“Come, wife. It is growing late.”
Murmuring her thanks to the servants, who were busying themselves with picking up the remnants of the meal, Julianna walked with him from the girls’ bedchamber and across the hall to their own. Yet she hesitated and glanced at the door to Aran’s room—Roger reading her mind and drawing her along with him.
Together they went inside to the cradle where the boy was sleeping peacefully, his small fist tucked under his chin. The wet nurse had already left to tend to her own child, but the two maidservants who had spoken up so boldly to Evander stood nearby, smiling kindly at Julianna.
Instead of just thanking them for defending her, she went to each one and gave a warm hug, the young women hugging her back and one even sniffling, her light blue eyes filled with tears.
“Dinna fear, Lady Douglas…the laird will protect you.”
“Aye, I will indeed,” Roger murmured, clasping Julianna’s hand tightly as he drew her from the room, tears welling in her eyes.
He said nothing until he had closed the door behind them, but then drew her into his arms to hug her close.
“Och, Juli, I dinna want us tae worry over what hasna happened—but live for the blessings God has already granted us, aye?”
“A-aye…I mean, yes,” Julianna murmured, blinking away her tears as Roger tilted up her chin.
“I like tae hear you speak as would a Scotswoman, lass. We’re from the same island, after all.”
Julianna nodded, so mesmerized by that same hungry look in Roger’s eyes that words failed her. Yet she couldn’t have spoken if she tried, his mouth covering hers in a kiss that made her heart leap against her breast.
She loved him—aye, she loved him more than life itself. When she could have mired herself in worry and fear, instead he had brought her laughter and light and happiness…
“Will you come tae bed with me?” he whispered against her lips, drawing back to stare into her eyes.
In the flickering flames from the fireplace, she thought she saw that shadow again in his gaze, but it fled as soon as she gave him a saucy smile…Julianna not wanting him to think about anything else than the two of them together and the night stretching in front of them—
“Och, wife, do you know what a look like that does tae a man?”
“You’re the only man I care about, husband…so why don’t you show me—oh!”
He had swept her off her feet so suddenly that Julianna gave another squeal when he went around to the bed and tossed her onto the mattress.
Roger straddling her within another instant, his eyes black as night as he gazed down at her, his expression something between somber and hopeful…so hopeful.
“So you care about me, lass?”
She bobbed her head, breathless as he lowered his head closer.
“A little? Or mayhap…much more than just a wee bit?”
She nodded again, shivers coursing through her as he leaned down even closer to press his lips to hers.
So warm…so tender…and yet with a deepening pressure that thrilled her…until he raised his head to search her eyes.
“Tell me, then, Juli. Let me hear you say it at last…”
She reached up to cradle his face, her heart so full that it was all she could do to whisper, “I love you, Roger…more than I can say, truly.”
He stared at her for the longest moment and Julianna was certain she saw moisture glistening in his eyes that moved her more deeply than she had ever known.
So powerful a man and yet so vulnerable to reveal such emotion to her, making her tunnel her fingers in his hair and draw him down so she could kiss him.
Her lips pressing against his with an aching tenderness of her own that made him groan against her mouth and kiss her more hungrily…until she was breathless and flushed and craving more of him, so much more.
Julianna gasping when he straightened to his knees to pull his tunic over his head, leaving him naked but for his boots—but who had time to remove them?
She wanted him so badly that she reached up to grasp his hips, his arousal an awesome sight to behold, and drew him down atop her, Roger deftly pulling up her gown along with her shift and thrusting himself into her.
