That was a good sign, at least, although he didn’t voice that thought, either. “We should get some sleep.”
“Um,” she murmured and turned over, giving him her back.
He stared at it for a moment. They’d slept this way last night. Maybe now that she was through with her experiment, she wanted to go back to the way things were? He didn’t like the idea at all. Now that he’d felt her passion, he didn’t want it to be just a onetime thing. His cock was already growing hard, remembering what if had felt like to be inside her.
He sighed and punched his pillow into shape. He’d given her everything he could. If that was all she wanted, he’d have to leave it at that. Not that he liked the idea, but given what had happened to her, she didn’t need another man forcing himself on her. He grunted and punched the pillow again.
Just as he was about to close his eyes, he felt her nudging backward until her back was against his chest and her lovely arse nestled against his groin. They fit together like two spoons. His cock, unfortunately, decided that was a very good thing. Rory took a deep breath, willing himself not to react. She was probably already half-asleep and nestling against him like a bairn seeking warmth and comfort. He would not take advantage of her. He wouldn’t.
And then she reached back and brought his arm around her waist. With a contented mewling sound, she took his hand and cupped it around her breast. She sighed contentedly, and her breathing deepened as she drifted into sleep.
But Rory lay awake a long while, not moving his hand at all. Maybe she had answered his unspoken question after all.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
When Juliana descended the stairs the next morning, she suddenly felt…shy. What would her hosts—the young duke and his duchess—think of her? They would surely know what had taken place. She gave herself a little shake. Of course they would know what had taken place. She had told them they were handfasted. They had referred to her as Rory’s bride. They’d expectsomethingto have taken place.
And then there was Rory. He’d awakened her before dawn with slow kisses and gentle strokes and then had made love to her again, showing her even more areas of her body that she didn’t know were so sensitive. She was sore this morning, but it was a nice soreness. A tenderness between her thighs that reminded her of what pleasure could be had. Who would have known? A flood of emotions washed over her. Conflicting and confusing and unsettling.
When she entered the breakfast room, a number of people were already there, helping themselves to the dishes on the sideboard. Rory was standing by the window, speaking to the duke. From the remnants of food left on their plates, they must have already eaten.
He glanced her way and gave her a quick nod before turning his attention back to the duke, and she had a moment of foreboding. Was that all he was going to do? No mischievous grin? No desirous look that would remind her of what they’d just done half an hour ago? Of course, there were other people around, and she certainly didn’t expect him to hurry over and sweep her off her feet. That was nonsense. But… She chewed her lip. Maybe their lovemaking hadn’t been as spectacular for him as it had been for her. He was experienced, after all, and had used those skills because she had asked him to.Then let me show you pleasure.Those had been his words. And he’d done that. Perhaps that was all it had been to him. A pleasurable interlude. Men had them all the time with willing women. And she had been willing. She’d actuallyasked.
But this morning, he’d given her pleasure again. Was it because she was there? Not that he’d taken her without permission. She’d readily responded.
It was all so confusing.
“Be sure ye eat well this morning,” Jane said as she came over to her. “I’ve had Cook pack food for ye, but ye have a long, hard ride today.”
Rory had already eaten. “I am not sure I have time. We should perhaps be on the road since we…overslept.” She caught herself on the last word, but Jane grinned.
“Weoversleepa lot ourselves.”
Juliana felt her face warm, and it heated even more as Rory gave her an amused glance.
“Break your fast, lass. I’ll go see to the horses.” With that, he was gone.
She wasn’t sure she could eat a bite, as uneasy as she was, but the delicious scent of cinnamon in the porridge and the succulent smell of ham soon had her wolfing down a full plate. Perhaps lovemaking stimulated the appetite as well.
Fifteen minutes later, she said her good-byes to the Murrays and she and Rory started out for the last day of the journey home. Not wanting to bring up the subject of whether or not he had enjoyed what they had done as much as she had—maybe he pleasured all his bed partners like that and she was just another—she chattered away about every mundane thing she could think of. Then, when she ran out of bland topics, she started asking questions. How long did the snows last in Scotland? When would they begin planting barley? Were there spring festivities the MacGregors would participate in now that they were un-proscribed? Finally, when they were within a few miles of Strae Castle, Rory reined Baron in. Misty sidled so close their thighs nearly touched.
“We need to talk, lass.”
“We have been talking.” She pretended not to understand what he meant. “You have been telling me about—”
“—about everything that is nae important.” He fixed her with a steady look. “Are ye regretting last night and this morning?”
She stared at him. “What?”
“Ye heard me quite well.”
Of course she’d heard him. But it was the last question she’d expected him to ask. “I…I…”
His face fell. “I am sorry, then. I wanted to make it very special for ye.”
“You did?” Juliana gave herself a shake. “I mean, youdid. You made it very, very special for me.”
Rory gave her a wary look. “Then why have ye avoided talking about it all day?”
