Page 67 of Wild Hearts

She put him out of her mind and considered Shannon. Tomorrow she would issue an invitation for the Black Douglas to visit and would sit back and watch nature take its course. She had never seen two people as made for each other as these two were.

As Paris rode within sight of the castle, he scanned the turrets and then the courtyard for a certain figure. If he hoped his wife would run to meet him, he was to be sorely disappointed. He stabled his horse, saw that Troy had just returned from hunting and went upstairs with him.

Tabrizia was surrounded by his sisters, all laughing uproariously as she did a devastating imitation of the Queen's Danish accent. She stopped in-mid-sentence as Paris came forward to embrace her. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head fondly, and she blushed furiously. He laughed. "Did you know she was the only lady at Court who blushed?"

Shannon replied, "The things you do and say would probably make a sailor blush."

Tabrizia took her courage in both hands. "Welcome home, milord. I'm glad you were not delayed. I've sent a letter to your friend James Douglas inviting him to Cockburnspath."

He looked at her quizzically. "I thank you, my sweet, if you did it for my sake."

"Oh, not at all. I think we should entertain more often. The girls haven't seen him for years, and I myself haven't enjoyed his company for some time."

"You?" he questioned: "As I recall, the only time you saw my friend the Black Douglas, you called him some very unflattering names."

"Oh, no, you are mistaken. He was one of my suitors before we went to England," she explained sweetly.

He swept her up into his arms and smiled at his sisters. "You will excuse us, won't you? Perhaps we'll join you for dinner later."

Tabrizia was so startled to be picked up, she raised uncertain eyes to him, trying to gauge his mood. Inside the large bedchamber, he set her down abruptly and demanded, "Tell me true, no-damned womanish lies, did James offer for you?"

"Yes, he did," she admitted, not wanting him to lose his temper, which he was holding on to by a thread.

He looked at her, totally amazed. "Why in the name of God didn't you accept him? He's a double earl and a baron sixteen times over. He's the best catch in Scotland!"

What could she say? She couldn't tell him she refused James because she was mad in love with his best friend, so she didn't answer him. Instead, she said, "I know what a good catch he is, and that's why I want him for Shannon. She's about to throw herself away on Logan, and she deserves better."

He frowned. "Have you spoken of this to Shannon?"

"No! When did a Cockburn ever take advice? All I need do is bring them together. -They are perfectly matched." -

He leered at her. "Like us."

She moved away from him quickly. "I wish you wouldn't handle me in front of the family, it embarrasses me."

He went after her and took hold of her arms savagely. "I'll touch you whenever and wherever I please. You are my wife, Tabrizia. You had better get used to it."

When he let her go, heat coursed up her arms from where his hands had lain. She had thought he was going to take her lips savagely, and her eyes flew to his mouth as she thought of it upon hers. She began to tremble. She was his possession— he'd made that clear over and over, yet he did not possess her. The sexual tension between them was unbearable. Her skin and breasts were so sensitive, she could feel the silken material of her underclothes whispering against her nipples. When he came close, she blushed hotly, then shivered with cold. She wanted to provoke him to the point where he laid hands upon her, then scream with frustration whenever he did so.

Had she but known it, Paris was much worse off than his bride. He was in a permanent state of semi-arousal. The pressure in his loins made him curse a thousand times a day. Even a brief meeting of eyes sent the blood rushing into his shaft. His growing need savaged his temper, and he considered taking her against her will to assuage his starved senses.

A messenger came riding in with the news that they could expect Douglas two days hence. Tabrizia planned a lavish meal In Douglas's honor, she had the cooks prepare a traditional boar's head, along with a dozen game birds, including a brace of plump pheasant. She saw that there was everything imaginable to drink from steaming punch to brandy eggnog. It was all to be topped off by a glorious syllabub pudding with thick double cream. Tabrizia informed the girls that James Douglas was coming for a few days, and they looked forward to seeing him again. Shannon told Tabrizia how when she was a little girl, Douglas always tossed her in the air and called her "his own wee lass."

Just before dusk, the Black Douglas rode in with a score of his men. Paris awaited him at the stables, and Troy took James's men to the barracks to quarter them, eager to hazard the dice with the men from Douglas.

"Come into the gun room, I've a deal to tell you about the King's plans for Scotland," greeted Paris.

James grinned at him. "Before we get down to brass tacks, let me drink a toast to the bridegroom. Ye wasted no time, man!"

"You fancied her yourself, I hear." Paris laughed.

"Can ye blame me?. Still, I didn't stand a chance. I knew she was hot for you."

"Is that why she went running off to London?"

James looked at his friend and said pointedly, "A woman runs away so that her man will come after her."

Paris mocked himself. "There must be something about me that is irresistible."

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