Free The Highlander by Elaine Coffman Page A

understanding of long duration. It is the title that Gillian is after. Unfortunately, I come with it."
    "Then why did you ask her to marry you?"
    "Did I say I had asked her?"
    "I do not understand."
    "It's a long story."
    She shrugged. "I've plenty of time. I'm not going anywhere."
    "You are a persistent wench."
    She smiled. "Drops of water will wear away a stone."
    His expression turned intent and unreadable, and she heard him say her name softly, as a child would do when trying out a new word. Her smile vanished and a tight constriction gripped her throat. Her senses flooded with a sort of conscious perception.
    She was aware of the play of light coming through the window to slide along the dark strands of his hair, aware of the incredibly long lashes, thick and black around the moss-green eyes.
    And his lips...oh, his fine lips, smooth, firm, and far too close to hers.
    Those fine lips brushed against hers, softly— once, twice, three times, moving slowly, lingeringly, with tender intent. Blinding, dizzying seconds ticked by, and still he teased her with his kisses, making her wonder what he would do next, or where he would touch her and for how long. She tried to hold on to herself, to get a firm grip on her sanity, but he seemed equally intent upon drawing everything away, save for the blinding need to kiss him back.
    He lifted his head and she felt the sharp stab of loss as his lips left hers. Her heart began to ease its frantic beating, her blood began to cool, and she wondered why her brain was so slow to chastise her once again—always succumbing as easily as a courtisane to him.
    "Y-you were going to tell me a long story about you and Gillian," she said, praying he did not look at her as if she were an idiot, and chastise her for being such a scared simpleton.
    A favorable answer to her prayer was immediate, for he gave her a lopsided grin that so captured her heart that she would swear to her great-grandchildren fifty years hence that it was the instant she knew she had fallen in love with him.
    "For a long time now, Gillian has been what you would call a friend of the family. Her family's estate borders Monleigh. My siblings and I played with her when we were children. Our parents would often say that Gillian would probably end up marrying one of the Graham boys, and Gillian would always say she would marry James, because he was going to be the earl. Everyone would laugh, for it was humorous to hear a girl of ten say such, but there came a time when her determination to be my countess ceased to entertain me."
    "If that is true, why would you entertain the idea of marriage to her?"
    "If I had my way, I would never marry, but it is my responsibility to produce an heir or two, and Gillian was willing., .and convenient."
    "And she does not mind that you are marrying her for her reproductive capabilities?"
    "It is the way of things, is it not? A man offers his title, his wealth and his protection in exchange for the heirs a woman will give him. It is a business arrangement, nothing more. She gets what she wants, and so do I."
    "It seems awfully cold to me."
    "It is cold, but much simpler than marrying for love and knowing that at some point, one of you will suffer."
    "It doesn't have to be that way."
    "Let me tell you something. Marriage is like a new pair of shoes. They may look good to the average passerby, but they rub blisters and they always pinch somewhere.''
    "I do not know where your hostility toward marriage came from, but I pity you for having it."
    "Don't," he said, "for I have a very valid reason."
    She turned her face to the wall. "I think I will rest now."
     
    She heard the sound of his steps as he walked to the door, but instead of opening it he paused, then turned and walked back to her bedside.
    She gasped when she felt the bed sag. Dear God, she thought, he hadn't sat down on her bed with her in it, had he? Perhaps he'd only propped his feet on the bed. She turned her head and saw him lying next to