Page 64 of A Highland Bride Taken

She was thankful it was a slow number that would allow them to converse; perhaps he would be willing to discuss his thoughts if they danced.

Mabel was aware of his eyes on her as they moved. The intensity of his gaze warmed her skin, yet she could not fathom the reason behind his unease.

When she felt the tension leave him as he relaxed more into the dance, she decided it would be as good a time as any to probe his thoughts. Perhaps he would share his burdens with her now.

“Has something upset ye this evening, husband?” she asked softly.

“Nothing has upset me,” he answered. “Why do ye ask?”

“Ye were frowning earlier,” she noted. “I was afraid I might have upset ye with me behavior.”

He chuckled softly, surprising her. “Ye havenae done anything to upset me. I have only been a fool, ‘tis all. Dinnae worry yer head.”

“But I would like to ken what troubles ye,” she insisted. “Even if it is something silly. I should help ye with yer burdens. Ye’re me husband, ‘tis me place to do so.”

He grinned broadly, surprising her again.

She was still not used to seeing the transformation in his usually stoic face, and the fact that she had never seen him grin with anyone but her made a sense of pride bloom in her chest.

“I love hearing ye say that I am yer husband.” He smiled. “‘Tis very possessive of ye.”

She felt heat rise in her cheeks, but she knew he was only distracting her from what she had asked him.

“Ye’re distracting me,” she accused with a pout.

“Aye, that was the plan,” he teased.

She wrinkled her nose to show her displeasure, but was unable to suppress a smile at his cheek.

“That isnae very tasteful of ye.” She pursed her lips. “I am trying to understand ye and be a good wife.”

“Ye’re already a good wife. Too proper even,” he said. “‘Tis yer dress that gives me trouble.”

“Me dress?” she asked incredulously. “I dinnae understand.Yechose it for me.”

“Aye,” he agreed, looking down at her with darkening eyes. “I have half a mind to order twenty more, but ye will promise to wear them only for me.”

His words caused her to smile as she realized his meaning. He liked her dress, and he liked itvery much.

“I accept yer terms, but I must ask—is it only wearing them that ye want from me?” she asked with a playful look.

His eyes widened and darkened even further—she had pleased him with her question.

He leaned closer so he could whisper in her ear, and the brush of heated air from his lips kindled a fire in her core that she was becoming all too familiar with.

“I would love to see ye wear them and have the pleasure of taking each one off ye,” he whispered, before straightening as though he had not just said something entirely improper.

She knew her face betrayed what his words did to her, but she could not let him get the better of her every time, so she rose on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear words she knew would arouse him as his had done her. “Why dinnae ye help me remove this one now?”

She pulled away from him as the music came to an end.

She turned to the steps leading out of the Great Hall, hoping no one noticed her unsteady gait as desire thrummed in her blood. She tried to walk confidently, not even sparing a look around her, or else she would lose her footing and her seduction would be ruined.

She had never played this game she had just started, but she intended to see it to the end.

She did not need to look behind her to see whether her husband was following her, but when she stepped into his study, the sure sound of the door closing behind her was answer enough.

She stopped in front of his desk and turned to him, feeling unsure now that her seduction had worked.