He was at her side in two strides. Grabbing her waist, he tugged her close against her chest and whispered in her ear, “Do not run away, Brigid.”
Her true feelings betrayed her just being in his arms, and tears pooled at the corner of her eyes. “
Why
?” her voice thick with emotion.
He held her close. “I do not want ye to go.”
“But,
why
?” she demanded. She would yank every answer out of him.
“Is it not enough?” his breath hot and moist against her ear.
Pulling free from his embrace, she spun around to face him and saw the look of torment in his eyes. “No, Duncan.
What
has changed your mind?”
He cupped her face and placed his forehead onto hers. “Nothing...and
illumination
.”
Brigid again pulled back from his embrace, shoving against his chest. “You make absolutely no sense.” She had to get away. Her emotions teetered on collapsing right into his massive arms, and she was not about to do that.
She twisted to move, yet Duncan quickly moved in front of her. “Nothing, meaning nothing has changed. The facts are still as they are, Brigid. Illumination...” Duncan reached for her hand placing it over his heart saying, “Ye have opened the light within my heart, and I am a fool for not telling ye sooner. Ye cannot go...just yet,
leannan
.”
“Duncan Mackay, I swear to you that I have never cried so much in my entire life!”
He lifted her chin with his fingers, gazing into her eyes as he kissed the tears that threatened to spill from the corner of them. “Do not cry for me, lass, not now.” Taking her face in his hands, he bent and covered her lips with his in a slow drawn out kiss. When he broke free, he took his tongue and gently stroked her bottom lip, bringing forth a tingling sensation that shook her core. This kiss was different. It was one that was tender, seeking, not his usual demanding ones.
She opened her eyes to find him smiling down at her, his eyes ablaze with as much desire as hers.
God, how she loved him.
“Oh, Duncan, what
are
we going to do?”
“Well, I would like to show ye my chambers”—brushing a light kiss below her ear—“and I am verra hungry.”
Taken aback, she asked, “Hungry?”
“Indeed.” With one arm, he reached and pulled her close to his chest. With his other, he pulled at a stray curl, twisting it around his finger. He bent close to her ear. “I will make ye my feast, Brigid. I want to taste all of ye, from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Then I will take my tongue and taste of your sweet honey that ye keep hidden.” He started tracing slow kisses below her ear and down her neck. “I will fill myself of your scent and make ye mine.” His hand had made its way to one of her breast, and she ached for his touch on her skin.
He spun her around and placed her against his chest, so she could look out toward the mountains. Brigid could feel his hardness against her bottom and she pushed into it as an invitation.
“Och lass,” he growled. “Careful. If ye keep wiggling your lovely bottom against me, I’ll take my dirk and plunge it into your sheath.”
Brigid squirmed. “You have a mighty big dirk, too.”
In one shift movement, Duncan had lifted her skirts, the cool air blasting her legs until she felt his hand kneading her thigh, his fingers slowly finding their way into her folds. He took one finger, rubbing a slow circle around her nub. A sob escaped from her as she leaned her head back onto his chest.
“How big would ye say it is?” His breath hot on her neck as he continued his exploration, causing her to whimper. It wouldn’t take much to grab his cock and thrust deep into her, but this was not what he had intended. He wanted to explore, give her as much as he could and take his sweet time in doing it. His finger kept stroking her swollen nub as she continued to grind into him. He muttered a soft curse and removed his hand, causing her to utter a cry of anguish.
Duncan wrapped both of his arms around her waist, the scent of her desire a potent drug that swamped his senses. “Before I take ye to my chambers and continue my feasting of your body, I want ye to look out yonder.”
Keeping her head against his chest, Brigid tried to focus on the landscape, the ache between her legs demanding a release.
“Tell me, Brigid. Does Scotland still look like this in your time?”
She smiled. “Yes, for the most part. Here in the Highlands, its beauty is still one to be treasured.” Brigid realized this was the first question Duncan asked regarding her time. She placed her arms over his and just stood still, gazing out at the land.
