“And what do you think that bulge of yours is doing to me?”
He knew as soon as the words spilled from his lips and his hand moved beneath her cloak that he was causing them both a world of agonizing ache, but it didn’t stop him.
“Let’s see,” he said, and his hand found its way beneath her dress and shift, slipping up her leg, tickling across her thigh, and settling between her legs, where his fingers slipped their way inside her.
Tara let out a soft, “Oh my!”
“I can feel what it’s doing to you,” he whispered, and then teased along her ear with a nibble. “You’re wetter than you were before.”
“You shouldn’t—”
“Ah, but I want to.”
“You can’t—”
“I can.”
“I’ll come,” she whispered.
“Not this time,” he murmured against her ear. “This time you wait for me.”
“I can’t wait—”
“You will. I’ll make you.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Oh, but it is,” he murmured. “This time we climax together.”
She shuddered against him, and he chuckled.
“I promise you a most memorable ride now and when we arrive.”
Chapter 27
Tara had tried to wiggle free of Reeve’s teasing touches, but she had only managed to make it worse. It seemed the more she moved, the deeper inside her he went. She had finally resorted to pleading, but he had just grinned.
Finally, she had threatened. “I will return this torture one day.”
Reeve had laughed. “Is that a promise?”
She had remained quiet after that, biting at her bottom lip to prevent the heated moans from bubbling over. Reeve had continued to fuel the fire he had started, detailing things he intended to do to her in soft, hungry whispers that stained her cheeks molten red.
So by the time they arrived at Bliss’s cottage, she was ready to ravage him. And damn if after all the begging for him to stop, when he finally did, she was disappointed. Her only thought was that he had to finish what he had started, or she would kill him.
The thought struck her like a splash of ice-cold water to the face. Good Lord, what had she been thinking? If she made love with him, the curse would kill him. She had allowed her need, her never-ending ache for him, to blind her to what she must do.
Snow had started falling shortly before they arrived at the cottage, big fat snowflakes that quickly stuck to everything they settled upon. Reeve dismounted first and then, with a quick grab at her waist, he had her standing next to him.
Odran and Reeve talked for a few moments, though Tara had no idea what they discussed. She was much too worried about spending time alone with Reeve and trying desperately to ignore, chase, and be rid of the passion that so thoroughly consumed her.
Reeve took hold of her hand, and it was then she noticed that they were alone. Not only Odran was gone, but so was the horse. Snow was falling fast and hard. And she was surprised that the flakes that fell on her weren’t melting, her burning desire for Reeve having flamed even more instead of dying to tiny embers.
He hurried her into the cottage, shutting the door. And before he turned, she scurried around so that the table stood between them.
When he turned, his grin faded though he said nothing. He removed his cloak, hanging it on the peg near the door. Then he pulled his black shirt from his plaid, stretching his arms up to shed it with a careless toss.
Tara felt her legs buckle, and she leaned on the back of the chair for support. He was simply delicious. His lean form was defined by taut muscles, and each stretch and turn defined those muscles even more. He was a gorgeously crafted male and he loved her and she loved him and this should be so easy, but it wasn’t.
He yanked his boots off and tossed them to land near the hearth. He then grabbed his plaid at the waist, where it sat tightly tucked, and once he pulled the strip loose and let it fall, he would be completely naked.
“Don’t,” she said sharply.
“You don’t want to make love with me?”
Damn him for asking her that. “You know I want to make love with you.”
He grinned and let his plaid fall.
Tara almost shut her eyes, almost, but then thought better of it. She would not appear a coward. She had to make him see reason though how she would do that with him naked in front of her was the real question.
She tried not to focus on his obvious desire for her, but damn if she couldn’t keep her eyes off it. Large, long, thick. She startled at the fast throb that struck between her legs.
“You can’t deny we want each other,” Reeve said.
Tara felt like raging at the injustice of all she had endured and still continued to endure, and tears were quick to fill her eyes.
Reeve stepped forward, but she swung her hand up. “Don’t.”
“I am going to make love to you,” he said adamantly.
“Then you will die,” she said, shaking her head and letting the tears fall. She was exhausted from fighting, exhausted by the loneliness, exhausted from the passion that just would not dissipate.
Reeve moved so fast that Tara had no time to react. He had her in his arms before she could protest, and once there, she didn’t want to leave. She rested her head on his bare chest and let the tears fall.
He held her close. “Cry all you want. I am here with you, where I want to be, and with you is where I intend to stay forever.”
She let the tears fall, not sure why she was crying and not caring, knowing only that she needed to shed them. Perhaps they fell because she would not make love with him, or perhaps she would and then regret it, for she would be the death of him. She didn’t know, didn’t want to know. She simply wanted to remain safe in his arms forever.
“We need to do this,” he said.
“Why? Why can’t we remain like this? Me forever in your arms.”
“You know why as well as I do.”
“Love,” she said. “You won’t say it, won’t admit it, but it is love that drives our passion, our need, our never-ending ache for each other.”
