Anthony grinned at her, knowing that would probably infuriate her all the more. “My eyes have been a-wandering, as you put it, for the last nineteen years. Give them a rest, Roslynn. They settled on you and don’t want to move on.”
Her own eyes narrowed to a seething glare, just as he had anticipated. “So you think it’s a matter to be joking about, do you? Well, let me tell you—”
She didn’t get a chance to. He reached over and caught her around the waist, dragging her across the bed and up against his chest. The sheet was lost in the process, but Roslynn was too angry to notice. Anthony wasn’t. And the new stirring below his belt demanded he end this bickering soon and get back to the pleasures of the wedding night. The silly girl. All this fuss because he wanted no one but her. She ought to be happy about it instead of raising hell. But he had expected this, and had an answer for her.
“What say we compromise, sweetheart? D’you still insist I keep a mistress?”
“Hell’s teeth! Now isna that what I’ve been saying?” she retorted.
“Very well.” His eyes caressed her face, stopped on her lips, and his voice deepened. “Are you prepared to fill the role?”
“Me?”
His grin was back, maddeningly. “Who else? You happen to be the only woman I’m interested in at the moment.”
“That’s no’ what I meant, and you know it!”
“Perhaps, but it’s the best I can do.”
Roslynn didn’t believe this for a moment. “You must have a woman you’ve been seeing.”
“Assuredly. Several, in fact. But none could actually be called my mistress, sweetheart. And if you must know, I haven’t seen any of them since I met you. But that’s beside the point, isn’t it? The point is, I have no desire to take any of them to my bed again, or anyone else for that matter. You are quite stuck with me.”
“Anthony, be serious just for once!” she pleaded in exasperation.
“My dear, I’ve never been more serious in my life. How can I make love to another woman when you’re the only woman I want? It can’t be done, you know. Desire isn’t just called forth at will. Or hadn’t you thought of that?”
She was looking at him with confusion and a touch of wonder, only these expressions quickly turned to a frown and a tightening of her lips. “But that doesn’t mean you’ll no’ see someone eventually that you’ll be liking.”
Anthony sighed wearily. “If that day comes, I swear to you, Roslynn, it won’t matter in the least. I’ll have only to imagine you, here like this, and be a contented man.”
She made a sound that was very nearly a snort. “Very prettily said. I give you that. But you’re forgetting you dinna love me.”
He tossed her back onto the bed and quickly covered her body with his own. “Then let us examine what I do feel, shall we?” His voice purred, but it was obvious he had lost patience with her. “There’s lust, in abundance. It’s been bloody hell keeping my hands off you until now. There’s possessiveness, which I’ve only recently discovered. There’s jealousy, which I’ve known about for weeks.” His brow rose sharply as her eyes rounded. “Don’t tell me I’ve actually surprised you, my dear.”
“You were jealous? Of who?”
“Bloody well everyone, even my blasted brother. And you may as well know, while we’re at it, that the gentlemen you were considering for marriage were all immensely suitable, with the exception of Fleming, who really is a queer fellow. It was all lies, Roslynn, because I couldn’t stand the thought of any of them having you.”
He was holding her down now, because he fully expected her to become violent after this particular confession. But Roslynn was perfectly still, rage at what he’d done overshadowed by utter amazement.
“Then you must…care a little?” Her question was whisper-soft, hesitant.
“Bloody hell!” he finally exploded. “Would I have married you if I didn’t?”
Not the least bit intimidated, she reminded him, “You married me to help me out of a horrid situation, which I’m grateful for.”
Anthony closed his eyes for a moment, pleading for self-control. When he opened them, there was a hard gleam there. But his voice was moderate, if a touch arrogant.
“My dear, if I had only wanted to help you out, as you put it, I could have hurried your bothersome cousin to an early demise with little difficulty. But Iwanted you for myself, it’s that simple.” Here his tone changed, became stern. “And if you tell me once more to enjoy other women when I’ll be bloody damned if I will, I’ll play the archaic husband for you and thrash you soundly. Have I made myself clear? There will be no other women, not now, not ever!”
He waited for her temper to snap again. He got a smile instead, a very beautiful one that reached her eyes, brightening the golden flecks there.
Anthony didn’t know what to make of this sudden change, until she said, “Dinna you mention earlier doing something at a more leisurely pace? I was suppose to judge—”
His laughter cut her off, deep and exultant. “Never change, sweetheart. I wouldn’t have you any other way.”
And he proceeded to have her his way, with her full and delighted cooperation.
