She paused for a moment. “Nay, but Ilikehim. And there are other reasons to marry—far more important ones.”
“Such as fear? That isn’t a reason. Don’t tie yourself forever to a man you don’t love because of things that happened in the past.”
She bristled as he knew she would. “You don’t know what you are talking about.”
“I know you think Randolph’s lands and money will protect you from ever having to be poor again. That his position as the king’s nephew and one of his chief lieutenants means that no one will ever close a door to you. But there are no guarantees in life, El.”
Alarm took away some of her anger. “Are you saying you think Bruce is going to lose the war?”
“No one knows the future. I think he’s got a fighting chance, which is a hell of a lot more than anyone else has had, but England is the most powerful nation in Christendom. What I’m saying is that whether Bruce wins or loses the war won’t change what you went through as a child or erase those memories.”
She tried to brush away his concerns. “That was a long time ago. Yes, it was horrible. But I was a child. I hardly even think about that time anymore. And if you haven’t noticed, with his lands restored and the additional rewards from the king, Jamie has become very wealthy in the past few years. I’ve hardly been suffering.”
Thom eased back one edge of her fur-trimmed plaid cloak to reveal the embroidered purse she had tied to her waist. Reaching between them to lift it, he weighed it in his hand. “That feels like a lot of coins to be carrying around town.”
“I thought I might go to the market later.”
He held her gaze. “So you aren’t still saving coins to bury under bushes and rocks?”
Her face went stark white. “What are you talking about?”
“Do you think I didn’t know? Christ, you were only a wee lassie when I realized what you were doing. I wasn’t going to let you go wandering off unprotected—especially carrying that kind of silver.” For a moment he saw a flash of panic in her eyes and understood. “It’s all there. I never touched any of it.”
She looked away, ashamed. “I never thought you would.” Her eyes glistened. “You must think I’m a fool...”
He took her chin, forcing her gaze back to his. “I think you were a scared little girl who did what she could to make herself feel secure in a world torn apart by war. And I still think you are scared and trying to protect yourself. But marrying Randolph isn’t the answer.”
“And you are?”
He stiffened at her tone. It wasn’t a scoff, but it had enough attitude to be damned close.
He gritted his teeth but kept a rein on his temper, dropping his hand. “I can’t promise you the lands and wealth that would come from marrying Randolph, but I am not without means or prospects. I will be able to provide for you. Perhaps not in the manner you are used to, but we won’t be living in a hovel either. And I can promise you one thing—one thing that Randolph will never be able to give you. I can make you happy.”
“How can you be sure he won’t when there is every reason to believe we will suit fabulously?”
“Why, because he’s rich, handsome, and charming? Because he has a handful of castles, speaks French, and knows the same people as you? None of that means shite if you don’t want to bed him at night, Ella.”
He’d angered her. Her face flushed red and her eyes shot off little sparks of fire. “And you’re so sure I don’t?”
He knew she was trying to prod him into reacting, but he wasn’t going to do it. He wasn’t going to push her back against the door and prove it to her. Not that it wasn’tdamnedtempting.
But he did back her up a little, closing the distance between them to a hairbreadth. He could practically feel the furious beat of her heart against his chest. “I think the only bed you want to climb into is mine.”
She tried to push him back. “You arrogant—”
“Why else are you here alone with me when you know well what happens whenever we are together?” He caught her wrist and wrapped it around his waist so their bodies were just touching. “Why else did you follow me up the hill? You want me, El, just as badly as I want you.”
As if to prove the truth of his words, her body shuddered against his. It reverberated through him like a lightning bolt, setting off every primal instinct in his body.Take her. Make her yours.
But he couldn’t give in. She had to come to him on her own—not blindly with eyes clouded by lust. Not that he didn’t intend to use the passion between them to his advantage.
“Does he do this to you, El?” His voice was low and husky. “Does he make your body tremble for his touch? Does he make your breath quicken and your lips part for his kiss?” He moved the pad of his thumb over the velvety pillow of her lower lip, wishing it were his mouth. He wanted to drink her in. He wanted to slide his tongue in deep and taste every inch of her.
He leaned closer, brought his face to the side of her neck, inhaling the soft floral fragrance of the soap she used to wash her hair and blowing softly into her ear. She groaned, melted, and he almost forgot himself—almost.
He slipped one hand under the edge of her cloak, cupping her breast gently in his hand as his thumb rolled over the taut peak. After holding back for so long, he still couldn’t get used to being able to touch her exactly as he wanted. “Does he make these sweet little nipples hard? Do you want his mouth on you, sucking you?” She gasped at his wicked words, and he skimmed his hand to her waist to slide between her legs. “Does he make you hot and wet? Do you want him to put his hand right there”—he pressed—“and slide his finger into all that creamy softness?”
The gasp turned to a whimper, a deep whimper that egged him on. He was so damned hot; his body was on fire.
