THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

I am of ye odd ways.”
    “Your ways are equally odd to me, though I must say you do them well.”
    He chuckled, pleased.
    “Can I,” she asked, pushing a lock from his forehead, “expect this kind of an apology the next time we fight?”
    He traced the curve of her now swollen lips, “We dinna have to fuss at each other to have this. Ye could,” he kissed her slowly once again, enjoying the sweetness within her mouth, “invite me back to the solar.”
    “Ah.” She studied his eyes and then the planes of his face. “So it’s your comfy bed you seek?”
    “Ack! I’d sleep in this hay the rest of my days if ye but chose to be at my side.”
    Her eyes appeared to seek his soul as she placed both hands on either side of his face. “Duncan, put it plainly.”
    “I care naught for these silent days, of fashing, of wondering if I have the power to please ye or not.” He turned her hand in his palm, examining the fine bones that created the miracles within his keep. “And I didna like seeing the Bruce drool over yer hand.” He scowled, “Definitely.”
    “Is it just the Bruce? May another—?”
    “Dinna even jest, Beth.” He clamped his arms about her and spun, landing on his back with her fully on his chest once again. “Ye be mine, dear Beth, and only mine and I be yer servant till death do us part.” He brushed the hair from her face. “Do ye ken?”
    “Aye, my lord and husband. Just so long as you remember what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” He frowned so she clarified, tapping his chest, “I’ll not tolerate you casting your eyes, much less anything else, on another wench.”
      He smiled, liking her jealous tone, but he was human. Studying the little worry lines between her brows he decided that from this time forward he would make every effort to be most careful should he be in her sight and spy a pleasing wench walking past. “Agreed,” he told her.
      Her obvious relief made his heart trip. Did she really think another could truly tempt him after the way she made him feel? After all they had shared? How odd.
    Laughter echoed around the bailey from the keep’s open shutters. “With that settled, I fear we must return.” He kissed her fingertips, liking her decidedly satisfied look and ruffled appearance. “However, those in yon hall will ken our luxurious pursuits should we return in our current states.” Grinning, he pulled a large piece of straw from her now loose hair.
    Her hands flew to her ruined coiffure. “Oh shi...oot!”
    “Indeed.” He stood and pulled her to her feet. He shook like a dog and shed the hay from his clothing. Beth, on the other hand, had all she could do to re-lace her gown.
    He helped her then shook out her headdress. “I much prefer yer fair hair loose.”
    “Me, too, but I can’t walk in there bareheaded or tongues will wag.” She twisted one half of her thick hair into a coil and held out her hand for one of the cauls. He reluctantly gave it to her.
    Finished pulling herself together, Beth asked, “Do I look presentable?”
    He kissed the tip of her nose. “Aye, as always.”
    In the brightly lit hall, Duncan pulled a bit of straw he’d missed from Beth’s cotehardie and tossed it behind them. ‘Twas then he saw they hadn’t escaped Rachael’s curious perusal. He winked at her over Beth’s head. A slight smile took form on Rachael’s lips then disappeared as she silently directed his attention to the opposite side of the hall. There he spied Angus, Sean, and Tom chest, to chest and ready to come to blows with three of the Bruce’s men.
    “Damn God’s teeth!”
    Beth, still ruminating over the import of Duncan’s earlier words, of their lovemaking, murmured, “Damn what, Duncan?”
    She followed his gaze and her worry over his preference for the words “I care” instead of “I love” immediately evaporated. “Oh!”
    “Stay here, my lady, whilst I see what ‘tis afoot.” Duncan cast a quick scathing glance toward the Bruce, who looked totally indifferent to the battle brewing in her hall.
    Why the hell did the Bruce just sit like a contented Buddha at the head table when half the men threatening to tear her hall apart were his? The bloody nerve!
    She then spotted Flora leaning against the wall not far from the rumbling Neanderthals and wondered if the woman’s flirting had caused the men’s hostilities. Given the look of indignation on her face, Beth wouldn’t have been the least surprised. Damn the