Page 27 of The Beast of the Highlands
He does not understand that he may not be able to, or perhaps he does and cannot say it.
“Should we perform some kind of ritual?” Autumn half-teased, allowing contentment to supersede her worries.
Flynn smiled. “Nay need, lass. It’s already done. The second ye said ye loved me, and I loved ye. That’s ritual enough.”
“I feel robbed.” Autumn sank back in her chair, pretending to sulk. “Surely, there should be some elegant words, some blushing cheeks, a joyful tear, and a feast to celebrate. A nice gown to swish as I dance to cheery music, becoming increasingly merry on wine and happiness. Instead, you give me watery mead to toast to our love?”
“The brewers willnae take kindly to ye sayin’ that.” Flynn laughed, as he got to his feet. “And I dinnae think ye’ll need a dress for our kind of celebrations.”
Autumn arched a curious eyebrow. “Is that so?”
She squealed with delight as he pulled her up from the armchair and hoisted her over his shoulder like a scandalous rogue. Her laughter pealed through the library as he gave her backside a playful smack, while she pretended to pound upon his back.
“Remember, lass, this library is our private world. We make the rules.” He walked over to the library door and made sure to pull the bolt across, so no one could burst in on them.
That done, he headed back through the caverns of this subterranean domain until he reached one of the larger nooks. An enormous fire roared in the grate, forever keeping the library warm, while defended by an armored wall of metal to avoid unwanted embers from burning the place down.
Velvet cushions nestled among fur rugs and blankets, providing a luxurious spot for relaxation. Autumn and Flynn had already made use of it many times, but this felt different. A shiver of anticipation cut through the air, intensifying the heat of the fire and the balmy haze of the caverns.
Kneeling down, Flynn hauled Autumn off his shoulder and set her down on the furs. She sat for a moment, the two of them in silence, as they gazed into one another’s eyes. And as a smile turned up the corners of her lips, she understood why it felt different.
This was the moment she had been waiting for, since they had shared their first kiss in this very library. And now that she was his wife, in spirit if not in name, she had no further reason to avoid crossing that final line between them.
17
Flynn had never known nerves like these. It was as though he had been asking for a very precious gift for years and years and was finally receiving it. He just hoped he was worthy of it.
“I love ye,” he murmured, pulling Autumn into his lap.
She wrapped her legs around his waist. “As I love you.”
Determined to take his time, despite the blend of excitement and nervous energy that prickled through him, he lifted his hands to her face. Holding her gaze, he took hold of a lock of her hair and ran his fingertips down it. He did not know how she managed it, but just when he thought he had seen her at her most beautiful, she became even more majestic.
They say there’s nay lass so pretty as a lass in love…
Tilting his head up and cupping her cheek with his palm, he brought her face down to meet his. As his forehead pressed against hers, their lips lingered apart, delaying the wonder of a kiss. Already, her breaths were sharper, faster… and he felt his loins stir as her legs tightened around him.
“Are ye to tease me, lass?” he purred, their mouths so close that their hot breath mingled, scented with the honeyed mead they had been drinking.
She leaned closer and kissed the tip of his nose. “I have yet to decide.”
She kissed his cheek, his forehead, his jaw, his chin, his eyelids, skirting around his mouth until he could not bear it anymore. Catching her mouth with his as she strayed back to his lips, a wave of pure elation coursed through him. There was no thrill or joy more overwhelming than when he could kiss her again, without fear of being seen.
And with the door locked, they did not need to tear at one another in a frenzy. As such, their lips moved together in a slow, sensual motion, their tongues dancing together as the heat of the fireplace washed over them. Not that he needed its warmth; he was already ablaze with ardor.
“I’ll miss this when ye’re away,” he breathed, breaking their kiss for a moment.
She smiled. “But it will make our reunion all the more exciting.”
“Och, ye minx.” He caught her lips again, pressing his mouth to hers with a renewed fervor, while his fingertips followed the contour of her throat, all the way down to the fastenings of her bodice.
With skilled hands, he undid the garment and tossed it to one side, freeing her breasts from the whalebone restraint. Eagerly, he tugged aside her collar and found her plump breasts, her nipples already straining to feel the warmth of his mouth. And he would not have them wait for his attention.
Autumn moaned as he sucked, arching her neck back and moving her hips forward. Beneath the wool of his tartan, his manhood pushed upward, seeking out her slick heat. It took all of his willpower not to rip her clothes from her, and his own, and plunge into that tempting well. He had thought of doing so often enough, and he knew the reality would be as glorious as the daydream.
It’s her first time. I must take it slow.
With that in mind, he unfastened the ribbon that tied her petticoats and lifted them up over her head.
