No, it was just as well she was woken up. She didn’t wanthimin her dreams, confusing her and making her feel all strange inside. They’d agreed, hadn’t they, to keep their distance? That the bathtub incident was a mistake, not to be repeated.
Heaviness pulsed between Nora’s legs, a quiet hint that perhaps notallof her was so keen to avoid the situation.
Enough,she scolded herself.Concentrate on the problem at hand.
Having a serious conversation when she was swathed in blankets proved difficult, however, so Nora swung her legs out of bed and padded across the floor toward him. He watched her approach, wary, like a cat might watch the approach of an enthusiastic puppy. Tolerating it, but ready to bolt if need be.
Or bite.
“I would like another room,” she said firmly, meeting his eye and holding it. “I am nae from Clan MacCrimmon, and nor are ye. We have nay need to follow their traditions.”
He pursed his lips. “Nay, but it’s polite, daenae ye think?”
“Are ye goin’ to get me another room or nae?”
“People will talk. Ye can go to Laurie’s room, if ye like, but again, it will incur more gossip than ye can imagine.”
“I daenae care about the gossip,” she snapped, more hotly than she’d meant to. “I daenae want to share a room with ye.”
There was a pause. Creighton’s eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward, moving into her space.
“Funny. Ye did not seem opposed to sharin’ the same room as me when ye were gaspin’ me name aloud.”
Nora sucked in a shocked breath, rocking back on her heels. Her shock only lasted a moment before she composed herself. Shrinking back from this man only seemed to make him more eager to sink his teeth in. Growling, she stepped forward, pushing her face up toward his.
“Ye ought nae to mention that,” she hissed. “Webothagreed that it was a mistake. Do ye nae see, Creighton? Ye and I, we daenae go together. We get in each other’s way.”
“Ye certainly get inmeway.”
“Oh, enough with yer clever comments.”
“Aha, so yedothink me comments are clever.”
She groaned aloud, shoving her fingers into her hair. “I cannae do this with ye now, Creighton, I cannae. Ye infuriate me.”
She made to turn away, intending to… oh, she didn’t know what. Pick up a blanket and go sleep in the hall, perhaps? It didn’t matter, because a cool, long-fingered hand seized her wrist, hauling her toward him. Gasping aloud, she staggered back, off balance. Her hand came out to steady herself without thinking twice, landing splayed on his warm, firm chest. She tore her hand away at once, but it was too late. Heat surged through her, keen and wanting, no matter how much she tried to think it away.
“Let go of me,” she demanded.
He did not obey, taking a step closer until they were almost nose to nose.
“Tell me why I infuriate ye,” he breathed. “Because I believe that I’ve been all politeness since we arrived.”
She gave a sharp bark of laughter. “Do ye? Do ye really? Do ye ken what bothers me the most?”
“Nay, but I have a feelin’ ye are goin’ to tell me.”
She narrowed her eyes. “It’s nae that ye daenae wish to marry. I came here with me eyes open. I kent this betrothal was in name only, and I kent that the next year would be nothin’ more than captivity. I expected that. But ye seem to think…” she paused, swallowing hard, trying and failing to put words into order in her head. “Ye think that ye can possess me. That I can beyers, while I’m here, and that ye can send me away when ye are done. Whenall of this is over, ye think ye can let me go and never think of me again. Well, ye cannae. I willnae let it happen.”
“Ye willnae let me possess ye, or ye willnae let me send ye away?”
She gave a harsh bark of laughter. “Even now, ye cannae take anythin’ seriously, can ye?”
The hand around her wrist tightened. Not painfully, but enough to make her take a breath. He pulled her toward him, dark eyes fixed on her face. It briefly occurred to her that if she struggled, if she pulled away, he would let go. She couldn’t explain how she knew that, maybe just instinct. He would release her if she wanted him to.
I daenae want him to.
The breath caught in her throat. Her gaze dipped down to his lips, parted and shivering with faint breaths.
