The complete silence in the hot little room was finally broken by?Dom’s voice. “I’ll pay a penalty, my lord,” said Dom. “You have?but to name it.”
Niall Burke eyed Dom arrogantly, then drawled, “Your life, or?the wench’s maidenhead.”
A gasp went up. This was high drama, the sort of thing that?would be spoken of for years to come in both the halls and hovels?of Ireland. Why was Lord Burke so intent on having the bride? To?be sure, she was a lovely creature, but it was very rare for an overlord?to claim the
Dom O’Flaherty whitened, then reddened, with fear and helpless?rage. His eyes swept over Skye, then back to Lord Burke. He pictured?them locked in an embrace. Damn the bastard! thought Dom. He’s?got me trapped! At last he said savagely, “I yield. And damn you?to hell, my lord Burke!” Turning, he stamped from the chamber,?followed quickly by the O’Malley and the rest of the guests.
Niall Burke walked slowly to the door of the room and, shutting?it, slammed the bolt home. Turning back, he looked at Skye.?Throughout the whole exchange, she had remained as silent and still as a hiding rabbit. “I do mean to take you,” he said quietly.
Her eyes were enormous, blue-green against her white face. “I?know,” she answered softly. “You’ll have to tell me what to do. No?one has ever told me what is required, and I am very ignorant. Anne?didn’t have time to explain,” she finished helplessly.
A warm smile lit his features, and he was suddenly her Niall?again. “I think, sweetheart,” he said in a kindly voice, “that the first?thing would be to get you into bed. You look chilled.” With a?sweeping movement he pulled the covers back and, scooping her?up, gently tucked her beneath the down coverlet.
“Kiss me, Niall.” It was a simple request, and it was also the?first time she had called him by his name.
“I have every intention of doing just that, Skye. Give me but a?moment to divest myself of my clothes.”
“Please, now!”
Had she been anyone else he would have made a ribald jest. She?was so intense. So urgent. Instead he bent, kissed the lips she offered.?It was a sweet kiss, and they were both loath to stop, but finally she?drew away. “I had to be sure it would be as lovely with you this?time as it was the last. When Dom kissed me today I wanted to die? because he revolted me so.”
“And is it still as lovely, my darling?” His silvery eyes caressed?her warmly.
“Yes, Niall. It is still lovely.”
Thoughtfully, without haste, he removed his clothes and approached the bed. “Have you ever seen a man naked before, Skye??The firelight from the small corner fireplace flickered across his bare?body.
“Only the top part. The sailors often strip their shirts off when?it gets too hot. I’ve seen bare feet, and part of the leg too.” Her?eyes slowly traveled the length of him, lingering a moment on his?sex, then blushingly moving upward.
He grinned mischievously at her. “I trust I meet with your com-?plete approval, sweetheart,” he teased, climbing into bed with her.
Her heart-shaped face was very serious. “I don’t understand how?it works.”
“Let me worry about that,” he answered. Taking her into his?arms, he rolled her beneath him. “Ah, Skye! Sweet Skye! I have?dared much for you, my darling.” His mouth found hers again, but?this time it was different. His lips teased, playing lightly across her?mouth, her fluttering eyelids, her forehead, cheeks, chin, and lastly ?the tip of her nose.
The shock of his sweet assault left her slightly breathless, and?she was certainly not ready for the warm hand that gently cupped her breast. “Oh!” Then, “Oh, Niall, I am sorry I am so small,” she?apologized shyly, unable to meet his warm gaze.
“You are perfection, Skye. See how sweetly your breast nestles?into my hand? It is like a little white dove.” He bent his dark head?and kissed the pink peak, pleased that it hardened almost immediately?beneath his lips.
Gently he pressed her back among the pillows, lightly straddling?her. His warm mouth now pressed kisses all across her trembling?breasts, taking pleasure in her rapid rise to passion. Her beautiful?hair billowed shining and dark across the white linen pillows. Head?thrown back to reveal the slender column of her throat, she tempted?the warm lips to leave a string of burning kisses down the quivering?flesh.
