Page 54 of Captured By the Highland Devil
Turning, Ruben asked. “Are ye sure the man dinnae say anythin’ to ye?”
She shook her head. “Nothin’.”
He closed the window as the gale began battering the shutters. Turning, he told her. “By the end of this week, I’ll be givin’ ye a few daggers for ye to carry. Daenae ye dare do such a foolish thing again and if ye are faced with any such situation, daenae hesitate to strike.
“I’ll be teachin’ ye the best place to strike and beyond that, some tactics to defend yerself as well,” Nodding to the door behind them, he said. “Ye should go back to yer bed and get some rest.”
Paige looked over her shoulder then turned back to him, her cheeks holding a soft blush. “Actually, if ye daenae mind, I’d prefer if I stayed here with ye. After what happened today, I—I daenae think it’s wise to stay alone.”
Ruben cleared his throat then crossed over to the bed and pulled the sheets down. “After yer ordeal, I dinnae think seduction would be on yer mind.”
A strange sound left her mouth, “Seduction? What are ye—?” She paused. “Is that what ye think I am doing?”
“Yer smock is nay clothin’ at all,” he said, shooting a look over at her. It almost unmanned him, watching her rise from the water, her chemise clinging to her curves. “It’s damned near see-through. Ye’ll need to put on more clothes before ye catch a cold.”
Waiting for her to reply, he went to add more wood to the fire.
“…Or…” she said behind him. “What if we spend the night together?”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Ruben turned to her, “Ye daenae want that, lass.”
“Why nae?” Paige asked.
“Because I believe ye are nae thinkin’ straight.” Ruben said, “Ye are still reelin’ from the attack and yer emotions are in a tangle.”
“Or,” Paige held her head high. “It could be because I see how ye look at me. I may be somewhat of a novice desire, but whatever it is, I can feel it when ye look at me. Can I nae?”
“Nay,” Ruben said honestly. “Ye’re nae wrong. But I daenae think ye want to lay with me, lass—” he grasped her arm. “—I am a beast, remember. T’is inside, rearin’, clawin’ at me to be free and I’ll let ye guess where it wants to be the most.”
She swallowed, her eyes flickering to the bed. “In…there?”
“Aye,” his tone dipped to dark and ominous. “That side of me has voracious appetites that an innocent like ye?—”
Rising on her toes, Paige kissed him. It was barely a brush of her lips across his, softly at first then with more firmness as he gripped her hips in his huge hands. When she flicked the tip of her tongue against his lips, demanding entry, he groaned and took control.
He steered her backward into a wall, securing her wrists above her head, then leaned into her, pinning her with his hips. His lips closed over hers, the kiss rougher, more forceful than before, and she writhed under his touch.
His kisses branded her bare throat. In his arms, she was truly alive. The recognition blazed right through him and at that moment he knew he wanted her and only her.
“If we do this, we do it me way,” he growled. “Do ye agree?”
“Aye” she whispered.
“I’m nae going to take ye fully, but I will see to yer pleasure. If there’s anythin’ ye daenae like, ye will tell me to stop. Otherwise, ye will do as I say. Are we agreed?”
He claimed her mouth again, and heat flared like the Beltane fire, wrapping, pulling pure sensation. Her lips parted and she welcomed him deeper inside. Their tongues met in anotherflickering tangle of delight, and he groaned at the way the tips of her breasts stiffened against his chest.
They kissed with open mouths and wet tongues, with passion that bordered on desperation. Pulling away, he ordered, “When I take that damned tunic off, get on me bed.”
With ruthless purpose, he bunched her tunic in his hands and ripped the linen shift over her head, tossing the damp garments away.
Then, he allowed himself the reward of drinking in Paige’s exquisite form. God above, she was beautiful. Her hair, her face. The fullness of her breasts and belly and hips.
Everything about her was exquisite. She gently lay back on the bed and braced herself on her elbows. Her pale pink nipples were taut, and further down, the darker pink flesh peeking through her blond bush was dewy with moisture.
His mouth watered to taste her, but he would work his way down. Leaning forward, he kissed her, the force of his desire bruising.
