Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs, #1)

by Maya Banks

“The king has decreed it so. Graeme Montgomery and Eveline Armstrong will marry.”

it was then she saw that Graeme’s lips were moving. It was him she was hearing!

“You want this. You want to marry Graeme Montgomery.”

I wouldn’t have her hurt or ill-treated for anything in the world. She is dear to all of us. You are receiving a gift, Laird. Whether you choose to believe so or not, you are receiving something more precious than gold.”

She wanted him to speak. Of what, he had no idea, but it was clear she wanted him to say something. “You shouldn’t be here, Eveline,” he said kindly.

He would be faithful to a woman he would never be intimate with, and it was one hell of a grim future to look forward to.

Graeme was her husband. He should share his chamber with her.

She’d gravitated across the bed and was flush against him. Perhaps she’d grown cold during the night and sought out his heat.

She may not be a mighty warrior, but one thing she’d learned after observing her mother, was that if anything could fell a warrior, it was a determined woman.

He should be lying on the bed, enjoying the delectable sight, not standing here rigidly, his back to her because he feared scaring her.

“Out,” she said again. Then her lips quivered and the firm line dropped. Deep sadness entered her eyes and they filled with tears. When she looked at Graeme again, there was clear defeat in her gaze. It broke his heart.

“Dear God,” he whispered. “You can’t hear, can you?”

His wife could communicate with him. Not only could she speak, but she was highly intelligent and could read the words of others from their lips.

I could hear certain tones of your voice. It was why I later went to your chamber. I wanted to hear more.” “That’s interesting,” he said. “It would seem you don’t have a complete hearing loss.”

I don’t hear actual words. I’ve forgotten so many sounds. I used to remember them. I was able to close my eyes and play the sound in my head. Now it’s not so easy. The sounds are gone.” She sounded so sad that it made Graeme’s chest tighten.

“I quite like you, husband.” He blinked in surprise at her pronouncement. Then he laughed. “I like you, too, Eveline.”

“Say my name,” he said huskily. “Graeme. I want to hear you say my name.”

it was all Graeme could do not to carry her away from everyone. Take her up to their chamber and away from the world, where no one could hurt her again.

And yet here he sat with Tavis Armstrong’s daughter, knowing that he’d do anything at all to ensure her happiness.

“I love you,” he whispered into her hair, knowing she wouldn’t hear,

Damned if she’d let them know how much they’d hurt her. Damn them all.

He wasn’t selfless enough to grant her freedom. He wanted her wholly to himself. By his side. In his bed every night. In his arms.

“Give me a chance to make you happy, Eveline.”

Graeme was … hers. The only person in his clan who’d made her welcome from the very start. He’d fought for her. He’d stood on the hillside and pleaded with her for a chance to make her happy.

“The little fool,” Graeme bit out. “What would I do without her? I can’t lose her.”

“I love you, Eveline,” he whispered, though he knew she could not hear him. “Somehow, I’ll make you hear me and you’ll know that I love you as fiercely as it’s possible for a man to love a woman.”

“Now come here. I want to hold you.”

“My love for her is stronger than my hatred of you. ’Tis why I’ll not raise arms against you today. Instead I ask your aid in the battle against the McHughs.”

“My lady, I don’t simply care for her. I love her. She is my entire life. Without her, I am nothing. I have nothing.”

“I knew you’d come,” she whispered in a hoarse voice.

He put a finger to her lips, shushing her. Then he followed his finger with his own lips and kissed her, long and sweet, absorbing the sensation of being able to touch her and smell her and drink her in.

’Twas an exhilarating experience to have this hard warrior so tenderly wash and soothe away her aches and pains. She’d never felt so cherished. So … loved.

She smiled and then glanced back to where Graeme was now standing by the bed. His gaze never left her and she was struck by the depth of emotion in his eyes. Without looking back at her father, she said, “Oh aye, I am well cared for, Papa.”

“You love him,” her mother said, her expression soft. “Oh aye,” Eveline breathed. “So very much. He has been so wonderful to me.”

He’s so protective and tender with you, Eveline. ’Tis a glorious sight to behold.”

I cannot continue in the path I have followed for the last years. I love Eveline. She means everything to me. More than revenge. More than punishing those I hold accountable for your death. Forgive me, please.

“Come, wife. Let’s go home. I have a need to show my lass just how much her laird loves her.”