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“They are not my enemies now that they no longer serve Ingram. When they decided to come to Duncleit they shifted their allegiance to me. They aremypeople now and I look after my own.”
“You regard me as your enemy, yet you have been kind enough to hear my case.”
He moved around to stand in front of her and cupped her chin in his palm. “I am not certain how I regard you, Lady Roselyn. The coming days will be telling, for us both.” He lowered his face and brushed a kiss across her hair. “Do you require my aid to replace your clothing?” He could not believe he was actually offering to help her dress.
“I would, sir, but first… may I make a request?”
“A request? Aye, ye may ask, though I may not grant it.”
“You have seen me, rather more of me, in fact, than any man has before. I wonder, may I see you?”
“See me, madam? I do not understand.”
“With my hands? My fingers? If you would allow me to touch your face I might explore your features and form a picture of you in my mind.”
“You wish to touch me?”
“It is intimate, I understand that. Some people are uncomfortable with it so if you prefer that I do not…”
“I shall make a bargain with you, my lady.” He knew he was about to take outrageous advantage of his prisoner but somehow he was beyond caring. “A bargain based upon fair exchange.”
“Please explain your terms, sir.”
“You may explore my face to your complete satisfaction, and indeed any other part of my person should you feel so moved, but I expect the same in return. You will allow me to touch you in like manner.”
“My face?”
“Aye, your face. And your shoulders, your back, your breasts, your belly. But I shall not venture below your skirts unless you invite me to do so. Do we have a bargain, madam?”
“I am still a little sore…” God’s sweet bones, she was about to agree. His cock lurched within his braies, tenting the soft linen of his underwear. He adjusted his woollen hose accordingly, somewhat relieved that she was unable to observe his response to her.
“I shall not hurt you, I swear it.” He kept his voice low and gentle, determined not to alarm her now.
She hesitated, but only for a few moments. “Very well, sir. I accept your terms.”
He lowered his face to kiss her again, this time on her forehead. Then he cradled her face between his palms as he brushed his mouth over hers. Her lips parted on a small gasp but she made no protest.
Blair stepped back toward the chair he vacated minutes earlier, drawing Roselyn with him. She followed, her trust precious to him. He located the oak seat and sank into it, pulling her into his lap.
“Please feel free to make your explorations, my lady.”
“You will remain quite still? It is better if you do not move, or speak.”
“Very well.”
He sat, immobile, as she lifted her hands to lay them on his cheeks. She used just her fingertips at first, drawing them slowly over the planes and hollows of his face. She caressed his jaw, his forehead, his chin, and his lips. Her eyes remained closed, her brow furrowed in concentration as she learnt the details of his features.
“You are handsome,” she announced at last. “You have a strong jaw and a firm mouth, and I find a small cleft in your chin. I believe you to be a man accustomed to command though you are younger than I had assumed.”
“I am thirty years old.”
“How long have you been laird here?”
“The last eight years.”
“You wear your authority with ease, my lord. May I ask what colour are your eyes? And your hair?”
“My eyes are blue and my hair near enough black.”
