He was like a god of the sea who had just emerged from the depths. His dark, wet hair brushed his broad shoulders.
His eyes turning predatory, he slowly moved closer, crawled along beside her and captured her mouth. Giving up the fight with herself, she lay back on the warm sand and slid her hands around his neck into his cool wet hair. He tasted salty, like the sea, and his tongue delved boldly into her mouth. Her body quickened as if awakening from a long sleep to feel the bright sunlight burning into her… and Torrin burning into her.
Aligning his body with hers, he slid his hand around her derriere and dragged her tight against him. Oh, saints! He was hard. She knew what this was all about; she'd lain several times with MacBain during their trial marriage, but never had she been ravenous for him as she now was for Torrin.
One of his bare legs slid between hers and he lay half on top of her. His mouth and body felt divine on hers as if something about the two of them was perfectly harmonized.
His kisses were seduction itself. Not too forceful, but still highly confident, his tongue flicking against hers, teasing her. He knew what he was doing, and he was so good at it.
Before she knew it, her belt was unclasped and her arisaid loose beneath her like a blanket upon the sand. His thumb grazed lightly over her nipple through the wet smock. She stifled a moan at the flash of white-hot pleasure that blasted through her. With every kiss, she wanted another, deeper kiss. She wanted him to devour her, consume her, and burn her up with his passion.
His erection felt large against her lower belly. Before she realized what she was doing, she brushed her hand down the hard, rippled muscles of his abdomen, and clasped his hot, rigid flesh. She gasped… and he growled. With a dark, feral look in his eyes, he broke the kiss and pulled back an inch. He clenched his teeth and waited, daring her, challenging her with his midnight gaze.
But she didn't remove her hand. She stroked down his stone-hard shaft, savoring the sleek feel of his skin.
In a flash, he was fully over her, yanking her smock upwards. Abruptly, he halted, breathing hard, his forehead against her. "Damnation, Jessie," he growled. "Is this what you want?"
Her heart pounded against her throat so hard she couldn't speak.
"Tell me what you want." He lifted his head and scrutinized her face.
"Aye," she whispered, almost ashamed of her weakness. She was never weak. She always spoke her mind and did it with firm conviction.
"Aye, what?" he demanded.
"I want…" She searched his eyes. Could she trust him? Though she was unsure of most everything else, she knew without doubt that she wanted him in a most carnal and physical way.
He muttered a curse. "You're driving me mad," he warned. "Tell me before I die of wanting you."
"You. I want you, too," she said, her voice and hands shaking. Her body's need for him overrode all else. 'Twas all she could think of.
He closed his eyes and released a short breath. When his eyes met hers again, something about his expression had softened, but also intensified. "Are you certain?"
She had never seen such passion in anyone's eyes before. So much, she was lost for a moment. "Aye."
"You want me to take you, right here, on the sand?"
She suddenly remembered they were outside in broad daylight. Glancing around, she noticed they lay between two giant boulders, which shielded them from most of the cliffs and high banks surrounding the bay.
"Aye." And she wished he'd be quick about it. With every moment that passed, something inside her ached ever more strongly. With each beat of her heart, need drummed more fiercely inside her.
He sucked in a deep breath and slowly pushed her smock up her thighs, then sat back on his heels. Glancing down, she couldn't believe how his impressive shaft stood proud and upright. Aye, she wanted him. And she knew with certainty she'd never wanted MacBain in such a powerful way.
Torrin hissed a curse; he was observing her most private parts just as she was his. Her first instinct was to close her legs, but she couldn't. He was sitting between them. But more importantly, she wasn't afraid of him, nor ashamed.
He moved over her again, his elbow on the ground by her head. He gave her a fiercely erotic kiss while the tip of his shaft brushed against her most intimate spot.
"Aye," she whispered, widening her legs. He moaned, nudging against her, into her. She drew in a breath and held it.
"Breathe, Jessie," he whispered.
"I am." Her voice was uneven.
