A Question of Lust (Questions For A Highlander Book 3)

by Angeline Fortin

  There are few more impressive sights in the world than a Scotsman on the make.

  James M. Barrie

  “Och, lovey,” Vin gathered her slowly into his arms, brushing the auburn hair back from her temple with a gentle hand. “Are you sure?”

  “You need to stop asking me that,” Moira teased, running her own hands up and over his shoulders. When he still made no move to continue, she added, “What do you want to do first?”

  “Endure long enough this time to pleasure you as well,” he said only half-teasing as the shame washed over him once more.

  “Anything you do will please me as long as it involves touching me,” she told him. “Please touch me, Vin. I’ve wanted you to for such a very long time.”

  “God, I shouldn’t,” Vin wavered torn between guilt and need.

  “Yes, you should,” Moira whispered.

  With a low moan, Vin pushed his misgivings aside and covered her lips with his, tenderly exploring with the softest of kisses, tasting when before he had only plundered. Moira parted her lips once more welcoming his tongue with her own, drawing him closer, but once more Vin pulled away. “Seriously? Again?” She couldn’t bear it if he left her now.

  A low, seductive chuckle escaped Vin as he moved behind her. Pushing her hair to the side, he teased the side of her neck with his lips and tongue as his arms slid around her to open the buttons on the front of her dressing gown one by one. “You asked me what I wanted to do first,” he reminded.

  Moira shivered as he warm breath teased the damp skin before he fastened his lips to the back of her neck once more. “And what is that?” she asked breathlessly.

  “I want to see you.” He pulled the dressing gown off her shoulders and let it fall between them. “May I?” he whispered in her ear.

  She could do little more than nod and she heard that low chuckle once more. A moment later, she jumped when she felt his hands under her nightgown’s hem and then on her ankles. He pushed the gown up, running his hands up her calves and then thighs. His lips followed trailing kisses in their wake making Moira’s knees turn to water. When his hands cupped her bottom, his moan matched hers.

  Vin’s hands slid to her hips as he pressed kisses against her bottom, nipping and sucking on the flesh there. If Moira hadn’t been so lost to desire, she might have thought to be embarrassed. His hands continued upward to span her and he scraped his teeth against the sensitive flesh on her side. “You have the tiniest waist I’ve ever seen,” he whispered against her. “But these,” his palms grazed her ribs until they cupped her breasts, “these have tormented me from the first moment I saw you again.” He squeezed them as he rose again sliding his lips back to her neck.

  “Th-they have?” Moira stuttered.

  “Aye,” he whispered gruffly. “I think they’ve tormented me since you were but seventeen.”

  “You noticed?”

  “How could I not?” he admitted at last accepting that his attraction to her was nothing new. He had wanted her years ago but denied it all for the sake of friendship. Yet, now, he couldn’t deny it even for the sake of friendship. It was a harsh irony. “Turn about, lovey, so I might see them at last.”

  Moira turned as Vin pushed her gown up and over her head. He looked down at her so intently that Moira almost felt the need to cover herself but then his hands came up once more to reverently cup each breast. He lowered his head and kissed each one before drawing one nipple into his mouth and sucking lightly. Moira gasped and captured his head in her arms drawing him closer, keeping him there as he laved and suckled the sensitive peak.

  “Well?” she asked in a shaky voice.

  “Everything a man could possibly desire.” He gave it one last kiss before rising to his full height, running his hands up in her hair to tilt her head back. “You are so very beautiful, lovey,” he murmured as he kissed her once more. Vin pulled her body against him but then it was Moira’s turn to pull back.

  “Wait!” She pushed her hands up under his shirt determined to feel the heat of his skin against hers. Vin blocked her efforts for a moment and Moira instantly knew why. “It’s nothing I haven’t already seen, Vin. Please! I want to feel you against me.”

  With a low moan, Vin threw off his shirt and gathered her in his arms until their flesh met heat against heat. “Och, lovey! My God!”

