Page 50 of When A Laird Loves A Lady
A wistful look swept across herface. “You have a big family.”
“Wehave a big family,” hereplied and helped her remove the chemise, out of which she had yet steppedout. She blushed and tried to cross her arms over her chest, but he lowered herhands to her sides and drank in the sight of her. “Ye’re so beautiful.”
She sucked in a sharp breath, whichmade her chest rise higher, taking his lust along with it. “You’re blind,then,” she said flippantly.
“Nay.” He tentatively flattened apalm against her stomach and eyed her.
“I’m not in pain,” she encouraged.
“I see ye clearly, Marion. It’s yewho does nae see yerself. But I find I like that.” He traced a sensual path toher breast with his other hand. “What did ye learn today?” he asked as hecircled her taut bud with his fingers. The pink nub strained tighter and his ownbody felt as if he were being stretched to near breaking.
“I learned,” she murmured, “thatfollowing Bridgette will likely get me into trouble.” Her voice was so huskyand alluring.
He’d meant to ask if she hadlearned anything from the seer, but he let her misinterpretation of hisquestion pass. He wanted no more talking, just touching. He cupped her entirebreast and lowered his head to trace his tongue in a slow circle around thebud.
She moaned and pressed herself intohis hand. Desire gripped him in an unrelenting iron hold. All he could thinkabout was how he wanted to suckle her and enter her. His lips found her fleshagain, and he drew the bud into his mouth, aching ecstasy filling him. Hepulled and released her flesh until ragged moans came from her and she archedfully toward him, making him doubt that he could control himself any longer.
He removed his clothes deftly as hecontinued to torture her with pleasure, and when he was naked, he released herbreast only to grasp her under the bottom and heave her to his waist. He halfexpected her to protest, but a violent need to be inside her claimed him. Whenher legs circled his waist, her hands gripped his back, and her mouth pressedto his ear to beg him to take her, he lost all reason. He closed the distancebetween them and the door, and he took her there, suspended in air, softperfect flesh against hard battle-scarred flesh. He entered her again andagain, until sweat dripped from his skin and every nerve in his body burnedwith pleasure.
He did not stop until he felt he’dexplode, and his seed poured into her. His body shook with the release as shecried out, and he slumped against her. Her breath fanned his ear, cool aircaressed his damp back, and the realization of how he’d taken her like arutting pig hit him.
“God,” he murmured as he pulledback and caught her bright-green gaze. “I’m sorry.”
Her forehead immediately wrinkled.“You’re sorry? What for? That was…that was…”
He slid her body slowly off hisstaff and then lowered her gently to her feet, bringing his hands to eitherside of her waist and pinning her against the door. He’d not be surprised ifshe tried to run away from him, beast that he was. “I dunnae ken what came overme.”
She blushed. “I’d like to think itwas desire.”
He felt his eyes widen. “Oh, to besure. But I did nae mean to take ye like a wild beast. I intended to begentle.”
She cast her eyes down and hefollowed her gaze, watching as she curled her toes under her feet. “I like theway you took me,” she said, barely above a whisper.
He was instantly hard again and sopleased with himself that he knew it to be a sin of pride, but one that wouldlikely be forgiven since he was only so pleased because he could bring herpleasure. He wanted very much to pleasure her again. All night long, if hethought she could bear it. Perhaps, he’d ease her into the idea. He forced backthe grin he could feel stretching his cheeks and cleared his throat as hestared at the top of her pale head. His wife was lustful and had an appetitefor bedding to match his own. It was a new situation for him. He sent a silentprayer of thanks to God for this unexpected gift.
“Perhaps we could take a bath? Ibelieve there’s still time before supper,” he said, eyeing the tub and Marion’svoluptuous body. She’d tempt the devil to sainthood if that were what it tookto bed her. The thought made him grin again, just as Marion looked at him.
She cocked her head. “Why are yougrinning?”
“I’m grinning at ye, wife. Yeplease me.” He grabbed her hand, pulled her to him, and kissed her soundly onthe mouth, as he’d failed to do in his desire-fueled haze moments ago. Shetasted wonderfully sweet, and she smelled of wet grass mingled with heather andearth. He liked it immensely. “Come. Let me bathe ye.” There was much more hewanted to do to her, but he’d bring that idea into her head one kiss at a time.
They walked hand in hand to thesteaming tub. He held her steady as he helped her in, and then he simply stoodfor a moment and stared in wonder at the little water nymph that was his wife.She’d promptly leaned back into the water, her blond hair floating around her.Slowly, she sat up, her hair dripping and slicked back from her face. She drewher legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees as she stared athim. The water made her creamy skin glisten. She looked utterly beautiful andutterly vulnerable.
A trickle of fear ran down hisspine as he thought about what tonight would have been like if she’d fallen toher death while trying to save Bridgette. His breath froze in his lungs at theidea. The realization that he cared for her too much already hit him hard, buthe didn’t think there was a thing to be done about what had already happened.He simply needed to be more guarded in the days to come, but tonight, he wantedto enjoy her.
He gripped the side of the woodentub and stepped in behind her, the water sloshing against the dark wood boardsand sluicing over both of them as he sat down and pulled herbetweenhis thighsand into the safety of his arms.
A small sigh escaped her as shesettled against his chest and laid her head back. Her dark eyelashes fanneddownward to veil her eyes. He held perfectly still, wanting the moment tosuspend in time. He knew from losing Catriona that savoring such moments whenhe was in them was wise. He closed his eyes and memorized the way Marion’sbottom curved against him, the silky feel of her skin brushing his own, and theweight and warmth of her body pressing so trustingly against his chest. Slowly,he opened his eyes and devoured the sight of her lovely legs and the delicateappearance of her arms, which belied the strength she had shown when savingBridgette.
Marion had courage, it seemed, foreverything she faced. But did he?
He squeezed his eyes shut again, a singlethought drilling into his brain. He had the nerve for battle, the mettle tolead his clan, the willingness to sacrifice himself to protect anyone in hiscare—or anyone who simply needed him—but did he have the courage to givehimself to a woman fully, heart and soul, again? He didn’t know, but hesuspected he’d never have all of Marion unless he offered all of himself.
Suddenly, she stirred and leanedher head all the way back until her eyes locked with his. Her pink tonguedarted out to lick her lips, and then she spoke. “Iain, could I—” Her cheeksreddened considerably. “Would you let me—” She bit her lower lip and started toturn her face away, but he caught her chin and held her steady.
“Never be afraid to ask meanything, Marion.”
She nodded, blinking rapidly.“Would you let me touch you?”
