not to take things too far, but the tryst was proving to be the most enjoyment he’d ever had with a woman.

“Teach me what to do,” Esme said breathlessly into his hear. “I feel as if my center is aflame.”

He was harder than a rock and considered if he should show her how to pleasure him.