“I want this.”
“As do I.” He caught one of her silky red locks tumbling across his covers and twined the long length around his finger. Her breathing hitched and he seized her mouth and saturated himself in the taste of her, in the only woman who’d ever consumed his every thought, both day and night.
“You kiss so divinely.” She clasped his shoulders, her nails digging in like a claiming then she rubbed her body against his, the friction of her soft skin against his hairier body so sublime.
Damn, he’d never be able to hold on for long if she kept tormenting him in such a way. His cock throbbed, so achy and full even though he’d just brought himself to a peak in the tub.
Dreamily, he slid one hand along her hip then down into the V of her groin and cupped her mound. Silky red curls, the same rich and vibrant shade as her head, guarded her entrance. Heat pulsed there and gently, he slid one finger along her nether lips as he lowered his head to her lush breasts.
The rosy tips begged to be sucked on and he dived in, wrapped his mouth around one hard nub and as her legs quivered against his, her soft moans urging him on, he took her nipple deeper into his mouth and sucked, hard.
She cried out and he nearly did too, this moment one he’d forever cherish, never wished to awaken from, this woman forever in his heart and always in his dreams. Hell, of course she’d wed Matthew, and he’d committed himself to Elizabeth, but this moment was made in the heavenly realm of his fantasies and he intended to let no one else intrude upon it.
He popped her nipple free of his mouth, lifted up and captured her lips. He wanted to drink her in, to slide his tongue into the moist recesses of her mouth and taste her very essence. Inhaling her white rose scent, one that had haunted him these past sixteen months, he consumed her with one passionate kiss after another.
He got drunk on her, and she melted into him, one hand roaming down his side and over his hot shaft. She wrapped her fingers around him, made him whimper and turned his body into a blaze of roaring heat. Pulling back an inch so he didn’t come right then and there, he flicked her ear with his tongue and rumbled, “I want to taste every inch of you, for you to shatter against my mouth. Does the thought of that frighten you in any way?”
“Shattering sounds splendid.” A sultry haze darkened her eyes. “I love how you speak to me.”
“There are so many things I want to do to you, and for you to do to me.”
“Tell me.”
“I want you to take me in your mouth and stroke me with your tongue, to have you sitting on top of me and riding me hard. I want to pulse deep inside you and never let you go.” He’d never spoken to her like this in his life, but in his dreams he could. She was everything to him and always had been, and his cock was weeping for more. Hard as a hammer, he wanted to take her to the edge of reason right along with him, and he fully intended to.
“With Kyla now wed we can be together as one.” She glided one finger over the tip of his erection, so damn teasingly.
“Grip me proper.”
“Those are three words I want to hear you say every night for the rest of our lives.” She swirled over the head, stroked down his length right to the base and softly cupped his balls. “Promise me you will.”
“Woman,” he growled and jerked in her hold. “You are a wicked temptress.” He eased down her body, intent on making this dream-filled night count. Scraping his cheek across the soft skin of the upper swells of her breasts, he rumbled his pleasure.
More. He had to have more, and aching for another taste of her sweet nipples, he circled the pointed tips with his tongue, first one and then the other, and as he did, she sank her fingers into his hair. He devoured her, from her breasts to the flat plane of her belly and down each of her legs until he laid between them and nuzzled her inner thighs.
Heat rushed forth and a sweet honeyed scent encapsulated him. She was so incredibly wet. With one finger sliding into her womanhood, he delved deep, his blood rushing through his body and making him twice as hard in mere seconds. Damn, if he wasn’t careful, he’d come before she did, and that he couldn’t allow, not even within this dream.
“Oooh, so close.” She dropped her head back, her eyes closing and back arching.
“I’m beyond close.” He pushed her legs farther apart, his senses burning into a frenzy of need. She was like an elixir of the most decadent sort, tantalizing and teasing him beyond his endurance.
Aye, no more could he wait.
He caressed the wicked heat of her passage, fondled her deep and allowed his hunger for her to roar forth and consume him. He wanted one taste below, intended on stroking her there with his tongue, only she wriggled down and gripped his cock.
