Jamie frowned. The obstinate man certainly wasn't making this easy for her. She walked over to his side, touched his leg with her finger, and then said,
'Kincaid, I'm asking to speak to you in private. You did tell me you'd give me all I asked for if it was possible. This certainly seems possible enough to me.'
She stared at the ground while he made up his mind. She knew she'd won when she heard him sigh, yet still let out a surprised yelp when he reached down and effortlessly lifted her onto his horse. Jamie only had enough time to grab hold of his waist before the stallion was in full gallop. Alec didn't stop until they were well away from the men and the wall.
Jamie took her time smoothing her skirts. They were surrounded by trees. She gave the area a thorough look just to make certain they were all alone. Then she turned her attention to her hands.
Alec's patience was nearly gone when his wife suddenly blurted out, 'Why didn't you wait to bed me?'
He hadn't been prepared for that question.
'Alec, Daniel is waiting out of consideration for Mary's feelings. He wants her to get to know him better first. What think you of that?'
'I think he doesn't particularly want to bed her, else he would have by now; that's what I think.
'And I took you because I wanted to,' he continued. 'You wanted me to, didn't you?'
'Yes,' Jamie admitted. 'I mean, no, not at first anyway. Look, Alec, it is Mary's problem we have to discuss, not mine.'
He ignored her embarrassment. 'You liked it.'
She gave him the truth, knowing full well his arrogance would get completely out of hand. 'I did.'
'Look at me.'
'I would rather not.'
'I would rather you did.'
He slowly lifted her chin, forcing her to gaze at his face. Alec saw how she blushed. He couldn't resist leaning down and kissing her wrinkled brow. 'Now what has you worried?'
'Did you like it?' she asked.
'You couldn't tell?'
'Daniel says all Englishwomen are as cold as fish,' she said with a nod, lest he think she was jesting.
Alec laughed.
'This isn't amusing,' she said sternly. 'And you've yet to answer my question.'
'What question?' he teased.
'Am I as cold as a fish?'
'No.'
She sighed with relief. 'A wife does need to hear these things, Alec.'
'Do you want me to bed you now?'
'In daylight? Heavens no!'
'I'm going to make love to you now if you don't move your hands away,' he said hoarsely.
She realized she was gripping his bare thigh with her hands. She immediately let go of him. 'Then it wouldn't matter if I was wearing your plaid or not, as you suggested earlier to me?'
'I didn't suggest it; I stated it as a fact. You will wear my plaid before I touch you again. Now, are you finished with your questions?'
'Are you getting angry?'
'No.'
'You sound angry.'
'Quit challenging me.'
'Do you have another woman?'
Alec decided then and there he was never going to understand how her mind worked. She came up with the most absurd worries. 'Would it matter to you if I did?' he asked.
She nodded. 'Would it matter to you if I took up with another man?'
'Took up with?'
'You know what I mean.'
'I wouldn't allow it, Jamie.'
'Well, neither would I.'
'You speak as though we're equals, wife.'
She knew she'd angered him. She wanted to brush the frown away from his brow.
'You still haven't answered my question, Alec.'
'No, I don't have another woman.'
She smiled. 'You aren't cold,' he told her. 'And you insult me by asking such a question.'
'How do I insult you?'
'Because it's my duty to make you hot. And you were hot, Jamie, weren't you?'
His arrogance actually comforted her, though she had absolutely no idea why.
'Perhaps,' she whispered, staring at his mouth. 'And then again, perhaps not, husband. I seemed to have forgotten.'
He decided to remind her. He captured her face with his hands and lowered his mouth to hers. Jamie closed her eyes in anticipation.
His mouth settled on hers possessively, and his tongue thrust in and out in a sexual ritual that made her heart feel as if it might shatter. She tried to pull away when she felt her own surrender, but Alec wouldn't let her retreat. His mouth slanted over hers again and again, hungrily, thoroughly, and she soon forgot all about stopping.
He made her burn for more. Jamie imitated his action, timidly at first, then boldly, until their tongues were rubbing against each other in the most erotic, arousing way. When she moaned and instinctively tried to get closer to him, he knew it was time to stop. He'd take her now if he didn't gain control over his own raging emotions.
Hell, he was probably hotter than she was. With a growl of frustration, he pulled away from her. He had to pry her hands away from his shoulders. Jamie immediately buried her face in the crook of his neck. Her breathing was ragged, as if she'd just run a long distance, all uphill, and she noticed his breathing was sounding almost as uneven. The realization made her think the kiss had affected him almost as much as it had affected her.
Her hope was destroyed when he said, 'If you're finished with your foolish questions, I'd like to get back to more important matters.'
How dare he sound so bored after sharing such a wonderful intimacy with her?
'You needn't act as though I'm nothing but a bother to you, Alec.'
'You are that,' he returned with a sigh. He nudged his horse forward just as Jamie shoved away from him. He immediately slammed her back up against his chest. The woman needed to learn her position in his household. He was her master, her laird, and she'd better start accepting that fact soon.
'You don't know your own strength,' she muttered.
'Nay, wife. You're the one who doesn't understand my strength yet.'
She shivered over the harshness in his voice. 'Are you-'
'Don't you dare ask me if I'm angry with you,' he roared.
She guessed she had her answer. The man was angry, and that was that. God's truth, her ears were going to ring for a week. 'You needn't shout at me,' she said. 'And I was only going to ask if Mary could-'
'Don't bother me with your sister's problems,' he ordered. He softened his voice when he added, 'Your family is always welcome to visit.'
A visit wasn't exactly what she had in mind, but she decided she'd bothered him enough for one day.
'Your moods are most difficult to judge,' she remarked when they'd returned to the wall and Alec had assisted her to the ground.
'Alec?'
'What now?'
'I think I'll use every day of the two weeks you've given me before I wear your plaid. Perhaps you'll use that time to learn to… to care for me just a little.'
Alec leaned down, gripped her chin with his hand, and said, 'Care for you? Hell, woman, right this minute I
