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

by Maya Banks

Perhaps all she needed was reassuring. It occurred to Graeme that he’d assured her father and even her mother that his intentions toward Eveline were not dishonorable, but Eveline herself hadn’t been made aware of those same vows. Aye, that was probably what she wanted to hear and it was something he could comfortably discuss. “Eveline,” he began carefully, wanting to make sure he had her full attention. But he needn’t have worried because she was still staring avidly at his face. Indeed, her gaze had never left him. He’d never felt so scrutinized. “I want you to know that I do not hold you accountable for the sins of your family.” She frowned—nay, she scowled—her face drawing into a ferocious expression that amused him for its cuteness.

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

Rorie burst out laughing. Her sister-in-law wasn’t happy over her accommodations and she wanted to move into Graeme’s chamber. She should be loyal and sternly inform her brother’s new bride that if Graeme had wanted her in his chamber, he would have put her there. But the devil on her shoulder told her it could be quite fun to aid Eveline in her endeavor and give Graeme a shock when he retired later. “All right, I’ll help you,” Rorie said, still smiling. Eveline beamed back at her and then bent to grasp the handle of the trunk. Rorie bent down as well, and they slid it out of the doorway and into the hall. Rorie pointed toward the end. “Graeme’s chamber is all the way down. We’ll need to hurry if we’re to move all your belongings before someone finds us.”

Eveline’s brow furrowed even more. It seemed an odd thing for a woman to want to do, but then she thought of what being able to read and write would mean for her. It would mean a way to communicate, provided the person she wanted to converse with could also read and write. Would such a thing be possible for her to learn, given her inability to hear?

“Did he hurt you? Physically? Did he ever do more than touch you?” “N-no. He seemed to enjoy taunting me with what was to come.” “I’ll kill him,” Graeme said starkly. Eveline paled. “N-nooo. You c-can’t. Please. I don’t want anyone to know.” “I know,” he bit out. “No one else has to. But I know and I won’t let his sins go unpunished.”

A low growl sounded in his throat, a noise he knew she couldn’t hear, but he damn well hoped she could feel the vibration rumble from his chest. He tilted her chin upward and then slid his mouth over hers in a long, leisurely kiss. When he pulled away, she was breathless and her lips were swollen. “You’ll be my wife, Eveline. Make no mistake about that. Our marriage will most certainly be consummated.”

“I’m going to light more candles. There’s nothing I want more than to be able to look upon your beauty and miss nothing to the darkness. And then, when the room is sufficiently illuminated, I’m going to play lady’s maid and undress you, piece by piece until you stand before me without the barrier of clothing.”

It had been a long while since he’d last given in to his baser urges. And yet he hadn’t missed it. What he missed was what he’d never had. Intimacy. The feeling of closeness. The knowledge that he truly liked the woman he was coupling with.

“You’ll show her respect or suffer the consequences,” Graeme vowed. “Now go about your duties and think on all I’ve said and make your choice. I will show no more leniency, as God is my witness.”

Eveline started to scream a warning to Kierstan when a fist met with Eveline’s jaw, sending her tumbling to the ground. So stunned was she that all she could do was lie there, holding her face in her palm. The man bent down over her, his hand twisting in her hair. He yanked upward, forcing her to her feet, and before she could react, his fist flew at her temple. Pain exploded in her head, and then the world went black.

What warrior would allow his son to threaten him? Her glance darted back to Ian when he shook her to gain her attention. Hatred shone like a beacon in his eyes. He was the mad one. He looked crazed. “Played me for a fool. You act the simpleton to escape marriage and instead marry Montgomery. I cannot allow it. ’Twas supposed to be an alliance the McHughs forged with the Armstrongs. We would have been invincible! You’ll pay for your deception, Eveline Armstrong. No one makes me look the fool and escapes retribution.”

“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.”

trying to rid herself of her confusion, and then her eyes flooded with crushing relief. She smiled, a more beautiful sight than Graeme had ever seen in his life. “I knew you’d come,” she whispered in a hoarse voice.

“I LOVE YOU!” she roared, determined to yell it every bit as loudly as he had. There were winces throughout the hall. Others openly laughed. Still others applauded. There were wide smiles, but none as wide as her husband’s. He grinned so broadly that his cheeks looked ready to split. Overwhelming joy danced in his dark eyes. He reached up to touch her face, his fingers trailing down her jaw. “Aye, I know it, wife. And the whole of Scotland likely knows it now, too.”