Page 45 of Christmas at the Scottish Lodge
Jed settled back over her, rubbing skin against skin, aside from her bra.
‘Was it always like this?’ he rasped, his voice filled with surprise as he leaned down to kiss her again and she impatiently shoved her hands between the two of them and started to work on the top button of his jeans that he’d somehow fastened when she wasn’t paying attention.
‘No, it was better,’ she said as she managed to undo it. ‘Because usually at least one of us was naked by now. You’ve lost your touch, or at least you’ve slowed down.’
She felt him smile against her mouth. ‘That’s what eleven months of celibacy will do to a man,’ he joked. ‘I’m just out of practice and I want to take my time,’ he whispered. ‘I believe in doing things properly. I’m not going to make mistakes with you again, Mairi.’
‘That’s good to hear, but you can still speed things up,’ she grumbled, ripping at his jeans as her insides began to pulse. ‘Live up to your nickname –Turboworks just as well in the bedroom as on the slopes.’
He laughed as she lifted her body, encouraging him to do the same, so she could work his trousers down over his hips, then she pressed her fingertips into the muscular globes of his backside.
‘Ouch,’ he complained even as he pulled her trousers down too, leaving her almost naked aside from her underwear.
Daingit.He was just as perfect as ever. He hadn’t changed. There were a few more scars, although Mairi knew he had far worse on the inside. Hopefully, this might be the start of healing some of them. The first step in his path to recovery.
‘You’re so beautiful,’ she murmured and gasped as he suddenly rolled them both over until she was sitting on top of him. She straddled his hips and gazed down into his face, before tracing a fingertip over a huge yellowing bruise on his bicep anda long, puckered scar just above his collarbone. ‘These are new.’ She frowned.
She’d known his body so intimately that it felt strange finding something she didn’t recognise. It was like he’d somehow changed when she hadn’t been able to see him – or at least it reminded her of how much she’d missed. Of all the injuries she hadn’t been able to help him to heal.
‘I fell, again,’ he admitted, his mouth pinching into a thin line. ‘It’s a new habit of mine.’ His mood had darkened and Mairi cursed herself for bringing it up.
‘Do you want me to kiss it better?’ she joked, keeping her tone light, before she leaned down and pressed her lips to both without waiting for his response. She squeezed her thighs as she moved, relishing the heat of him between her legs, of the feeling of having him under her again.
‘I don’t know how I stayed away from you for so long,’ he said roughly, as she began to kiss her way down his torso, pressing her mouth to his cool skin, inhaling the familiar scent of pine forests and man.
‘Neither do I,’ she muttered, trying to keep any blame from her voice. She understood he was hurting but knowing that didn’t quite take the sting out of the long, lonely months. She began to work his pants down over his hips, shoving them to his knees before pushing them towards his feet.
He quickly tugged her up before she managed to get them all the way off and rolled them again until he was on top. It meant he could stare into her eyes. His were broody and made her insides swirl.
‘I missed you,’ he said, swallowing. ‘I’m sorry if I hurt you.’
‘If?’ She raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t going to let him off the hook completely.
He nodded, absorbing the blow, looking stricken and she reached up and stroked the hard edge of his jaw. ‘That doesn’tmean you can’t make it up to me,’ she murmured. ‘This is an excellent start. If I was naked too, it would be even better.’ She grinned.
They would have to talk again, but now wasn’t the time. Now was the moment for seduction and connection – for reminding them both of what they’d missed.
‘Aye,’ he croaked as his eyes ran downwards from her face, and he lifted his body so he could look at her again.
‘The bra unfastens at the front. Not that I’m rushing you or anything.’ She flushed when his eyes immediately dipped to the spot between her breasts and he inhaled sharply.
‘Perfect.’ He traced the edges of the pink lace with his index finger and nodded.
‘Will you just take it off already?’ she moaned as he stroked a thumb over the top of one of the cups, making her body squirm.
‘So impatient,’ he chuckled. ‘I almost forgot that about you. I do remember liking it, though. How incredible it was that you were so hot for me.’
‘I’m about to combust,’ she rasped, wriggling under him. ‘You need to think roasting, flaming, blistering heat. You need to get on with it before I go up in flames. You’ll be sorry if I do.’
He laughed as he eased backwards and quickly undid the bra and tugged it off, his movements more hurried and clumsier than they had been until now. Then he kissed his way down her torso, mirroring what she’d been doing to him only moments earlier – until he tugged off her pants and threw them over his shoulder.
‘Where’s Midnight?’ she whispered, suddenly remembering the puppy was in the room somewhere, possibly buried under a pile of their clothes.
‘Don’t care,’ he said. Although he did glance over his shoulder. ‘He’s asleep. The game with your shoe obviously wore him out,’ he said before dabbing gentle kisses up her calf as hepushed her legs open and settled himself on his knees in front of her. ‘Beautiful,’ he murmured, making her insides melt like butter in a hot pan.
‘Is this okay?’ His eyes glittered as he looked up at her again. They were filled with humour – he was enjoying making her ache. He knew exactly what he was doing to her. He always had.
‘It would be better if you’d just speed things up,’ Mairi sighed.
