Page 146 of Hand-Fasting and Other Hazards
Lochlan’s hesitant smile turned into something brighter, more confident, as the music carried them. In that moment, there was nothing else—just the two of them, moving as one in the glow of the firelight. Lochlan leaned in to kiss her, his lips brushing hers with a promise of something deeper. But Nia pulled back at the last second.
“Oh, no,” she teased, dancing away and out of his grasp. “You’re going to have to work for it.”
The cool night air brushed over her skin as she shrugged off her jacket, letting it drop at her feet. A flicker of heat danced in her chest—her own daring thrill—as she reached for the hem of her dress. With a deliberate tug, she hiked it up just enough to free her legs, the soft fabric brushing against her thighs as she began to move.
She let the music take over, swaying her hips to the rhythm, her hands gliding along her body in a way that felt both freeing and provocative. A grin tugged at her lips as she twirled, the bare skin above her stockings warm in the firelight. Her gaze snapped back to Lochlan, daring him to follow her lead, to lose himself in the night, in this moment.
Lochlan let out a low chuckle, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. He pulled off his jacket slowly, tossing it aside. His fingers went to his cuffs next, rolling up his sleeves, revealing forearms corded with muscle. When he undid the top few buttons of his shirt, exposing the hollow of his throat and just a glimpse of his chest, her breath hitched.
His gaze was no longer hesitant. It was heated, ravenous.
Nia felt her pulse quicken, heat pooling low in her belly. Goddess, that look… it was enough to make her slick, her thighs pressing together involuntarily. He took a step toward her, closing the distance, but she danced away, her laughter light and teasing as she beckoned him with a crook of her finger.
Lochlan chased after her, his steps growing bolder, more fluid with the music. She moved around him like a flame, her fingers brushing his arms, his shoulders, his chest. They danced through another song, and then another, their movements growing more tangled, more intimate. His hands found her waist, pulling her against him as her fingers threaded through his hair, mussing his waves until they were a glorious mess.
By the time the last song faded, Lochlan’s shirt was gone, discarded somewhere in the shadows. His chest gleamed faintly in the firelight, his skin warm beneath her touch. Her own dress felt suffocating, the fabric clinging to her sweat-dampened skin.
She couldn’t stand it any longer.
“Lochlan,” she murmured, her voice low and breathless. “I need you.”
She kissed him again, her lips lingering on his, teasing, before she broke away with a wicked grin. Then she ran, her laughter trailing behind her as she darted into the woods.
The cool night air kissed her skin as she let her dress straps slip from her shoulders, leaving it behind. Her underwear and stockings followed, piece by piece, falling into a trail of fabric between the trees. The moonlight guided her, filtering through the branches above as her bare feet carried her into a clearing.
She stopped in the center, the moon’s silvery glow lighting up the open space. Her chest rose and fell as she caught her breath, her arms lifting to the sky. She spun slowly, the cool grass brushing against her feet, the night wrapping her in its quiet magic.
When she turned, she saw Lochlan emerge from the shadows, his movements slow and his gaze locked onto hers. Her heart thundered in her chest as she watched him, his hands at his waist, undoing his belt, the soft sound of leather sliding free sending a thrill racing through her.
And then his pants fell, and she forgot how to breathe.
She ran to him, her bare feet silent against the ground, and leaped into his arms. He caught her easily, his hands steady as they gripped her thighs, holding her against him. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and the heat of him pressed against her, sending a shiver through her entire body.
Lochlan’s lips claimed hers again, his hand tangling in her hair with just the right amount of pressure, pulling her head back to deepen the kiss. A soft moan escaped her, her body melting against his, but then she felt the rough bark of a tree against her back as he pressed her to it.
His mouth left hers, trailing down her neck, his stubble grazed her sensitive skin and made her shiver. Each kiss was a mixture of teasing and reverence, and by the time his lips reached a peaked nipple, she was trembling.
“Lochlan,” she breathed, both a plea and a command.
In answer, his hands slid down her sides, gripping her thighs firmly as he lowered himself. She gasped when he maneuvered her legs over his broad shoulders, the position leaving her entirely exposed to him, completely at his mercy.
He looked up at her, his gaze molten, a silent promise in his eyes before his mouth found her.
The first touch of his tongue sent her head back against the tree, a strangled moan spilling from her lips. He was thorough, savoring her like she was something decadent, something worth every second of worship.
Her hands flew to his hair, threading through the soft strands as her hips moved instinctively against him. Every flick, every stroke, drove her closer to the edge, but just when she thought she’d tumble over, he eased back, letting her teeter there, maddeningly close to release.
“Loch!” she scolded, half-laughing, half-growling as frustration built.
His voice rumbled through her, the vibration adding another layer of delicious torment. “Patience,” he murmured, his voice rough against her skin.
“Patience?” she snapped, glaring down at him, her chest heaving. “I’m about to?—”
But he silenced her with another long, deliberate stroke, sending her spiraling right to the brink again before pulling back.
“Loch!” she growled, tugging at his hair in protest.
When it happened again, she shoved him to the forest floor.
