Never Seduce a Scot: The Montgomerys and Armstrongs (23 page)

“Allow Rorie to state her case, Eveline. She didn’t mean to hurt you. Look at her. See how upset she is.”

Slowly Eveline turned, her gaze reluctantly going to Rorie, who by now was in tears, her nose red and eyes puffy. Eveline’s lips turned down unhappily as if she couldn’t bear the sight of Rorie’s distress, even though Rorie had hurt her with her careless words.

Rorie shot up from her seat and hurried around, kneeling between Graeme and Eveline. She took Eveline’s hand from Graeme and turned so she was facing Eveline directly.

“I did not mean it the way you heard—saw—it. When you first arrived, Graeme came to me—”

Rorie was talking so fast that Eveline was looking at her in complete bewilderment.

Graeme put his hand on his sister’s shoulder. “Rorie, slow down. Start over. She cannot understand because you’re speaking too fast.”

Rorie took a deep breath and then began again, speaking more calmly.

“Graeme came to me because he wanted me to spend time with you, to make you more comfortable, and I bargained with him because I wanted him to send for Father Drummond so he could teach me to read and to write. I fully expected to hate you, or at the very least be only able to tolerate you, at best. Whatever my bargain with Graeme was, it had no bearing on our friendship, I vow it. You must believe me, Eveline. I do not want to lose your regard.”

Eveline stared searchingly at her for a long moment and then finally allowed a small smile. Then she leaned down and kissed Rorie’s cheek.

“I’ll forgive you if I can sit in on your lessons with Father Drummond.”

Rorie laughed and then launched herself at Eveline so hard, she nearly knocked them both from the bench. Bowen reacted quickly and caught Eveline before she fell backward.

Rorie hugged her tightly and then drew away so Eveline would see her mouth. “Of course you’ll sit with me during the lessons. I’d be terribly bored without you.”

Eveline squeezed her hand and then released it so Rorie could go back to her seat.

Graeme touched Eveline’s arm in silent support. Then he mouthed the words so no one else would hear.

“You’re very generous, Eveline. Thank you for that. Rorie would have been terribly upset over the thought of hurting you. She’s young and until now has been very much alone, devoid of the company of other women
even though she’s surrounded by the women of our clan. She’s attached herself to you. It will be good for her to spend time with another woman.”

Eveline smiled slightly and then glanced back at Rorie, who was eating in silence. When she looked back at Graeme, she said in a very low voice, “I like her, too, and enjoy her company.”

“Give the rest of the clan time,” he said. “I’ve no doubt you’ll win them over as well.”

Eveline shrugged. Maybe she didn’t believe him. He doubted it was that she didn’t care. He’d seen how much it hurt her to field the attacks from the women. She had a tender heart and a gentle spirit. If anyone deserved kindness, it was she.

And he’d do everything necessary to ensure she received it. From him. From his clan.

If anyone had ever told him he’d feel so strongly about protecting someone named Armstrong, he would have laughed in their face. And yet here he sat with Tavis Armstrong’s daughter, knowing that he’d do anything at all to ensure her happiness.

C
HAPTER
25

After the meal, many of the clansmen gathered in the sitting area before the fire. Eveline watched from her seat at the table to see what it was they discussed. But all she could see was casual talk of the day, the training the men were undergoing. Two of the men engaged in a discussion of sheep and another joined after a moment when they began to talk horses.

From what she could glean, the first two took care of the clan’s sheep while the other was in charge of the stables.

In her own home, she hadn’t paid much heed to the day-to-day running of the keep. She wasn’t completely ignorant of the workings in theory, but she lacked the practical knowledge. In keeping with her ruse, she hadn’t been able to show any interest in the inner workings of her clan.

But now she considered that her life here would not only be dreadfully boring, but also extremely unproductive were she not to do anything more than trail around all day with Rorie or take an occasional swim in the river. It was a matter she’d have to take up with Graeme.

She needed a purpose. If she was going to gain her
new clan’s acceptance, then it stood to reason she’d need to do something to earn it.

Her father had always said that respect was earned, not given. The Montgomerys weren’t giving her anything. But there was nothing to say she could not secure it for herself.

Aye, she’d discuss it with Graeme. She would even approach Nora herself. She hadn’t been one to malign Eveline, at least not to her face. She seemed kindly enough, even if she was a little wary around Eveline.

She blinked when she became aware of everyone standing around her. Graeme’s brothers had risen and loomed over the table, making her feel very small and insignificant in comparison.

Graeme was every bit as large and fearsome as his brothers, but he didn’t frighten or intimidate her. Bowen and Teague had been nice enough and even respectful, but she still wasn’t sure where she stood with them.

After glancing warily in their direction, she also rose and moved instinctively toward Graeme. He tucked her in close to his side, putting his arm around her side. His hand rested possessively on her hip and she was shocked that he was holding her so in front of the entire clan.

As she glanced up, she saw him talking to his brothers.

“… bid you a good night. Eveline and I are retiring.”

She stopped breathing a moment as she processed what she’d seen on his lips. Her heart fluttered and dropped into her stomach as he urged her forward, still holding her against his side.

She offered Rorie a smile and only briefly made eye contact with Bowen and Teague. She was too embarrassed to look any longer because she had a firm idea that they knew why Graeme was taking her above stairs.

There was the fact that she didn’t know for sure herself, however, he’d made himself perfectly clear earlier.
He’d left her with no doubt as to what his intentions were, and he didn’t seem a patient sort of man.

He would take her to bed tonight and he’d make her his. Their marriage would be consummated, effectively sealing their union.