  Moira felt as if her body were on fire. Her tender nipples rubbed against the coarse hairs of his chest sending bolts of electricity through her. She couldn’t get close enough. Could not have enough of his skin touching hers. Years of wanting boiled up in her, suddenly it seemed she could not have him quickly enough. “Oh, Vin! Hurry!”

  Skimming his hands down her hips and around to her bottom, Vin pulled her body flush against his then urged one leg up to wrap around him, then the other. Bending, he scooped her bottom up in both hands and lifted her off the floor. Her limbs wound around him of their own will. Kneading the soft flesh cupped in his hands, Vin ravaged her mouth with his as he carried her to his bed. He lowered himself down keeping her tightly pressed against him until he settled between her widespread thighs. Running his hands up underneath her, Vin hugged Moira to him.

  He couldn’t get enough of the feel of her against him. Felt as if he could not get close enough. He wanted to melt into her and become one. An emotion unlike any he’d ever known rose up in Vin. Warmth and tenderness.

  Vin pulled back and looked down at Moira lovely face. Her lips were red and swollen from his kisses. Her eyes were bright and alive.

  He felt alive as well for the first time in years.

  He smiled down at her feeling that warmth spread when she smiled back.

  Moira could feel the joy in Vin’s smile; see it in his eyes for the first time since his return. He looked happy and she was glad it was because of her, that what they were doing together was giving him that feeling. She urged his lips back to hers whispering, “Make love to me, Vin. Make love to me as if you’ve wanted to do it forever.”

  She felt his chuckle as he kissed her again more urgently now. He trailed kisses down her throat and over her collarbone as his hands once again scooped her breasts into his palms. The rough skin of his palms set her on fire and sent gooseflesh racing across her. Helplessly she arched against him running her hands down his back and back up to his shoulders as his lips descended blazing a path across her stomach and hip.

  Pushing her legs farther apart, Vin lifted himself on arms weak with desire. Shifting, he ran a hand up her thigh to tease the thatch of red curls between Moira’s legs. Her breath caught and Vin felt the thrill of it race through his veins. Sliding a finger through the curls, Vin captured her next gasp in a kiss while stroking her tender flesh. She was so hot and wet already that Vin closed his eyes, fighting the urge to just take her and have it done. No, this time Moira would find her pleasure before him lest he explode quickly once again.

  Already he was shaking with need. Hard and more desperate than he could ever recall being. The feel of her wet, hot flesh was almost enough to send him over the edge.

  Moira felt his arms tremble and felt an answering quiver in her own limbs as he skimmed his fingers across her, circling a particular spot that swiftly had her convulsing with need. She panted his name over and over as she clung to him. Tension was building in her, tightening low in her belly. He kissed her, plunging his tongue into her mouth as his finger slid slowly into her. With a moan deep in her throat, Moira arched against him shuddering in pleasure.

  “Ahh, lovey!” he murmured hoarsely against her lips. “Aye, do you feel it? You’re so hot. So wet and tight. I can’t wait to…” he swallowed with a quake.

  “Don’t wait,” Moira gasped. “Please, Vin! I want you to.”

  “Not yet,” he returned through gritted teeth and plunged another finger in deeply with the first, reveling in Moira’s cries of ecstasy. He glided his digits in and out wrenching cry after cry from Moira as she pressed herself against his hand. Tossing her head from side to side, she begged him
to take her but Vin held himself in check. Bending his head, he caught her nipple between his teeth and circled her most sensitive nub with his thumb as he fingers continued to drive her higher and higher.

  “Vin!” Moira cried out as she felt the tension in her belly knot with near painful intensity. She dug her fingers into his arms when the pleasure broke suddenly. She screamed hoarsely into the room. The pleasure washed over her in waves as she writhed beneath his hand sobbing with the intensity of her release.

  Vin almost came himself when he felt her body clench around his finger. She was so passionate, so lovely in the furor of her climax. He rested his forehead against her shoulder panting as heavily as she while she recovered herself, her body still shuddering from the force of her passion.

  She ran a hand up his back. “Come to me, Vin,” she whispered breathlessly.