His big hands slipped over her torso, enjoying the silken skin.?Suddenly Skye was afire, and she moaned helplessly, frightened.?Her body felt liquid. She was languid, yet filled with a great strength?at the same time. His voice murmured soft and reassuring words of?love.
Still she gasped softly, surprised as his fingers gently explored?her, probing tenderly, forcing the tension from her body. Then she?became aware of a new touch, that of his manhood, hard against?her soft leg. Gently his knee nudged her thighs apart. The pulsing?root of him touched the tip of her womanhood, and in a sweet haze?of fear and desire she heard him say, “It will hurt you just once,?Skye. After that there will never be pain again, my love.”
“Yes! Yes! Oh, please, yes!” she panted, not even knowing what?it was that she sought, but desperately wanting it. A deep, burning?pain quickly receded, leaving her filled with a wonderful, throbbing?warmth. His silvery eyes met her blue ones, and passion mirrored?passion as he loved her. For a moment they hung suspended in time?and then she cried out her pleasure as his hardness broke, filling her?with his creamy juices.
After a few breathless minutes he rolled away and cradled her in?his arms. He stroked her hair, marveling at its soft density. When?he spoke again his velvety voice held the faintest hint of a tremor.?”Thank you, Skye, my little love. Thank you for the most precious?gift a man can receive from a maiden.”
She moved so that she could see his face, her new womanhood?making her brave. “I have waited all my life for you, Niall Burke.?Do not leave me now, for I should sooner be your leman than Dom?O’Flaherty’s wife. I would go where you go.”
He sighed. “I cannot let you go now, Skye. We will get your?marriage annulled based on your adultery with me. I have no inten-?tion of returning you to O’Flaherty. We will leave for my father’s castle in the morning. Your husband is a vain peacock. A fat financial?settlement and a new and noble bride should soothe his swollen? pride.”
“You will not leave me?” Her eyes were shining with happiness.?”Oh, Niall! I love you! I love you so much!”
“God, sweetheart, I adore you!” He kissed her hard. “I love you?too, my darling. I love you!”
Their bodies melted together once more. Skye was completely?overwhelmed by these new and delicious stormy sensations sweeping?over her. Her body responded to his every touch, eagerly seeking?each new thrill.
He lay on his back and, lifting her, lay her atop him. Her blushes?delighted him. Shyly she hid her face in his shoulder. He chuckled.?”Nay, sweetheart, now you must love me.”
“But Niall, I don’t know how,” she protested.
‘Touch me, Skye. It’s the best start.”
She sat up, her legs on either side of his torso. She couldn’t quite?meet his gaze yet. Shyly she touched his chest with a trembling?hand. The dark mat of hair was soft, his skin smooth and warm.?Her hand moved to his shoulder, then down his well-muscled sword?arm. In a sudden bold move she leaned forward and brushed his? cheek with her breast. Niall softly caught his breath and waited for?her next move. Slowly she rubbed his face and then a hard little?nipple was against his lips. It was now Skye’s turn to gasp as she?found the taut little peak in the warmness of his mouth. His tongue?teased it, sending darts of fire through her. She wriggled, eyes half? closed.
His arms came up around her, and she once more found herself?on her back. He caught her hand and drew it down to his manhood.?Unbidden she caressed him with devastating effect. He groaned into?the dark and tangled night of her hair. The clean, heathery smell of?her soap, the warm woman scent of her body maddened him. Again?he slid his great sword into her sweet sheath.
Sighing, she took as much of him to herself as she could. Her?arms held him as tightly as his held her.
“Put your legs about me, my darling. I cannot have enough of?you.” His voice was strange, fierce and husky. Obeying, she cried?out softly as she felt him drive deeper into her soft body. The world?about her exploded into a whirlpool of pleasure upon pleasure. It?could get no better, and yet it did-with each smooth thrust.
“Niall! Oh, Niall, I die!” she finally sobbed, seemingly unable?to bear any more. He was experienced enough to control their spiraling rise, but he could not stop loving her. “Just a little more,?Skye. Ah, God! You’re so sweet! I
