Page 101 of Laird of Flint
While one of his arms was clamped against his side and the other hand was busy shackling her wrist, she closed her eyes, leaned forward, and planted her lips squarely on his.
The combination of being weakened by mirth, stirred by battle, and overcome by love made Hew respond with more enthusiasm than he intended.
He knew it was wrong. He vaguely recalled something about keeping his distance. But he welcomed and deepened the kiss. His caution dissolved like mist as their mouths waged a gentle war and their breath mingled together in gasps and sighs.
Her fingers stopped their mischief then and dragged across his chest, rubbing with interest over his nipple.
Desire surged between his legs as her tongue delved between his lips. He released her wrist and lay his palm alongside her neck, holding her there so he could answer her hungry exploration.
Some faraway voice inside him was bellowing at him to stop.
But Carenza’s mouth was begging him to continue.
Deaf to everything that would keep him from savoring this precious moment, he gave himself over to his passion. With a possessive growl, he sealed his lips to hers. Holding the back of her neck, he rose slowly to his feet.
Her hands crept up his chest, exploring him, kneading him. She looped her arms around his neck as if she never wanted him to leave.
Her kisses became greedy, frantic, and demanding, driving him mad with longing.
She leaned against him, pressing her breasts against his chest. And for a moment, it felt as if their hearts beat in tandem.
Then she broke away from the kiss and moved her mouth along his jaw. Down the side of his neck. Across his collarbone. Leaving a sensuous trail that left him breathless with arousal. She licked at the flesh of his chest, lowering her head to capture his nipple in her mouth, circling it with her tongue.
He stiffened and threw his head back, enjoying the playful curiosity of her lips.
Then she moved to the other nipple. She nibbled lightly there, teasing him, and chuckling low in her throat when he responded, hardening to a nub.
But that wasn’t all that responded. The ache between his legs was growing sharper and more insistent.
He had to stop her. So he told himself. Over and over. Yet he might as well stop the sun from rising.
She pulled back then. For an instant, he thought she must have seen reason. Come to her senses where he had failed. When it came to temptation, she must be stronger than he was.
In that instant, he hoped he might be able to seize the reins of the runaway horse of desire. To stop both of them before they did something they’d regret. To stop things before they went too far.
But that instant passed. And in the next, she only made things worse.
Blushing at her own daring, she cast modesty aside. With frenetic fingers, she unpinned her arisaid and let it fall. Then she tugged the leine from off her shoulders until it perched atop her breasts.
Her glazed eyes compelled him to return the favor. To do for her what she had done for him. To finish what she’d started.
How could he refuse?
Her flesh was so soft. Warm. And willing. He longed to feast on her delicious skin. Almost as much as he longed to give her the gift of pleasure.
Still, he cared for Carenza. He loved her. If he gave in to his cravings, and she regretted it later, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself.
So he managed to grate out, “Och, lass, are you certain?”
She licked her lips and nodded.
Every inch of his body sizzled with need. Fire burned in his loins. His heart galloped like a steed.
With any other woman, he would have dived in with all the force of his lust.
But with Carenza, he wanted to temper his passions. To go slowly and cautiously. To take care with not only her body, but her heart.
So, trembling with restraint, he slipped his hand gently down the front of her leine, freeing her breast from the linen.