  Shucking his trousers quickly, Vin eased himself between her thighs once more, wanting nothing more than to plunge into his depths. Still, he remained poised at the entrance to her paradise. “Are you a virgin still, lovey?”

  Moira met his gaze, her face flushed and dampened by a sheen of sweat. “What else would I be?”

  A groan of pleasure escaped him. She would be his. He would be the first one to take her. Possessive glory washed over him. “Are you sure you want me to…”

  “I only want you to.”

  Her words sent Vin over the edge of insanity and he drove into her with slow, agonizing determination. She was so incredibly tight around him. Her body wet and welcoming, still pulsing from the strength of her release. Gritting his teeth, he pushed on feeling Moira clasp him tightly, her fingers digging into his flesh. “Are you all right?”

  “Just do it, Vin! Please!”

  “My God!” Her desperate plea sent him over the edge and Vin reared back before plunging to the hilt. Moira gasped and clenched him to her. Vin withdrew and drove into her once more.

  Her head fell back with a moan. “Ohhh.”

  He repeated the motion, holding back the lust that screamed for immediate release.

  Again, she moaned. “Oh, Vin. Again. Ohhh, again!”

  Vin gathered her in his arms and thrust into her over and over on her command, glorying in the rapture that transported them together into ecstasy. He pressed his face into her shoulder as he moved over her, felt her wrapping her longs legs around his hips as she urged him on.

  Her moans were echoed by his own as Vin strove to hold back his desperate release. “Come for me, lovey,” he whispered. “Let me feel you around me when you come.”

  The frantic heat was building in her core once more and Moira knew that she could not deny him what he wanted. She let it go with a sob that followed on the heels by Vin’s strangled cry as he thrust fiercely into her, once again driving as deeply as he could.

  Vin collapsed on top of her and Moira cradled his head in her arms listening to their harsh breathing break the silence of the room. Never had she imagined that it would feel this way. It was as if every feeling she’d ever known in her life had been balled up and broken within her at once.

  It was glorious. Overwhelming.

  The weight and feel of him over her was as well. She felt as if she could hold him there forever and never get tired of it. Stroking her fingers through his hair, Moira savored the feel of his body pressing her down. The thunder of his heart pounding against hers. It was on the tip of her tongue to confess her love, but she held it back.

  This was but the first step. He wanted her. Only her, by his own confession. Lust and love might be two different things now, but they had lust in spades. Heart-wrenching lust. Love would come. She was sure of it now.

  Chapter 25

  All human actions have one or more of these seven causes:

  chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire.

  Aristotle

  Vin eased off her and rolled on to his back pulling her into his arms while dropping a kiss on top of her head. He felt wild, mad and foolish for taking her so. She’d been a virgin. A prize that should have been gifted to her husband one day, but Vin could not feel regret for his actions. Couldn’t even summon the guilt that would surely come. Instead, he felt peaceful and relaxed but not drained. Already his body was responding to the press of her skin on his. His member stirred restlessly.

  A low chuckle of self-depreciation escaped him. He was insatiable but what could one expect? Either the length of his abstinence or the feel of Moira’s lithe, naked body would have been enough to rouse any man, but together were beyond denial.

  “What is it?” Moira whispered, running a hand over his chest. A caress that did little to soothe and much to entice.

  “I want you again,” he admitted softly into the growing darkness, running a hand down her back to the top of her buttocks.

  “Then take me,” she invited in a throaty, seductive tone pushing herself up on to her elbow so she might see him. Moira ran her hand up his chest once more, threading her fingers through the crisp hairs.

  “I should not,” he denied. “You’ll be sore.”

  Moira tilted her head thoughtfully before a beguiling smile graced her lips. She grazed her hand across his chest once more before turning the direction of her caress toward a lower goal. Down her palm skated over his ribs and abdomen before her fingers curled around his aroused member. He jumped in her hand but hardened even more at her light touch. Vin breathed her name, his arm tightening around her as his eyes closed in ecstasy and agony.

  “I think,” Moira purred in his ear. “That before this night is over we will both be very sore.”

