My Daring Highlander (37 page)

“You must relax, Seona.”

“I am. I want you. Please,” she said
against his mouth, then licked his lips. Arousal jolted through his
shaft.

Between her thighs, he sat back on his
knees and skimmed his hands from her ankles, upward along her inner
thighs, spreading them more. When he reached the top, he stroked
his thumbs gently along her nether lips, incredibly wet and
swollen. “So good.”

She gasped and thrust her hips toward
him.

With one thumb, he circled that sweet
feminine nub that was so inflamed and drenched, it near drove him
mad. She cried out his name and words he couldn’t understand. Tears
glistened at the corners of her eyes.

Leaning over her, he pressed a kiss to
her mouth. “I don’t want to hurt you but I fear I will.”

“Nay. Take me, Keegan… my
husband.”

A strange primal urge overcame him.
Aye, she was his wife. His woman. He must make her his in every
way, even though it would hurt. He would try to ease her pain and
make it better.

He had to have her now. No more
waiting.

He stroked the tip of his shaft up and
down along the moist folds of her sex. Saints, he loved the slick
feel of her. The more he stroked, the wilder she became, wriggling,
thrashing this way and that.

“Oh, Keegan,” she breathed, arching
her back. “Aye, I beg of you…”

He positioned his shaft at her
entrance, teasing her with just the tip. When she lifted her hips,
offering herself to him, some instinct overpowered him and he
thrust his hips. He found himself lodged a couple inches into her
slippery, snug heat. Her inner muscles clamped onto him.

“Ow!” Her nails dug into his arm and
more tears glistened on her lashes.

“Shhh, lass,” he hissed against her
mouth. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she said, her voice
intense. “But it hurts.”

“I know. Relax your muscles a wee bit
right here.” He stroked his hand over her flat lower belly. How
incredible she felt, gripping him so firmly. Pain was the opposite
of what he was feeling at the moment, but he had to help ease her
first time, while maintaining some control over his own body. Hell,
all he wanted to do was thrust. Hard. And bury himself deeper in
her tight body. But he didn’t. He kissed her, flicking his tongue
against her lips. She opened and sucked at his tongue.

Her inner muscles relaxed a bit, thank
the saints. He couldn’t take much more of that
squeezing.

While distracting her with kisses, he
withdrew an inch and pushed deeper.

She cried out, tears dripping from the
edges of her eyes.

“I’m sorry, sweet Seona,” he rasped,
leashing the impulse to drive deeper. “Only a couple more minutes
and there will be no more pain. I promise.”

“Truly?”

“Aye.” He trembled under the onslaught
of need. “Just relax, please.”

She nodded. “I’m ready.”

“Take a deep breath,” he said. “And
let it out.”

When she did, the pressure on his
shaft eased.

He listened to her calming breaths.
“How does that feel?”

“Not so bad.”

He withdrew slightly and thrust again.
Aye, that was easier. Very slowly and gently, he moved inside her.
She felt so astonishing he feared his primitive side might take
over. He did not want to get too rough and hurt her. He’d already
caused her enough pain. Controlling his actions, he gradually moved
faster, pushing his way deeper.

He groaned with the need to release
his seed inside her. But he knew he shouldn’t. Besides, he wanted
to give her pleasure first. He paused deep inside her, trying to
get himself under control. But when he did, her inner muscles
caressed him in a most bewitching way, welcoming his invasion
now.

“Keegan. More.”

He growled, withdrawing and driving in
again. She wrapped her legs around his hips, and he made his
decision. She was his. No giving her up now. No turning back. She
was his wife and if he got her with child, he would be
glad.

He gradually increased his pace, until
he was pounding into her. She drew in a deep breath and held it
just before her body clamped down on him, squeezing, shoving her
hips upward to meet his. He covered her mouth with his to muffle
her cries. The more she rode, the deeper he thrust.

“Oh, aye.” He yearned to find his
release at the same time she did, but something in him forced him
to wait, some inner strength he didn’t realize he possessed. Some
need to give her even more pleasure.

Seconds later, another climax overtook
her. She screamed into his mouth, her muscles milking him. Aye,
that was it. He could hold back no longer. His release blasted
through him like a fuse lighting a powder keg. The explosion of
pleasure seared every nerve in his body and snatched his breath.
All thought deserted him, leaving him aware of only one thing—she
was his. Completely. His soul melded with hers.

When he came back to himself, he was
still thrusting, although not as hard, enjoying the last vestiges
of pleasure.

Dropping still, he sucked in harsh
breaths, then placed a kiss on her lips. “Seona, you are mine now.
My wife. I’m never letting you go.”

She let out a breathy laugh. “And you
are my husband. I love you.”

“I love you, too, lass.”

Keegan lay down beside Seona and she
turned to survey every inch of her gorgeous new husband—the ridges
and planes of muscle down his chest and abdomen. Aye, he was even
more delectable up close in the firelight than he had been leaving
that loch. He’d shown her things and made her feel things she
could’ve never imagined. Such intense pleasures.

’Twas true his initial invasion of her
body had been painful, but his sweet words had helped her relax so
she could accept him. And then… once the pain had vanished… she
could not believe how splendid he felt driving into her. ’Twas
beyond comprehension, as Isobel had said.

Seona stroked her hand across his
chest, enjoying the light sprinkling of hair, then kissed him
there. She loved his warm masculine scent. Glancing up into his
eyes, she found him watching her.

“You amaze me,” he said.

She smiled and kissed his lips. After
a few leisurely kisses, he said, “Let me wash you off.” He arose
from the bed and went to the pitcher and basin on a table in the
corner.

