Page 45 of Joanna's Highlander (Highland Protector 2)

Damn these clothes.Grant eased away just enough to unbutton Joanna’s blouse and unzip her jeans. Smoothing his hands around her warm, silky torso to the center of her back, he nimbly unfastened her bra and yanked it away.

“Let me help,” Joanna whispered against his lips.

“Should I trust ye no’ to run?” he growled against her throat. “Bear in mind, I’ve bolted the door and ye’ve no place t’go.”

“I have no intention of running,” Joanna said with a groan as he pulled one of her nipples deep into his mouth.

“Verra well then.” As soon as Grant raised himself up a bit, she wiggled her way out of her jeans and panties, then shimmied out of her blouse and her bra.

With Joanna finally naked beneath him, Grant knelt astraddle her body, pulled off his own shirt, and ripped away his kilt. Lowering himself to his elbows, he kicked off his boots and pushed them over the edge of the bed. A groan escaped him as he settled down between her legs, her wet hotness greeting him and making it impossible for him to wait. He slid into her, deep and hard. “I must have ye. Now,” he rasped with a tender nip of the soft skin just below her ear.

Joanna ground herself up into him, squeezing him with her thighs and pulling him harder into her with both hands cupping his ass. She bucked beneath him, panting hot and urgent against his lips. “More,” she pleaded. “Harder.”

Grant slowly eased his cock out until nothing but the engorged head remained inside her. He barely moved his hips from side to side, just enough to make Joanna squirm and whimper beneath him. He brought his face close to hers and barely bit and sucked at her bottom lip. “Open yer eyes, Joanna. Look at me and hear what I say.” He plunged in deep to the hilt, then pulled out again.

Joanna’s eyes flew open and she spread her legs wider, then locked her ankles across the small of his back and squeezed her thighs tighter around him, arching up and doing her level best to bury him back inside her. She bucked beneath him, frowning when he didn’t move.

“I’m listening,” she finally panted.

“I need us like this whene’er we wish—not just on weekends or holidays.” Flexing his hips, he thrust inside her two more times, grinding hard enough to make her writhe and moan. He struggled to hold his control. With her breasts pressed to his chest and her wet heat sucking him in deep and hard, all he wanted to do was pound his love home—literally. But he couldn’t. She had to see reason first. “I swear t’ye that ye’ll ne’er regret lettin’ me care for ye.”

“We can talk about it later. Just finish what you started.” She squirmed and dug her nails into the cheeks of his ass, trying to pull him inside her.

Grant thrust in deep and then stayed there. He kissed her hard, opening her mouth wider and drowning in the taste of her. Finally, he lifted his head and touched his nose to hers.

“I hope yer well-rested, lass,” he whispered against her lips. “Open yer eyes,” he said louder. “Joanna—open yer eyes.”

Head thrown back, Joanna opened her eyes and looked at him as he methodically pumped in then out, slow, then fast, light, then hard. “Harder,” she whispered over and over, her gaze still locked on his.

“As ye wish, lass, but know this and know it well. We’ll not be leavin’ this bed until ye swear ye’ll let me love ye every day of the week and twice or more on Sundays.” He pumped harder, arching his back as he slammed into her.

As her moans grew louder, he thrust faster. This was a battle. A battle for the woman he loved. Before he lost complete control and spilled himself inside her, he managed to speak one last time and he prayed she knew just how much he meant every word.

“Ye’ll find I’m a verra selfish man, Joanna, and I’ll ne’er share ye with anyone or anything.”

Chapter 22

Grant was by far the best body pillow she’d ever had. She snuggled tighter into the crook of his arm, pillowing her head more comfortably into the dip of his shoulder as she wound a leg around his and draped one arm across his chest. Perfection.

“Ye wouldna have this in Chicago.” Grant traced his fingertips back and forth across her back, occasionally dipping down to lightly squeeze the cheek of her ass, then affectionately swat it. “Five nights alone in a cold bed versus seven nights sleepin’ in m’arms. Why would ye wish for such?”

How could she make him understand why she needed to do this? She could already tell he thought he’d won and changed her mind after a night of the best lovemaking they’d ever had. The bedroom door was still locked. He’d sworn he wouldn’t open it until she promised not to leave and she still hadn’t said those words. And she wouldn’t. She was still going. Grant just didn’t know it—yet.I’ve got to convince him to give this a chance. I can’t pass up this opportunity to straighten out my life so we can enjoy our future.

“I love ye, Joanna.” His voice had grown softer, his tone laced with emotion. “I love ye so much it scares the everlovin’ hell out of me and I’m not one to be afraid of anythin’.” He shifted, pressing a kiss to the top of her head as he tightened his arms and held her closer. “I want ye t’be happy, but I canna bear the thought of ye leavin’ me—not even for a day.”

“I love you more than you’ll ever know,” she said. How could she make him understand that just because she was going to Chicago, it didn’t mean she was giving up on a life with him? “I’ve never felt so…content…so safe.” She pushed up on one elbow and looked down into his eyes. “You’ve given me a peace I never knew existed. I can’t describe how happy you’ve made me.” He’d given her hope for the kind of life she never thought she’d have. That’s why she was brave enough to take this job that would help her straighten out her past messes that were her responsibility—not his.

Grant smiled, slid his fingers up her neck into her hair, and pulled her down for a gentle kiss. “I love ye, dear one. And our life will only get better. I swear it.”

Joanna pecked another quick kiss to the tip of Grant’s nose, then slid down to rest her head on the center of his chest. There was something innately comforting about the sound of Grant’s steady heartbeat thumping in her ear.Damn, I love him.

But as much as she loved him, as much as she wanted a life with him, she still needed to grab hold of the opportunity that fate had seen fit to drop in her lap. She hadn’t had many get-out-of-jail-free cards gifted to her in this life. She wasn’t about to waste this one.

But what about Grant? He’ll be hurt so badly.Not for long, she argued with herself. She’d been battling with that damn voice ever since Lilian Tasker made the offer. Guilt had attached itself to her like some blood-sucking demon that wouldn’t let go.How can I do this to him?

Trying to sort through the dilemma, she mindlessly traced a fingertip around Grant’s nipple. Round and round the tightening button, she worked through her thoughts, mesmerized by the contracting movement of the dark, rosy nubbin.

“If ye keep doing that…” Grant didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to, because she felt the proof of his warning growing long and hard against her stomach.

---