"Good."Boyd's voice was harsh, and she noticed the way his jaw clenched, the way a muscle jumped in his cheek."Then we understand each other.Ye remain on yer side of the Keep, I'll remain on mine, and we'll both be better for it."
But even as he said the words, Boyd couldn't quite convince himself.Because sitting this close to Bella, seeing the way the sunlight caught in her hair, remembering the feel of her waist beneath his hands brought back feelings he'd long thought dead.
"What of lovers?"Bella asked and cursed inwardly once the words were out."Do ye have a leman or a—"
"There will be no lovers!"Boyd growled."I'm still yer husband and ye'll not break yer vows to me with anyone!"
"What of yer vows to me?"Bella asked.
"I'll not break mine either...but should I wish to, that is none of yer concern!"
"Then I suppose the same applies to me."
Boyd gave her an intense glare.He clasped her arm and slightly shook her."No, it does not!And I'll kill any man who dares to touch ye because ye, Bella MacKinnon, are mine!"
Bella flinched but nodded.She was emotionally exhausted.It had been a long day, and an even longer decade.And right now, she had the measure of her husband.The man was angry and unreasonable.Worst of all, he must truly find her physically repulsive now.That hurt a lot.Bella felt like an open, festering wound.
"I understand," Bella replied."A marriage in name only."
"Good."
"But why?"The question escaped before she could stop it.
Boyd's expression darkened, and for just a moment, Bella thought she saw something raw and painful flicker in his eyes.But then his face went blank again, cold and remote.
"Ye really have to ask?After what ye did?"
"I did not do anything!"Bella's voice rose with frustration, her own temper flaring to match his."Whatever ye think—"
"Enough!"Boyd's voice was sharp as he cut her off."The past is done.We both ken what happened, even if ye want to pretend otherwise.This marriage gives me the satisfaction of having ye exactly where ye deserve to be."
"And where is that?"Bella demanded, her own anger rising now.
Boyd's smile was cruel when he replied, "Trapped with a monster."
He dug his heels into his destrier's flanks and rode ahead before Bella could respond.
Behind her, Boyd's guardsmen pretended they hadn't heard the exchange, but Bella caught the sympathetic look Thamas, one of the guards, gave her.
She blinked back tears she refused to shed and urged her mare forward.If Boyd wanted a marriage of cold convenience, then so be it.
***
BOYD RODE AHEAD WITHhis jaw clenched so tightly he thought his teeth might crack.
Every word he'd just uttered was a lie because the truth was the exact opposite.He wanted Bella with an intensity that bordered on madness.He'd been watching her all morning and everything about her still called to him.He wanted to pull her from that horse, carry her into the woods away from prying eyes, and bury himself so deep inside her that neither of them would remember where one ended and the other began.He wanted to hear her scream his name in pleasure.He wanted to lick every inch of her skin and act out every one of the fantasies he'd had in the last ten years.
And that's why he needed to keep his distance.Bella was pure temptation and he could not afford to succumb to her charms again.
He was the Monk.He did not have a weakness.
And he sure as hell wasn't going to let Bella become one.
Even if it killed him.
***
