Page 49 of The Icy Highlander's Virgin
"Erica," he said, her name a rough whisper on his lips.
His hand came up to cup her face, thumb brushing across her cheekbone with reverent gentleness. She could see the question in his eyes, the careful restraint as he waited for her permission.
Instead of answering with words, she closed the distance between them.
If Erica thought their first kiss was heated, this feeling set her completely on fire. His mouth moved against hers with skilled precision, claiming her with a thoroughness that made her knees weak.
His tongue ran over her lips, and the taste of him flooded her senses. He kissed like a man who'd been starving, like she was the first drink of water after crossing a desert.
His free hand tangled in her hair, angling her head to deepen the kiss, and she melted against him with a soft sound that made him groan low in his throat. She could feel the rapid beat of his heart against her chest, could taste the desperation on his tongue as he devoured her mouth.
They broke apart, both breathing hard, and he let his forehead rest against hers.
"Christ, lass," he breathed, his voice rough with want. "Do ye have any idea what ye do to me?"
The raw hunger in his voice sent heat spiraling through her belly, and she realized with shocking clarity that she wanted to find out exactly what she did to him.
Suddenly, her forgotten fishing rod jerked violently in her hands, nearly slipping from her grasp as something heavy pulled on the line.
"I've got somethin'!" she gasped, the romantic moment shattered by the urgent tug of whatever was on the end of her line.
Lachlan was behind her in an instant, his arms leaving her waist to help steady the rod. "Keep the tension steady," he instructed, his hands reaching for hers. "Daenae let it?—"
But before Lachlan could get a firm grip, the fish—or whatever it was this time—gave another violent jerk, stronger than before.Erica, still flustered from their kiss and not thinking clearly, pulled back hard on the rod just as the line snapped with a sharp crack.
The sudden release of tension sent her stumbling backward with more force than she'd expected. Her heel caught on a loose stone at the water's edge, and she felt herself falling.
"Lachlan!" The cry tore from her throat as she felt herself falling.
The shock of the cold water drove the breath from her lungs as she went under completely. The fishing rod flew from her hands as she flailed, her heavy riding dress immediately soaking up water and dragging her down.
"Erica!"
She broke surface for a moment, flailing her arms, gasping and choking, her waterlogged skirts pulling her back under. Through the water streaming down her face, and her hair matted over her eyes, she caught a glimpse of Lachlan launching himself from the bank in a powerful dive, fully clothed with boots and all, hitting the water with a tremendous splash just as she began to sink again.
She went under again, splattering her arms with the weight of her sodden clothing inexorably. When she surfaced once more, sputtering and desperate, she saw him swim toward her.
"Erica!"
Strong arms wrapped around her waist, hauling her up toward the light, and then she was breaking the surface properly, gasping and coughing up lake water.
"I've got ye," Lachlan's voice was rough with concern as he pulled her against his chest, treading water to keep them both afloat. "I've got ye, lass."
Strong arms wrapped around her waist, hauling her up toward the light, and then she was breaking the surface properly, gasping and coughing up lake water.
"I've got ye," Lachlan's voice was rough with concern as he pulled her against his chest, treading water to keep them both afloat. "I've got ye, lass."
But even his powerful strokes were labored as he fought to get them both to shore. Her waterlogged dress clung to every curve of her body while simultaneously dragging them both down like an anchor.
"Damn it, lass," he grunted, his arm tightening around her waist as he kicked hard toward the bank.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"Ye're five times yer weight. What do they use for these dresses, lead?"
Despite her chattering teeth and the water she was still coughing up, Erica found herself almost wanting to laugh at his irritated tone. Even half-drowned, she could hear the underlying worry in his voice, the way his grip on her never loosened despite the obvious strain.
When they finally entered the shallow water near the bank, Lachlan's long legs reached the muddy bottom. He lifted her easily then, carrying her the last few feet to dry land before they both collapsed onto a patch of soft grass, breathing hard.
