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

by Maya Banks

And so the king devised a plan to force peace between two bitter enemies. Early one morning, before the sun had fully risen over the horizon, he sent two messengers on horseback, each to deliver the royal decree to Laird Armstrong and Laird Montgomery. He only hoped to hell that they didn’t kill each other at the wedding.

’Tis a lass,” Bowen said, nodding his head in the direction of the distant yellowish blob. Graeme strained forward again. “How can you tell at this distance?” Bowen gave them both mocking glances and then shook his head in dismay. “Think you any men run around in yellow dresses?” Teague lifted his eyebrow. “Well, ’tis the Armstrongs, so I suppose anything could be possible.”

“I assume you must be Eveline,” he said in a gentle voice. Her chin notched upward, and to his surprise, she smiled back at him, her eyes lighting up—her entire face lighting up—so much so that it made him catch his breath and stare back in awe at her beauty.

Then, to Graeme’s utter shock, Eveline stepped forward and slipped her small hand into his much larger, much rougher one and curled her fingers trustingly around his. When he turned from the earl to stare back at her, she smiled, flashing straight, white teeth.

ugh they’re going to be so sweet

You are receiving a gift, Laird. Whether you choose to believe so or not, you are receiving something more precious than gold.”

“What would you like to discuss, Eveline?” Which sounded ridiculous, given that she couldn’t speak, but it was obvious she had no liking for the topics he’d broached. Her smile returned and she leaned forward and directed one finger at him and then pressed it into his shoulder. “Me?” he asked incredulously. “You want to talk about me?”

“I understand you are innocent of wrongdoing and that you are a victim in this. I will treat you kindly and with the respect due your position as a chieftain’s daughter and now a chieftain’s wife. I’ll not ever punish the daughter for the sins of the father.” She pushed up from the chair, and to his utter shock, she balled her fist and punched him right in the nose.

No one would ever fault him for finding ease with another woman when he was married to someone such as Eveline. No one would even think twice, given that Eveline was certainly not capable of fulfilling her duties in that regard.

excuse you????

But then her gaze shifted, met his, and her entire demeanor changed. She smiled. Light entered her eyes. Her face became alive with color and vibrancy. In just that second, she was here. In the hall. Staring back at him, her look of vacancy completely gone. Thinking to ward off another encounter where she’d rush forward and start squashing his lips together in an effort to make him talk, he strode forward. Eveline’s mother looked up, her eyes flaring in alarm. Her arm went immediately around Eveline, but Eveline shook her off and took a step forward, beaming at Graeme all the while.

IM CRYING 😭 THEYRE SO CUTE

Wanting to please her, he spoke, for no other reason than he didn’t want her to have to implore him to talk to her. “You look lovely, Eveline. Surely there’s never been a more beautiful bride.” She beamed. Positively beamed back at him.

Graeme, you won’t have heirs. You won’t have … anything. The lass is useless.” Graeme turned, his expression fierce as he faced down his brother. “She’s not useless. Do not say such again in my presence. Or anywhere else.”

She paused on one person long enough to see the words “Armstrong bitch” on her lips. Eveline’s gaze narrowed and she quickly committed the woman’s face to memory. She would not forget such a slight.

She’d never felt so alone and terrified in her life. This wasn’t just a hostile welcome. It was no welcome at all. Her skin prickled under such close scrutiny. She felt picked apart, judged and deemed unworthy. Automatically her chin went up in silent rebellion. She wouldn’t allow these people to make her feel inferior nor would they frighten her. She was a laird’s daughter. One of the mightiest in the whole of Scotland. She would be cowed by no Montgomery. She wouldn’t shame the Armstrongs by appearing weak before this clan.

“There’s just something about her. She seems … determined. I expected to find her cowering in a corner or facedown on her bed in tears. Instead, I found her dragging trunks into the hall and demanding I tell her where Graeme’s chamber was. I found it all rather amusing.” Then she turned her gaze on Graeme. “I know not whether she’s afflicted or daft or whatever it is that’s said about her. I only know that she’s courageous. And whether she speaks or doesn’t has little to do with the fact that she can communicate because she made it very clear what she wanted—nay, demanded—from me.”

“I believe I won our wager.” Teague scowled and then shot Graeme a disgusted look. “And what was this wager?” Graeme demanded. “Teague wagered that you’d toss Eveline from your chamber come morn. I knew you wouldn’t,” she said smugly.

She blushed, shook her head, and pointed to him. Something went soft inside him when he realized that she was tending to his needs. She thought since he was retiring that he’d like the chamber to be warm. “ ’Twas thoughtful of you,” he said, offering her a smile. “ ’Tis not necessary, though.”

Beside him, Eveline rolled back over and before he could wonder what her intentions were, she snuggled up to his side, laying her head over his shoulder. He lay there completely still as she melted against him, going limp as she relaxed more and more. She emitted a sleepy sounding sigh and burrowed her head deeper into the crook of his arm. In a moment, her soft, even breathing filled his ears, and he realized that she was already asleep.

