Page 16 of The Highlander Who Stole Christmas
“And so ye wished to trick me into marriage then?”
She shook her head vigorously, everything spinning out of control. That had been the last thing on her mind. And she hated the way his anger had turned to pain. “Nay, I thought…If I were to ruin myself, I’d want to do with it a man like ye, rather than just anyone.”
All the anger dissipated from him now, his shoulders sagging, and he trudged back toward her. Thane sighed and sat down on the bed next to her, gathering her in his arms. He was quiet for a long time, and she remained very still. Afraid if he remembered that he was holding her, he’d walk away. “If I had known, I would have taken my time. Made sure ye were ready.”
“I am ready.”
“I mean, your body.”
“Oh.” She sucked in a weary breath and stared up at him, meeting his gaze head-on, wanting him to see the truth in her eyes. “I was no’ trying to trick ye, I swear. I dinna seek marriage. I only sought to rid myself of the bargaining chip my brothers are trying to sell.”
Thane stroked her hair, wiped away her tears. The pain in his expression receded and returned the man she’d fallen for. Oh, dear heavens…Aye, she had fallen for him. Swept up and deposited right on the shores of his affection, should he want her.
“I will marry ye.” Conviction powered each syllable.
“What?” She pushed away from him then. Had he not understood her? “I told ye that’s no’ what I seek.”
“I know, lass. But it is the only way to make certain they canna sell ye. Your brothers will lie about your virginity for the riches it will bring them. I’ll protect ye because I was no’ able to protect my sister.”
Sarah glanced down at the rug on the dirt floor. “I canna ask ye to do that.” Keeping her safe wouldn’t bring Thea back, and she didn’t want him to feel obligated to her for the rest of their lives. For eternity.
“Ye didna.” He tipped her chin up. “I offered. Of my own free will, I consent.” He pressed his lips to hers softly. Saints, but it felt so good. “Besides, I like the idea of being able to kiss ye more.”
“Truly?” His embrace was warm, comforting, and she felt safe with him, cared for.
“Aye.” He kissed her again and then left the bed once more, though this time he only went to the basin where he took a loose rag and dipped it in water.
She watched, curious, as he came back to her and then gentle as he could washed between her legs. His ministrations were perhaps the most considerate of any she’d ever had.
“To soothe the ache,” he murmured.
“Thank ye,” she said.
“If ye’ll still have me…I’d like to finish what we started, only make it better this time.”
Tentatively, she nodded. But then she knew he’d want to hear her say it aloud. “Ye have my permission to make love to me.”
And then he was laying her back down on the bed, and once more she was melting into the sheets and sighing with pleasure. He kissed his way down the length of her body until he hovered over the very center of her.
“I want to kiss ye here.”
“That is…” That had not been discussed by the maids. “It sounds…”
But she couldn’t find the words, and it didn’t matter anyway because he robbed her of all sense as his tongue stroked the sensitive folds of her sex. Again and again, he stroked until she was clutching at the sheets and crying out in pleasure. Wave after delicious heady wave crashed over her.Oh my…Thane was a skilled lover. Made her feel powerful one moment and weak in the knees the next. And pleasure, there was so much of it.
“That was what I meant before,” he said, crawling up the length of her still-shuddering body. “Now, ye’re ready.”
This time when he pushed inside her, there was no pain, only more pleasure. She gasped, letting the last vestiges of control go. Wrapping herself around him, she followed his lead, kissed his shoulders, his mouth. Gripped his arse, stroked his back. Cried out when he somehow made her body break apart once more and drank in the sounds of his rapture as he whispered her name over and over again.
“Ye’re mine forever now, lass,” he said, nuzzling against her neck before meeting her gaze. There was not even an inkling of regret in his words or eyes.
Sarah grinned, placing her arms around his neck and threading her fingers into his hair. “Who knew revenge and abduction could be so…satisfying?”
Thane let out a roar of laughter and gently bit her lip. “Yeare satisfying.”
Chapter Seven
They lay inbliss for an hour or so, whispering, touching and eating the rest of the scones. This was the first time Thane had ever done this with a woman. Just lying there languidly sharing stories from their childhood. Their likes and dislikes. Exploring one another, both in mind and body.
