by Lexi Post
Her chest rose and fell faster before she licked her lips. “You’re even bigger than I imagined.” She stepped closer, touching his chest. It was an exploratory caress over his pectorals and down his abdomen. He held his breath as she stroked lower, but she let her hands drift to the sides of his thighs. He exhaled slowly before inhaling her minty scent now mixed with her own heat.
She stuck out her tongue and licked his nipple.
As pleasure flew straight to his groin, he grasped her by the shoulders and broke the contact. He wouldn’t last longer than a heather bloom at an early frost if she continued to do that. Ignoring her disappointed moan, he grasped her behind the knees and picked her up to sit her on the bed, her legs hanging over the edge. He knelt before her like a supplicant to a Druid goddess. Placing his hands on her thighs, he caressed downward to the inside of her knees and then pushed her legs apart. The shiver that ran over her skin told him she was no virgin to what he wanted. She did not fear, she anticipated.
“Torr?”
Her husky voice solidified his control. “Aye.” He stroked his hands slowly upward until he reached the blond arrow at the juncture of her thighs. He touched it in wonder. It was soft yet prickled, and the thought of it rubbing him above his cock had him stiffening to the point of pain.
She rested her hands on his shoulders, waiting. “Yes.” Her whispered word and the smell of her readiness almost broke him, but her interest in his mouth made him anticipate her taste.
He gently spread her folds with his fingers. She was beautiful, pink and full. He lowered his mouth and licked the center opening. Her fingers grasped his shoulders as her taste spread over his tongue. Her liquid was hot like her scent. He licked upward and her legs widened.
Torr smirked. This was a woman who enjoyed passion. Locking her thighs in place with his hands, he speared his tongue into her center, pushing against the tightness of her walls.
She made a strangled sound in the back of her throat, and he looked up. Her head was thrown back, her breathing shallow and her nipples hard. God, he wanted this woman! Returning his attention to her pleasure, he once more stroked upward until his tongue found the hard point of her excitement. Leisurely he tongued it, swirling the nub, licking it.
Her hands moved to the sides of his head and gripped his hair. “More.”
He grinned inside at her panted word before he flattened his tongue and licked her from bottom to top. With his lips, he kissed her lightly before gently blowing.
Her body twitched. She was ready.
With anticipation clawing inside him, he settled his mouth on her pleasure point and sucked. Her hips pushed into his face as her hands gripped his head to her. Her strength surprised him, but then much about her did. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her ass toward him, not letting her escape for a moment.
He knew the instant her pinnacle hit. Her body tensed, her thighs tightened, and her mewling sounds of before turned to a high-pitched yell. He swirled his tongue as he sucked then drove it as deep into her opening as he could. Her walls constricted and her juices flowed into his mouth. He savored them like a starving man and licked every part of her sex as she finally calmed, her breaths slowing and her hands and thighs relaxing.
Gently, he kissed her one last time before lifting his head to look at her. Her face flushed with passion, her loosened hair, glistening skin, and rapid pulse called him to take her. He pushed her back on the bed and scooted her upward so he could kneel between her legs.
She opened her eyes and focused on him. “That felt so good.”
“Good. Now we do it again.”
He half expected her to shy away from him, but instead, she stretched her arms over her head and arched her chest up. “Yes.”
He couldn’t resist the invitation and bent down to lick at her nipple. Her hands came down to rest on his arms. After treating her nipple to gentle bites, he sucked it into his mouth and stroked it with his teeth and tongue. She pushed her breast into his face, wanting more. Greedy lass.
He let her nipple go with a pop and knelt up.
She opened her eyes and gazed hungrily at him. “I want you inside me.”
Her assertiveness intrigued him, and he growled deep in his throat. “Aye, that ye’ll get.” He swept both her hands above her head and held them there as he laid himself over her. “When I’m ready.”
