found for me by Lady Cecelia. Not only is it safer to ride this way, but I’ll keep Sweetpea to a faster gait.”
He had already decided to allow her the saddle, but wanted to see how hard she would work to convince him. Mayhap he could even coax a kiss from her?
“I have no thoughts of allowin’ ye to delay us. I willna cross Scotland at a snail’s pace. We will be ridin’ hard, and I dinna believe ye can keep up. If not, ye will ride behind one of my men.”
She rose to the bait. Anger flashed in her eyes at this male insult.
“You want me to ride pillion?” she all but shouted. “I will not ride on a horse’s butt behind some unwashed warrior all over Scotland, sir. By the time we got there I’d be nothing but a giant bruise.”
“If I decree ye ride on a horse’s ‘butt,’ as ye so elegantly deem it, or run behind holdin’ its tail, ye will do as I decree.”
He narrowed his eyes and stared down at her. “I have the safety of my men to look to afore thinkin’ of yer delicate arse and whether or not it will gather a few bruises.”
“Are you telling me your men are more important than your wife?” She looked at him and sucked her teeth in disgust. “I’m not hugging some smelly man’s back more than a hundred miles.
If you think I will, you’re in for a rude awakening.”
“Wife, I decide how ye are to ride. Ye will do as I say. We depart afore the sun rises.” His gaze bored into hers.
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Sophia Johnson
She stared back, her body taut with anger. He noted the instant she realized, by the force of his will, she had to bend to him. To prove his point, he gripped her face and kissed her with savage possession. Waves of lust hardened him near to bursting, as he rocked his hips against her warm stomach.
Eyes spitting barely controlled rage, she lurched back from him. He saw her struggle not to strike his face, for her open hand lifted, then jerked down to scrub over her mouth. Stiff and proud, she spun around and marched out of the stable.
His brow quirked, watching her. So much for his “coaxing”
a kiss from her sweet lips. The sway of her hips and the memory of her soft mouth and body heated his blood with anticipation.
He would have no easy time of it when he claimed her as his wife this night. E’en so, by the next sun’s rise, she would be well used to pleasuring him.
Chapter 7
Brianna eyed the bulging clothing trunk beside the door and sighed. Now that she had a few minutes before she had to appear at the feast, her stomach churned.
What in God’s name did a woman in this century do when she found herself wed without having known of it? One thing for certain, she couldn’t tell Damron of Blackthorn to take his marriage contract and stuff it up his nose, then storm out of the castle.
Hearing Connor call from outside the bedchamber door, she welcomed the distraction. After she bid him enter, he thrust an oblong wooden box, embossed with bold Celtic symbols gilded with gold leaf, into her arms. She’d seen such a treasure as this only locked behind a glass case in museums.
“My Lady, Lord Damron wishes to present you with a gift. He requests you honor him this night by wearing it at the feast.”
The box’s weight startled her. What lay inside it? She raised her brows, curious. “Stones?”
“Not of the kind you think.” His eyes twinkled as he turned to leave.
“Blessed saints. Mayhap the giant is chivalrous after all.”
Elise peered over her shoulder. “Quick. Open it.”
Brianna sat on the bed and examined the beautifully carved
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Sophia Johnson
box. She lifted the lid and gasped. Nestled in a bed of blue silk was a girdle made of round gold discs. Each disc was delicately etched with the Pictish symbol called the Double Disc, signify-ing the marriage of two families. Filigree gold loops chained each disc to the next. The clasp was a larger disc rimmed with rubies.
At its center rose a huge, brilliant sapphire. She lifted the girdle by the chain and
He had already decided to allow her the saddle, but wanted to see how hard she would work to convince him. Mayhap he could even coax a kiss from her?
“I have no thoughts of allowin’ ye to delay us. I willna cross Scotland at a snail’s pace. We will be ridin’ hard, and I dinna believe ye can keep up. If not, ye will ride behind one of my men.”
She rose to the bait. Anger flashed in her eyes at this male insult.
“You want me to ride pillion?” she all but shouted. “I will not ride on a horse’s butt behind some unwashed warrior all over Scotland, sir. By the time we got there I’d be nothing but a giant bruise.”
“If I decree ye ride on a horse’s ‘butt,’ as ye so elegantly deem it, or run behind holdin’ its tail, ye will do as I decree.”
He narrowed his eyes and stared down at her. “I have the safety of my men to look to afore thinkin’ of yer delicate arse and whether or not it will gather a few bruises.”
“Are you telling me your men are more important than your wife?” She looked at him and sucked her teeth in disgust. “I’m not hugging some smelly man’s back more than a hundred miles.
If you think I will, you’re in for a rude awakening.”
“Wife, I decide how ye are to ride. Ye will do as I say. We depart afore the sun rises.” His gaze bored into hers.
90
Sophia Johnson
She stared back, her body taut with anger. He noted the instant she realized, by the force of his will, she had to bend to him. To prove his point, he gripped her face and kissed her with savage possession. Waves of lust hardened him near to bursting, as he rocked his hips against her warm stomach.
Eyes spitting barely controlled rage, she lurched back from him. He saw her struggle not to strike his face, for her open hand lifted, then jerked down to scrub over her mouth. Stiff and proud, she spun around and marched out of the stable.
His brow quirked, watching her. So much for his “coaxing”
a kiss from her sweet lips. The sway of her hips and the memory of her soft mouth and body heated his blood with anticipation.
He would have no easy time of it when he claimed her as his wife this night. E’en so, by the next sun’s rise, she would be well used to pleasuring him.
Chapter 7
Brianna eyed the bulging clothing trunk beside the door and sighed. Now that she had a few minutes before she had to appear at the feast, her stomach churned.
What in God’s name did a woman in this century do when she found herself wed without having known of it? One thing for certain, she couldn’t tell Damron of Blackthorn to take his marriage contract and stuff it up his nose, then storm out of the castle.
Hearing Connor call from outside the bedchamber door, she welcomed the distraction. After she bid him enter, he thrust an oblong wooden box, embossed with bold Celtic symbols gilded with gold leaf, into her arms. She’d seen such a treasure as this only locked behind a glass case in museums.
“My Lady, Lord Damron wishes to present you with a gift. He requests you honor him this night by wearing it at the feast.”
The box’s weight startled her. What lay inside it? She raised her brows, curious. “Stones?”
“Not of the kind you think.” His eyes twinkled as he turned to leave.
“Blessed saints. Mayhap the giant is chivalrous after all.”
Elise peered over her shoulder. “Quick. Open it.”
Brianna sat on the bed and examined the beautifully carved
92
Sophia Johnson
box. She lifted the lid and gasped. Nestled in a bed of blue silk was a girdle made of round gold discs. Each disc was delicately etched with the Pictish symbol called the Double Disc, signify-ing the marriage of two families. Filigree gold loops chained each disc to the next. The clasp was a larger disc rimmed with rubies.
At its center rose a huge, brilliant sapphire. She lifted the girdle by the chain and
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