Page 66 of The Highlander's Auctioned Bride
“I’ll keep ye safe, Maisie,” and then he leaned over her, claiming her mouth in a short kiss before he pulled back and stood up, enjoying her eyes on him as he slowly stripped away his clothes.
“I cannae believe I restrained meself so long. Look at ye, lass, ye’re perfection itself.”
Maisie covered her face with her hands at his praise, unsure what to say or how to respond. She pulled them free as she felt his gloriously naked body cover hers, and the hard evidence of his arousal push against her.
“How did ye get undressed so fast?” she asked as he bit at her jaw.
“I was motivated to hurry,” he said lightly. He leaned back again, stroking himself, his eyes roaming all over her body, just as herswere to him. She had never seen a more beautiful man; it was as though he were sculpted from granite.
“Ye are sure?” he asked again.
She nodded, and he leaned over her, his hands bracketing either side of her as he lined himself up with her entrance and slowly pushed inside.
She gripped his forearms as she felt the steady, blunt push into her.
“Breathe, lass, try to relax for me.”
She took in a shuddering breath, and as he guided her through it, he slowly eased into her. The sensation was painful at first, and then, as his skin met hers, he waited until she was able to let out a long sigh.
“All right?”
She nodded. “Aye.”
“We willnae have nae sheets to prove it this time either,” he said, and Maisie couldn’t help a laugh as he pulled out slowly and then rocked his hips into her.
Her head fell back, and she moaned as his thick length pushed into her over and over. Slowly, he picked up a rhythm of steady thrusts, and the pleasure returned to overwhelm her.
She looked down at him, his eyes on her breasts that jolted upward every time he thrust into her, the movements getting harsher and stronger every time until she was groaning at every one of them.
“Hush, lass, or ye’ll bring the staff runnin’,” he said as he claimed her mouth with his again, matching his thrusts with his tongue as her arms went around his neck.
They reached their peak together, shuddering through their mutual release, finally joined as one beneath the darkness of a new moon.
CHAPTER 24
“It looks wonderful, Mrs. Murray,”Maisie exclaimed as she stood in the great hall.
Just as it had been for the contest, the room was dressed in banners in the MacLennan clan colors, and beautiful centerpieces were placed on all of the tables.
Maisie experienced a strange nostalgia as she stood in the room. Only a few days ago she would have given anything to be out of it to escape the contest. Now, faced with quite a different scenario, she was not sure how to feel. There were frightening circumstances tied to this feast, to be sure, but there was something homelike about the space.
Tonight, she would sit at the top table with her husband by her side. Together it felt as though they could accomplish anything.
I did not expect to feel this way,she thought,I am almost excited for the feast. How is that logical?
“Laird MacLennan has invited almost eighty people, including the council and all their spouses. It will be a night to remember, m’lady.”
For someone at least, it might be their last night.
“Thank you for all ye have done, Mrs. Murray, I look forward to the day when we can arrange one together.”
Mrs. Murray smiled and squeezed her arm before moving away to see to the rest of the preparations. Maisie brought her mind back to the problem at hand and wondered if this would work.
James suspected the culprit was close to him, but Maisie did not have the courage to voice her own suspicions of Lillian. Mrs. Guthrie and Marcus were incredibly well-liked amongst the servants and were practically part of the furniture.
If he had just chosen Lillian none of this would have happened.
She sighed, leaving the room and going to find Jean to decide what she would wear for the event.