She opened her mouth to reply, but he covered it with his own. His need to control their sex was strong, and he plundered her mouth with his tongue, taking, sucking, and stroking while he rubbed his cock along her thigh, teasing her.
Her hips rolled into him, begging him silently as she surrendered to his tongue’s pillage.
When he felt her capitulation, he raised himself up and found her warm, wet entrance. He stilled, wanting her to crave him as much as he craved her. “Are ye sure ye want this? Want me?”
Her gaze moved from his body to his face. “Yes. Please, Torr.”
It was all he needed. He pushed in an inch and her tightness nearly undid him. He stared into her eyes. He wanted to watch her this time.
Her gaze was unfocused as she looked at him, and his pride rose. This is what he wanted to give her. Slowly, he inched his way inside her body, burying himself to his hilt while gently rubbing his abdomen against the hair that so intrigued him.
She tried to wiggle her hands away, but he tightened his hold. Nay. He was in charge, completely in charge. He watched her face as he lifted his hips, coming out of her to his tip. Her body strained toward him, her breath rapid. As he slid back in, she shuddered and her sheath tightened around him, sucking him inside. The pleasure built within him fast, but he wouldn’t finish without her. Pulling back again, he pushed in faster, and soft pleasure sounds emitted from her, heightening his desire.
He increased his speed, yet her hips met his. She even wrapped her legs around his ass. He watched her face flush as she tossed her head back and forth on the bed. Her mouth remained open, her breathing quick pants now.
He pumped hard, feeling the suction tease his cock when her body gave way beneath him, the exquisite pressure pushing him to the edge of release. Finally, she screamed. He watched as her face tightened and her cheeks turned a bright red. But her convulsions around him set off his own release and with no warning, his orgasm ripped through him. He growled over her as his body sent his seed flooding into her. He released her hands to leverage his hips to pump out the very last drop of the ecstasy that held him.
When there was nothing left to give, he pulled out and collapsed next to her, too drained to keep himself over her. She caused him to go beyond what he had ever done. Though he’d been in control, she’d taken so much. He wasn’t sure he liked that.
Her breaths still came in short pants next to him. “I’ve never…I think…can’t move.”
His confidence returned at her words, and he turned on his side, propping his head in his hand to look at her. Much of her hair had come out of her braid. What would it look like splayed across his bed? Unable to resist, he leaned over and untied the leather at the end and unplaited the pale mass. “Beautiful.”
She turned her head to face him, but didn’t open her eyes. “You, too.”
He chuckled. Her complete exhaustion aided his feeling of comfort. Since they lay sideways across the bed, he rose and pulled back the covers before rearranging her underneath them. She curled onto her side, her breathing deep.
It was early yet, the gloaming not complete with the long summer days. He walked to the window and watched as his men spread out, headed to their assigned posts. Others started to bed down outside. As his guards patrolled the defensive wall, he noticed one standing still, looking up at his window.
Douglas.
He turned away and sat in the chair at the fireplace. The man’s doubt had him studying his bedmate. She was different, aye, but a threat? No. He generally did not consider women a threat. Except perhaps his former lover, Margaret. It was because of her that he no longer invited th
e same woman to his bed twice in a row. She had decided he was hers alone and had underhandedly attacked the other women. He’d sent her to her mother’s family in Ayrshire.
All of his rules had solid reasons behind them, and since he’d taken over as laird, he’d not had a single loss of life, though a few wounded, including his brother. Not having a regular woman kept peace within the castle and protected him from growing attached. His feelings for his brother and his king were too much a weakness as it was. He did not need to be more vulnerable. Keeping the patterns meant keeping control, and keeping control over his need for Diana was critical, especially considering her feelings for him.
In a couple days, he would invite Helen, the weaver woman, back. In the meantime, he doubted any of his men, including the king, would show Diana any interest. He’d clearly claimed her for himself. He studied the soft skin of her cheek and again wondered at the strength that lay beneath it. Would she agree to return to his bed once he’d had another in it? His gut tightened at the answer. Nay, she wouldn’t. To be truthful, he didn’t want Helen. He wanted Diana, again and again.
