Amanda Scott

“He took her near hand in his and raised it to his lips as he had once before. This time, he kissed it lightly, looking at her as he did, his expression unusually solemn. “Aye, sure, we’ll go in,” he said. “Just as soon as you look me in the eyes and tell me you’re doing this willingly and not just because you said you would.”
She looked him right in the eye then and said, “You first.”

Ian laughed as much at the look of determination on Lina’s face as at the challenge she had flung at him.
When she continued to watch him, he sobered. He was still holding her hand, so he gave it a warm squeeze and said, “I’m more willing with every minute that passes, lass. I believe that we will suit each other well.”
“This may be the most reckless thing you have done, sir.”
“It may be, aye. But you are doing it with me, so I’ll wager that you won’t carp and correct me at every turn as some wives try to do.”
“I would not do that in any event,” she said, peering into his face in that way she had that made him feel as if she would see right through him to his core. “I wonder if my opinions matter to you, though. I’m unlikely to change my feelings about many things that you do. Nor will I agree with you in all that you say.”
“Then, likely we’ll fratch from time to time,” he said. “Would it help if I were to promise that I’ll always listen?”
“It might,” she said doubtfully. “It would help more if you did always listen.”
He choked on another bubble of laughter. Forcing himself to speak seriously, he said, “Have you hitherto found me an unwilling listener?”
She shook her head, looking at his chest again. “No, sir, not recently.”
Cupping her chin with his free hand, he tilted it up and kissed her gently on the lips. “Then, we must leave it there, I think. Your father is calling to us.”
Her lips had parted. She stared at him blindly.
“Lina?”
“We must go in, aye,” she said. Whirling, she stepped through the archway, only to stop in her tracks when the hall erupted in applause and cheering.
Rather pleased to know that his kiss had ruffled her more than any teasing had, he followed her.”
― Amanda Scott, The Knight's Temptress