Because Of You by Cathy Maxwell

Author:Cathy Maxwell
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-04-19T20:32:45.171000+00:00

Chapter 10

Samantha bolted up into a seated position. “I thought that door locked.”

“It does,” Yale answered. “See?” He locked the door with the key and held it up for her.

“I do not want you here,” she said brutally. “I made that very clear at the inn this morning. I do not consider us man and wife.”

“Yes, you made that very clear,” he replied without heat. “However, there is no other place for me to sleep. The place is overflowing with guests. People are even sleeping on the benches in the taproom.” He sat on the corner of the bed by her feet and leaned against the bedpost, yawning sleepily. “Besides, my brother, the one you were so cozy with all afternoon, would imagine me guilty of all sorts of notorious acts if I wasn’t in bed with my wife.”

“There’s plenty of room for you to sleep in the stable. Your wife does not want you in bed with her,” she told him succinctly, then added, “And what do you mean, I was cozy with your brother all afternoon?”

“One concern at a time, Samantha.” He rose from the bed and stretched before shrugging off his coat.

As he hung it on the back of a chair that sat before a small desk, he said, “To answer your first question… the stables are full of all sorts of vermin. Would you really want me in the coach with you and Lord only knows what else? We’d be itching all the way to London.”

Samantha itched just at the thought of it.

“Second concern,” he said, pulling his shirt tail out from his breeches. “My wife doesn’t want me to sleep with her.” He paused a moment as if considering the matter before tugging the shirt over his head.

At the sight of his bare chest, the room suddenly felt several degrees warmer to Samantha. She avoided his eyes.

He again sat on the edge of the bed and began pulling off his boots. “Of course,” he continued conversationally, “I could remind her that yesterday, she said her vows of her own free will, and I do have conjugal rights.”

Samantha forgot maidenly modesty and glared at him. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Challenging me, Sam?” he asked. He let the boot drop to the floor. “Don’t worry. I’ve never forced a woman yet and I’m not about to do it now.”

“Oh, I am sure they all beg to tumble into your bed,” she said sarcastically.

He nodded. “Usually.”

Samantha folded her arms against her chest. “Well, now you’ve met one who won’t.”

“So you keep telling me.” He started working off the other boot.

His unruffled response angered her. “You know, you are a far cry from your brother.”

That jab hit home. His movements froze and he shot an annoyed look toward her. She couldn’t hide a smile of satisfaction.

“Yes,” he said grimly. “I am a far cry. And you’d best remember it.” He tossed his boot on the floor and rolled down his socks.

She shook the bedclothes with a hard jerk, as if to shake him off the bed.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.