"Look into my eyes."
She did, unable to believe the depth of emotion she saw there.
With a gentle but persistent thrust of his hips, he pushed deeper. A stitch of pain caught her and she gasped.
He halted. "Did I hurt you?"
"Nay, 'tis only… it has been a long while since…"
He nodded, his look darkening. "Just relax and trust me. I'll make you forget about him."
Torrin was right; a moment later, he was the focus of her existence. His scorching kisses mimicked the erotic moves of his body. He surged into her and away at an ever intensifying pace. Naught but pleasure and need ricocheted throughout her entire body. She no longer remembered who she was, only that she never wanted him to stop what he was doing.
Cold water from Torrin's wet hair dripped onto the sun-warmed skin of her face and neck as he pounded into her. Hot shivers spiraled through her, along with pleasure that darted and whizzed along her limbs.
He growled in her ear and slowed.
"Nay, keep going," she begged.
"Saints, lass," he hissed and moved his hand between their bodies. When he stroked her, she thought she would explode. She cried out, holding her breath with the increasing sensations. Nay, she could not breathe while he did that… whatever he was doing with his thumb, circling some especially sensitive spot. It felt like magic.
He slid deep, then away. Something inside her caught like throwing whisky on a fire, and she burst into flames. Her body bowed and shoved against his, beyond her control. What was happening? What sorcery had he worked on her? She knew she was screaming but couldn't stop. His mouth closed over hers, muffling her cries and his body ground against hers, deep into hers, over and over, the most perfect feeling in the world. She held onto him, grasping him to her, never wanting him to let go.
He roared in her ear, his body shuddering forcefully against hers.
A moment later, he breathed a curse and collapsed on the sand beside her, rolling her to face him, pulling her tight against him. "Saints! That was heaven on earth," he whispered between harsh breaths.
"Aye." 'Twas true. She didn't understand what she'd felt—that moment of pure bliss that had taken her breath and her mind—but she was too embarrassed to ask him about it.
Observing her a long moment while they caught their breaths, he grinned. "You have a beautiful smile."
She hadn't even realized she was smiling, but indeed she was incredibly happy for the first time in a very long time. Of course, her family made her happy, too. But even with them, she sometimes felt lonely or incomplete.
But Torrin had given her joy such as she'd rarely experienced. And why shouldn't she take her happiness where she could find it? She was no longer a young lass, needing to keep her virtue intact for some future husband. If she was barren, a tumble on the sand wouldn't matter. And if she wasn't… if Torrin got her with child… she didn't know. Did she wish to marry him? Before today, she hadn't thought so, but after what they'd just shared, she was certainly tempted. The emotion and passion in his eyes had held her spellbound. But would he lose interest and desert her as the other men had? Just the thought of it sent an ache through her stomach. If she fell for Torrin and he rejected her, she would never recover. There were too many unanswered questions and unfortunately she couldn't see into the future.
"Come, let's go for a swim." He stood and helped her up.
Her face heated for she still couldn't get used to his naked body, despite what they'd just shared.
&nbs
p; "But you must get rid of this first." He bent and raised the hem of her smock, but her arms prevented him from lifting it over her head.
"Nay! What if someone should come along?" She glanced up at the cliffs and the high bank surrounding them.
"Do you see anyone? We're over a mile from the village and further than that from the castle."
She bit her lip. His suggestion was tempting. How glorious it would feel to swim in the sea naked. She hadn't done so since last year.
"We'll spread the garment over this rock and it will dry in the sun and breeze by the time we're done swimming."
She glanced around, making sure no one was above them looking down. "Oh, very well." She lifted the smock over her head. He took it from her and spread it over the boulder.
His gaze skimmed over her, then lingered on her breasts. "Saints. You are the loveliest of sights."
She suppressed the urge to fold her arms over her breasts. "You're not so bad yourself, MacLeod."
He gave her an amused smirk. "Come. It's been a while since I swam in the sea for any length of time. And today's a rare warm day."
