Overwhelmed by Jamie's words, Bella dropped her arms and took a step back. She'd never asked him to settle down—or Merlin, marry her!—but she supposed Jamie's idea of relationships was just as narrow as his ideas about other topics were. "You don't have to marry me," she said defensively, shrinking into herself. "In fact, I came to the Hebrides with expectations that I would never marry."
There was a touch of disappointment in her tone. She definitely disliked the idea of remaining a sad, poor spinster for the rest of her life, but her reputation was ruined beyond repair—and if her virtue had held any weight, that was now gone. "I'm not asking for anything except your company... and maybe a kiss or two. Only every now and then, though." It was a silly fantasy, one not conducive to real life.
"Besides," she tried, trying to brighten herself up with a chirpy tone (albeit a forced one), "I'm in no position to make you do anything you don't want to. If you don't want my company, I can't force it upon you."
There was a touch of disappointment in her tone. She definitely disliked the idea of remaining a sad, poor spinster for the rest of her life, but her reputation was ruined beyond repair—and if her virtue had held any weight, that was now gone. "I'm not asking for anything except your company... and maybe a kiss or two. Only every now and then, though." It was a silly fantasy, one not conducive to real life.
"Besides," she tried, trying to brighten herself up with a chirpy tone (albeit a forced one), "I'm in no position to make you do anything you don't want to. If you don't want my company, I can't force it upon you."
— MJ is MAGICAL —