He had stopped peeling back the neckline of her gunna and was gaping at her. “Why would I do all that? Especially, why would I set aside my own goal—avenging my brother’s death—to participate in such a foolhardy plan?”
“I would make it worth your while.”
“Oh, really? How?” He made a pointed sweep of her body with his cool eyes.
Surely he didn’t think she was offering that. “I would make you castellan of Evergreen. Once I regain my funds, I will pay you handsomely.”
“I would think so!” he said. Then, after a moment of pondering, “It matters that much to you?”
“It matters desperately to me. I would do anything to outwit my father and regain what is rightfully mine.”
“Anything?” He arched his brows at her.
“Do not tease me, Toste. I am not worth that much.”
“I beg to differ. I have wealth aplenty. I am jaded enough to find appeal in bedding a nun. You would wear your nun outfit, wouldn’t you?” He grinned down at her.
He couldn’t be serious. It was another jest on his part. Surely it was. But she had to ask. “You will do all that I ask in return for just one coupling?”
“Nay, nay, nay!” he said with a laugh. “I did not say that. It would have to be more than one coupling.” He appeared to find much humor in that word. “I would expect you to share my bed furs for the entire time I work for you, or till I grow bored. All without the legal bonds of matrimony, of course.”
Of course? Ooooh, the insufferable, overblown lout. I should slap his face and walk away. Right now. This instant. But wait, Esme—mayhap it would be worth the sacrifice if you could regain Evergreen. And be honest with yourself, it might not be such a great sacrifice. You could close your eyes and plan your next day’s work schedules whilst it is happening. “So, is it a deal, then?”
“What?” The shock on Toste’s face that she would acquiesce so easily was priceless. “Nay, it is not a deal. Not yet. I mean, holy bloody hell, dost know what you are offering?”
“I do, and it would be worth the sacrifice if the end result means my return to Evergreen.”
“Sacrifice? You consider making love with me a sacrifice?”
The consternation on his face was equally priceless. Really, men and their overemphasis on their bedsport reputations! As if women cared about such things!
But ’twas best to be diplomatic when her future was at stake. “Mayhap sacrifice was too strong a word. But you must agree, men get much more out of the event than women do.”
“Oh, I do not know about that. Some men have the expertise to give as good as they get in the event.”
She almost rolled her eyes but caught herself just in time.
“In fact, I would be a fool to agree to anything without getting a taste aforehand.”
“A taste? Speak plainly, Viking. Dost expect me to give up my virginity on the mere hope that you will make a deal with me?”
“Nay, not your virginity. Just a foretaste of the main… uh, meal.” She could swear his lips twitched with suppressed mirth.
“Just a foretaste,” she agreed.
And he did grin then, as if he’d won some battle. Men!
“Hmmm. First off, methinks I would have to see your breasts.”
“Bare?” she squeaked out.
“Bare.”
What a lot of fuss men made over breasts! She’d experienced it firsthand with her father and brothers, who’d practically drooled whenever a big-bosomed maid would pass by. She’d had no doubt, even at that young age, that the maid would soon be spreading her thighs for one of them. Or all of them.
Toste still lay atop her, braced on his extended arms, and he did not seem inclined to move. So she shimmied off her surcoat and niched the top of her gunna down to her waist, all in a half-reclining position. Then she lay back down and closed her eyes. After a long silence during which nothing happened, she cracked her eyelids open… and wished she hadn’t.