Page 51 of Love Beyond Wanting
“O’course, lass.Do ye want to go to my bedchamber?’Tis yers now anyway, and it may be the only place in the castle where we are sure to be able to speak alone.”
Nodding, I moved past him and headed in that direction.I had no plan for what I meant to say to him, and I had every expectation that Marcus was wrong—that I was too late and that Maddock wouldn’t be interested in taking a risk on me again.Still, I knew I would kick myself forever if I didn’t try.And the thought of me spending the rest of my life in this castle, having to watch Maddock be with whoever he ended up with, was more terrifying than making myself vulnerable to him now.
The words spilled out of me the moment he closed the door after we entered his bedchamber.“I don’t want to be your friend, Maddock.”
“What, lass?”
My breath shaky and my voice soft, I faced him.“I don’t want to be your friend.I’ve enough of those.I’m sorry I was so scared before.Maddock I…I’ll understand if you don’t want me anymore, if my initial rejection was enough to turn you off, but I needed you to know.You were right.Of course, you were right.I want you so much, it’s all I can think about.And…”
He was on me in an instant.His mouth claiming mine with such intensity that it was nearly painful.I could taste the ale he’d had at the wedding still on his tongue.
“Kate.”His voice was ragged and low, and his teeth grazed against my lips as he spoke.“Do ye truly believe I ever had any interest in being yer friend?If ’twas all ye could give me, I would take it, but Kate, every time I look at ye, I have to think of something horrid just to keep from growing hard from my need of ye.I’ve never wanted anything in my life more than I want ye.”He pulled away from me just long enough to look into my eyes.“Are ye sure of this?Ye doona mean to change yer mind?Pulling away from yer bare breasts was hard enough the first time.I doona know if I have the strength to stop once again.”
Clothes had never felt so restrictive.My entire body ached with desire.I wasn’t sure he could ever fill me enough to satisfy my need for him.
“I’m sure.I promise I won’t change my mind.Please, Maddock.Take me to your bed.”
His response came in the form of an animalistic groan.At once, his hands were at my back, untying my laces so he could remove my dress.
There was a sudden meow from the bed, and I started to laugh as Maddock’s hands stilled.
“I canna tup ye with him watching, lass.The sounds I intend to draw from ye will frighten him, and I doona wish to have my eyes clawed out by yer wee protector.”
He’d only begun to work on my laces so I was still completely dressed.
“Take off your kilt and lay down on the bed, Maddock.I’ll take him to the garden where he can sleep with the other men tonight.I’ll be back in just a moment.”
I ran faster than I’d ever run in my life, and I continually had to hold Mr.Crinkles away from me as he tried to swat at me in his wish to be set down.I didn’t even say anything to the men as I opened the door to the garden and gently tossed Crink inside.I knew he would be fine.
When I returned to his room, he’d done as I asked.The sight of him propped up on the bed entirely naked caused the breath to lodge in my throat.Immediately my cheeks flushed red.
I’d seen his chest that night in Cagair Castle, but seeing that was quite different from seeing the whole specimen at once.Every muscle in his body was cut from hard work and clean food.He looked like a statue you might see in Italy, although thankfully he didn’t have the same scrawny manhood that so many ancient statues seemed to possess.One look at his erection and I realized quickly that my worry of being unable to get my fill of him was misplaced.
“Holy crap, Maddock.That’s…you’re…”
He laughed and waved me toward the bed.“It pleases me that ye approve, lass.Now get over here so that I may see ye, as well.”
I sat at the edge of the bed as he worked my laces.This gown had more than most.It was especially for Laurel’s wedding and was more complex than the simple gowns I’d worn most days since arriving in this time.
“Damn these laces, lass.Do ye mind if I slice them open with my sword?”
Laughing, I reached behind my back seeking one of his hands.“Please, don’t.This was Freya’s.It’s too beautiful to ruin.”
“Ach, fine, but it may be sunrise before I get ye out of it.”He continued to pull at the strings as he bent to nibble at my neck.“Lass, I know that the first time is often frightening.I doona want ye to be scared.I’ll be gentle with ye.I’ll take my time.”
I snorted, cutting him off.“Maddock, you do remember Dillon, right?”
He groaned and lay his forehead on my shoulder.“Why would ye ever bring him up in this moment, lass?”
“You’re not under the assumption that I’m a virgin, are you?”
His hands stilled on my lower back as he raised his head.“Are ye not, lass?”
“No.”His assumption didn’t anger me.I supposed in his time, many women would be.“Women in my time rarely are by my age.It doesn’t bother you, does it?”
His fingers resumed their movement on my laces, and I exhaled a breath I’d not know I’d held.
“All that bothers me is the thought of Dillon’s hands anywhere on ye, lass.In truth, ’tis better this way.It means I can truly have my way with ye.”
