Page 68 of Highlander's Wild Lass
“Put yer drink down, lass,” he said, his voice dropping to an impossibly low rumble.
Celestia nearly spilled the entire thing, trembling as she was. Anthony steadied her hand and helped her set it down. He wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her steady, and with the other hand, he pulled her face to him.
He captured her in a hungry, searing kiss. The spark that happened between them weeks ago seemed to have turned into a raging fire, one that was stoked and enlivened every time Anthony glanced her way or touched her.
Anthony wrapped a hand around her neck, parted her lips, and deepened the kiss. He tried to pull her closer, but the bulk of her wedding gown was in the way.
“These damn skirts,” he murmured, letting his breath caress her neck. He stood, taking her along with him and placing her feet on the floor.
He held her at an arm’s length and swept his eyes from head to toe. “Ye looked perfect today,” he said, moving closer once more, pulling the sprigs of heather that had adorned her hair and resting them gently on the table.
Celestia turned red, she was sure she would melt at this rate. She tried to bring that same blind bravery she had that night in his study, wanting to touch him and pull her to him but felt too scared to move tonight.
“It’s alright, I’m yers now,” he said, bringing her hand to his chest.
Celestia nodded, stood on her tiptoes, and crashed her lips into his. He laughed breathily against her lips, steadying her. He let his hand wander down her back, pulling at the string of her stays, loosening them as they kissed.
She felt the bodice slacken around her shoulders and waist. Pulling out of the kiss, she slid the bodice down her arms and discarded it to the floor.
Anthony stepped around, his deft hands undoing the hooks that kept the skirts locked to her waist. The skirts fell from her, leaving Celestia in only her shift. A shiver trembled up her legs and into her chest without the warmth of the dress despite the roaring fireplace in the corner of the room.
“Now, ye,” she said, turning to face him. His eyes were hooded looking down at her, seeing the hunger and lust in him. She reached her hands up and unwrapped the stock tie, dropping it to the ground before shrugging off his thick velvet coat.
“Ye have more layers on than I did,” she murmured, looking at the buttons going down the length of his waistcoat and began unbuttoning.
Anthony laughed, pressing a kiss on the top of her head. “Not for long.”
Celestia almost laughed, making quick work of the buttons. She slid her hands over his chest, feeling the lean muscles just under his shirt, and peeled off his waistcoat.
He kissed her again, holding her head between his hands, pulling her up on her tiptoes while she fumbled for his belt buckle. His hands reached down, helping her.
The belt came loose and clattered to the floor. Anthony bunched his kilt in his hand and pulled it away from his, his shirt hanging low over his hips.
Celestia burned, and not just from being so close to the fireplace. Every single inch of her was awake with quivery awareness, she was restraining against his body’s every urge to allow him to take her.
God, she was nervous, trembling. She hated that. She inhaled, closing her eyes, trying to find courage.
His hands explored downward, gently skating along the length of her neck, and as he glided his fingers across her collarbone, she felt a fluttering sort of spasm within her. He hooked his fingers under the shoulders of her chemise and pulled it down over her breasts.
His mouth followed the path his hands had mapped out, taking one nipple into his mouth, and circling his tongue.
“Oh,” Celestia gasped. He was tampering with her sanity, with this slow teasing. She opened her eyes in time to see a smirk tugging at one corner of his mouth as he deliberately feathered the tips of his fingers down her exposed waist, snaking them behind her.
He swept her up into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist. “Let’s go to bed,” he said, carrying her over to the four-poster bed. His hand slid to the small of her back, supporting her as he lowered her to the mattress. Celestia felt breathless as she looked up at the intensity in his eyes.
He loomed over her, becoming her entire world.
He glanced at her, seeing the need in her face. Seeing the absolute irritation at his teasing. A smirk tugged at one corner of his mouth as he slipped his hand between her legs, watching her, and touched her.
Celestia inhaled, closing her eyes. She was more than ready for him.
Anthony pressed her closer to him, cradling her bottom and pressing it against his arousal. His entire body was so close to her, and no matter how many times she had let her mind drift to this moment, the full weight of him on her was mind-bending.
He knelt before her, peeling off his shirt. He nudged her thighs further apart and positioned himself to enter her.
“Are ye sure?” he asked, it was the first either of them spoke in a while and his voice was heavy with a maddening desire.
“Please,” she begged, clasping her hands around his biceps.
