“Perhaps I simply want to help you along,” she said with another breathy laugh. She was teasing him.
He’d need to be careful, or sharing pleasure with each other could shift into something he had vowed to avoid since swearing his oath as war chief.
Tonight had been wonderful. But he told himself once again, love was not for them.
…
Mari pushed back and gasped as she stretched in the most wonderful way at her husband’s invasion. In this position it felt different. The familiar pleasure she’d experienced twice already began to stir deep in her belly.
She’d always expected the act to be disgusting. Something to be done with as quickly as possible. But with Cameron, she found herself wishing it could go on forever.
The deep thrusts of his cock were exquisite, but there were other things that added to the experience. His touch on her breasts, his breath on her neck. The sounds he made, and the way he said her name in a tone that spoke of desperation and pleasure, as though she was the only person on earth who could satisfy his needs.
She knew, of course, that wasn’t true. One body was as good as the next for such things, she imagined. But she had to think there was something special between them for it to be so unbelievably good.
Her pleasure continued to build, and she panted his name.
“That’s it, lass, take your pleasure.”
Like the other times, her body clenched around his in rhythmic spasms of intense delight. She cried out, still shocked by the force of the convulsions.
Cameron tensed and let out a groan as his heat filled her. He didn’t move away. Still inside her, he pulled her tighter against him.
“You’re lovely,” he whispered, then his breath evened out in slumber.
Smiling into the darkness, she caressed the large arm wrapped around her.
“You’re rather lovely yourself.”
She knew it would be an easy thing to let her heart follow her body into the pleasure of this new marriage. But her smile faltered as worry trickled in to disturb her happiness. If she allowed herself to fall in love, it might be impossible to leave him if ever it became necessary.
The next morning, with the light shining in his chamber, everything looked different. Brighter somehow. Full of hope and promise. Her body zinged with pleasure and a bit of soreness.
Cameron was still sleeping against her back, though he’d slipped out of her while they’d slept.
“Are you awake finally?” he asked, causing her to jump.
“I thought you were still sleeping.”
“Nay. I’ve been awake for an hour. Just lying here watching the sun change the color of your hair as it came up.”
“That sounds horribly boring. You shouldn’t have let me keep you.”
He laughed. “It wasn’t boring at all. And I’ve no place to be but here.”
Except that wasn’t really true. He normally would have gathered his men to practice their drills. So they would be ready if ever Lachlan gave approval for a takeover of the McCurdy clan.
While she’d understood his impatience, a larger part of her was glad her new brother-in-law resisted. Staying at Dunardry meant there was less risk of danger.
She turned to see him propped up on his elbow. He was still very naked, and she felt the heat on her cheeks when her gaze drifted low enough to see his manhood resting against his thigh.
He reached out to caress her cheek, and she only twitched the slightest bit. She knew he noticed, but didn’t say anything or remove his hand.
“I wonder if you’ll ever lose that maidenly blush,” he mused with a smile on his beautiful lips. Lips that had touched her body in so many places the night before.
Another wave of heat washed over her face. And below.
“Don’t fash. It suits you.”
When she looked up into his honey eyes, she saw curiosity. His lips opened to speak, but he said nothing. Clearly he wanted to say something but hesitated.
“You told me we should feel safe to tell each other anything. Did I misunderstand?” she asked when he looked away from her.
She didn’t want that distance from before to return.
He chuckled and shook his head. “No. You didn’t misunderstand. And I will talk to you about this. It’s just that I don’t want to ruin this moment.”
She had an idea what it was he wanted to discuss.
Sliding closer to him, she kissed his cheek. “Go ahead. He cannot hurt me anymore. I’ll not give him the power to ruin anything in my life ever again.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m beyond pleased to be the first to lie with you. It’s just I’m not sure how you remained a virgin. Men have urges, and I expected a violent man like the duke would see to them whether ye wanted him to or not.”
She glanced away in embarrassment.
“This is nothing you should feel shamed about. I’m glad you were spared that, at least. But I can’t understand why he’d never touch you. I wanted you in my bed the minute you climbed down from my shoulders.”
She smiled at her husband’s honesty. It was nice to be wanted, treasured.
“I think he wasn’t able to—” Her lips pressed together. She didn’t want to have to tell this kind man who had admitted he’d desired her that her last husband had been repulsed. But they were not keeping secrets from one another…
“He beat you because you didn’t provide him with an heir, but he never bedded you so you could give him one.” Cameron shook his head and let out a breath. “The bastard.”
“I thought it was me. I thought I wasn’t appealing. Or that I hadn’t done something right.”
“You’re the most appealing woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. I want ye so bad I ache with the need to touch you. Believe me. It wasn’t you, Mari.”
She nodded. “Last night when you looked at me—even with my scars—and weren’t disgusted, I knew I must have
