Page 105 of Once Upon A Haunted Castle
“Come, Senara.” Gavin gently pulled her from Norbert. He looked behind him and found Renny watching, his blue eyes wide with concern. “Let Renny care for Norbert, aye? He needs to be set to the field to stretch his legs a bit, and his stable cleaned. Ye know Renny will protect Norbert with his life.”
She swiped the heels of her hands over her damp cheeks and nodded.
Gavin shared a nod with Renny as he left. The lad would care well for the horse, of that Gavin was certain.
He did not speak again until they were up the stairs and in his solar.
Alone.
She clung to him and sobbed while he held her. It ached seeing her so miserable, knowing there was nothing he could do. He listened to the stories of her da’s bravery, her ma’s kindness, and the fond memories she’d shared with her wee brother. His heart winced at the loss of a family so lit by joy, at the loss so very devastating to his beautiful Senara.
“I’ve nothing left,” she whispered into his chest.
His leine was soaked with the tears of her broken heart. He stroked a hand down her slender back. “Ye’ve got me.”
She looked up at him then, her lashes spiky from shed tears. “Do I?”
There was such hope in her gaze, such longing, he could not stop the words from leaving his mouth. “Aye, ye do. Ye always have.”
But the words came from his heart, not his head.
His head knew he would have to find a marriage fitting a laird, a beneficial match. Eventually. Hopefully not too late to be able to produce an heir.
But his damned heart cared naught for details or station or wealth. His heart wanted Senara.
It was then he knew the truth– he was in love.
Before he could speak, she stood on her tiptoes, her body stretched against his, and pressed her lips to his. The saltiness of her sorrow lingered on her mouth, but he kissed it away, as if doing so could remove the hurt that had put them there.
Her tongue flicked against his and their kiss deepened. He clutched her to him and lust burned white hot through him, like fire gone wild and unrestrained.
They weren’t on the stairs sharing an innocent kiss where someone might come and force them to jump apart. They were behind a locked door.
Alone.
In private.
A groan dragged from his throat and he released her to push his palms hard against the wall behind her. The rough-hewn stone bit into his skin, and he welcomed the distraction from the haze of lust he wanted so eagerly to succumb to.
“I dinna want to take yer maidenhead, Senara.” He stared down at her, taking in her wide gaze and kiss-swollen lips. “Ye’re grieving and I—”
She pushed her hands to his cheeks, capturing his face between her palms, and searched his eyes with her own. “Make me forget.” There was something desperate in her tone. “Love me and make me forget.”
Then she kissed him again, hot and sweet with lips and tongue and teeth. With a growl, he surrendered to the need screaming through him, finally surrendering to everything he craved.
After so long of denying himself, Senara would be his.
They’d spent six months building up to this, their subtle touches and kisses all kindling set to ignite between them.
Their hands raked and clawed with desperation to slide cloth from body, to feel the heat of skin to skin, to see and touch what had been too long clothed, to tasteeverything.
Their clothes tangled into a jumble on the floor until they were both gloriously nude. The moment of realization came with a reflective calm, the type which severs a ferocious storm and offers a brief reprieve before it consumes all once more.
So, too, did that moment offer them a chance to let their gazes feast over one another’s bared flesh. For Gavin to appreciate the beauty of Senara’s small breasts sitting high on her chest with tightly drawn nipples, the curve of where her waist met her hips in a tantalizing line which begged for the glide of his palm, the little crease of her belly button which tempted him to press his lips upon. Her thighs were long and slender and glistened with an inviting dampness he would soon sample.
It was seeing such evidence of her longing, of knowing how strong her desire for him, how wet and willing her body, which snapped him from the quiet and brought upon them both the storm of passion once more.
They fell upon each other, hot flesh and throbbing desire. His cock pressed against her naked thigh, straining for a relief he knew only she could offer. Her hands moved with restless desire over his body, sending ripples of pleasure dancing over his skin.
His mouth found her nipple. He drew it between his lips and teased the bud with his teeth and tongue while sampling the weighted silk of her breasts in his hands.
Then her fingers curled around the length of his cock and any remaining rational thought fled his mind, save the resounding knowledge that Senara was wholly and truly his.
