Page 53 of Laird of Steel
His tongue circled hers in a slow and sultry dance of desire. But with each moment, the dance grew more eager. More fervent.
Her head spun with joy and arousal. What she remembered of his kiss before was nothing like this.
That had been the quick peck of a lad.
This was the measured seduction of a man.
Her ears began to ring in sensual vibration. Her breasts tingled with need. Current coursed through her, sparking a dangerous craving betwixt her thighs. Her fingers turned to claws as she clutched the front of his tabard in desperation.
Deep within her heart, a tiny voice screamed at her to stop. Gellir was not hers. He didn’t belong to her. He would never belong to her.
But rapture muffled the sound. It felt so right. So perfect to be here in his arms. How could it be wrong?
A soft moan escaped her, driving him to more aggression. He let go of the besom handle, caught now between their heaving chests, and delved his hands into her hair. Angling her head, he explored her more fully. He placed kisses at the corners of her lips. Swept his tongue over them. Boldly claimed her mouth with his own.
Breathless and overwhelmed, Merraid felt gloriously helpless in his embrace. It was a heady feeling to surrender willingly. Bathed in an invigorating sea of ecstasy, she had no desire to fight the current. In the next moment, she would have gladly drowned in his arms.
But the door swung open. They split faster than a tree hit by lightning. The besom clattered to the floor.
“What the devil?” Lady Feiyan stood in the open doorway, taking in the ruins of her solar.
Chapter 9
Merraid’s face flamed. She gulped guiltily.
Not so much because of the upturned buckets and ash everywhere. But because she’d had her hands and lips all over the lady’s cousin.
Thinking the most inappropriate thoughts.
Feeling the most inappropriate feelings.
“This is my fault,” Gellir volunteered at once. Of course he did. He was the most gallant gentleman she knew.
“Nay, ’twasmydoin’, m’lady,” she argued.
There was no reason for him to take the blame. He was right. Shehadswatted him first. And there was no doubt in her mind that the kiss was her idea.
He continued. “Merraid was trying to show me how to sweep ashes from the hearth, and I knocked o’er the bucket.”
Feiyan smirked. “Is that how you got an ash handprint on your backside?” she asked him.
Merraid froze in horror.
Then Feiyan turned to her. “And fingerprints on your face?”
Merraid lifted a hand to her cheek. She glanced at Gellir. He winced.
Before they could explain, Lady Feiyan raised her hands to stop them. “I don’t want to know.” She faced Gellir. “Look, cousin, you can have all the mistresses you like after you’re wed. But right now we need togetyou wed.”
Enraged, Gellir rose to her defense. “How dare you suggest—”
“Which is why I came,” she said, waving away his comment. “The Graham sisters are arriving within the hour.” She wrinkled her nose at him in disgust. “See if you can make yourself presentable.”
He glared at Feiyan. Then he gave a bow of his head to Merraid. “My humblest apologies. I should ne’er have—”
“’Twasn’t your fault. ’Twas I who—”
“Nay, ’twas me who should have—”
