Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

S o stunned was she, that Katherine nearly dropped the bowl of water she held in her hands. Domhnall was obviously broad and strong. Anyone with eyes would be able to see that, even if the man was draped in every item of clothing he owned. Yet, she could only gawk in disbelief as she grazed across the pure masculinity that emanated from him.

There were dips and crevices starting from the huge width of his shoulders, running across his chest, and then down across the mass of his musclebound stomach. In fact, having never seen a naked man before, she had to wonder if all of them looked like that beneath their clothing.

I hardly think Reginald’s thin frame contains the solid mass I am looking at.

Of course, it didn’t.

As she continued to drink him all in, she could feel her heart thumping in her chest, her stomach twisting, and nearly mesmerized by his sculptured form, Katherine struggled to pull her eyes away.

A few seconds later, however, she realized she was staring, and darting her eyes up, she met the smiling lips of her future husband. His expression emanated mild amusement at her reaction. It was then that she felt the heat rush to her face, and her cheeks burned as though they were on fire.

“Sit,” she demanded hurriedly.

“Are ye sure ye dinnae want tae look a little longer?”

He was now smiling broadly as he teased her, but feeling utterly mortified with embarrassment, Katherine huffed and hurried past him to see to his wound. Placing the bowl on the floor, she took a linen towel and dipped it into the water. Yet, once again, she was faced with his broad and muscular back.

With the cloth in her hand, she hesitated to continue, fearful of touching the taut skin before her.

“I’ll nae bite,” Domhnall said, turning his head but not fully looking at her.

“Well, of course you won’t,” she replied, jerking herself out of her stupor.

Concentrate, Katherine, for goodness sakes. The man is injured.

Placing one hand on his shoulder, and feeling the heat of his skin beneath her fingertips, she moved the wet cloth towards the cut lower down on his back. It wasn’t a deep cut, and already seeing the map of white lines across his body, both front and back, it was evident that Domhnall was well used to injuries. Still, he had saved her from a terrible fate.

With lightning speed…

Yes. There was that. It certainly wasn’t the first time he had moved in a way no normal man ought, and perhaps, now might be the perfect time to discuss it. At least it might distract her.

Really?

All right, that was too much to hope for, but if she could just get him to talk about something else, something that would take away from her current discomfort, it would be better than nothing at all.

“Tell me?—”

“What is in that list in yer book?” Domhnall said, speaking at exactly the same time.

As if the situation wasn’t already bad enough, Katherine could only gawk at his back as her face reddened even further.

“That’s… that’s none of your business,” she squeaked, wiping the blood around the small wound.

“Och, come on, Katherine. Ye ken I have already read it. I just cannae remember all ye have written on it.”

“You had no right to read it in the first place,” she said, feeling more embarrassed than she could ever remember feeling in her life.

“Well, I did, so it’s a little late fer all that. Come on. Tell me.”

Heaving a sigh, and realizing that there really was no point keeping it from him, given he had already invaded her personal belongings, she said, “Why do you want to know?”

“I’m just curious.”

Again, Katherine hesitated, trying her upmost to concentrate on the job in front of her. Straightening his back, Domhnall shifted in the seat, his massive muscular mass moving under her light touch as he did so.

Maybe answering the question would settle her thumping heart. Clearly, she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, her body was reacting in strange ways being so close to her future husband in such a state of undress. On the other, the embarrassment of that list was causing her cheeks to feel like the flames of a fire.

“Fine,” she said, eventually making a decision. “Sometimes, being a lady can be a little tiresome, if not downright boring. I decided, one day, that I wanted to inject a little excitement into my life. All men have their fun with no recompense. Why shouldn’t I?”

“Indeed.” Domhnall nodded.

“And thus,” she continued, “I made a list of things a lady in my position ought never to do.” The wound was now clean, and after tenderly drying the area surrounding it, Katherine took a step back. “Only, I was ordered to travel here and to be married before I got a chance to finish completing all the items. I’m sure you noted that some had been struck out.”

“I did.”

Without her having to say so, he deduced that she had finished seeing to him, and standing, he grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head. He then turned to face her.

“Thank ye.”

“You are welcome.”

But in that moment, his expression conveyed sympathy as though he felt sorry for her in her predicament. It was unusual under the circumstances, but more than that, it was not an expression she was aware he had the capacity to convey.

“Anyway,” Katherine shrugged, “there is no time to finish it, so it doesn’t really matter anymore, does it?”

She turned and folded the wet towel, before bending to the floor and lifting the bowl of water. As she walked across the room, she heard Domhnall say, “How about a truce?”

Placing the bowl next to the jug on the dresser, Katherine turned to look at him.

“What do you mean?”

“Well,” he shrugged, “if ye promise never tae disrespect me in front o’ me men again, I can help ye finish off yer list.”

For a second, Katherine didn’t speak. It wasn’t because his proposal wasn’t agreeable. She had crossed a line on more than one occasion, and embarrassed him in front of those who looked up to him, his brothers included. Her silence had more to do with the fact that she couldn’t imagine how he could possibly help her.

“Ye dinnae agree?” Domhnall pressed.

Katherine shook her head. “It’s not that I do not agree. It’s more that I don’t know how you are going to help me.”

“Well,” he smiled down at her, “I’d need tae ken what was on it ‘afore I could tell ye that.”

Katherine dropped her gaze and twisted her fingers. He was determined to get that out of her, and knowing she had to repeat her list, her face bloomed red once again. She knew her list by heart, and wanting to get it over and done with, she hurriedly rushed through them all.

“Kiss a stranger, spy on a gentleman bathing, ride astride a horse, get my skin marked with a tattoo, swim without clothes, and read a banned book.”

Her face blazed with mortification while her mind tortured her even further.

I’m pretty sure I’ll die from embarrassment.

“Very well,” Domhnall replied, though Katherine could still not bring herself to look at him. “I’ll help ye complete yer list.” He paused for a second, and then said. “And Katherine?”

She looked up to see that his eyes were soft and his expression sincere.

“I swear I’ll nae mock ye.”

While the mortification did not leave her, she nodded with a half-smile. “All right.”