He rose as if he could escape his own thoughts, but he couldn’t. Once should have been enough with her, but he wanted more. Picking up Diana’s garments, he hung them across the chair. Since she had washed them so she could wear them on the morrow, it would be a shame for them not to dry.
His own leine he left on the floor. He had others he could wear. Right now he preferred his nakedness and how it would feel next to the woman in his bed. Climbing back in, he pulled her warm body tight against his side, accepting for now, his interest in her. He smiled as her leg naturally lifted over his own. Darkness had barely begun, and she would awaken later as she usually did. Satisfied they would enjoy each other again before the night was through, he closed his eyes and slept.
Chapter Nine
Diana woke with a start. It was bright, and she was in a bed. Scanning the room, all she could see was a wall and a window. Where was she? A warm weight against her back sparked her memory.
Puck! She’d thoroughly enjoyed having sex with Torr. For such a large man, he was a gentle lover…at least until he came close to his climax. She grinned as she remembered the feel of his thrusts inside her.
What was she doing? She needed to leave. How could she have slept the whole night? What if Go-Lucky had come to talk to her?
Carefully, she slipped out of bed, not wanting Torr to wake up. If he did and wanted to have sex again, she would be too weak to resist. Her dress lay over a chair and was almost dry. She glanced at Torr. The man was too thoughtful by half. Slipping on her leine, she belted it about her waist.
With her hand on the ring of the door, she hesitated and looked back. Torr lay on his back, his torso bare, one arm across his chest, the other flung out to the side. She wished she could have met him in her own time, but then he wouldn’t be Torr. With a silent sigh, she pulled the door open and crept downstairs.
Not many people were awake, so she made her way to the kitchen and grabbed her breakfast before making her way to the bakery. She wouldn’t make the same mistake she did the day before. She’d take breaks and eat in the hall. She’d simply not go anywhere near Torr. She very much doubted he would seek her out. Besides, his pattern was to go a few days without a bedmate, or so Nessa said. After what they’d shared, she couldn’t imagine him asking the widow or anyone else to his bed. He definitely felt something for her, so she just needed to figure out what to do when he did ask her back.
Once entering the quiet building, she started the fires for baking. Her morning sped by as she and Nessa focused on bread. However, at noon she made a point to cross paths with Ian as he left the stables. He had just ridden in from a hunting expedition. His wide toothy smile made her shake her head at him. “Are you and Fergus still friends? I noticed he is not with you today.”
Ian wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked toward the Great Hall. “Aye, yer idea worked. He has been a bit grumpy, but I think he will return to his usual self soon.”
“I’m glad. I’m also curious. Why did you join this clan only to have Fergus as your shadow when you had family elsewhere?”
Ian stopped and faced her in the doorway. “I thought everyone knew.”
She shook her head, surprised by the seriousness in Ian’s usually happy face.
He looked past her, at nothing in particular. “I had to leave. My laird’s son had taken a dislike to me and had done everything he could to discredit me. When he used my horse and raced it across the moor, it took a tumble and threw him.”
She sucked in her breath, afraid to hear what happened next.
Ian refocused on her. “My horse was fine, but the laird’s son came up lame, and it’s fitting is what I call it. But I had to leave nonetheless. At least I was able to take Annabel with me.”
“Annabel?”
Ian’s smile returned. “My horse.”
She matched his grin, glad to hear the happy ending to the story…if it was true. She didn’t expect someone working with a Disrupter to come out and tell her he was from the future. If Ian had wanted to get out from under Fergus’s watch, it could have been because he wished to have space to meet with his Disruptor. Ian meandered off to sit with the men, and she joined the ladies in the kitchen.
