Page 30 of Married for a Highland Debt
Bettina turned to look him up and down. “I am not sure we have a bed to fit you,” she said doubtfully. “In fact, there are only two beds in Kairstine’s and my room. You will have to sleep in the barn. Or on the floor.”
“I do not care as long as you sleep with me,” he murmured. “I cannot spend another night alone.”
15
“Why does he not sleep in Da’s room?” Kairstine asked, frowning as Bettina spread a blanket on the floor.
“Because he is my husband,” Bettina replied. “And anyway, Da’s room is too small.
“Hmmm…” Bettina looked at the blanket doubtfully as Ninian, who had gone outside to wash at the well, came back into the small chamber.
“Do not worry, Kairstine,” he assured her. “I neither snore nor talk in my sleep. I promise to be a perfect gentleman, and if I am not”—he gave her his sheathed sword—“you are welcome to use this on me.”
Kairstine stared wide-eyed at the fearsome weapon before she realized that he was making a joke and giggled. “Goodnight, Ninian. Sweet dreams.”
He smiled at her, and to her surprise, he placed a brotherly kiss on her forehead. “Goodnight, Sister,” he said softly, then settled down on his hard bed.
“I cannot stand this any longer,” Ninian growled. He stood up, then reached out across the bed and dragged Bettina roughly into his arms before placing her on his blanket on the floor. She gave a little squeal of surprise but did not resist and felt the delightful pressure of Ninian’s hand on her breast, gently squeezing and kneading the soft flesh and sending waves of pleasure straight to her most secret spot.
Ninian took hold of the hardened nub of her nipple through the fabric of her dress, then rolled it between his finger and thumb, all the while peppering tiny kisses down the side of her neck. He moved his hand to the other breast and captured her mouth with his in a frantic, hungry kiss that left her trembling and clinging to him fiercely.
Ninian felt himself harden as he breathed in Bettina’s scent of fresh air and woman. Nothing would ever excite him more than the natural musk of her body and the smell of the woods and heather that clung to her.
“You drive me insane,” he whispered as he ground his hips against her warm, pliant body.
Bettina felt wickedly triumphant as she felt his shaft rub against her most sensitive spot, which was pulsing, hot, and wet. “And you make me feel wanton,” she said hoarsely, pulling his head down for another wildly passionate kiss. “Wild, and I love it.”
Ninian slid his hands down to cup the soft curves of her bottom, and she let out a long satisfied sigh, closing her eyes and throwing back her head so that the long length of her throat was exposed to him. However, at that moment, it suddenly occurred to her that they could lose control and be carried away by their bodily urges. If she was not pregnant already, she did not want to take the chance now, when the future was too uncertain.
“We have to stop,” she murmured.
He looked at her incredulously, his eyes still dark and glazed with passion. “Why?” he asked. “Do you not want me?”
“Of course I do. You are my husband,” she replied, sighing. “Because if we go on, I will not be able to stop, and everything is so...mixed up, uncertain, confused. God knows, it is not what I want, but it has to be this way. Anyway, Kairstine is here.”
Hearing the desperation in her voice, Ninian nodded slowly. “You are right,” he whispered, and kissed her lips softly before helping her back into bed. “Go to sleep, Bettie.” He lay down on the hard floor again, his body throbbing and begging for release, and it was a long time before sleep claimed him.
The next morning, Ninian was awakened from a fitful and uncomfortable sleep by someone shaking his shoulder. He grumbled and turned over, then opened his eyes to look into Bettina’s. At one, a wave of love washed over him, and he realized that she was not just the woman he had married for convenience; she was the woman he adored.
“Wake up, M’Laird,” she greeted him, waiting for him to sit up before handing him a cup of warm spiced ale. “We will be eating soon. Did you sleep well?”
Ninian rubbed his neck and the back of his head. He had slept on bare boards before, but none quite so uncomfortable as this one. His hips, knees, and shoulders all ached from their prolonged contact with them, and his head throbbed with exhaustion.
“No need to tell me the answer to my question.” Bettina was sympathetic. “If you can get through the day, though, you can have a good rest in your own bed tonight.”
“I hope I will be doing more than resting soon,” he said gently, cupping her face with his hand. “Because when you come home, Bettie, that bed will be ours if you want it to be.”
She looked at him tenderly and brushed a lock of golden hair out of his eyes, then she smiled. “I do, but on one condition,” she answered.
“Anything.” Ninian felt his heart begin to race, wondering what she was going to ask of him.
“Please remove that dreadful picture of the bull from the wall,” Bettina requested. “It has a horrible look in its eyes!”
He laughed uproariously and pulled her into his arms again, kissing her. “That is one of the reasons I love you.” He traced his finger across her lips. “Because you make me laugh so much.”
“Wait—” Bettina pushed him away to look into his eyes. “You love me?”
“Yes, I do,” he replied in wonder. The words had flowed out of him without him realizing it, but they were true. He loved her more than he had ever thought that he could possibly love anyone. “Do you—”
