Page 17 of Highlanders for the Holidays
Hardly.
His new bride was clearly no trembling novice. He wondered what game she played, trying to make him believe she was.
Perhaps she feared he wouldn’t wed her if he found out she wasn’t a virgin.
She needn’t have worried on that account. No?l had always preferred voracity to virtue.
He chuckled low in his throat as she moved her hungry mouth along his collar bone. Now that he knew the truth, he couldn’t help teasing her a bit.
“I thought ye said just one kiss.”
“Did I?” she said breathlessly.
He grinned. No longer concerned about keeping a rein on his lust, he tangled his hands in her glorious hair and opened her mouth with his. He let his tongue dance on her lips, then plunge within, relishing her wine-sweet flavor.
It had been months since he’d lain with a lover. Once he’d learned of his betrothal to Cathalin, he’d sworn off coupling with other women.
But he was paying for his abstinence now. He was as hard as stone. Indeed, he felt as if he might explode at any moment.
Which would be a mistake. Nothing would disappoint a bride more than discovering her new husband spilled his seed quicker than a twelve-year-old lad.
So taking a sobering breath, he rolled her over, sitting back on his knees to straddle her so he could have more control. He slipped his hands beneath the neckline of her gown and slid it down past her shoulders, leaving kisses along the way. Then he pulled her garments lower, to her waist, trapping her arms beside her.
“Ye’re so beautiful,” he murmured. “They said ye were the bonniest lass in all Scotland. They were right.”
She gasped as he slowly ran the pads of his thumbs down her soft breasts until they rested above her taut nipples.
No?l smiled as she arched up to force his touch, brushing the peaks of her breasts against his thumbs. Then he lowered his head to replace his thumb with his tongue, flicking lightly at each nipple before drawing the lovely nubbin into his mouth.
She groaned and clenched her fists.
Desire surged between his legs. But he had to temper his lust, at least until hers matched his.
He glided his hands slowly up her silken legs, raising her skirts. She lifted her head and jerked her arms as if she might try to stop him. But her hands were caught in her sleeves. And judging by the smoldering gray smoke of her gaze, he could see she didn’t truly want him to cease.
Sure enough, when his fingers crested the tops of her knees and continued upward, she dropped her head back onto the pallet with a sigh of rapture.
When he reached the crease of her thighs, he pushed back her gathered skirts. There he stole a glimpse of heaven. Dark, curling hair made a small, perfect triangle against her fair skin. His loins ached with longing as he perused her lovely body.
Swallowing back his ravenous desire, he gently urged her legs apart. Slipping his fingers into her nest of curls, he opened her as tenderly as a flower.
* * *
Ysenda suckeda sharp breath between her teeth. Why was she letting him do this to her? She didn’t know. But she couldn’t form the words to stop him. Nor did she want to.
She wanted this.
Nae, she didn’t want it. Sheneededit.
Yet it wasn’t hers to have. He didn’t belong to her.
Still, she wanted him so badly.
And when she felt his mouth upon her…down there…all rational thought abandoned her. Stricken by erotic lightning, she could form no words. His lips caressed her with delicious intimacy, flooding her with heat. His tongue bathed her with care, making her gasp in blissful wonder.
She squeezed her eyes closed, too ashamed of her own pleasure and weakness to face him. But her shame came with a curious joy. A powerful force began to build within her. Her veins filled with brilliant fire. Her blood surged with glorious energy. Her flesh warmed and swelled and longed.
Just when she thought she would burst with craving, the world seemed to stop for a timeless instant. Then, with a silent scream, she lost control.