After lunch, she and Nessa cooked bannocks again. Torr kept everyone on a regular schedule. After losing so many family and clan members over the last three years, she could understand why. The clan appeared to accept it easily. She found it a very different experience compared to her own life. Then again, she could always count on being in one time period for about two weeks, so perhaps she did have some type of schedule.
“Nessa, shall we take a moment and have a drink?”
Nessa put down the hot iron pan and wiped her brow with the back of her sleeve. “Aye, I feel like a baked bannock meself right now.”
She wiggled her brows. “And it would be the perfect time to see Evan.”
“Ach, that man needs a fire lit beneath him. He won’t let a man talk to me, yet he doesn’t kiss me.”
“Maybe he needs a push.” She wiped her hands on the linen cloth and started out the door. “Or maybe you should give him a kiss.”
Nessa grabbed her arm to stroll with her. “Or fall in the bath with my clothes on so he can help me disrobe.”
She halted.
Nessa spun as she was tugged back. “Ach, would ye break me arm?”
She propped her hands on her hips and stared hard. “Nessa, I had no choice. He wouldn’t let me walk in my wet clothes.”
“Of course not. They would be too heavy anyway. Besides, everyone knows ye cannot stay in wet clothes. Was he as good in bed as the women say? We were a bit disappointed ye did not come to the kitchen for breakfast and tell us all about it.”
Heat rushed through her limbs. She lowered her voice. “Yes. He was wonderful.”
Nessa giggled and tugged on her arm. “I thought as much. Will ye bed him again?”
She let Nessa pull her to the well then occupied herself with drawing the bucket, purposefully ignoring Nessa’s question. She was well aware of the answer, but to voice it made it far too real.
Nessa leaned her hip against the stone structure. “I mean, when it’s yer turn?”
The cold water that sloshed as she dropped it on the wall of the well was nothing compared to the sudden freeze of her thoughts. “My turn?”
“Of course. The laird keeps a certain order.”
She dunked the cup into the bucket and struggled to keep her hand steady as she gave it to Nessa. “If he has an order then, no, I won’t.”
Ness looked at her over her cup and swallowed. “But if he is pleasant…”
She clenched her own cup. Pleasant would be an understatement. Torr was Wow! But if he really did sleep with women in order, then he could leave her out. She stilled. By the time he came to her again, she could well be back at Stonehaven and he would be… Her breathing stopped as if a St
. Bernard had just sat on her chest. Torr had only a few days left to live.
“Diana?”
She stared at Nessa with unseeing eyes. The man who cared so much for king and clan would soon be run through with a sword during battle if she did her job. She turned toward the practice field where he sparred with Kerr using a broadsword. Compared to the claymore he usually used, the weapon appeared small in his hands. Her gut told her Scotland needed a man like him, but if he lived, Scotland would disappear.
“Diana. Ye are spilling yer water.”
She shook her head and picked up her cup. “I’m sorry. I just remembered something. I’ll be back.” Leaving her cup on the well, she ran to the castle’s tunnel-like exit and down the path she had walked when she first arrived at Gealach. As she neared the forest, she glanced about before ducking into its dark depths. She didn’t stop until she’d reached the small pond in the clearing.
She sat down on the grass, her heart crying for Torr’s limited life. Nothing made sense. Torr was a good man and the Disruptor would keep him alive. Why would a Disruptor do something nice? And did the Disruptors save Torr because he was a good man or because they wanted Scotland to disappear? If the Disruptor was already in the time period, then he or she had to know what Torr was like.
The niggling sensation in the back of her mind started again. There was a pattern here, if she could just grasp it. “Go-Lucky, I could really use your help right now.”
Though she said the words aloud, he wouldn’t come. There was no way to communicate across time. Even Jules’s telepathic ability couldn’t reach across it. With no help, she focused harder. If the Disruptors arrived just before they changed history, they wouldn’t know the people whose lives they changed. But if they arrived early, they would. Could it be that random? Did they drop in and get to know someone, and if they thought history was unfair to that person they changed it, like with Torr?
