Andrew that Lord Marr had supported Balliol, Lord Marr would be relegated to the ranks of the Disinherited. But the duchess would gain nothing by killing him.”
“Nothing but the fear of those who would resist her requests in the future,” Riana said.
Sir Bryant looked nonplussed. “She aspires to rule Scotland?”
“In her way, yes,” Riana replied. “She cares nothing for politics…”
“But everything for power,” he ended.
Riana nodded.
“Was she successful in frightening her next victim?”
“I know only of Lord Cormac. He contributed to Balliol’s cause.”
“You are certain Lord Cormac supported Balliol?” Sir Bryant demanded.
Before she could stop the thought, her face heated with the memory of Lord Cormac in her bed.
Sir Bryant’s expression hardened. “Did he tell you while his cock was buried inside you?”
She couldn’t prevent a small gasp.
“By God,” Sir Bryant muttered.
Riana lifted her chin. “You knew what I was before we married.”
“Aye,” he bit back. “I even fucked you in the bed meant for Sir Dunbar.”
“You did. And with very little urging.”
He gave a strangled laugh. “What man could resist that?” He glanced at her breasts and she looked down. She had forgotten she was still exposed.
Riana yanked the bodice up over her breast. “Only moments ago you couldn’t refuse.”
“Aye, and even now my balls ache and my cock is so hard you could ride me all night and not wear me out.”
She drew in a sharp breath.
His mouth thinned. “You tried once, after having my cock inside you, to fuck another man. Never again.”
“What—” She leapt from the bed. “How dare you?”
He gave a low laugh. “I dare because I am your husband.”
“You had no claim on me then.” She lifted her chin. “You had no right to interfere.”
“Interfere? I saved your pretty neck from the hangman’s noose.”
“Which time?” she demanded. “When you saved me from murdering a man by coming to my bed by mistake, or when you burst into the prison as the warden was fucking me?”
Sir Bryant seized her wrist and yanked her to the edge of the bed. “It seems you owe me twice over.”
He was probably right, but she wasn’t about to let him know that. “The warden would not have harmed me.”
“Nay, he would only have fucked you sore.”
“He would not have been the first.”
Sir Bryant jumped from the bed so quickly she had barely taken a step back before he was pressing her against the wall.
“And he will not be the last.” Sir Bryant ground his hard length against her belly. “But it will be me between your legs rubbing you raw.”
She gasped.
He gave a small nod. “I see the notion appeals to you.”
Riana pushed at him. To her surprise, he turned and strode to the door.
Hand on the handle, he paused and looked over his shoulder at her. “Remember, you are mine. Mine to touch. Mine to fuck.” His gaze bore into her. “Mine to love.”
Chapter Seventeen
Is his faRiana argued with Siusan, but to no avail. Her younger sister insisted they visit the chapel before the evening meal. Thankfully, there was no priest in residence, and Riana slipped into the back pew of the four pews on the left of the dimly-lit room.
“You will not pray?” Siusan asked.
“Not today.”
Her sister smiled. “God will not fault you for protecting me.” Siusan placed a kiss on her cheek. “Neither will Sir Bryant.”
Riana startled at the unexpected insight, but before she could respond, Siusan had turned away and was walking down the aisle.
“Mine to love.”
In the hour since he’d said the words, Riana had played them over and over in her mind. Lit candles at the altar sent light skimming across small, stained glass windows on the left and right, lending the cut glass an eerie sense of animation. Riana remained motionless as Siusan stopped in front of the dais, crossed herself and knelt.
Were Sir Bryant’s words a declaration of love? A flutter closed around Riana’s heart with memory of the heat in his gaze in the instant before he’d left the room. She had the odd sense that, despite the fact he’d lain between her legs twice, he was telling her that his true claiming of her was yet to come. Was it possible he saw her as more than the whore she had become?
He had married her believing she intended to murder his friend. Was Siusan right? Did he understand? Riana allowed herself to relax against the back of the pew. Whatever his feelings, he had proven he was willing to protect her and Siusan. Perhaps Sir Dunbar was right and