“Many times.”
“Is the sea as warm and blue as rumored?’
“Aye,” he said. “As blue and fathomless as yer eyes. As hot as our bed will be tonight.”
His answer made her blush. Though she had never been with a man, she often wondered what Alex would look like naked. He’d inspired countless fantasies on many a lonely night. Now she had the right to touch and kiss him. She covered her mouth, ashamed of her impure thoughts. Such things weren’t appropriate for a maiden to consider, but he made it difficult to not think about it. Every time he gazed at her, it was as if he was undressing her with his eyes.
“Ye look beautiful in the rubies, lass.”
“Thank ye,” she said. “I doona deserve such gifts, Alex.”
“Keep the jewelry. There will be times such luxuries are necessary to wear.”
Keely touched the stone at her throat. “Nay,” she said again. “After tonight, please take them back.”
“I willna.” He took a drink of wine.
Why did he insist she keep them? “Did ye sail to Scotland with the intent of getting married?”
Alex signaled for a servant to refill his cup. “Nay. I came here to see John and to provide the necessary gold for him to hire mercenaries to protect our assets, nothing more.”
“Why were ye in possession of such jewels?”
He chuckled at her question. “Does it matter?”
“I know about yer concubines, Alex.”
He waved a hand dismissively. “I am not the kind of man to hide anything, lass. Ye should know that already. The clan is fully aware of who and what I am, where I’ve lived and how I lived. Men have needs, and in Constantinople, sex is not something men are ashamed of. It’s considered a matter of good health.”
Keely nearly choked at the absurdity of his explanation. “A matter of good health? Like eating enough food or having warm clothes to wear?”
“Aye.”
He actually believed what he was saying. “And now?”
“The only thing that has changed is I have a wife to share my bed with.”
“What if I want a separate chamber?”
“Nay. Ye will sleep with me every night.” He covered her hand with his. “Ye willna want to be apart from me once we spend our first night together, lass. I am a generous lover. I’ll never hurt ye or force ye to do anything ye are uncomfortable with.”
The words stole her breath. She believed him, but the thought of him still owning concubines, even if they were thousands of miles away, left her unhappy. “Who does this jewelry belong to?”
He sighed. “If ye must know, they were intended for Layla, my favorite concubine.”
Keely pushed her chair back from the table, intending to leave the great hall.
Alex wouldna let her, he gripped her upper arm and shook his head. “Ye willna leave the celebration. In the future, think before ye ask such questions.”
“I had my suspicions about it already. I am sure my dress was a gift for another woman. Perhaps ye could still send it to her.” She’d meant as a way to lighten the mood but it had come out sounding more severe.
Alex grimaced. “I doona want to hear another word on the matter.”
“Will ye keep the women, then?”
“Do ye wish me to bring them here?”
His arrogance made her angry. Would she ever be enough to satisfy him? She knew little about the art of lovemaking. His eyes flickered with amusement, but she dinna find it entertaining at all. “Send for yer women,” she said boldly. “As long as ye doona prevent Struan Sutherland from joining us, too.”
