Page 14 of In Bed with a Highland Brute

“Nay? I find that hard tae believe.”

“What is it with ye and yer insults?” She slowly rounded the table and moved toward him. Murdoch walked the other way, rather keen to keep distance between them now. The pressure of her hand in his as they had walked through the castle was strange and foreign to him. He’d never really held Lillie’s hand much, but they weren’t a match for love as he was currently pretending that he and Eloise were. His and Lillie’s betrothal was for arrangement and fondness. “What happened tae yer decision tae send me on me way? For all of this tae be put down tae some dreadful mistake?”

“I changed me mind.”

“Aye, I see that. What I am nae achieving is discovering the answer as tae why.” They halted on opposite sides of the table as he reached between them, topping up his jug again. “Why are ye doing this, Murdoch? Why dae ye even need a false bride?”

“Ye heard my father. He wishes me tae wed.”

“And ye dinnae want that?” She slowly nodded and tilted her head to the side, her eyes narrowing to slits.

“I thought ye preferred the company of everyone tae me.” Her eyebrows quirked together.

Dae I sound that bad?

Murdoch managed to clear his airways and breathe deeply as he topped up his goblet for the third time. Yes, he’d insulted Eloise many times that day and they didn’t get on, but at this moment, it was a survival tactic only. He had to push her away, for many different reasons, one of which was this infernal attraction to her, for no good could come from it.

“I wouldnae put it like that,” he managed eventually and slid her goblet toward her. “Let us leave it at this. I have me secrets, as dae ye, plainly.” He gestured to her, and she flinched, picking up the goblet. “Ye must dae, tae keep this job so hidden from yer brother and sister.”

“Let us nae talk of that.”

“Then we shall nae talk of my reasoning for needing a false bride either. Let us just agree with this. We shall act our parts for a few days, a couple of weeks at most. When Clyde and Harper are married, then we shall return to the Chattan Clan and nothing of this matter will be spoken of between us again. Aye?”

“Aye,” she said with vigor and lifted the goblet to her lips, also taking a large gulp.

Murdoch stiffened, watching her with interest. She usually took small sips, delicately.

“Why are ye staring?” she asked as she lowered the goblet to the table.

“Maybe I just feel as if I am glimpsing behind the façade ye like tae wear. All that stone.”

“I am nae made of stone.” She turned her back and walked around the table once more. Yet she no longer pursued him. She was looking at the room instead with her hands on her hips. “Very well, we will act out parts, but we will have tae be more convincing.”

“What dae ye mean?”

“I mean this.” She turned back toward him so sharply he was not prepared for it. She laid a hand to the bicep of his arm, and he flinched, stepping back from her and colliding with the table. “That.” She flicked her fingers toward him.

“I had nae idea I was that repulsive.” She walked back and wandered around the room, moving to the second level and looking at all the coffers.

Murdoch stared after her, numb and frozen to the spot.

Ye are far from repulsive, Eloise.

His eyes traced her movements, the swish of her skirt as it fell around her hips, the narrowed corset that emphasized the slenderness of her waist, up to the slightly broader shape across her chest. Her figure made his mouth abruptly dry again. He lowered the goblet to the table, knowing he could not drink anymore, despite his need to.

She flicked her head around, those perfect curls dancing across her cheeks, and he almost groaned aloud. Something about her touching his arm in such a way had him picturing what it would be like to share that bed at the far side of the room with Eloise after all. Would she grip onto his biceps then as he pleasured her? Would she claw at him or those wolf furs if he entered her with his tongue, driving her to the peak of pleasure?

Murdoch was hardly without experience. In his younger years, he’d had some, but when Lillie had come along, all of that had stopped. Determined to take his vows seriously, he’d not indulged again. They’d shared but one kiss between them before she was murdered. Since then, he’d been with no other woman.

“Murdoch, as horrible as ye find me –”

“I didnae say ye were horrible.”

“Oh, so ye can bear tae look at me then?” She turned back to face him, triumph in her eyes.

“Perhaps.” He winced, as if it gave him pain. She laughed a little, shaking her head.

“Ye are going tae have tae put up with me if we are going tae be convincing.” She marched back toward him, stepping down off the level to move to his side. “Dinnae flinch this time.”