‘Because my life is my own, and so is my heart, and I will not give it where I do not feel something. With your independent spirit, can you not understand my need to be free?’
Tears were threatening, which would not do, so Maren resorted to anger instead. ‘Oh, I am free, aye. Free to starve or sell myself to survive. Free to be used for the ends of men such as yourself. So much for freedom. If you are poor, there is no such thing as freedom. There is just survival, Bryce.’
‘Not any more, Maren. You can leave me soon and go wherever you want, with pockets full of coin. A new life beckons. Just play your part, and all will be well. I promise.’ His eyes softened as they held hers, his voice soothing, gentle, and persuasive. ‘Come riding tomorrow. You are a good horsewoman. You might even enjoy it. You might even enjoy me when you get to know me better, lass.’
She could certainly do that. His admiring gaze held all kinds of wickedness. And his wall of a chest beckoned her fingers to explore, kiss, and breathe in the scent of his warm skin. Their mouths were almost touching. Bryce’s eyes were fiery with desire. If she let him kiss her, she could get her way. She was sure of it.
‘I’ve nothing suitable for riding. I cannot leap walls and fences dressed in all this nonsense,’ she said, pulling at the flounces of lace on her sleeves.
‘It would certainly turn heads if you did, lass, but I doubt that bodice would contain you as you bounced over the fields,’ he said with mirth, eyes dipping downwards. When he looked up again, his seawater eyes were hungry.
Maren parted her lips ever so slightly and met his gaze, making her eyes as wide and innocent as she could. She gasped a little as his face moved closer, and his eyes pinned her. He was inches away now, impossible to look away from, his breath hot on her face, his hands taking her waist in a firm grip.
‘I have told you over and over again that I am no whore, but you will not listen,’ she gasped.
‘Well, I had rather hoped that as we are wed….’
Maren put her hands on his chest. She was on the brink of danger and had to pull back. ‘Oh, I know what you hoped for, but I am afraid you must find solace elsewhere,’ she said.
‘Are you sure, lass? You don’t know what you are missing.’ Bryce winked, all boyish charm and mischief.
Maren’s breath came too fast. His eyes had darkened with desire, and she could not suppress a small sigh of disappointment. ‘I…I thought you were a gentleman. I thought you would not lay hands on me.’
His mouth spread in a slow, sensuous grin, ‘Oh, you know what I am, lass, and I’ll wager you want me to lay hands on you. Am I wrong?’
Bryce came even closer, and she tilted her face up for his kiss. Then, suddenly his face broke into a wide grin, and he gave Maren a peck on the forehead. ‘Tempting, but no. Don’t try the blushing damsel act on me, and don’t try to outwit a fox, little wildcat. You are out of your depth when it comes to seduction. You can’t kiss me to get your way. I will soon grow tired of that little game, and tomorrow, like it or not, you will join the hunt with a smile of newly-wedded bliss on your face. If you are very nice to me, perhaps I will relent and find a means of putting a genuine smile on your face.’
‘I will not,’ she snarled.
‘I thought not, and I am not inclined to anyway. You are far too prickly to make a pleasing bedfellow. I prefer a certain softness in my women.’
‘Aye, they must have mush for brains.’
‘If you like. But reconcile yourself to an uneventful wedding night. We must instead make up an exalted background for you. I would have you an orphan, so no irritating in-laws for me to deal with. We need to get our tale straight or my father will see right through it.’
Was he actually turning her down? How dare he? For a brief instant, Maren doubted her comeliness, and her pride railed at such a rejection.
Bryce stalked away, and Maren grabbed a pitcher and flung it at his head. ‘Arrogant pig,’ she screamed. But the wretch had lightning-fast reflexes and grabbed the thing inches before it hit him in the face.
Bryce put a finger to his lips. ‘Hush now. We are blissfully wed, remember. I will take my leave and allow you to ponder our agreement and reconcile yourself to your new role in life. I leave you in breathless anticipation of our first night in the marital bed, my love.’
‘You insufferable, arrogant, pea-brained, foul….’
‘Life with you will certainly not be dull, Maren,’ he said. ‘Now I am riding over to my cousin Orla’s to break the good news about our marriage. I will borrow some suitable clothes for riding.’
‘I will not wear another woman’s clothes.’
‘Then you can ride naked for all I care, but you are coming.’
Maren ran out of curses as Bryce disappeared out the door. ‘Are you coming back?’ she shouted after him.
‘Eventually.’
He blew her a kiss and was gone. Damn his eyes. For a moment there, she had almost wanted him to kiss her. Just to know what it felt like, of course, and to get her way. She had no feelings for him, especially not gratitude. They had a mutual need for each other. Not the hot, carnal kind of need, oh no. What lay between them was a cold, hard bargain and nothing more, and she must keep her eyes on the prize, which was coin and then freedom, not fine blue eyes and a muscular body.
But if that was so, why did she feel as though a flame of desire licked at her loins. Maren flopped onto the bed, pressing her hand between her legs to banish it. But it didn’t work, and thoughts of Bryce Cullan slid into her heart like a snake come to tempt Eve in the garden. Those lustful thoughts gave rise to a warm pool of lust deep inside, a hunger that demanded release, but there was none to be had.
‘Think, fool,’said a scornful voice in her head.‘Do not be a simpleton and give in, or you will become Bryce Cullan’s whore, and you are better than that.’