With an incredibly possessive touch, she rolled her thumb over the head of his shaft, which made the fiery burn sizzling at the base of his spine ricochet around and blaze to the tip of his dick.
Pre-come oozed forth, his cock weeping for more and she pumped him, just as he’d done with himself in the tub. His cock filled and lengthened further. Hell, no more. He couldn’t take any more.
With his blood roaring, he drove two fingers into her and touched a spot that had her crying out his name and shuddering against him. Her inner muscles clamped down on his fingers and dragged them ever deeper inside her, right where he wanted his cock. Only too late. She was coming and so was he. His essence spurted free in one long and hot rush between her fingers and he roared his pleasure before slumping onto his side next to her.
Everything darkened, his dream disappearing so swiftly as exhaustion took him.
* * * *
Fiona struggled to draw in a breath as she floated somewhere far beyond her body. When she’d worked Coll’s cock in long pulls and he’d thrust his fingers inside her, ’twas as if he’d finally staked his claim on her and such an array of emotions had flared so strongly through her. Giddy pleasure. Heart and soul fulfillment. A rightness than ran bone-deep. Everything she’d ever desired with him had been granted in this one single moment in time.
Slowly, she drifted, his light snore keeping her safely cocooned in her dreams. All she’d ever wanted was him, for him to claim her and even though he hadn’t taken her maidenhead, he most definitely had made love to—
A cock crowed and she jerked awake.
Light streamed into his bedchamber and she squinted against the bright glare.
Making love with him had clearly knocked her out for hours. Him too by the looks.
He moved not an inch, dark bristles shadowing his jaw, and one sheet pulled up over his lower body and hers, the fur covers all askew.
The portcullis rose from within the stone-arched entrance gate, the clunky sound of its chains reverberating across the bailey. A new day had dawned and since dark shadows still ringed Coll’s eyes, ’twould be best if she left him to his sleep and didn’t awaken him. He had arrived back so late last eve, and must have ridden hard all day to do so.
They could speak when he fully awoke.
Carefully, she shuffled off his soft mattress, tucked the covers over him then scooped up her nightrail puddled on the floor. Smiling, she folded and set it on the end of his bed. It would be a reminder of what they’d done, which she hoped he didn’t still consider a dream when he awoke since he’d seemed so adamant about that while they’d loved each other.
Limbs loose and her body completely satisfied in a way she’d never experienced before, she crept out of his bedchamber and closed their connecting door with a quiet snick.
In behind her dressing screen propped in the corner, she scooped up her clothes which she’d laid there last eve on the three-legged stool.
Clean shift in hand, she eased it over her head then donned her favorite red velvet gown, which swished over her hips and whooshed to her ankles in a soft fluttery fall. White embroidered detailing lay stitched into the low neckline and along the ends of the long sleeves that draped over the backs of her hands. She’d always adored this gown and reverently, she picked up the matc
hing white embroidered girdle and belted it at her waist before adjusting the long tasseled ends at the center where they swept down to her knees.
She stroked the soft velvet, just as she’d done when she’d first spied this fabric at the markets from amongst several bolts of cloth. Coll had accompanied her to the village that day and then watched her avidly as she’d admired the dressmaker’s fine wares. Sadly, she’d had to leave the bolt of cloth behind since her father would never concede to her spending yet more coin on fabrics when things were tight.
A fortnight later though, Coll had knocked on her door one morn and stood there with a silly grin on his face. In both hands, he held a sizeable package wrapped in brown cloth and spoke words she’d never forget. “I couldnae resist purchasing this for you.”
“What is it?” Over the years he’d often gifted her small trinkets, from tiny carvings he’d whittled from wood, to silk hair ribbons he’d purchased at the markets, as well as the odd treat from the village baker which he’d brought home. This though was clearly no trinket by the size of it.
“I couldnae help myself.”