“That need, ache, whatever you wish to call it needs to be satisfied.”
“And the consequences? What of them?”
“We leave them to fate,” he said.
“Don’t ask that of me. I can’t.”
“I can, and you will.” He took gentle hold of her chin and raised her face to look upon him. “Trust me. Let me make love to you.”
He didn’t wait for her answer. He scooped her up and carried her to the bed.
She covered his hand when it went to grab and lift her dress. “Do you know what you do?”
He grinned and laughed. “I’ve never had a woman ask me that.”
She shook her head though she smiled. “You know what I mean.”
His hand snaked around to take hold of the back of her head and brought her mouth to his so fast she had no time to take a breath. He kissed her like a man starved for love, and she responded with equal hunger, her arms going around his neck and her body pressing invitingly against his.
At that moment, she surrendered to her passion, she had no choice. Her need was too great, as was his.
He kept his mouth glued to hers while he struggled to lift her dress and shift. Impatient herself, she tore her mouth away and yanked her garments over her head, tossing them carelessly aside. Her boots followed.
He took hold of her waist and held her a short distance from him, glancing slowly over her body and smiling. “You are so very beautiful.”
Joy flooded Tara’s heart, and tears tickled at her eyes.
His thumb wiped them away. “I’ll see you shed only tears of happiness from this moment on.”
“I am happy,” she said, “though I will be much happier when you rest between my legs.” And she pulled him down with her onto the bed.
“You are a wicked woman,” he teased, coming down on top of her and bracing his han
ds on either side of her head.
“You prefer me not to be wicked?” she asked innocently.
He grinned and stole multiple kisses before responding. “I encourage you to be as wicked as you want to be with me.”
She nibbled at his lips. “Be careful what you ask for.”
“I don’t want to be careful. I want us to explore, experiment, examine all there is to making love.”
Tara shivered at the erotic images that assaulted her.
“I’m going to make love to you all night, Tara. I’m going to taste and touch and tease and torment—”
“And I shall do the same to you.”
“Promises. Promises—” Reeve gasped.
Tara grinned, her hand having slipped quickly down to take a firm hold on his manhood. Actually, she quite liked the feel of him, velvety soft, thick, and hard.
“Keep stroking me like that, and I’ll be the one pleasured.”
Tara didn’t have a chance to react. Reeve moved her hand off him and snuggled his way between her legs while settling his lips to play across her mouth, down her silky neck, and over her full bosoms, finally resting, in turn, at each nipple, which hardened instantly to his teasing taunts.
Her body squirmed beneath his in an effort to help him gain entrance.
He raised his head to look at her, her nipples budding tightly from the cold air that hit them, and she yearned for the return of his warm lips.
“Not yet,” he said. “We play first.”
“We’ve played enough,” she insisted, rising her hips to push against him and meeting his thick bulge. She moaned with the want of him.
But he made her wait, his hand moving down to please and torment all at the same time, while his lips pleasured her budding nipples. After a moment or two, he moved down along her body, planting kisses and stealing nibbles as he went. It was when he settled between her legs that she almost bolted, if it hadn’t been for his firm hold on her hips.
His tongue darted into her over and over until she thought she would go mad with desire.
“Please, Reeve, please,” she finally begged, after his torment turned unbearable. “I need you inside me.”
He rose over her and eased his way between her spread legs, slow and easy. “Know once I enter you, you belong to me.”
She nodded and grabbed at his face. “And you belong to me.”
He slipped into her then as if sealing their bargain, and she gasped and stiffened for a moment.
“All of you. I want all of you,” she demanded.
He plunged into her then in one swift motion, and she cried out, grabbing his arms tightly.
He stilled instantly, and asked, “Are you all right?”
The concern in his voice had her smiling; that he should put her comfort before his pleasure pleased her beyond reason.
“More than all right,” she whispered. “I think I will want you inside me often, it feels so very good.”
He grinned and kissed her. “I want you to always feel good.”
They set a rhythm then, not taking their eyes off each other. Tara could see his passion grow and peak in his dark eyes and knew his mirrored her own. Then there were the moans she couldn’t help. He felt so good sliding in and out of her, teasing her senseless, that she responded with the deepest groans and sighs and moans, which seemed to please him just as much.
His rhythm suddenly changed, turning more rapid and insistent, and she followed suit, rising to match his hardened thrusts and relishing the tremendous pleasure it brought her. She closed her eyes, feeling the strength of her wildly beating heart, savoring the erotic beat that pulsed through her body and holding firm to the pleasurable ache swirling like a whirlwind through her.
Her fingers dug further into Reeve’s arms, and she anxiously pleaded for release.
“Soon,” he whispered, and kissed her with a hunger she returned.
“Now,” she begged again. “Please now.”
And with a sudden plunge, he sent her over the edge, tumbling into an abyss of pleasure she never thought possible and she never wanted to see end. And he didn’t let it. He moved inside her, causing her to burst with pleasure twice, consuming her, captivating her, and completing her. The second time, she felt his release, his groan of pleasure filling the air until, finally, he collapsed on top of her, and she wrapped her arms around him.