But even before his marriage to Eveline, he’d been mostly celibate, because casually flipping up a woman’s skirts for a quick tumble always left him feeling … cheated. His brothers jested and called him Father Montgomery. They teased and said that most monks likely had more experience with women than he did, and maybe it was so.

Father Montgomery is crazy

He cupped her cheek, and she looked back up at him. “I’ll not make you do something that frightens you, Eveline.” She relaxed and then leaned her cheek against his palm. To his surprise, she turned just enough to kiss the inside of his hand. It was such a simple thing and yet he felt it all the way to his soul.

AWWW

“Can you understand me, Eveline? Do you understand what I’m saying to you?” She frowned and then nodded, as if she found the question ridiculous. His discovery floored him. All he could do was stare at her in utter amazement. “Dear God,” he whispered. “You can’t hear, can you?”

☹️

You’ve nothing to fear. I just want to talk to you. I’d like to understand you, Eveline. I think you have been very misunderstood for a long time now.”

IM SOBBING

He nudged her chin upward so she’d see his own words. It was important she understand what he would say. If she knew nothing else, he would have her understand his vow. “You don’t have to be afraid here, Eveline. You never have to be afraid with me.”

He cupped her face in his hands so that she wouldn’t miss a single word that came from his mouth. “I’m not angry, Eveline. Far from it. ’Tis a joyous moment.”

“And will our marriage be real, Graeme? Will I be a real wife to you or do we merely play roles made necessary by a king’s decree?” 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.”

His Eveline. Graeme liked the sound of it. She was his. Not fully, yet, but he’d remedy that soon enough.

“You look beautiful, my lady.” The fear and nervousness fled her eyes as a smile took over her face. It was so brilliant that Graeme felt like someone had knocked the breath from him.

If anyone deserved kindness, it was she. And he’d do everything necessary to ensure she received it. From him. From his clan. If anyone had ever told him he’d feel so strongly about protecting someone named Armstrong, he would have laughed in their face. And yet here he sat with Tavis Armstrong’s daughter, knowing that he’d do anything at all to ensure her happiness.

Hes so in love with her

He stood over her, merely staring down at her, his gaze taking in every inch of her. She cocked her head to the side. “Why do you stare at me so?” “Because you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of looking upon.”

“I do not even know what to do first, so tempted I am by you.” “Kiss me.”

“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.”

he’s so hot 👀

She moved, tilting her head up so she could see his face. “What happened?” He smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. “You found your woman’s release.” It seemed such a nondescript term for what she’d experienced. “It felt more like heaven,” she breathed.

💀

This was heaven. He knew without a doubt that there’d never be another woman who had such an effect on him, who could have him edgy with desire with a simple look. She twisted his insides into knots he had no hope of loosening.

He touched his tongue to the nub of flesh just above her woman’s opening. She came off the bed, her hips bucking upward. Her hoarse exclamation rang out and her fingers curled into the furs she lay on. He grew bolder, lapping gently, absorbing her scent and her taste. It was a heady sensation, like drinking too much ale. There was a roar in his ears and the room seemed to dim around him as he continued his erotic exploration of her silken skin. “Graeme,” she said weakly. “ ’Tis happening again.”

omg

Who could possibly resist a smile such as hers? Furthermore, how could anyone spend even a moment in Eveline’s presence and think she was anything like her kin? The Armstrongs were a bloodthirsty, savage lot who thought nothing of killing others to suit their purposes. Eveline was a tenderhearted lass who didn’t have a mean bone in her body.

With that she smiled and kissed him full on the lips in front of the entire hall. Then she patted his cheek and cheerfully went on by. She walked out of the hall at a fast clip, leaving Graeme completely befuddled. It wasn’t until a moment later that he realized he was still frozen to his chair, the imprint of her mouth still tingling on his lips. There were snickers and guffaws all around, but he paid them no heed. His gaze was riveted to the soft swing of his wife’s bottom as she exited the hall.

Her head drooped more and more until finally Graeme tucked her underneath his chin and held her more firmly against him. She yawned broadly once and quickly clamped her mouth shut, determined not to show such rudeness in front of the others, but Graeme didn’t seem to mind. His hand soothed up and down her back and then slid back around to hold her once more. She sighed in utter contentment, wishing the moment could last forever. Fatigue won the battle she’d fought all day and her eyes grew so heavy, she could no longer keep them open. She nuzzled her face into Graeme’s neck and with one last sigh, she surrendered to the lure of sleep.

“You cannot make them accept me,” she said in a low voice that he had to strain to hear. “You cannot change what’s in their hearts. I thought …” She sighed. “I thought I could if I just tried hard enough, if I made the effort. I was wrong.”

my sweetest girl :(

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

I LOVE THEM SM

“She is an amazing lass,” Graeme murmured. “Aye, that she is,” Bowen agreed. “And she’s intensely loyal to you, Graeme.” Pride swelled in Graeme’s chest.