“Accomplice?” He yanked at the endless straps securing his armor in place. “Accomplice in what, dear Elspet?”
She didn’t bother opening her eyes, just softly laughed and rolled her head back and forth on the pillow of linen. “Dinna go coy on me now, Valan.” Her long dark lashes fluttered as she opened her eyes the barest slit. “Let there only be truth between us, aye? Always.”
“Always, my own.” He shed his armor, chainmail, and hauberk, dropping them to the floor as he peeled them off. For good measure, especially since she didn’t seem averse to his presence, he kicked off his boots but decided to wait on removing his trews. Details needed to be addressed before pleasure. “It is my hope the plan of William marrying Beitris nay offended ye.”
“It did not.” She submerged her hands and recovered a small cloth from the depths of the steaming water.
As she dribbled a trail of water up her arms and across her front, Valan recanted his previous decision and stripped off his trews to keep his hardness from overstraining the seams.
“And I dinna believe it offended my Beitris either.” Her mouth curled into a suggestive grin. “I am certain Beitris finds William much more suitable than the older men who have expressed interest in her.” Her sultry gaze shifted from her bathing to him. “There is room in here for both of us, fine sir.” Then she feigned a sad shake of her head. “Alas, though. If ye remember, our boons are paid in full.”
“Our boons will never be paid in full, m’lady.” And he meant every word. But as he went to step into the tub, she held up a hand and stopped him.
“The matter of marriage must be settled first.” She scooted higher, allowing her dark nipples to peek above the water.
“Our marriage?” God’s beard, had he actually said,Our marriage? The dangerous words had sprung from him without his permission.
Her head shifted to a curious tip, and both her brows rose as high as they could go. She stared at him for a long moment. “Our marriage?” she repeated.
He resettled his footing. Suddenly unsure what to do with his hands, he folded his arms across his bare chest. What the hell was wrong with him? He was nay such a coward. It was then he realized why the words had slipped from his tongue. Because he had meant them. Aye, she was his. For now and always. He lifted his chin, assuming a self-assured attitude he didn’t quite feel—yet. But it would come.
“Aye. Our marriage,” he confirmed, bracing himself for her reaction.
“I was speaking of William and Beitris. The lad did not seem inclined to agree with the plan. I will not allow my Beitris united with a man who will resent her and possibly treat her ill.”
The infernal woman acted as if he had not just offered for her. A frustrated snort huffed free of him. “One union at a time, woman. What about ours?”
Chapter Five
Of all thethings Elspet expected from Valan, an offer of marriage was not one of them. And he had done it by accident. Perhaps too much whisky and too little food were responsible. She assumed a firm yet kind tone. “I spent a lifetime married to a warrior who was never with me. Alonelylifetime. Why would I wish for another such union?”
The intensity of his gaze made her heart pound. With some difficulty, she reminded herself he had misspoken. The proof of it had shone in his face as soon as the words left his lips. Pure shock had flashed in his eyes, bright as lightning. It was the whisky. Or the candlelight. Maybe even the rose petals scenting the steam. Or most likely the weariness and frustration about the day’s losses twisting his words in a way he hadn’t intended. Aye, he had not meant to propose marriage, but now the poor man didn’t know how to remain chivalrousandretract the offer.
She forced a light-heartedness, even though a heavy sense of disappointment filled her, a sinking feeling that refused to be ignored. “Admit it, fine sir. Ye nay meant to sayour marriage. Ye surprised yerself when ye said it. I saw it plain as day. Only truth between us—remember? Besides, what does a mightyGallóglaighneed with a wife?”
After another disgruntled snort, he climbed into the tub and eased down into the water. “God’s beard, this is hot.”
“Of course, it’s hot. They boil the water down below and hoist it up in the buckets attached to that chain. Herbert saw something like it during his travels and ordered it built when he brought the tub home.” The sturdy chain was suspended from an iron hook embedded in one of the great beams supporting the ceiling. It disappeared down into a hole in the floor behind the tub and ended in the bathing room below. There, water was boiled not only for the washing of bodies but also for washing clothes.
“By the time the servants hauled the water up using the outer stair, it grew tepid far too soon. Herbert’s discovery not only made it easier for them but provided the hottest water for the bath.” Saints help her, she had succumbed to nervous blethering. If that didn’t distract him from the course he had accidentally taken, she would drive it from his mind with seduction. The wickedness of enjoying him in the water made her ache with anticipation.
Gradually, he relaxed, stretching out his long, muscular legs on either side of hers and resting back against his end of the tub. “I meant every word I said. I wish ye to be my wife, Elspet.”
“Why?”
He reached under the water, took hold of her ankles, and propped her legs on top of his. With a masterful touch, he stroked her calves, inching higher with every caress. “What do ye meanwhy?”
“’Tis a simple enough word, Valan.” Arguing with the man was almost impossible with him touching her that way. “Why do ye wish me to be yer wife?”
He stared at her. Even by the softness of the candlelight, she recognized the worry and uncertainty puckering his brow.
She scooted closer, shifted to her knees, and rested her hands on his shoulders. “I know ye didna mean to say it,” she breathed into his ear, teasing with her closeness. “And it is all right. I dinna hold ye to it.” After a tender kiss to assure him no ill feelings stood between them, she reached down, filled her cupped hand with water, then let it trickle down his chest. “Let me bathe ye, my fine one. Wash away our worries and enjoy this time together.”
He caught hold of both her wrists and held her captive. Jaw flexing, he slowly shook his head. “Nay, my own. Not until we settle this matter between us.” The deep richness of his voice held no regret or uncertainty now, only determination. “I willna lie. I did surprise myself.” Bringing her right hand forward, he pressed a kiss into her palm. It sent such a surge of heat through her, ’twas a wonder she didn’t burst into flames. “But as soon as I heard the words aloud, I knew them for the truth of my heart.” He treated her left palm to a kiss just as heated, tickling the tip of his tongue to the ends of her fingers. “I want ye as my wife, Elspet, and I swear, I shall never leave ye wondering if I will ever return.”
While she wanted to believe him, how could his oath be true? “Ye are a mercenary by trade. Yer life is travel and living by the sword.” Even though his hold was still snug on her wrists, she framed his face between her hands. “Only truth between us, Valan. Only truth. Warring is in yer blood. And do ye truly think the Lord of Argyll will allow the commander of his men to settle down and take up sheep herding? Or farming?” She didn’t wish to be cruel, but he needed to see sense to escape any false hopes for a life together. “And I wager ye dinna even have a home. Or land. Why would ye? Would it truly satisfy ye to spend our future here with Laird William and Lady Beitris? I think not.”
He released her wrists and pulled her across him as he leaned back against the end of the tub. The hard length of him pressed against her belly as he slicked his hands from her shoulders down to her buttocks. “I have land,” he whispered into her hair, filling his hands with her rear and squeezing. “I even have a title although it escapes me at the moment.” He pulled her higher, kissed a trail between her breasts, then moved to her nipples. “But none of that matters,” he said, sliding into her with a slow, smooth shove. “All that matters is I want ye for my wife. The mother of my children. The one I wake to each day, and I fall asleep beside each night. It can be done, my own, even with me being a commander of such a great and mighty army. My brothers have done it. I will do it, too.” He slid his hands up her back and filled them with her hair. With a gentle pull, he tilted her face up to his and locked his gaze with hers. “Say yes, Elspet. I beg ye—and I am nay a man who begs for anything.” The water sloshed as he increased the rhythm of his steady in and out thrusting. “Elspet,” he rasped. “What say ye?”
