Page 24 of The Cruel Highlander's Bride
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Ciara didn’t want to see the Laird’s face after her question. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, his grip on her hand tightened. Everything she thought she understood was muddled.
Thank God they were out in the open air now. She couldn’t imagine having this conversation in his chambers. She could feel his heavy gaze on her, but at least she had the breeze to cool her heated flesh.
It was clear from the way he spoke that he cared deeply for his people and looked after them to the best of his ability. And Ciara admired the way he considered his position as one of public service.
From the little she’d seen, he was a far better laird than his father. If murdering his father was a service to his people, she could maybe even understand it. But if that wasn’t his goal… then what was?
Finally, after long seconds passed without a response, Ciara risked sneaking a glance at him. It was immediately clear she had crossed some line she didn’t know about.
Magnus’s face had darkened to a dangerous degree, and his entire body was clenched tightly, from his teeth to his hands. Her hand was still tightly gripped in his.
Using their clasped hands, Magnus roughly pulled her closer to him, bringing them face to face. She could feel his labored breath against her cheek.
The way he glared at her was not the heated look she had grown fond of. This was something else entirely.
“Is that what ye think I did? One monster killing another to take his place?” he asked, his voice gritty and strained.
There was a distinct threat in his whole body now, but Ciara didn’t tear her gaze away from his or make any move to put some distance between them. Although she was breathing heavily.
“I cannae ken why ye did it unless ye tell me,” she replied, her voice never wavering.
He shook his head, not willing to part with the truth just yet, apparently. They sat like that, with their faces inches apart, for several long seconds.
Ciara felt it the moment the charged air between them turned from anger to something else. His grip on her hand loosened just the slightest bit. Magnus tugged both hands onto his lap, drawing her face even closer to his.
“What other unholy actions do ye think this monster would want to do?” he asked, instead of answering.
The monster, as he called himself, was free, and he lunged forward, taking Ciara’s lips in a harsh kiss. The moment their lips met, she felt him relax into her.
Maybe relax wasn’t the right word. His lips were still frenzied and passionate against hers, but he was no longer so tense, so rigid.
Both his hands were free now. The one that was previously clenched into a fist at his side now found its way to the back of her neck. He used it to hold her firmly in place, giving him full access to her lips. The one he’d used to drag her closer was tracing a path up her leg. Even over the fabric of her dress, his touch made her burn for him.
If Ciara had a monster inside of her as well, it was out and playing with Magnus. She eagerly matched every stroke of his tongue and movement of his lips with her own.
Even more surprising were her own wandering hands. They both had found their way back to his glorious chest. Ciara was determined to touch every inch of it.
“Ciara,” Magnus groaned against her lips.
Whatever the Laird had awakened within her was not satisfied yet though, because she pulled him back to her by the collar of his shirt.
She wanted another taste of him. She feared she might always want another taste.
* * *
Magnus groaned against Ciara’s lips.
If she thought he was a monster, well then, he would show her just how monstrous he could be. And if he had his way, he would drag her down with him. He could feel her slowly shed her inhibitions. Those delicate hands of hers had pulled him right back to her lips and were now roaming freely over his chest.
It wasn’t enough, Magnus wanted her touch everywhere.
The feel of her was far better than he’d imagined. Despite how often he had dreamt of this moment, nothing came close to how her lips felt against his. And now that he had her taste on his tongue, he had no idea how he was to resist this woman every time she was near.
Ciara whimpered, and the sound only spurred him on further. He tightened his grip on the back of her neck, thrusting his tongue into her mouth. And still, he wanted her closer. Moving one hand to her back, he pulled her onto his lap.
She made another delicious sound that he swallowed down. She was rocking against him now, and it took everything in him to not strip her bare and take her right here, right now.
