Page 85 of Highlander of Steel
“I’ll let ye have this one victory,” he replied, swaying gently with her as she continued to admire the glittering sea, her body relaxed in his embrace. No sign whatsoever of the fear that used to overwhelm her.
It was a victory, indeed.
“In fact,” he purred against her skin, “I’d say ye deserve a reward for yer triumph.”
“Oh?” she said in a sultry voice. “What sort of reward can I expect?”
He smiled. “I have a few things in mind.”
She melted into him as he kissed her neck, his fingertips deftly unlacing the ties that held the back of her dress closed. It wasn’t difficult, considering he had already started to unlace them in her bedchamber at Castle MacNairn. Rather, he was just picking up where he had left off, in more ways than one.
Slowly, deliberately, he slid his hands into the opening of her dress and pulled the beautiful fabric over her shoulders. She shivered at the friction of his palm against her bare skin, for she wore no shift beneath.
The realization stirred his loins, making his blood burn hotter.
“Be gentle,” she murmured.
He smiled against her neck, kissing down the nape to the bare skin just below. “I will, love.”
“With the dress, I mean,” she said with a breathy chuckle.
“Aye, that too,” he assured, taking his time to peel the gown from her divine figure as if unwrapping the most exquisite gift.
He almost lamented being behind her as he pulled the dress downward, the neckline lowering… lowering… lowering until her stays were bared, her large bosom heaving with the strain of her desire. But he couldn’t rush; he needed to savor this moment, this encounter, for as long as he could.
Freeing her arms from the gown, he sank down to his knees behind her and tugged the fabric over her narrow waist, her round hips, and pulled the garment down her supple thighs until it dropped of its own accord.
The rich red material pooled at her feet, but nothing, no matter how bright, could have distracted him from the sight of her creamy, smooth skin.
Perfection. Utter perfection.
A moan rumbled in the back of his throat as he suppressed the sudden urge to bite her exquisite backside, so full and soft that his hands itched to grab those pert, perfect mounds.
Instead, he leaned forward and kissed the small of her back as he slid his hand between her thighs. She was already hot and slick with desire, her legs trembling as his fingertips brushed her bundle of nerves, circling slowly. All the while, his other hand tugged the laces of her stays open, until they too dropped to the sand.
Savoring every inch of her smooth skin, he kissed up the curve of her spine, turned his head to trace his tongue over the dip of her waist and the swell of her hips, relishing every gasp and shiver that she graced him with.
“What if… we’re seen?” she gasped, her voice catching in a whimper of bliss as he continued to strum her swollen bud.
He stopped and stood up, moving around until he faced her. “Nay one will,” he told her. “Ye have me body to keep ye protected, to shield ye.”
She peered up at him, her eyes dark with want. Her gaze wandered over the length and breadth of him, as if measuring how much of her body was concealed behind his. Evidently satisfied that he could indeed shield her, she flashed him a sly smile and reached for his shirt, tugging it free of his belt.
With the same teasing slowness that he had seductively tormented her with, she eased his shirt up and over his head.
Her eyes widened slightly, biting her lip as she ran her hands over his hard chest, her fingertips tracing lines across his bare skin. Almost hesitantly, she let her hands wander lower until they settled on his belt.
She was already breathing hard, her chest heaving, her erect nipples begging for the warmth of his mouth. By some unknown grace, he managed to restrain himself, letting her take her time to bolster her confidence before he claimed her.
With a shaky breath, Ailis unfastened his belt, a light gasp escaping her plump lips as his plaid dropped to the sand.
“Oh…” she murmured, looking down. “Oh… goodness.”
34
Ailis stared at the hard, tempting flesh for so long that she nearly missed the sound of Killian’s quiet laughter. A surprising sound that proved to be more distracting than the sight of his intimidating manhood.
She raised her gaze to find him smiling at her.