“Clearly that is so.” But she’d given in quickly, so excited to see what he’d brought her and naught could have surprised her more when she’d peeled back the brown cloth and exposed the red velvet she’d adored at the markets. She unfolded the fine fabric, the layers falling to her ankles. Nay, not just velvet, but velvet now sewn into an exquisite gown. He must have asked the castle’s seamstress to do this. She hugged the gown to her chest then hugged him, squishing the fabric between them. “I cannae believe you did this for me.”
“Will you accept my gift?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.” And just as quickly as he’d come, he’d strode off down the hallway with a jaunty whistle and disappeared downstairs.
Never had a man given her such a treasured gift, and she’d worn the gown he’d gifted her with that day, just as she did this new day. He would understand the meaning behind it when he saw her, or at least he’d better understand it.
Sashaying out from behind the screen, she walked across to her side table. Gently, she ran a brush through her hair and left her locks lying loose and long down her back, then donned her riding boots and tucked her eating dagger into its wrist sheath under the sleeve of her gown.
Out the door, she fairly skipped, then bounced down the stairs. Such a heady mix of joy filled her, made her want to sing and shout, and to declare to all the world that the man she’d adored for so very long had now returned and finally claimed her. No more did he belong to another. He belonged to her, just as she’d always belonged to him.
Into the great hall with its massive wooden-beamed rafters rising to an imposing height overhead, she pranced. Sunshine streamed in through the tall windows and sprinkled golden and bright over the wooden floorboards. Across the far side of the hall, serving maids bustled about as they brought out jugs of warm cider, fresh bread and platters of boiled eggs and laid the food upon the tables. The hall remained fairly empty, but not for long. Soon it would be filled to the brim with warriors aplenty.
Next to the blazing fireplace, Beast and Buster sat with their tails slapping the hearth, eagerness sparkling in their eyes as they awaited her. Coll had taken them with him at her request before he’d left her that last day at his father’s keep. She’d never be permitted to take them to Rhue and they’d always been as much his dogs as they’d been hers. Now, she hurried across, hunkered down and wrapped her arms around their big heads and got a hearty lick on each cheek when she did. “Did you see your master has returned?”
Beast yapped and Buster thumped his white-tipped tail harder.
“I’m excited too.” She scratched under their chins and Beast rolled onto his back before raising his paws. Buster followed suit and with both bellies presented to her, she giggled and gave them both a hearty tummy rub.
“Fiona, there you are.” Beaming, Kyla whisked across, her forest-green gown swishing about her legs and the waist draping over the delicate roundness of her belly. “Coll rode in a few hours ago, has returned far earlier than we envisioned. I’d wished to plan a banquet in celebration of his return for this eve, but Coll intends on riding to Ardan to meet Ella first. We’ll have to delay the feast until tomorrow’s eve. Do you wish to aid me in the preparations?”
“Of course.” She’d love to, and Coll would most definitely wish to meet Ella, his new sister-by-marriage. The lass was a fae-blooded compeller with a hypnotically sweet voice that could see a man move to do her biding without him even being aware of it. A very sought after fae skill, and also a very rare one, although she always took great care when using it. “I’m aware Coll returned earlier than expected. I awoke when I heard him bathing in his chamber afore bed last eve.” She hugged Kyla, beyond excited to share her news. “I have something of great import I need to tell you, and afore this hall fills.”
“Then come. We’ll speak while we break our fast. My babe grows restless and kicks up a storm this morn. Hungry, I’m certain. I most definitely am.” Kyla grasped her hand and tugged her up onto the dais. Her friend waved out to one of the maids walking across with a tray of steaming oats and a platter of crusty bread and the maid set bowls for them both down at the high table, bread as well, then hustled over to finish setting out the other tables.
“Where’s Ronan?” She pulled out a seat for Kyla. “I wish only to tell you of my news for now.” Privacy was needed, particularly since she’d never whispered a word to Kyla of her feelings for Coll, not when doing so would have hurt her.
“Ronan has already eaten and ridden out to see to the security on our eastern border, so whatever you have to say can remain just between us.” Kyla eased into her seat, lifted the milk jug and added a splash of milk to both their bowls.