“When I first came to Castle Creag after that dark night, I slept out here for many moons, sleeping on the cold stones. I did not want comfort, just the longing of death. Each morn, I would awake cursing the gods I still existed. I would descend to the lists, or hunt, then return each night. Yet with each dawn I would gaze upon the beauty of the land and on some of those days I would let it calm the beast within.” He took a deep shuttering breath.
“This was your haven, Duncan, your refuge.”
“Aye still is...until ye came.”
Brigid squeezed his arms more tightly, reveling in his strength and warmth. There were no words to express how she felt at this precise moment. All she wanted was to hold onto this tiny fraction of time, which held a promise of healing.
“Let me show ye my chambers.” Duncan broke the contact, and she felt bereft, the wind snapping at her. He tugged at her hand gently, the warmth from it coursing through her veins. He walked her back the way she came. Descending the pathway she had previously taken, he led her toward the alcove.
Pushing open the massive oak door, he pulled her in and swiftly closed it shut. Marveling at the room, she let her gaze travel over it. She stole a look behind her and noticed he was standing with arms behind him against the door. She didn’t know why, but Brigid was nervous, like this was their first time. Her palms tingled, and she brushed them across the material of her gown.
His room had a large arched window with a stone seating area with pillows scattered on top. To the left of the door, a hearth was blazing, and the warmth drew her like a beacon. A huge chair faced the hearth, but what caught her eye were the carvings on the armrests. They were shaped in the form of giant claws. She saw a small table and chest, but the only other piece of furniture was a very large bed covered in furs. Her face flushed just thinking of what Duncan was going to do her on those furs.
“Do ye like the bed, lass?” his voice a husky burr behind her.
She swung around and saw the heat of desire in not only his eyes, but also where something was protruding very prominently against his plaid. She could not take her gaze from it, and watched as he took a hold of himself and squeezed.
“Or do ye like this better?”
Brigid placed her hands behind her to keep them from trembling. “Don’t tease,” she softly whispered.
A rumble of laughter came forth, dark with lust as Duncan moved away from the wall. He approached her slowly. As their gazes locked on each other, he took her face in his hands and captured her lips with his. Hot and demanding, his tongue sought hers, until she melted into his embrace.
His hands moved down to her bottom, pulling her toward his erection and rubbing it against her, his kiss deepening with more urgency. Brigid took her hand and squeezed his arousal through his plaid. He responded with a growl, resonating deep into her as she continued to stroke his hardness.
A guttural sound tore from his throat as he stilled her hand. “Nae, I will spill myself before I have a chance to tease ye properly.”
Taking a step back, he slowly removed his plaid, tunic, and dirk. Giving her a wicked smile, Duncan moved toward the chair with nothing on but his boots and the torc around his neck.
Brigid watched with pure lust at the most gorgeous ass she had ever seen. She bit her lower lip as he turned, crooking a finger at her to come forward.
Did that groan just escape from her throat?
She didn’t think her legs could move. Her body was heavy with raw need. Standing before him, he started slowly removing her clothing, placing slow sensuous kisses starting at the hollow of her neck.
When she stood before him in only her shift, he gently slipped it down over her aching breasts. Then taking his calloused hands, he rubbed them over her taut nipples. Brigid closed her eyes on the powerful sensation.
“Open your eyes, Brigid.” Tipping her head up, she opened them to shards of crystal blue. “I want to watch your desire peak until I thrust into ye.”
With open eyes, she watched as he bent and flicked a tongue over one nipple and then the other before placing languid kisses around the sides and under her breasts, returning to her nipples. Brigid thought her knees were going to buckle and in one swift move, he grabbed her around the waist and gathered them both into the chair. Her bottom was on his large erection, and he hissed when she started to move.
He continued to lavish and savor each breast. Taking his tongue, he slowly trailed kisses down the middle, kneading them together. Her gaze never wavered, the storm of ecstasy so very close.
“Do ye like watching?” his voice a husky burr.
“Yes,” she gasped.
Twirling a curl around his finger, he twisted and pulled. “Your hair is verra soft, lass, but not as soft as these curls near your sweet mound.” Keeping his eyes on hers, his fingers played in her nest of curls.
