“Leave the sheet on the table since it is raining.”
“Aye, Laird.” The cook did as instructed before snapping her fingers at the maids once more and shoving them toward the door. It closed behind them in a hard sound that drove a spike through the last of her heart.
She shouldn’t expect anything different. It was the way things were and the world was an imperfect place. Mustering her strength, she walked toward the door, intent on playing her part, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to stop and lower herself before leaving. It was too submissive, and Gordon would know it was false.
Well . . . the doors were shut so she would be herself while behind them.
For the moment all she truly craved was an end to her duties as bride.
“Where are ye thinking to go, Jemma?”
That dangerous note was still in Gordon’s voice. Her fingertips had not yet even touched the door.
She turned to discover him moving toward her. “Clearly we are finished consummating our union. I wish to sleep.”
He stopped a single stride from her and aimed a hard look at her.
“Ye sleep here.”
“But—”
He didn’t care for her hesitation and he acted upon that displeasure just as quickly as he had always done, scooping her up and carrying her to where he wanted her. He reached into the bed and yanked the tie open before reaching behind her to pull the dressing gown up and over her head with one powerful motion of his arms. She was dropped back onto her knees with nothing except her hair to cover her.
“Here, Jemma. Ye want me to respect yer authority over the house, then ye shall accept my will when it comes to how to manage me men.” He tore his plaid off and crawled into bed with her. His cock was hard once more, and she shivered because no matter how much her feelings ached, she desired him.
“Ye sleep here, in the place that I never brought Anyon or any other who was not my wife.”
He pulled her up against him, binding her to his larger body with solid arms.
“That will send the message to my men that there is no doubt who is mistress here.”
He pressed a hard kiss against her mouth, demanding compliance with one hand cradling the back of her head to hold her still for the ravishment. Sweetness flowed from the kiss, soothing the raw emotions that had sliced at her. His cock was hard against her, but Gordon finished their kiss and lay down behind her. He bound her to his length with strong arms, tucking her head beneath his chin and pulling the bed covers up to cover her. One of his feet tucked over hers, but he did nothing to try to relieve the swollen cock that was hard against her bottom.
He sighed, nuzzling against her head and inhaling the scent of her hair.
“Do not think me harsh, Jemma. Men are different from women.”
Confusion settled over her, but the trust that she had felt so strongly overwhelmed it. The corners of her mouth tugged up into a satisfied grin. His body was so warm against her, his arms so tender, and the night the perfect shield against the harsh reality that sunrise would bring.
“You never brought anyone here, to this bed? Not even your first wife?” Her voice was soft, and she heard him sigh behind her.
“I changed chambers after I gave Imogen her wish to join a convent. I could nae stomach sleeping in the bed she detested so much.”
“You wouldn’t call Anyon your mistress?”
He snorted. “A mistress is a woman a man has affection for, Jemma. All I did with Anyon was take what she flaunted beneath me nose. I see that she was scheming now, but I did nae at the time.”
A hint of weariness reflected in his voice. As laird there were many times that women had tried to secure what they wanted from him by offering him tumbles.
“I shall have to make sure I flaunt myself before you often so to keep you from noticing any others.”
She heard him draw in a stiff breath. Jemma nibbled on her lower lip while she waited to see what his response might be. Many a bride had also been forced to face the fact that her husband would wander where he pleased, with whom he pleased, and she would be expected to remain silent upon the matter of his indiscretions.
“’Tis something I will look forward to, lass; indeed, I will mostly likely dream of it tonight.” He groaned. “Now go to sleep, Jemma, else I lose the restraint to keep out of ye while ye are yet so tender.”
He stroked her hip and she allowed her eyelids to shut. There was comfort and tenderness in his embrace, and she allowed it to carry her off into slumber.
“Mistress?”
It was Ula who woke her. Jemma rubbed her burning eyes and tried to focus her thoughts. Her mind was a foggy mess that defied her demands to clear.
“Ye have missed service, but the laird bid me allow ye to sleep. It is growing late now.”
Jemma opened her eyes and saw the sunlight shining in the open windows to make large bright rectangles that stretched across the floor. She sat up and gasped when the bed covers fell down to her waist, allowing her breasts to be seen.
“I’m so sorry for sleeping so late. I can’t imagine why I did.”
Ula was more composed than Jemma. The housekeeper held up a chemise that she eased over Jemma’s head and arms to cover her before she stepped out of the bed.
“It has been an eventful week for ye, Mistress. I imagine ye are in need of a few hours of rest now that things