She didn’t know if it was that she was trying to keep death away, or if she was afraid he would simply disappear, and this would all turn out to be nothing more than a dream. Either way, she didn’t want to take a chance. She held him tight and wouldn’t let go.
He tried to move off her, but she held firm.
He looked up at her, and she knew her eyes were wide with fright, knew her fear was palpable.
“I’m not going anywhere. I—”
She rushed her hand to cover his mouth. “Don’t say it. I long to hear it, but please don’t say it. I fear if you do . . .” She didn’t finish, she couldn’t. As much as she wanted to hear Reeve declare his love for her, she still feared the curse.
He brushed her hand away and rolled off her, taking her with him to tuck and hold in his arms. “I intend to keep you right here beside me.”
She sighed with relief and snuggled against him. He understood her fear, and she knew his actions declared his love for her, but she wasn’t ready to hear him say it yet. She wasn’t ready to believe that the curse could not hurt him. She still feared it could. After all, she loved him, and that was enough to bring the wrath of the curse down upon him if she claimed it aloud. But if he should admit his love, he would certainly suffer for it.
“Here is where I want to be,” she said.
“Here is where you shall stay.”
She wanted to ask how. How would he manage to keep her with him? But she didn’t want to disturb the peace and beauty of the moment. She preferred to believe that he held the power to make it happen. That he was a mighty Highlander warrior impervious to curses, to death itself.
“Trust me, Tara, I’ll see that it all turns out well for us.”
“I want to believe,” she said, glancing into his dark eyes, eyes that retained a hint of passion. “I truly do, but we face so many obstacles.”
“You can believe that, or believe that fate intervened and placed us where we are meant to be,” Reeve said, wrapping his legs around hers. He reached down and pulled a soft wool blanket over them.
“Then that would mean that fate sent you to rescue me.”
“More than once,” he chuckled.
She jabbed his chest playfully.
He grabbed hold of her hand and brought it to his lips to kiss, a tender, loving kiss. “You and I were meant to be. Fate decreed it, and we can’t fight fate.”
She smiled. “I keep forgetting. You’re always right.” Her smile faded. “But what if—”
“No what-ifs.”
“But if fate decrees otherwise?”
“Then I defy fate,” he said, with a shake of a fist to the heavens and a grin. “And fate learns I’m always right.”
Her chuckle was broken by a yawn.
“Sleep,” he urged, stroking along the length of her back.
“I love when you touch me.” She sighed.
“Then I’ll touch you to sleep.” And his hand began to work magic over her, caressing and kneading along her back, her shoulder, her arm.
She sighed aloud. “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”
He nipped at her ear. “Never, Tara. Never will I stop touching you.”
Chapter 28
Exhaustion crept over Reeve, but he couldn’t sleep. He closed his eyes, but they soon drifted open. He tried to calm his mind, but it soon filled with thoughts. Try as he might, sleep eluded him. All through his restlessness, he had kept Tara snug against him. She hadn’t moved since falling asleep over an hour ago, which meant she was content, and he intended to see she remained that way.
He hadn’t considered how they would avoid the obstacles alr
eady in their path or those to come. He only knew that he would protect her with his life, even against fate if necessary.
He yawned, had been for the last hour, though it hadn’t helped him sleep. It more tormented him, letting him know just how tired he was but that nothing would come of it. He’d lain there awake, his musings haunting him.
Then there was his mission to consider. It would soon make more demands of him, and there would be times he would have to leave Tara and see to his duty. He and his brothers knew that, and it was the very reason why they had planned not to fall in love . . . just yet. They had concluded that there was no time for it, but as he had learned, love doesn’t consider time. It arrives when and where it pleases.
The next yawn had him squeezing his eyes tight and spreading his mouth wide. Lord, he was tired and wanted to sleep. Here he could finally sleep, feeling safe, not worrying about someone bursting in and stealing Tara away from him. He was glad for the snowstorm that raged outside. It meant they would have time alone together. They would have time to talk, to plan
And—to make love as often as they liked.
Tara stirred, stretching as she turned away from him. He almost didn’t let her go, turning to take hold of her, but she snuggled her back against him. And he, in turn, draped his arm and leg over her, cuddling her tight.
Warmth and the scent of their lovemaking drifted around them, not to mention the sweet aroma of her hair. He took a deep breath, breathing in her rich scent. And he smiled as his eyes drifted closed, and this time they didn’t open.
Reeve opened his eyes slowly. He lay on his side, hugging the edge of the bed, and he smiled when he thought of who lay behind him. His eyes opened fully, and he was about to turn and take hold of Tara when his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
She stood completely naked in front of the fireplace, her backside to him. She was washing herself from a bucket by the hearth. Her pale skin glistened from the fire’s light dancing across it.
Good Lord, she was a beauty. He loved the fullness of her hips, the roundness of her backside, and the slender strength of her legs, which he was thinking would fit quite nicely around his waist as he slipped comfortably inside her.
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