“Is this what ye want, lass?” Duncan’s burr was so thick Brigid could barely understand him. Lowering her gaze, she became captivated by his touch. His fingers stroked her folds until she felt one enter her.
“
Ohhh
, Duncan.” Brigid clasped his shoulders, fearing she would swoon right off his lap. His finger kept moving in slow movements in and out and then up over her pleasure spot. Her eyes closed, until she heard him say, “Look at me, Brigid.”
Opening her eyes, she was lost in his that shared her passion. Brigid whimpered when he removed his fingers and she tried to pull them back into her. Still keeping her eyes locked on his, she watched as he placed those fingers into his mouth.
His smile held a promise of more to come. “I must get a proper taste of your honey.”
Brigid didn’t have time to blink as she was whisked up and into his arms. Carrying her over to the bed, he placed her gently on the furs, the softness against her bare skin sending more sensations of pleasure throughout her body.
Her eyes were only for him as he sat and removed his boots and stood in front of her. Her mouth became dry at the vision of him—pure unabashed male. Massive would never describe Duncan. Oh no, he was beyond that. He fisted his hands on his hips, seeming to gain more pleasure as she continued to feast her eyes on him. His cock surged forward in invitation. Brigid rolled to her knees, reaching for him with her hand.
Her hand stroked him. “So hard...
and soft
.”
Groaning, he took her other hand and placed it on his balls.
She could hear his labored breathing and saw the head of his cock now glistened with moisture. It beckoned to her to taste. Brigid lowered her head, and taking her tongue, she traced it along the top before taking it all into her mouth.
Duncan clenched his jaw as he fought to maintain control, jerking slightly. Her mouth was bliss. Never had he felt anything so searing in all his life. He was so close to spilling that he gave her only one more taste before yanking her head free. Toppling her back onto the furs, he crushed her beneath him, claiming her mouth with savage intensity.
Duncan rose up and taking her head in his hands, he barely rasped out, “Now I taste
ye
.”
Brigid did not have time to protest as he pushed her thighs apart. She watched in a sensual haze as he descended down between them. He placed a kiss at the top of her curls and blew on them. Then he took his tongue and dove inside of her.
She clutched at the furs, arching up as he took his fill of her. The waves of pleasure were building quickly again. “Don’t stop,” she pleaded, wanting to yield to the burning sweetness that was captive within her.
His only sound was a growl and then he took his tongue over her center, teasing and biting, sending shockwaves of pleasure so intense she arched wildly up off the furs. A scream tore from her throat, as her world shattered in pure ecstasy, stars dancing behind her eyes.
Duncan shook with the raw need of release.
Sliding up over her, he took his cock and thrust deep inside her wet dampness. His need was one of possession; he could not be gentle any longer. With each thrust, he went deeper within her. She was
his
, and he wanted to mark her for eternity.
Sensing his need, Brigid arched more into him. Raising her arms above her head, she took him more into herself. He took her hands in his above her head and kissed her, savagely.
The tremors of release slammed into him, the shattering so strong. He shook violently, emptying body and soul into the woman he loved.
Chapter 39
“The art of the Celts and their spirals are pathways to one’s journey in life. No beginning and no ending.”
Duncan’s gaze was on Brigid, who was lying across his body with one leg wrapped around his and her hand on his chest. She was his goddess, with her hair a riot of wild curls falling about her luscious skin, flushed from their lovemaking. Her hair reminded him of the leaves when they changed their hue.
He took his hand and caressed her backside causing a small moan to escape. She had fallen asleep, and the light from the window had cast shadows along the floor, letting him know evening was approaching.
Drawing her more closely to him, he wondered when he had lost his heart to this bewitching woman. How was he ever going to let her go back to her own time? Would she even consider staying here with him—a broken man without a home?
A soft sob came forth from her and Duncan spoke softly, “Shhhhh.”
“Duncan?” she murmured, still half asleep.
“Yes,
leannan?
”
“Where do we go next?” she asked.
Duncan threw his arm over his forehead, not knowing the answer himself. “I ken only the moment.”