Page 31 of In Bed with a Highland Brute

“I asked ye how badly ye wanted that convenient marriage.”

“Ye are asking me tae be yer husband.” He gestured to her with both of his palms, so stunned he could not think straight. Many questions ran through his mind, one after the next baffling him.

Is that why she kissed me again? Daes she hope for something more in this? Surely nae! What is she playing at?

“I am saying that ye and I could marry fer convenience, Murdoch,” she whispered, so quietly it was as if she were afraid to say the words. When she hung her head a little, adopting another one of those infuriatingly demure looks, he reached for her. Gently taking her chin, he urged her to lift her head and look him in the eye. “What?”

“I am checking ye are in earnestness.” His tone was as quiet as her own. “This is madness, for ye and I.”

“Is it?” She wrinkled her nose. “Ye have nae wish tae marry a woman ye could care for, that is what ye have just declared, and I have nae cause tae marry at all.” She shrugged her shoulders, as if they were talking about something simple, such as whether she wished for a glass of meade, not marriage.

“Why nae?” He released her chin but did not step back from her. “Eloise, ye…” He trailed off, his eyes darting down her. She was incredibly desirable, that was something he could not deny. Any man would be lucky to have such a beautiful wife, not to mention she was kind too, and sweet in nature. “Ye could be a happy wife tae a man someday.”

“Ye think I trust men after the job I have had?” She scoffed, shaking her head minutely before she rested it on the bedpost once more. “I have seen what men are capable of, what they… try tae dae.” Her inference made him stand taller. He thought of the number of times he’d seen that pathetic-looking dagger at her belt, everything falling into place.

“That dirk,” he whispered. “Ye carried it fer a reason.”

“Aye.” She nodded. “Ye think I am interested in marrying a man I am foolish enough tae fall in love with? Nay. That doesnae interest me. Yet I have tangled myself in knots with the choices I have made.” She hung her head once more. He stepped forward, wishing she would lift it of her own accord. He came so near that apparently, she had no choice. Her chin lifted just a few inches, those blue eyes darting to meet his. “I will hide what I have done until my death. If that means marrying a man fer convenience, I am happy tae dae so. This was tae be my last job regardless, so I am free of it then for good. It is an option, is it nae?”

Murdoch couldn’t think clearly, certainly not enough to speak at this time.

He had many questions he wished to ask her. He felt anger curling in his gut at the idea that a man might have tried to force affection from Eloise. It disgusted him, and he would have gladly met any man that tried to do so and beaten them until they were limp. He also wished to know why this was her last job. What more was there to all her secrets?

“How many cruel clients have ye had over the years, Eloise?” he asked, his voice soft.

“Enough tae tell me what a lot of men are like.” She released the bedpost and walked around him, crossing the floor a little. He followed her, finding he could not let the matter go. “Suffice it tae say that marriage isnae something that particularly excites me.”

“Nae at all?” He couldn’t resist. He stopped behind her and moved his lips to her neck. Part of her hair had fallen down from her updo, so he pushed it to the side and lingered his lips near her neck. “I felt ye respond tae those kisses, Eloise. Ye are nae immune. That isnae a bad thing.”

She shuddered, though he barely touched her at all. When she didn’t pull away, he hoped that she shuddered from excitement and not fear.

“I have made me decision.” She stepped forward slowly and turned to face him, that near touch disappearing between them. “I am willing tae make this a marriage of convenience. What are yer thoughts?”

“I…” He huffed and looked down, his hands moving to his hips.

I need tae think.

“We’d both get what we want,” she reminded him.

“Aye, I’m aware of that.” As he thought, she mirrored his stance, hands on hips as they stared at one another. “It would mean being married tae me, Eloise. Are ye certain ye could put up with me? The last few days have convinced me that I am hardly yer favorite person in the world.”

“Nae are ye the most dreaded company either,” she said with a smile. “Ye and I certainly argue a little –”

“A little? Hah!” he scoffed loudly. “Ye and I couldnae make peace if an angel walked into the room and attempted tae broker it.”

“We arenae that bad.”

“We are.”

“Arenae.”

“Dae I need tae point out ye are even arguing with me on this point?” He gestured between the two of them. She shifted, changing her arms to fold them across her chest. It made his eyes dart down to the cleavage line of her red gown, finding it far too distracting not to look at.

That gown…

She was particularly beautiful in that dress. It emphasized her slim curves, and the corset was something he could not think of, wanting to rip it off her to see exactly what she looked like without it on.

Stop it!