He played music for her and he did listen to her. He had even handed her his sword.
Surely such moments made up for his more unrefined ways.
“It takes two to make a marriage.” Her mother’s words echoed in her head. Her mother had oft lectured her on wifely duties and what it took to make a marriage sound.
“Marriage is a contract between man and woman. The wife is to care for the husband. To see to his needs and he in turn is to protect and provide for her. But if the marriage is to be a happy one, then the two must respect each other. They must never belittle or discount the other’s feelings. Take your father for instance. He would sooner cut his own heart out than make me cry. Your husband should always listen to you just as you should always listen to him.”
Nora studied him closely. Ewan didn’t seem to be the kind of man to ever discount someone.
She traced the line of his lips, remembering what they had tasted like. The way they looked on the rare occasions when he smiled.
You’ll have to marry someone. Why not?—
“Don’t even think it,” she breathed.
True she did have to have a husband, but Ewan MacAllister?
He lived in a cave!
Granted it was a nice cave with glorious furnishings, but it was still a cave.
What kind of life could they have together?
Before she realized what she was doing, she was peeling back the corner of his shirt. She’d never before realized just how interesting a man’s throat was. How inviting the skin of it could be.
She stroked his Adam’s apple with her fingertips, feeling the roughness of his masculine skin and whiskers. He was all prickly and hard.
And his jaw...
Truly it was superb. Strong and well shaped. She’d never touched a man like this before.
Her parents would have vapors. Her father would have his sword after them both.
Ewan himself would most likely be terse from her exploration and study.
He didn’t seem to like her touching him overmuch.
Tonight being the exception.
If you touch me, I’ll kiss you and if I kiss you...
Did she perchance drive him wild with desire? Could he feel the same urging for her that she felt for him?
Her mother had warned her much about men and their voracious rutting ways. But instead of dishonoring her, Ewan had fallen asleep like a harmless pup.
Harmless pup, indeed!
There was certainly nothing harmless about a man as fierce as this one. And yet he treated her kindly.
Nora lay her head back down on his chest and listened to his heart thumping under her ear. She’d only imagined lying with a man like this. It was something she had thought to share with her husband, never with a man she barely knew.
Ewan turned then, drawing her in closer to him. His arms tightened.
“Ewan?” she said. “You’re crushing me.”
His hold loosened a bit so that she could breathe, but he didn’t release her. Instead, he snuggled closer.
It wasn’t so bad really.