  With a strangled groan, Vin flipped her over until he was on top of her once more. He grasped her legs and pulled them up around his waist. He pulled them both up until Moira sat across his thighs while Vin sat back on his heels holding her tightly to him with one arm. Brushing her hair back from her temples, Vin gathered her long hair around his fist until he pulled her head back.

  He kissed her so tenderly that tears sprang to Moira’s eyes though she blinked them back so he wouldn’t notice. Releasing her hair, he ran a hand up over her breast and neck until he cupped her cheek. “Yer the bonniest lass I’ve ever known in my life, lovey.” He kissed her softly once again. “But what kind of man would I be if I took ye again so quickly…” Vin laid her back on the bed, covering her lips when Moira began to protest. He shot her a wicked grin that flashed brightly in the dim light. “That is without making sure to ease the way… thoroughly before I do.”

  “Thoroughly?” Moira echoed.

  “Aye, verra thoroughly,” Vin murmured as he lowered his body over hers kissing her breasts for a moment before moving on to her ribs, her belly and farther.

  “That thoroughly?” Moira gasped once she understood what he was getting at.

  “Ye’ve heard of this?” he asked as he spread her thighs and sank between them.

  “I have books,” she told him in a quavering voice as she felt his breath against her core. “I’ve seen something like this.”

  “Why, lovey!” he said huskily, parting her gently as he blew against her. “What a wicked lass ye are.”

  “Not wicked,” she insisted shivering against the anticipation. “Just…”

  “Curious?” Vin traced the delicate nub of her desire with a fingertip, enjoying the feel of her legs quivering with excitement. Her thighs clamped tightly around his hand, to keep his hand there or stall his efforts, he knew not.

  “I didn’t imagine you would look at me so, though,” her voice was thready and weak.

  “But yer so lovely here,” he stroked a finger feeling an answering tension in her legs. “And here. I wonder if you taste as good as you look.”

  Moira moaned, a combination of embarrassment and excitement that had Vin’s heart racing. “Do you want me to find out, lovey?”

  Vin’s husky whisper brushing against her core sent a shudder of desire through Moira’s entire body. How could she admit such a thing to him? How could he expect he
r to? Still, her head nodded of its own accord and Vin bent his head to run his tongue up the cleft between her legs.

  “Mmm,” he murmured appreciatively. Someday he would tease her with a finger and tempt her to taste of her glory herself. Given the embarrassment, she was already awash with, Vin thought it best to save such a moment for further down the road when she was more comfortable with him and herself. Would there be such a time? Aye, he wouldn’t tire of her for a long while, he suspected.

  Pushing her legs farther apart, Vin teased her once again lightly before feasting on her tender flesh, teasing that little nub with his teeth before laving it with his tongue. He suckled and licked while she writhed helplessly against him first holding his head tightly against her then tugging at his hair, trying to pull him away.

  Moira could not stop the moans and cries that escaped her as Vin tormented her with his tongue. She could feel his hot breath against her, his hands massaging her thighs, felt the tightening of her entire body as he drove her higher and higher up to that rapturous plateau once again. She tensed knowing the moment was near and Vin knew it as well. He ran his tongue in long strokes up her cleft sliding his fingers inside of her.

  It was too much. Moira screamed into the room as she clasped him between her thighs bucking up against him. He had taken her so high the fall seemed to last forever as she contracted around his fingers while he wringed every last bit of pleasure from her.

  “Good God, but ye excite me, lovey,” Vin whispered as he levered himself over her, holding himself above her on his elbows as he settled himself between her thighs once more. He nudged gently for entrance sliding unhurriedly into her hot, welcoming depths. “Yer so passionate, so desirable.”

  His words were soft, but Moira knew he wasn’t as calm as he let on. Already she could feel his arms shaking with the force of his need, feel his heart pounding in his chest. He might drive her to the edge of insanity but Moira knew he was hanging on the precipice with her. He pulled out of her slowly and Moira met his returning thrust, raising her hips to receive him. With satisfaction, she heard his heartfelt groan of pleasure as he ground against her.