He dove under the water and she didn't see him for several moments, until he emerged thirty feet away. Not to be outdone, she took a deep breath and dove beneath the waves. Seconds later, she grabbed onto him and rose above the surface.
"I don't ken any other lady who could do that," he said.
She savored his compliment, but at the same time, it made her wonder. "Do you ken a lot of ladies?"
"Nay, not that many." He grinned.
Jealousy arose, unbidden. "Liar. I'm certain you have known many in the Biblical sense."
"I remember none of them."
"I don't care for insincere sweet talk."
"Nor do I. I've not so much as looked at another woman, much less touched one, since the night we met."
She searched his gaze, looking for insincerity, but could find none. Either he was telling the truth or he was a very skilled liar.
"I knew then that I wanted you and no one else would suffice."
Why? How? She had a thousand questions to ask him, but she didn't wish to get into any serious discussions now.
He grasped her around the waist as her toes barely touched the sandy bottom. When he lowered his mouth to hers, she slid her arms around his neck. His salty, sweet kiss was like the best of treats.
He trailed his tongue down her throat and, lifting her into the air, fastened his hot lips onto one of her nipples. She gasped as fiery arousal blasted through her.
Torrin pulled Jessie's long legs around his waist and strode from the water with her. Damnation, he must have her again. Now. It had only been a few minutes since his release but he was already fully aroused again. The first time with her had been astounding, earth-shaking, and far beyond his wildest dreams. He could've never imagined such pleasure as that which crashed through him with his release.
Gently, he lay her on the sun-warmed woolen plaid—her arisaid—their bare, wet skin sliding together.
"Saints, Jessie. I want you again," he said against her luscious lips.
"Aye. Take me." Between kisses, she whispered those sweet words in a desperate tone that only aroused him more.
After positioning himself, he pushed into her slowly, gradually, savoring each glorious inch. Her delicious, wet heat enveloped him. He looked into her dark blue eyes, seeing more passion than ever before. Though it might be sacrilege, he prayed that she could love him, that she would need him as much as he needed her.
During their first time, his own desire had nearly consumed him. Now, he wanted to give her more of his attention.
When he started moving, she cried out and held on tighter around his neck. "Aye," she breathed against his mouth. He captured her beautiful lips and devoured them. His body near went up in the flames of sexual pleasure.
She lifted her hips, boldly meeting each of his thrusts. Damnation, he was fast becoming addicted to this woman. They'd only indulged a few minutes ago. And he feared twice in one day would never be enough for him.
'Twas as if the first time had only been an appetizer and this was the main course. She accepted his scorching kisses, taking everything he was giving and eager for more. Thank the saints, she was a passionate woman who loved carnal pleasures. Or maybe 'twas their special connection and him that fired her up. He hoped.
"So damned good, Jessie," he growled against her mouth.
"Aye. Amazing," she hissed.
Her obvious enjoyment and her ardor for him sent his arousal blazing toward the sky faster than he would've liked. Nay, he had to pace himself and give her more pleasure than she'd ever thought possible. She wouldn't even remember MacBain's name by the time he was through with her this day. Torrin wanted her addicted to the pleasures he could give her. He wanted her to need him and think of him night and day.
Pausing, he moved down and drew her puckered nipple into his mouth while cradling her breasts within his hands. Her breasts were not overly large, nor were they small. Just the right size, to his way of thinking. Beautiful, creamy and perky with rosy pink nipples.
He moaned and switched to her other nipple. As he suckled it, she shoved her hips upward, imbedding him deeper. The sudden decadence of the move gripped him, and he growled. He wished he could bring her to climax several times before he reached his own, but he wasn't sure he could endure it this time.
After licking his thumb, he slid it between their bodies to stroke that highly sensitive pleasure point, that wee rigid bud just above where he slid. While caressing with his thumb, he thrust harder and faster. The expression on her face was beyond blissful. How he loved watching her at the peak of passion.
