You can’t,the voice of reason interjected.
“Then eat,” she said, breaking off a piece of cheese and feeding it to him. He caught her fingers and sucked at the end of one, swirling it with his tongue. It was too strong an urge to resist.
The shocked expression on her face gave rise to a blush. “Paul, I didn’t mean you should nibble at my fingers. Not when there’s perfectly good food,” she teased.
“Is there?” He took her hand and kissed her palm, bringing it to rest on his cheek.
She went motionless. “I thought you said we wouldn’t—”
“Aye. But I never said I wouldn’t tempt you.”
She froze, paling at his words. He reached for the bread and tore off a piece, handing it to her. “Did I hurt you when I kissed you? Or when I touched you that night at thecèilidh?”
“No.” Her voice was the barest whisper, her eyes wide.
“Then trust that nothing I do will hurt you.” He removed his coat and waistcoat until he wore only a linen shirt and breeches. She was staring at him as if she’d found herself caught in a trap of her own making. “We’re married now,” he reminded her. “You’re going to see a lot more of me than this.”
He poured a cup of wine for each of them and held it out. “Drink.”
“Are you trying to get me foxed?”
“Not at all. Simply giving you something to quench your thirst.” He filled a plate and offered it to her. “You could take your shoes off.”
“I’m comfortable as I am.”
She was putting up walls again, and he realized that they had different expectations for this marriage. “I’m not meaning to frighten you, lass. But neither am I going to behave like a man who has no wife. There are some things I’m wanting from you, even if we are no’ lovers.”
“What do you mean?” She eyed the door as if she were considering fleeing the room.
“I won’t be having an English marriage with separate rooms.” Her brow furrowed, and he continued. “You’ll no’ be sleeping in your own room. You’ll sleep beside me, as a proper wife does.”
“Oh.” She eyed him as if expecting him to ask for more. “My parents shared a room, before my father went to war. I suppose that would be all right.”
“What are you wanting from me?” he asked. “In this marriage, I mean.”
She studied him a moment, breaking off another piece of cheese and offering it to him. “I want to put the past behind me and start over. Living with my best friend,” she added.
Not to mention, he would grant her protection from the earl. But he saw in her the desire for a second chance. The hope in her eyes was strong, and he wanted to believe in it.
“And beyond that?” He drank a sip of wine and offered her a piece of cold mutton, teasing, “Surely you’ll want to take all of my coins and spend them, as most women do.”
She gave him an incredulous look. “I’ll manage your money, but I’ve no need to spend it all.”
“Now you’re lying,” he remarked. “You want to get your hands all over my—”
“No!” she blurted out. “That’s not what I—”
“—accounting ledgers,” he finished. When her face turned crimson, he laughed aloud. “What were you thinking I was going to say, lass?”
She threw a piece of cheese at him. “Stop teasing me.” He picked up the cheese and ate it before he came to kneel beside her.
“We both know how much you adore ink and paper,” he said. “And keeping accounts. I thought I’d give you all of my money to manage.”
Her face softened. “You’re not teasing me now, are you? You’re speaking the truth?”
“Aye. If it would make you happy.”
She drew her arms around him and pressed a kiss against his mouth. “It would, yes.”
