Page 53 of Taken By the Vicious Highlander
There it is.
His restraint, already stretched thin, snapped at the sight of the color climbing up her neck and along her jawline.
“Beautiful,” he managed to say.
Without thinking, he reached for her, his hand cupping her chin and tilting her face toward his. He closed the space between them in a heartbeat, his lips crashing against hers with a ferocity he couldn’t control.
The kiss was a storm, fierce and all-consuming, leaving no room for hesitation or second thoughts. Damon felt her gasp against his mouth, her body going rigid for a moment before she melted into him. Her hands moved to his chest, her fingers clutching at him as if she needed something solid to hold on to.
Damon groaned, the sound low and primal as he deepened the kiss. He poured everything into it—his frustration, his jealousy, and the desire that had been building since the moment he first laid eyes on her.
Her response drove him mad. She wasn’t pulling away, wasn’t resisting. She was kissing him back with a hunger that matched his own, her soft, intoxicating moans fanning the flames of his need.
His hands slid down to her waist, pulling her closer, and he shifted over her, guiding her back down to the mattress. The feel of her beneath him, her body arching into his, was enough to make his head spin.
“Lilith,” he murmured against her lips, his voice rough and filled with longing.
She whispered his name in return, her breath hitching as he trailed kisses down her neck. Her hands tangled in his hair, holding him close, and he thought he might lose his mind entirely.
He pressed his hips to hers, the sensation igniting a wave of pleasure that made him groan. She responded with a soft moan,the sound so sweet, so utterly intoxicating, that it sent a jolt of heat through him.
And then, just as suddenly, it all came crashing down.
Damon froze, his entire body stiffening as reality slammed into him like a fist.
What am I doin’?
He pulled back slightly, his breathing ragged, and looked down at her. Lilith’s face was flushed, her lips swollen from his kisses, her eyes heavy-lidded with desire.
He swore under his breath, the sound harsh in the quiet room. He pushed himself up, his movements abrupt and jerky, and rolled off her.
“Damon?” Her voice was soft, confused, as she propped herself up on her elbows to look at him.
“I promised it would be above board, and I’ve failed ye,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll leave ye now, lass.”
His heart was pounding in more places than in his chest. With each step he forced himself to take, his body screamed in defiance.
“Wh-What’s wrong?” she asked, sitting up fully now.
He didn’t answer. Instead, he snatched his shirt from the floor and tugged it on with sharp, frustrated movements.
“Damon,” Lilith pleaded, her voice tinged with worry.
He shook his head, not trusting himself to speak. If he stayed any longer, he’d lose whatever shred of control he had left.
“I’m goin’ to patrol the area,” he said finally, his tone clipped and distant.
Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. “Ye’re leavin’? Right now?”
“Aye,” he uttered, grabbing his belt and sword. He buckled them on quickly, avoiding her gaze. “Get some rest, lass.”
“Damon, wait!”
“I’ll be back,” he called, his voice firm.
He turned toward the door, his hand already on the knob.
He paused for a brief moment, his back to her, before shaking his head and stepping out into the hallway.
