"Ye should be sleepin’, lass," he said softly, voice roughened by exhaustion.
Liliane squeezed her eyes shut, heart hammering. "I am," she whispered.
A quiet chuckle, low and brief. "Aye. Of course ye are."
Then turned, catching her staring directly at him. She snapped her eyes shut a heartbeat too late.
"Enjoyin' the view, wife?"
Her face exploded with heat. "I wasnae lookin' at ye."
"Nay? Then how dae ye ken what I'm referrin' tae?" The bed dipped as he sat on the edge. "Maybe I meant the view from the window. Lovely night out there."
"I—ye—that's nae fair!"
"What's nae fair is ye pretendin' tae sleep while sneakin' glances at me like some curious lass at a market." The amusement in his voice was insufferable. "If ye want tae look, just look. We're married. Ye've a right tae inspect what ye've been saddled with."
He pulled off his trouser, and Liliane got a glimpse of his tight buttocks before she slammed her eyes shut.
"I didnae… " She swallowed, paused to draw a breath, then tried again. "I didnae saddle meself with anythin'. Ye bought me at auction, remember?"
"How could I forget? Ye remind me every chance ye get." He stretched out on the bed, on the bed, not in the chair. Wearing nothing but loose sleeping trousers. "Best coin I ever spent, turns out."
She sat bolt upright, clutching the blankets to her chest. "What are ye daein'?"
"Gettin' intae bed. It's late, I'm tired, and tomorrow's another long day."
"But, ye've been sleepin' in the chair!"
"Aye, and me back feels like I've been sleepin' on rocks. I'm done with it." He settled against the pillows as if he belonged there. Which, technically, he did. "This is me bed, lass. In me chamber. I think I'm entitled tae use it."
"But I'm in it!"
“Aye, I noticed. It's a large bed. Plenty of room fer both of us."
"Ye're half naked!"
"Three-quarters clothed, actually. Though I usually sleep without the night trousers. But if ye'd prefer I take them off…"
"Nay! Keep them on. Definitely keep them on."
"Whatever ye say." His grin was absolutely wicked. "Though I should warn ye, I tend tae run warm at night. Might get uncomfortable."
"Then sleep in the chair."
"Nay."
The flat refusal made her sputter. "Nay? Just... nay?"
"Just nay. I'm sleepin' in me own bed from now on. If ye dinnae like it, ye're welcome tae take the chair." He laced his hands behind his head, the picture of masculine ease. "Though I wouldnae recommend it. That chair's murder on the spine."
"This is ridiculous. We cannae just… There need tae be rules!"
"Rules?" He turned his head to look at her, eyebrow raised. "What manner of rules?"
"Boundaries! Like, like nay kissin'!"
"We already kissed. At the weddin', in front of God and the entire clan."