What did he mean? She
glanced down, seeing a smear of her virgin’s blood on her thigh.
And on the sheets.
Saints!
Her face heated.

Keegan returned and stroked the cold,
wet linen cloth over her thigh. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

“Nay. ’Twas necessary.” She could
hardly remember the pain now; the pleasure had eclipsed
it.

He pushed her thighs apart and washed
between. Her flesh was so sensitive she hissed in a sharp breath.
But at the same time, a fresh wave of need came over
her.

He returned to the basin to rinse the
cloth, then wash himself.

When he came back to the bed, he lay
down on his back, grabbed her and dragged her on top of
him.

“Oh.” How she relished the feel of his
hot skin sliding against hers. He skimmed his hands down her back
and squeezed her derriere.

He hummed a soft moan against her
lips, placing wee kisses there, then slowly exploring her mouth
with his tongue.

Beneath her, his shaft gradually grew
hard again. An answering clenching sensation echoed inside
her.

She shifted and squirmed, trying to
ease the itching sensation he was causing. He pulled her knees
upward toward his shoulders and she found herself sliding along his
shaft.

She gasped at how wondrous he felt.
“Keegan?”

“Aye. Do you want more?”

“Indeed.”

“Are you not too sore?”

She shook her head. “Nay.”

He moved his hand between their bodies
to position himself. But first, he teased and tormented her by
stroking his erection against her wetness. The burning, prickling
need for him increased. She pushed against him. The tip slid in and
he groaned. The soreness was more than she’d expected. She paused,
but he didn’t. She held her breath, hoping it wouldn’t be as
painful as the first time.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked.

“Nay, I realize I am a wee bit
sore.”

“I’m sorry.” Firmly embedded deep
inside her, he drew her close, lavishing her with affectionate and
sinful kisses. After a few moments, she forgot the soreness and
became highly aware of his sizable shaft inside her. So good. She
moaned and felt herself growing wetter. Her body clenched,
caressing his.

“Seona,” he groaned.

“Aye. It feels better and
better.”

He held her hips in his hands and
moved within her, slowly, but with growing speed and force. The
sensations overwhelmed her entire body and mind, but he didn’t let
up until every muscle in her body clenched onto him. The pleasure
crashed within her, taking her breath, snatching her control. His
mouth devoured hers.

Astounding moments later, he gripped
her strongly to him, ground himself deep and growled into her ear.
She savored his climax almost as much as her own.

His breath was harsh, his face sweaty
against hers. “I fear I’ve demanded too much of you for our first
time together.”

She shook her head. “Nay. ’Twas how I
wished it.”

His body slipped from hers and he drew
her into a warm embrace beside him. “You are more amazing and
beautiful than I could ever put into words.”

The door crashed open and Seona
screamed.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Haldane and his men dismounted at the
harbor near Inverness. He dragged the lass off his horse. She was
still kicking and thrashing about, trying to hurt him. Loving the
fight in her, he grinned and carried her closer to the torch light
at the edge of the docks. He wanted to see his prize. Back when
they’d both been at Dunnakeil, he’d loved naught more than looking
into her eyes, watching her, fantasizing about kissing her
beautiful lips, undressing her.

He stood her on her feet in front of
him. “Now listen to me, Seona. I will cut this gag off if you
promise not to scream. If you do, I’ll simply tie another one on
you.”

She stood with her head bowed, her
long, dark hair shielding her face.

“Are you listening?” Wishing to look
into her lovely dark blue eyes, he tilted her chin up.

Seona did not look like
herself.

Nay!
He felt as if he’d been kicked in the stomach. Her tear-filled
eyes were too dark. The shape… different somehow. He had not seen
her in a while, but surely he had not forgotten what she looked
like. He dragged her closer to the heated light of the torch and
searched her eyes, her face, turning it this way and that. With the
gag through her mouth, he couldn’t see the shape of her
lips.

“You’re not Seona! Who are you?” he
demanded.

She mumbled against the
gag.

“I’m going to cut the gag off, and if
you scream or call attention, I’ll strangle you. Got
it?”

Her eyes widened, but she
nodded.

Taking his
sgian dubh
, he cut the
cloth at the back of her head and threw it down. The area on either
side of her mouth was red and chafed, but most alarming, her lips
were not bow-shaped like Seona’s, but thinner.

“Who the devil are you?” Haldane
snarled.

“Lady Talia Murray. Seona’s sister.
Who are you?”

Haldane let loose a string of curses.
How the hell could he have made such a grievous mistake, stealing
the wrong sister?

“Never mind who I am. McMurdo!”
Haldane shouted and carried the lass back to his horse.

“Aye?” McMurdo approached.

“We have to go back. This is the wrong
lady. I want Seona; not her sister.” If he had to, he’d use the
sister as bait to lure Lady Seona out.

***

Keegan leapt up from the bed in the
inn’s chamber and grabbed his sword, keeping his body between Seona
and the door while she pulled on her smock. The bastards had near
kicked the door off its hinges.

Two men wearing metal-studded leather
armor entered, lugging a shirtless Rebbie between them, one of his
arms around each of their necks. His head hung as if he’d been
knocked out. Blood dripped down his chest.

“What the devil did you do to him?”
Keegan demanded, hoping his friend wasn’t dead.

They tossed Rebbie on the
bed.

Another man with short gray hair and a
matching beard entered the room. They were all Murray’s men, one of
them his personal bodyguard. They turned their attention to Keegan,
smirking at his nakedness. He’d had to grab his sword instead of
his plaid. He didn’t care. He could fight naked just as well as
clothed.