“Wonderful, because ’tis of a very sensitive nature.” She perched next to Kyla, dunked her spoon into her oats and ate a mouthful. Warmth raced to her empty belly and she grinned anew.
“Oooh, please hurry up and tell me your news of great import.” Kyla poked her in the arm. “You can barely sit still and you have such a glow to your cheeks.”
Jiggling even more and no longer able to hold back a moment longer, she whispered in a rush so no others could overhear. “I didnae just awaken at hearing Coll’s return, but also opened the connecting door between our rooms and, ah, spoke to him.”
“Well, dinnae stop there. You spoke of what?” She picked up a slice of crusty bread, dunked one end in the small bowl of honey and bit into it.
“Of his dreams.”
“And those would be?”
“Of touching me.”
“Pardon?” Kyla coughed and thumped her chest. “Did you just say Coll has dreamed of touching you? And exactly where did he wish to touch you?”
“Everywhere, and we did touch, everywhere.” She shoved a slice of bread into her own mouth, her cheeks so hot.
“You and Coll? Oh my.” Kyla nabbed her tankard of apple cider and slugged it back, her gaze darting from her to her drink and her again.
“I know this will come as a surprise, particularly when I’ve never told you of my feelings for him, but of course I couldnae afore this time. You two were as good as betrothed throughout most of your childhood.”
“I dinnae know what to say. I mean, you two have always been rather close, but never close in the way of, well, touching as you’ve said.”
“I wish I could have told you sooner. I’m sorry.”
“Dinnae apologize to—wait.” She shook her head. “What of Coll’s betrothal to the Chief of MacRae’s daughter? He’s set to wed Elizabeth MacRae by the week’s end. He told Duncan and Ronan and I all about it last eve. Did he speak to you about it as well?”
“Pardon?” Her head spun and her belly rolled. Surely Kyla jested. “He never mentioned any betrothal.”
Kyla gripped her hand. “Coll has no knowledge that you’re staying here, or likely any knowledge of what’s happened to Matth
ew since he’s been nowhere near Rhue Castle in a very long time, and Duncan and I certainly never wrote of it in the missive we sent to him. He’s invited the MacRae and his daughter to join him here so they might speak their vows. An agreement has been signed and they’re set to wed.” Kyla squeezed her fingers tighter, her eyes swimming with tears. “How deep do your feelings for Coll run exactly? Tell me everything.”
“I’ve always loved him, to the depths of my heart and soul.” Without question she had and still did. Hot tears burned behind her own eyes. How could he agree to wed another woman, and then touch her the way he’d done last eve? Unless he truly had believed her presence there was naught but a dream. Damn it all. He must have.
“I can see you’re in shock.” Kyla pulled her in close and hugged her. “Now that I’m aware of your feelings for him, and of the depth they run, have you ever considered that mayhap a soul bond is at play? It might have gone unnoticed by you both until now considering his duty to me. ’Tis entirely possible.”
“Soul bond or not, he’s now betrothed to Elizabeth MacRae and I should never have expected him to remain unattached for long after learning of your marriage. He is the firstborn son of a great chief, will one day lead our clan and be expected to make a very profitable match. Elizabeth is the daughter of a chief and I’m naught more than the daughter of a warrior under his father’s command. What have I done?”
“Nay, I willnae hear you worry about what you’ve done, no’ when ’twas done in love.” Kyla scraped her chair closer and muttered under her breath, “First, you must discover if there is in fact a soul bond between you, because if there is you cannae allow him to speak vows with another woman. He’ll regret doing so, until the end of his days.”
“And how exactly do I work on discovering if there’s a bond?”
“You need to make him stake his claim by beginning the hunt.”
“The hunt?” She was well aware of what the mated hunt had been like for Kyla when Ronan had begun it with her only a few months ago. Duncan too had been forced on the hunt for Ella when she’d attempted to evade him. “I dinnae wish to evade him, but speak our issues out face to face.”
Highlander's Touch: Medieval Romance Page 4
