Duncan growled, impatient.
He wouldn't give her his tongue until she demanded it, using her own to push him into responding. Then he took control, thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth.
Madelyne didn't want to stop. When she realized that, she pulled away from him.
Duncan 's hands rested on her hips. He let her pull back, waiting with great curiosity to see what she'd do next. She was unpredictable.
Madelyne couldn't quite look up at him. A true blush covered her cheeks. She was obviously embarrassed.
Duncan suddenly lifted Madelyne up into his arms, smiling over the way she grabbed the edge of her robe where it parted at the knees. He almost mentioned that her modesty was ill placed, since he'd taken care of her when she was so sick. But Madelyne was rigid in his arms and he decided not to bring up that subject.
When they were halfway down the steps, Madelyne realized how unprepared she was to spend the night with Duncan. 'I've left my sleeping gown upstairs,' she stammered. ' 'Tis one thing to sleep in my day gown but this is so bulky and-'
'You won't need anything,' Duncan interrupted.
'I will,' Madelyne muttered.
Duncan didn't answer her. Madelyne knew she'd lost the argument when the door to his bedroom slammed shut. They were, unfortunately, inside his room.
Duncan placed Madelyne on his bed and went back to the door. He pushed the wooden slat through the loops. And then he turned, slowly folded his arms across his chest, and smiled at her.
The attractive dent was back in the side of his cheek. Madelyne would have called it a dimple, yet that was an incorrect description for a man of his size and might. Warriors didn't have dimples.
Her mind was rambling. It was his fault, of course. Why, he just stood there, staring at her. She felt like a little mouse cornered by a hungry wolf.
'Are you deliberately trying to frighten me?' Madelyne asked, sounding terrified.
Duncan shook his head. He caught her fear, realized then that his forced smile hadn't aided his cause at all. 'I don't want you frightened.'
He started to walk toward her. 'I'd prefer you unafraid, though I can understand the first time would be frightening for a virgin.'
His bid to soothe her failed. Duncan reached that conclusion when Madelyne bounded off the bed. 'First time? Duncan, you're not going to bed me,' she shouted.
'I am,' he answered.
''Tis one thing to be forced to sleep beside you, but that is all that's going to take place this night!'
'Madelyne, we're married now. 'Tis a usual occurrence to bed one's wife on the wedding night.'
'And is it a usual occurrence to force a lady to marry?' she asked.
He deliberately shrugged. She looked ready to cry. Duncan decided to make her angry again. He preferred it over tears. 'It was necessary.'
'Necessary? You mean expedient, don't you? Tell me this, Duncan. Will it also be necessary to force yourself on me tonight?'
She didn't give him time to answer her. 'You didn't even bother to take the time to explain your reasons for this marriage. That is unforgivable of you.'
'You actually expected me to explain my actions to you?' he roared. He was almost immediately sorry for his lack of control because Madelyne was back to sitting on the edge of the bed, wringing her hands.
Duncan attempted to cool his temper. He walked over to stand in front of the fire. With deliberate slowness he began to unfasten the lacings at the neck of his tunic. He never took his gaze off Madelyne, wanting her to see what he was doing.
She tried not to look at him, but he was an overwhelming presence, and she could not ignore him. His skin was bronzed by the sun, golden now by the glow of the fire. The play of muscles showed when he bent to remove his boots.
God's truth, she wanted to touch him. It was such an appealing admission, she shook her head. Touch him, indeed. She wanted him out of this room. But that, she thought with a sigh that reached her toes, wasn't the truth at all.
'You think I'm a whore,' Madelyne suddenly blurted out. 'Aye, living with a defrocked priest… those were your words, Duncan,' she reminded him. 'You'd not want to bed a whore.'
She prayed she was right.
Duncan smiled over the way she thought to sway him. 'Whores do have certain advantages over unskilled virgins, Madelyne. You, of course, understand my meaning.'
No, she most certainly didn't understand his meaning, but she couldn't tell him that, now, could she? Her deception was getting out of hand.
'They do not have certain advantages,' Madelyne muttered.
'Don't you mean to say we?'
She gave up. She wasn't a whore and knew he realized it too.
When she didn't answer him, Duncan concluded she'd be forced to lie if she continued. 'A whore knows all the ways to please a man, Madelyne.'
'I'm not a whore and you know it.' Duncan smiled. Oh, how her honesty pleased him. He was a man conditioned to betrayals, yet he knew with a certainty he'd stake his life on that Madelyne would never lie to him.
Duncan removed the rest of his clothes and walked over to the other side of the bed. Madelyne's back faced him. He saw her shoulders stiffen to the snapping point when he threw back the covers and got into bed. He turned, smothered out the candle flame, and then let out a loud yawn. If Madelyne had been watching him, she would have known the yawn was a blatant lie. His arousal was obvious, even to someone as naive as his skittish wife. It was going to be a long night. 'Madelyne.'
She hated the way he called her name when he was irritated with her. Duncan always drew out the last until it sounded as though her name was actually Lane. 'My name is not Lane,' she muttered. 'Come to bed.'
'I'm not tired.' It was a stupid remark, but Madelyne was too frightened to be clever. She should have listened to more of Marta's tales. It was too late to do anything about that now. Oh, God, she thought she was going to be sick right this minute. And wouldn't that be humiliating-to lose her dinner in front of him. The thought made her stomach lurch, intensifying her worry. 'I don't know what to do.'
The anguished whisper tore at Duncan 's heart. 'Madelyne, do you remember the first night we spent together in my tent?' Duncan asked.
His voice was soft, husky too. Madelyne thought he might be trying to calm her.
'I promised you that night I'd never force you. And have I ever broken my word to you on any matter?' he asked.
'How would I know?' Madelyne returned. 'You've never given me your word on anything.' She turned to see if he was going to try to grab her. That was a mistake, because Duncan hadn't bothered to pull the cover over himself. He was as naked as a wolf. Madelyne grabbed the blanket and threw it toward him. 'Cover yourself, Duncan. It isn't decent to let me see your… legs.'
She was blushing again. Duncan didn't know how long he could keep up this nonchalant facade. 'I want you, Madelyne, but I want you willing. I'll have you begging, even if it takes all night.'
'I'll never beg.'
'You will.'
Madelyne stared into Duncan 's eyes, trying to discover if he was trying to trick her or not. His expression told her nothing of what he was thinking. She nibbled on her lower lip while she worried. 'You promise me?' she finally asked. 'You really won't force me?'
Duncan let her see his exasperation even though he nodded. He decided that tomorrow he'd let her know she wasn't to question him in such a manner. For tonight, however, he'd allow her transgression.
'I trust you,' she whispered. ' 'Tis strange, yet I think I've always trusted you.'
'I know.'
She actually smiled over his arrogant remark. Then she let out a sigh of relief. She felt safe again. 'Since you
