Page 16 of Bound to a Scot
Emmeline was flustered, her thoughts scattered. “I didnae ken who ye were.”
“Dae ye make it a habit of kissin’ strangers then?”
His tone was light and jesting, which only made her cheeks flush hotter and her heart pound harder in her breast. The man was impossible.
“’Tis nae what I meant,” she hissed. “And ye ken that.”
“Perhaps. But perhaps nae,” he replied. “I didnae ken who ye were either. But I could tell ye liked the kiss. Ye liked it a lot, in fact.”
She ground her teeth together. “Stop it. I’m nae playin’ around with ye.”
The smirk slipped from his face, replaced by a serious expression more befitting the situation, Emmeline was relieved to see.
“Relax, lass,” he said. “I’d nae plans tae share what happened with yer husband.”
“’Tis good. Because he’s a cruel, vengeful, and jealous man. If he found out what happened, he’d have us both killed,” she said.
“That would be a disagreeable end tae what was a lovely kiss.”
“Stop it.”
“Just admit ye liked it,” he said.
“I will say nay such thing. ‘Tis inappropriate.”
“Some might say kissin’ a stranger is inappropriate. But here we are, conspirin’ taegather tae keep it a secret.”
“I’m nae conspirin’. I’m askin’ ye tae hold yer tongue.”
“Aye. Otherwise kent as conspirin’ tae keep a secret.”
Emmeline opened her mouth to respond then closed it again, too flustered to speak. She turned away and took a momentto collect herself again. The man was infuriating. And he had a way of getting her tongue tied and making her trip over her own words that was uncommon. Emmeline believed herself to be a sharp thinker and quick on her feet but something about Maddox made her feel like she was running through mud and struggling to keep up. He clouded her thoughts, threw her emotions into such a state of turmoil that she always felt back on her heels.
The effect he had on her baffled Emmeline. It frustrated her. At the same time though, there was a small piece of her that found it exhilarating, challenging and, somehow, even intellectually stimulating. It seemed so long since somebody had provided that sort of mental and emotional hurdles that Emmeline wasn’t sure how to react. She needed that sort of stimulation and never received it from her husband. It confounded her.
“All ye have tae dae is admit ye liked it and it’ll be our little secret forever,” he said.
“Why must ye be such a boorish man?”
He shrugged. “’Tis me nature, I suppose.”
“Ye’re infuriatin’.”
“’Tis nae the first time I’ve heard that. Just admit it. Ye liked kissin’ me.”
Emmeline stamped her foot and folded her arms over her chest, glaring hard at the man. He grinned devilishly at her, clearly enjoying her torment. She gritted her teeth. Though tempted to not give in to the man, she knew there was only one way to end this game.
“Fine,” she snapped. “I liked it. Happy now?”
He grinned. “Aye. Happy now.”
“So, this will remain our secret then, eh?”
Maddox chuckled. “’Twas nae like I was goin’ tae tell anybody anyway. I ken yer husband wouldnae have been happy if he kent what happened. I’m nae a bleedin’ idiot.”
Her face grew hot as she gaped at him. “Then why in the bleedin’ hell did ye make me say what ye just made me say?”
“Because I wanted tae hear it straight from yer lips.”