Her nails dug into his shoulders, tighter and tighter until she screamed, her body flexing hard and bowing upwards. Her nipples grew even harder and he suckled at one while pounding into her at the height of her pleasure. He held back his own release as long as he could. Once hers ebbed, his own crashed in on him, consuming all thought except how much he loved this woman. Aye, she was his, and he was never letting her go.
The pleasure drained away, bit by bit, and he slowly came back to himself, breathing hard. Saints, he felt like he'd climbed a mountain.
"Jessie," he said between hard breaths. "You are amazing."
She giggled, and the playful, happy look in her eyes told him all he needed to know right now.
Lying down beside her on the warm sand, he kissed her and held her close in his arms. The smile would not leave his face and his heart beat with joy and victory. Aye, she was his now, and she would soon realize that of her own free will. He didn't need to use words to convince her of anything. She would feel it when the time was right. He would show her what a joy life could be.
He drew back. "How about another swim? That one was cut short."
She smiled. "Aye, I'm ready to cool off."
He stood, then took her hand and helped her up. Hand in hand, they ran toward the water. He loved how fearless she was, going naked just as he was. She was a good swimmer, too.
For an endless time, they played in the water, splashing each other, swimming and jumping waves. Torrin grabbed her and kissed her every chance he got, and each time aroused him more and more. Soon, he would need her again, and he hoped she would need him as well.
Movement on the beach caught his attention. He blinked the burning salt water from his eyes. Around a dozen men were lined up along the beach. Were his eyes playing tricks on him? "What the hell?"
Jessie turned abruptly. "Who is—? Haldane?"
Chapter Eight
"That little bastard." Rage twisted through Jessie, and she started from the chest-deep water toward her youngest brother, Haldane, an outlaw who knew better than to show his face here.
"You're naked." Torrin grabbed her arm just as a wave crashed over their shoulders.
She muttered a curse and slid behind him while looking over his shoulder. "Haldane!" she yelled over the crashing waves. "Take your men and go!" She
pointed firmly. Though Haldane was an adult and was by no means small, he was four years her junior. She'd always ordered him about, but he'd rarely obeyed her, or anyone.
Even at this distance, she saw his satisfied smile. He shook his head, his bright copper hair and short beard gleaming in the sunlight.
"That gray-haired man beside him is McMurdo," Torrin said.
"Aye." Jessie had seen the infamous highwayman only a few times in her life and knew he had killed at least eighteen people, maybe more, including her cousin. Plus, he had come close to killing Dirk.
"We can wait all day," Haldane called, crossing his arms over his chest.
"What do you want?" Torrin demanded.
"My sister is going to gain us entrance at Dunnakeil."
"You're wrong, Haldane!" she yelled.
"What are you going to do about it? I have your clothes and your weapons. There is no escape from Sango Bay except up this bank, unless you have a galley somewhere. Or maybe you can swim for a couple miles in the sea."
"Oh, that bastard," Jessie growled between clenched teeth. "I could choke him." He was right; there was no exit from this bay except behind Haldane and his men. Sheer cliffs enclosed the two sides. "Leave now, Haldane! Or I'll throttle you."
He laughed. "I doubt that, sister. You and your lover are outnumbered. We're armed and you are not."
Her blood ran cold and the chill sea water wasn't helping any. The sun was descending in the western sky, and the wind was growing cooler. How long had she and Torrin been here? Clearly, they should've left an hour ago.
"Leave our clothes at the edge of the water and turn your backs!" she commanded.
Haldane did as she said, leaving their clothes in a pile just beyond the surf, turned his back, then he said something low to McMurdo. Several more of the men faced the bank, but not McMurdo.
"Turn around, McMurdo!" she demanded.
He shook his head. "Are you thinking I've never seen a naked woman afore? Trust me, I've seen a few." His nasty grin revealed several missing teeth.
"Ugh."
"'Slud!" Torrin said. "We need to turn the tables on them."
My Notorious Highlander (Highland Adventure 5) Page 11
