Page 27 of Married to the Highland Devil
Amelia gasped when he touched her shoulder. The fabric of her nightdress was sheer. She could feel the searing heat of his touch through it, and it rattled her insides.
Even the cool night’s air could not stop the shivering of her nerves and the thrilling surge that pumped through her. She was breathless, and he had not even done anything to her.
Amelia licked her lower lips and blew out a breath.
“You avoid me,” she accused softly.
“Because ye torment me, naethin’ else.”
“How do I? I thought you enjoyed my company. We could be friends…”
Duncan stroked her cheeks and then moved his fingers to her lower lip. He touched her just like she had touched him that night, like he wanted to learn the curves of her face.
“Friends?” he growled.
Amelia could only swallow hard. When he brushed his fingers over her brows and drew closer to her again, she feared he would kiss her.
It was rational fear, not the kind that made her bones freeze and her limbs heavy. This kind tantalized her with thoughts of pleasure. She had never experienced it. But she wanted to. With him.
“Amelia,” he growled again and brought his face down to hers, so his lips were only inches away.
Amelia’s eyes widened when the move brought his eyes close to hers too. For the first time since they had met, she saw the shade of his brown eyes. It seemed a little reddish, or perhaps that was because of her blurry vision. Either way, it made her heart throb. She had wanted to know what his eyes looked like.
When she lifted her hand to touch his face, he snatched it and set it down at her side again.
“I cannae take advantage of ye, Amelia,” he said to her in a hoarse voice. “I willnae.”
“What?” she croaked. “What do you mean?”
“What happened at the inn willnae happen again. I apologize. I must havenae been very clear, Amelia, but I dinnae wish for our marriage to be anything but the convenience it is. I shall care and provide for ye, but that will be all.”
Pain sliced through Amelia’s heart and made her feel as if it would split in two. She took a step back from him, not caring what she was backing into.
“So, it is just my money you want?” she asked, wanting to hear him say the words himself. “Say it, Duncan. I will not hate you for it.”
“I only came for yer hand because of yer dowry in the first place. I didnae wish to lie about that, and I havenae. But I cannae—”
Amelia raised her hand to stop him from saying anything else. She did not need him too.
She hardened her chin and stilled every tingle that bubbled inside her. Amelia had fooled herself into thinking there was something here. But he wanted her money and nothing else.
Then so be it.
“Thank you, Laird McLennan,” she whispered to him. “I shall bid you goodnight.”
“I will send Dahlia back to ye,” he told her but did not move to walk away.
“That will not be necessary,” Amelia answered. “I am not completely helpless, and as I told you before, I will not be a burden. Do not worry, I shall walk back to my chambers on my own. It will give me the chance to learn the grounds for myself.”
She expected him to object, but he did not. Amelia waited till she heard his retreating footsteps then she turned around, raised her head to the sky, and exhaled deeply.
It was the first time she questioned her choice since she had jumped on a carriage and come to Scotland with him.
13
“This isnae a love match, Maither,” Duncan challenged his mother when she came to his study the next morning. “I dinnae have the luxury of fallin’ in love like ye and Faither did before the weddin’. I needed a bride, and I found one. I have done what I needed to do for my clan, and I dinnae need this lecture from ye right now.”
“This isnae a lecture, Son. The lady shouldnae be left alone. She is new here, and she has difficulties.”
