How he wished they were in his bedchamber at MacDuff Manor. Fine linen sheets, fresh smelling from blowing in the outdoor breeze. A warm counterpane to cover their chilling bodies when they were finished and cuddled up together, and fluffy pillows on which to rest their heads. She deserved as much, but with the temperature rising with their kisses and touches, the sorry mattress would have to do.
When she didn’t answer but merely nodded, he stood and scooped her into his arms. He walked the few steps to the mattress near the fireplace and gently laid her down. He came down alongside her and rested his head on his propped-up hand. With a slight smile, he slowly loosened the pink ribbon that held her chemise together. His shaky fingers made one final tug, and the two ribbon pieces separated. He took a deep breath as he moved the sides apart to reveal her perfect breasts.
“Ye are tempting, lass. So verra tempting.” He bent and took one rounded, plump breast into his mouth—suckling, teasing, and swirling around her nipple with his tongue.
Her hands fisted in his hair as she tugged him closer. “Aye. Oh, aye. That feels so good.” She threw her head back and softly moaned. He shifted to the other breast while his fingers continued to pluck on her other nipple.
She tasted like honey and smelled like a flower garden in full bloom. He pulled back and whipped his shirt over his head, tossing it in the direction of her discarded jacket. She whimpered her displeasure at his abandonment. “No worries, lass.”
Evan took her hand and placed it on his bare chest. “Touch me, mo chridhe; I want to feel yer hands on me.”
Not a shy miss, her hands roved over his chest, her fingers tugging on the curly hairs. “Yer so warm.”
“Aye. Ye make me warm, lass. Hot, even.” He pulled her against him for another searing kiss, his hands busy pushing down her frock. “Lift, darlin’.” She raised her hips, and he slid the dress, stays, and chemise down and off, leaving her in just her stockings and half boots. He studied her in the scant light from the candle.
She was a fine-looking lass, her skin as soft as silk as he ran his palm over her curves. But Katie was so much more than her pretty face and womanly form. She was smart, caring, strong, and the perfect woman for him. His desire for her was so powerful, he had to be careful not to spill himself like some untried youth but to make sure this was as pleasurable for her as it was for him.
He’d never bedded a virgin before, so he had to go slow, as much as he wanted to just plunge himself inside her and feel her moist warmth wrap around his very needy cock.
Tonight she would be his. Forever. He would not take the virtue of a gently reared lass and not offer marriage. He would work out all the details tomorrow. Now he wanted to feel her under him, moaning with passion, her heavy-lidded eyes watching him as she broke apart in his arms.
He allowed his hand to wander over her curves, where her body dipped at her waist, then rose over her hip. He covered her nicely plump bottom with his hand and pulled her against the proof of his desire for her. “Ach, lass. Do ye feel what ye do to me? How much I desire ye?”
Katie nodded, her own hands busy running over his chest, shoulders, and back. She kissed his neck and rubbed her face back and forth, inhaling deeply. “Ye smell like the hills of Scotland, the air filled with thistle and heather.”
“We need to get rid of the rest of these clothes,” Evan murmured. He sat up and was rewarded with the delightful sight of Katie lying on the mattress, her auburn hair spread around her head like a halo, the light from the fireplace bringing out the golden highlights. When she saw him studying her, she moved to cover her breasts and mons. He grabbed her hands and moved them to her sides. “Nay, lass. Ye’ve nothing to be ashamed of. Ye are beautiful.”
“But I am the only one undressed.” A slight blush rose to her lovely cheeks, raising his ardor even more.
He made quick work of removing her half boots and stockings, then his own stockings, boots, shirt, and trews. Settling alongside her, he pulled her into his arms and covered her mouth, cheeks, eyelids, and jawline with small kisses. “Ye taste like honey and sunshine.”
“Aye? Ye know what sunshine tastes like, then?”
He growled at her laughter and kissed her again. He’d never experienced such joy while sharing a bed with a lass. He could not imagine why he’d thought up until now that bedding was a serious business. With Katie he felt free, happy, and more content than he’d ever been in his life.
He moved from her mouth to the tops of her breasts, close to where they joined in the center. Despite her quips, she tasted sweet, and a bit salty from their day’s work. He fisted her hair in his fingers as he once again took her mouth while his hand wandered down her body. “Yer skin is so smooth, like the finest silk.”
“And yers is rough, like a warrior.”
“I am a warrior. And dinnae forget it.” He nibbled on her earlobe, his breath coming faster as the temperature in the room rose, and his craving for Katie continued to increase. Needing his release, but kenning hers should come first, he moved his hand down to the curly hair between her legs. “Open yer legs, lass. Let me pleasure ye.”
She shifted, allowing his fingers to delve into her moistness. “Aye. Ye are ready for me.” He smiled with satisfaction at her slight gasp and the tightening of her fingers on his shoulders. “Do ye like that?”
“Aye.