The kissing part she was more than ready for. The rest was what she wasn’t overly certain of.

As soon as they left the hall, Graeme swept her into his arms and carried her up the stairs. Surprised by the sudden action, she looped her arms around his neck and hung on. His expression was intense. Focused.

He shouldered his way into the chamber and then walked to the bed and gently laid her down in the middle. Her dress spread out, the green and white vivid against the furs draped over the mattress.

He stood over her, merely staring down at her, his gaze taking in every inch of her.

She cocked her head to the side. “Why do you stare at me so?”

“Because you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of looking upon.”

“Oh.”

She was breathless. “Oh” was all she could muster. It didn’t make for scintillating conversation, but what could she possibly say in response to words such as those?

“I do not even know what to do first, so tempted I am by you.”

“Kiss me.”

“Oh aye, I can do that,” he said as he lowered himself over her.

His body pressed to hers, bore her farther into the mattress. His heat surrounded her, his scent. She inhaled as he kissed her. Deep. Searching. His tongue slid over hers, licking, advancing, and then retreating in slow, measured motions.

He pulled his head up and away from her and stared down, his eyes simmering in the low light. Leveraging his weight on one arm, he reached with his free hand and stroked through her hair, pushing it away from her face, touching her cheek, and then he caressed her jaw.

She’d thought that he wasn’t a patient man, but now that they were here, he seemed only too willing to take his time, a fact she wasn’t sure she liked or not.

Edgy impatience tugged at her. Deep inside, beneath her skin, it was as if something came alive and took over. She was restless, suddenly flushed with heat. The blood in her veins seemed ready to boil.

Her breasts were heavy, her nipples painfully erect. And lower, in her most private regions, need pooled, making it impossible for her to remain still.

Was this what desire felt like? Was this what it was like to want someone so badly that it hurt?

Each touch, each caress, she soaked up greedily, wanting and needing more. She craved his hands upon her. She wanted his tenderness and caring. She needed him to look upon her as he’d never looked upon another woman.

And then he pushed himself upward and moved back until he was off the bed, leaving her bereft of his warmth. She raised her head, ready to protest, but something in his eyes stopped her.

His gaze had darkened, sending shivers racing across her skin. There was something intensely predatory about his stare, and it awakened a keen sense of aching vulnerability within her.

He simply held out his hand and she didn’t hesitate a moment reaching for it. His fingers closed around her palm and he pulled her upward until she sat on the edge of the bed.

Lowering his body, he knelt before her, palming her face so she had no choice but to see what it was he said.

“I’m going to light more candles. There’s nothing I want more than to be able to look upon your beauty and miss nothing to the darkness. And then, when the room is sufficiently illuminated, I’m going to play lady’s maid and undress you, piece by piece until you stand before me without the barrier of clothing.”

She sucked in her breath and swallowed hard. Her pulse raced until she felt precariously light-headed.

He smiled and kissed her, moving those firm, warm lips over hers. When he drew away, he said, “Worry not, Eveline. I’ll not do anything to harm or frighten you. ’Tis all night we have, and all night I plan to enjoy. There is no rush in our first time as man and wife. I would have you remember this occasion just as I will long commit it to memory.”

With that, he stood once more and began lighting other candles, placing them strategically around the room until the entire chamber was aglow with warm candlelight. He took a moment to tend the fire, adding wood until the flames licked high.

Then he returned to the bed where she sat and once again offered his hand. He pulled her upward to stand beside him and he took her place, sitting on the edge of the bed with her standing before him.

With gentle hands, he began to peel away the overtunic, leaving her in the green underdress. She trembled, but she realized that it wasn’t in fear. Nay, it was anticipation that had overtaken her and had left her shaking like a leaf in front of her husband.

He didn’t just rip her clothing from her. He seemed quite content to slowly rid her of the dress she’d so painstakingly fretted over just hours before.

She sucked in a breath when he began to ease it down her body and then he let it go, allowing it to fall at her feet. In a few more moments, he’d divested her of her
undergarments and she stood completely nude as he leaned back to gaze upon her body.

“Beautiful.”

The one word said so much more. His gaze, the way he looked at her, the appreciation in his eyes and the way the muscles in his arms tightened. She was suddenly impatient to see him and to look upon him as he was looking upon her.

“Come to me.”

She took a nervous step forward, and then his arms came around her, pulling her between his legs. He pressed his lips between the valley of her breasts and kissed right over her heart.

His hands smoothed down her bare back and down to her buttocks and then back up again. He turned his face up to capture her gaze, and then his hands tangled in her hair, pulling her down so she met his lips once more.

The kisses were less patient this time. Hot and demanding. Breathless. He was more forceful, his body tense against hers. She could feel the power emanating from him, knew that he could crush her with the slightest effort.

But he was exquisitely gentle with her. He treated her like she was a precious object he was afraid to break. She moaned softly into his mouth and relaxed against him, allowing some of the coiled tension to leave her body.

After a moment he broke from her mouth, but kept his lips on her flesh as he kissed a line down her neck and then to her breasts. When his mouth closed around one nipple, her knees buckled and he caught her to him to prevent her from falling.

It was like nothing she’d ever felt before. It was frightening for its sheer intensity. Streaks of pleasure bolted through her body. Her breasts throbbed and ached. Her groin ached.

A pulse began between her legs that was uncomfortable because she didn’t know how to assuage it. She twisted restlessly, becoming more agitated by the moment.

He gave her other breast equal measure, lapping the tip with his rough tongue and then suckling it into his mouth. All the while, his hands roamed over her body, caressing, petting, becoming more intimate.