Emerald (Jewel Trilogy, Book 2) by Lauren Royal

night rail is in my satchel. In the—"
    "—public coach." He peeled off a stocking. "I know. That thing beneath your bodice, the garment that looks like a blouse? I'm no expert on women's clothing, but it's quite long, is it not? A shift, is it called?"
    "Aye, it's a shift." She plucked distractedly at its sleeves. "Not that it's any of your concern."
    She stalked to the bed and tucked the shirts and breeches she'd folded back into his portmanteau, then moved it to a table. Pulling back the lovely counterpane, she found a thick quilt resting beneath. She lifted one corner and climbed into bed.
    "Sleep well," she said, in a tone meant to speak of finality.
    He rose and moved to look down on her. "You're going to suffocate," he predicted. "At least loosen your bodice."
    When she made no move to do so, he threw back the quilt, leaned over her, and made quick work of untying the bow at the top of her laces.
    "Unhand me!" she squeaked in disbelief. Before she collected her wits enough to bat his hands away, he began tugging at the laces. "I-I cannot believe what you're doing! No man has ever loosened my clothing—"
    "A pity, sweetheart," he interjected smoothly while finishing the job he'd started. "Though I find that difficult to believe." One long fingertip trailed softly alongside her face. "Don't you fret, pretty thing—I may be the first, but I'm certain I won't be the last."
    She felt a flush crawl up her neck, heating her cheeks. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing coherent came to mind.
    "There they go again," he said. "Your eyes were just green, and now they've turned blue." He reached for her amulet.
    "This stays," she said firmly, finding her tongue. "I never take it off."
    He shrugged, moving to the foot of the bed to pull off her shoes. "Now you'll rest easier." Caithren was still sputtering when he flipped the quilt back to cover her.
    Glaring at him, she lay silent as he walked around the room snuffing the candles. In increments, the chamber descended into darkness. He slid in on the other side of the bed, his substantial weight depressing the feather mattress, making her nearly roll into him. She gripped the quilt in tense fists, holding herself in place.
    "Sleep well, now," he called in a voice that was annoyingly unperturbed. Apparently giving him the evil eye had had no effect on him at all. "We've a long journey ahead of us."
    When he leaned to blow out the candle on the small table by the bed, Caithren raised herself to an elbow to do the same on her side. Her heart pounded hard in her chest as she lay back down and stared into the darkness. It didn't seem as though he planned to attack her, and yet…
    She realized suddenly that her pulse wasn't racing from fear, but from something else.
    Da had fed and clothed her, Cameron had offered protection and companionship, and more than one suitor had connived to press his lips to hers. But no man had ever made it his business to care for her in a physical sense. The Englishman's hands on her had felt different than Da's or Cam's or those fumbling courting lads'.
    She wasn't at all sure whether she cared for the feeling. And why did it matter, aye? Her hand went up and wrapped around her amulet. She'd be rid of him after tonight.
    Rigid, she lay beside him, willing herself to stay awake while her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Had they crossed their arms over their chests, she imagined she and the Englishman would resemble one of the marble effigies in her village kirk, a lord and lady frozen together in time. But she was no titled lady, and the Englishman was certainly no lord.
    He wasn't even a gentleman.
    She had to get away from him. Back to the coach, where she hoped and prayed they were still carrying her belongings. It would be a miracle to find her money there as well, but she couldn't worry about that now.
    It seemed like forever before his breathing evened out in sleep. She waited a few minutes until she was sure, then jogged his shoulder