Page 134 of The Highlander's Christmas Bride

He gently tapped her adorable nose. “Yes, for now. In any case, if we disappear for too long, people will notice.”

She winced. “You’re right. I cannot imagine what you must think of me for not even realizing that. I’m just awful.”

He rested his hand against the back of her neck, playing with her soft curls. “Awful in the best possible way. And that blasted party is so crowded, that I’m sure we can take a few more minutes before anyone notices we’re gone.”

Eventually, though, someone would come looking for them. If he had any brains, he’d get her back to the party before that happened.

But when she rewarded him with that glimmering smile, he tossed caution out the window.

You’re going to marry the lass, anyway.

Donella touched a gentle finger to his lips. “Then I suggest we put those minutes to good use.”

As he leaned in to kiss her, she pressed two fingers over his lips.

“But let’s be sensible,” she teased. “Heaven knows, Mr. Kendrick, we don’t want to cause any gossip.”

“Cheeky lass,” he growled.

When he took her mouth in a devouring kiss, she sank into his embrace. For long delicious moments, Logan pleasured her mouth, as he wanted to pleasure the rest of her body. When she snuggled closer, he wrapped his fingers around the back of her head, dislodging the bandeau. While made of the softest of velvets, it wasn’t as soft as Donella’s bright curls or the silky texture of the nape of her neck.

Her breath was sweet against his lips, and the sound of her happy sigh whispered through him. Logan planted a searing kiss against her mouth, openmouthed and hungry, before reluctantly beginning to pull back. But the creamy skin of her cheek, the delicate curve of her jawline was so tempting that he had to sample them as well. Then, he promised himself, he’d stop.

When he trailed kisses across her kitten-soft cheek, she moaned and wriggled again, the movement shooting heat through his groin. Swallowing a curse, he pulled back to gaze at the beauty he held fast in his arms.

That was almost his undoing, since her delectable breasts had swelled over her bodice, and her dress was now hiked up over her knees, exposing the tops of her garters and affording a peek at her rounded thighs.

Unable to resist, Logan rested a hand on her knee, playing with her delicate stockings.

Her innocently seductive gaze, soft as moss, met his. “Should we stop?” she whispered.

“Probably,” he whispered back.

Just a few minutes more.

He tipped Donella back over his arm and trailed his tongue over the pulse beating just under the delicate skin of her neck.

“Oh, oh,” she gasped, arching beneath him.

Something broke free, and all his restraint fell away. As he lavished kisses on her neck, Donella let out a moan. Logan slid a hand under the hem of her gown, trailing up over smooth skin—

A startled feminine gasp from behind them was followed by a string of masculine curses.

Fate, it seemed, was about to catch up with them.

“What the hell is this?” roared an aggrieved voice.

Donella’s eyes flew open, wide with panic. When she started to struggle, Logan clamped her firmly in his arms and brought her to a sitting position on his lap. Then he twisted them both around so he could face the impending mayhem.

Alec charged into the room, all but breathing fire from flared nostrils. Right behind him, shaking her head but looking more amused than irritated, was Edie.

“What the hell does it look like?” Logan replied.

“Oh, my God.” Donella buried her face into his cravat.

Logan gave her a reassuring squeeze. “It’s all right, sweetheart. Everything will be fine.”

“Yes, it will,” Alec barked. “After I rip your head off, you bastard.”

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