Page 49 of A Flawed Scotsman

“We can wait.”

Esme closed the distance between them. “Please take yer clothes off, Ruari. I am so very tired and do not wish to argue about it.”

“More romantic words I have never heard.” Ruari undressed and then joined her in bed. He pulled her against his side. “If I were given the choice of wife and had to describe her, I am sure ye would be it.”

“Mmm.” Esme kissed his throat and then yawned into his ear. “Ye have never felt strongly about a woman then?”

“I remember as a lad, I fancied myself in love with a village girl. I think her name was Genevieve or was it Giselle? She was not very pretty. Actually, she was a bit of a cranky sort. But she shared her mother’s sweet tarts with me…”

A soft snore made Ruari press his lips together to keep from chuckling. “No, perhaps her name was Lilibeth. I wonder what happened to her. Probably married with twelve bairns by now…” He let out a long sigh and wondered how many children he and Esme would be blessed with.

“Shhh.” The whisper so close to his ear woke Ruari. A moan escaped at the stroking of his rock-hard arousal.

“Esme…what are ye doing?” He grunted out the words while fighting not to release his seed. “Stop.”

It was still dark outside and, yet, he had no idea how long it had been since he had fallen asleep. Reaching down, he removed her hand from his erection. “Ye should rest.”

She rose and straddled him. “We will consummate our union tonight. It must be done.” Her face was almost angelic as she peered down at him. “Are ye not willing? I will not take ye by force, if ye prefer I do not.”

A bark of laughter erupted, and he pulled her mouth down to his. Only a hairsbreadth separating their lips, he whispered, “I am more than willing. It is just that I was about to find my release much too soon.”

“Oh.” She frowned and lowered her lips to his.

It was no use to attempt to wait. He was painfully hard and the need to plunge fully into Esme’s delicious heat was desperate.

Rolling Esme to her back, Ruari pushed her legs apart and guided himself to her center. “I will do my best to be gentle.” The stilted words were not in the least convincing.

*

Heads turned to them as Ruari and Esme walked into the great room. The gazes that followed their progress varied. Some with admiration, some with obvious contempt. The news of their departure must have spread already.

Guiding Esme to the head table, he lowered to an empty seat next to the laird, who gave him a quizzical look. “I must speak to ye,” Ruari said in a low voice. “Can we speak in private?”

The laird shook his head. “This is nothing to discuss. Whatever ye have to say can wait now that I see ye did not depart as we had agreed. What are ye doing here?”

“Esme and I have decided to remain.”

“I gave ye an order,” the laird replied, his face tense. “Ye must take her…”

“What I must do is keep her safe. What about everyone else?” Ruari directed his gaze to the others in the room who were watching them. “Who is going to keep all the other women safe?”

It was a rebuke that could earn him punishment, he was aware. And although he doubted anyone could hear their conversation, he’d disrespected Laird Fraser in public.

“Are ye questioning my ability to keep my clan from harm?” the laird gritted out.

“I do not question yer loyalty to yer people. But I do think yer daughter should remain here to show that ye mean to keep everyone safe.”

The laird turned to Keithen, who’d approached and stood between them and others in the room. “Both of ye, to my study at once.” He stood and stalked away.

“I should come with ye,” Esme said.

Ruari met his wife’s gaze. “No. Remain here. Eat and then go see about Catriona.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded.

He followed Keithen into the laird’s study to find two head guards were in the room with a very angry Laird Fraser.

“How dare ye question my decision,” the laird barked. “Ye were ordered to leave at daybreak, not to remain here and then make an entrance.”