tall as Nicholas but far more muscular. At least she thought he was. 'Tell me what you're thinking.' Her husband's command jarred her. 'I've never seen Nicholas without a tunic on. That's what I was thinking. I believe you're more muscular than my brother, but since I haven't seen him… They were foolish thoughts, husband.'
'Aye, they are foolish thoughts.' She didn't take exception to his agreement. His slow grin told her he was teasing. Gabriel looked very content with his eyes closed and the soft smile on his face. He really was a dashing man.
Johanna noticed his pet nudge Gabriel's hand and was immediately rewarded with a quick pat.
Her husband wasn't such a worry to her any longer. Not only could he control his temper, but he also had a gentle streak in his nature. The way his hound responded to him told her that much about his character.
Gabriel caught her staring at him. She blushed with embarrassment and turned her gaze to her lap. She didn't want to leave just yet. She was enjoying this peaceful interlude with her husband. She decided to draw him into further conversation before he could suggest they go back.
'Aren't Scotland and the Highlands the same, m'lord?'
'They are and they aren't,' he answered. 'We don't consider ourselves Scots as you English are so inclined to call us. We're either Highlanders or Lowlanders.'
'From the tone of your voice when you said Lowlanders, I assume you don't particularly like those people.'
'Nay, I don't like them.'
'Why?'
'They've forgotten who they are,' he explained.
'They've become English.'
'I'm English.' She blurted out the reminder before she could stop herself.
She sounded worried. He smiled. 'I'm aware of that fact.'
'Yes, of course you are,' she agreed. 'Perhaps, in time, you'll forget.'
''Tis highly doubtful.'
She didn't know if he was jesting with her or not. She decided to turn the topic to a less sensitive one.
'Auggie isn't daft.'
'No, he isn't. The Maclaurins believe that nonsense, not the MacBains.'
'He's actually very clever, husband. The game he made up is most amusing. You must try it sometime. It requires skill.'
He nodded agreement just to placate her. He found her defense of the old man admirable. 'Auggie didn't invent the game. It's been around for long years. In the old days, stones were used, but the men also carved balls out of wooden blocks. Some even fashioned leather balls and filled them with wet feathers.'
Johanna stored the information away for future use. Perhaps she could make a few of the leather balls for Auggie.
'He says I've caught the fever.'
'God help us,' Gabriel drawled out. 'Auggie plays the game all day, every day, rain or shine.'
'Why were you irritated over a little speck of dirt on my face and hands?'
'I've already explained my position. You're my wife now. You must behave accordingly. There's rivalry between the MacBains and the Maclaurins; and until the clans become accustomed to living together in peace, I must show only strength, not vulnerability.'
'Do I make you vulnerable?'
'Aye, you do.'
'Why? I want to understand,' she told him. 'Was it the dirt or was it the fact that I was spending the afternoon with Auggie?'
'I don't want you down on your knees, Johanna. You must act with proper decorum at all times. My wife will not do common work.'
'You've already mentioned that opinion.'
'It isn't an opinion,' he countered. 'It's a command.'
She tried not to let him see how disgruntled she was becoming. ' 'Tis the truth I'm surprised you concern yourself with appearances. You don't seem the sort to care what other people think.'
'I don't give a damn about other people's opinions,' he countered, irritated by her conclusion. 'I do care about keeping you safe.'
'What does my safety have to do with my behavior?'
Gabriel didn't answer her.
'You should have married a Maclaurin. That would have solved your problem uniting the clans, wouldn't it?'
'I should have,' he agreed. 'But I didn't. I married you. We'll both have to make the best of it, Johanna.'
He sounded resigned. He was still in an agreeable mood and she decided to change the topic again with a question that surely wouldn't prick his temper.
'Why doesn't your wolfhound like me?'
'He knows you're afraid of him.'
She didn't argue over that truth. 'What is he called?'
'Dumfries.'
The dog's ears picked up when his master spoke his name. Johanna smiled in reaction. 'It's a peculiar name,' she remarked. 'How did you come by it?'
'I found the dog near the Dumfries' holding. He was caught in mire. I pulled him out,' he added. 'He's been with me ever since.'
Johanna moved closer to Gabriel's side. She slowly reached over to pat the animal. The dog watched her out of the corner of his eye; when she was about to touch him, he let out a menacing unearthly sound. She quickly pulled her hand back. Gabriel took hold of her arm and forced her to touch the hound. The dog kept up the horrid noise but didn't try to bite her hand off.
'Did I hurt you last night?'
The switch in topics made her blink. She bowed her head so he wouldn't see her quick blush, then whispered, 'You didn't hurt me. You asked me after we…'
Gabriel nudged her chin up with his hand. The look in her eyes made him smile. He found her embarrassment amusing.
The look in his eyes made her heartbeat race. She thought he might want to kiss her. She found herself hoping he would.
'Will you want to make love to me again, m'lord?'
'Will you want me to?' he asked.
She stared into his eyes a long minute before giving him her answer. She wasn't going to try to be coy or clever. She'd only make a muck of it, she decided, because she'd never learned the fine art of flirting like the other young ladies had while they lived the high, courtly life in London. 'Yes,' she whispered, grimacing inside over the shiver in her voice. 'I would like you to make love to me again. It wasn't half bad, m'lord.'
Gabriel laughed over her jest. Her blush, he noticed, was now as red as fire. Her embarrassment hadn't stopped her from telling him the truth, however. He pulled away from the tree trunk and bent down to kiss her. His mouth brushed over hers in a tender caress. She sighed into his mouth and put her hands on his shoulders.
It was all the encouragement he needed. Before he realized his intent, he lifted her onto his lap, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her again. His mouth covered hers and his tongue swept inside to taste, stroke, and drive her wild. She went weak in his arms. She clung to him and kissed him just as thoroughly. Johanna was a little stunned by how quickly her entire body responded to her husband. Her heartbeat became frantic; her arms and legs began to tingle, and she kept forgetting to breathe.
Gabriel was shaken by his own reaction to his wife. She wasn't able to hold a part of herself back. She trusted him to keep her safe, he believed, or she wouldn't have allowed herself to be so uninhibited. Her passionate response ignited his own, and God help him, he couldn't seem to gather enough control to hold back either.
Hell, he'd take her here and now if he didn't put a stop to the sweet torment. He abruptly pulled back. He shouldn't have looked into her eyes. They were cloudy with passion. Damn, he had to kiss her again.
