Time to Heal Read online

  Emmeline got off his lap and came to lay beside him. As the heat of his big body warmed hers and his spicy sandalwood and pine scent invaded her senses, she began to feel more comfortable—much more comfortable.

  “Mmmm…” She turned and pressed her face to his chest, breathing him in deeply. “Why do you always smell so good? Is it some kind of scent or cologne that you wear?”

  He gave a low, warm chuckle that vibrated her entire body.

  “Not at all, delora. It is simply my Bonding Scent you are smelling—a scent that my body makes especially for you because it wishes to mate with you.”

  “Really?” She looked up at him uncertainly. “Is that a Kindred thing? My cousin Richard never told me about it.”

  “It’s not something a male would speak of except to the female he wished to mate with,” Skahr remarked. He turned on his side so they were facing each other and looked into her eyes. “May I touch you, Emmeline? May I stroke your beautiful body all over?”

  “Y-yes, I suppose,” she whispered nervously. “But…would you kiss me while you do it?” she asked, remembering how much she had enjoyed his kiss. “I…I’d like that. Like it a lot.”

  “It would be my very great pleasure, delora,” he murmured. Cupping her face in one big, warm hand, he pulled her close and took her mouth in a kiss that stole Emmeline’s breath away.

  His mouth on hers was gentle as it had been before—he was being careful not to frighten her, she thought. But after a moment, Emmeline wanted more. Feeling daring, she licked lightly at the seam of his lips, asking entrance.

  Skahr opened for her at once and as his tongue danced lightly around hers, she tasted him for the first time. His mouth was sweet and nutty like the yarroy wafer they’d both had for dinner. But under that was a wild spiciness—something like cinnamon but better, she thought. It made her hungry for more and when Skahr invited her to explore him, she took him up on his unspoken offer and tasted him thoroughly.

  As they kissed, his big, warm hands roved lightly over her body. Emmeline gasped when she felt his fingers skim over the sides of her breasts, which were still covered by the leather garments Talli had given her.

  Suddenly her clothes—brief though they were—seemed too warm in the firelight. Pulling away, she broke the kiss.

  Skahr looked at her, his pale blue eyes blazing in the golden glow. But his deep voice was mild and gentle when he spoke.

  “Are you well, Emmeline?”

  “Yes.” She nodded and bit her lip. “I just…well, you’re naked and I thought…” She took a breath. “I mean, I suddenly felt rather hot in…in all this leather I’m wearing.”

  He nodded thoughtfully. “Would you like to take your garments off then? It would make it easier for me to pleasure you.”

  Emmeline licked her lips. Was she really going to do this? Was she really going to be completely naked with him?

  Such a thing was considered utterly wrong in her world. Even after a woman was married, she wore a long, white nightgown with only a hole cut in it at the crotch level for her husband to poke his shaft through. One was never supposed to be completely bare with the opposite sex—it was unthinkable.

  And yet, the unthinkable was exactly what she wanted.

  “Yes,” she whispered, tugging at the leather top. “Yes, I want to take everything off. I want…want to be naked with you, Skahr.”

  He made a low growl of approval.

  “I want to be naked with you as well, delora. Come—let’s get you undressed.”

  With a bit of tugging, both the leather top and skirt were discarded and she was completely nude. Emmeline spared a moment to think how much easier it was to get out of one’s clothing here than it was back home where a woman wore six or seven layers. But then the feel of Skahr’s big, warm hands caressing her naked flesh drove everything else out of her mind.

  “Mmmm, delora,” he rumbled, stroking from the side of her breast all the way down over the curve of her hip. “You’re so beautiful—your curves are so lush and full.”

  “Thank…thank you,” Emmeline said rather breathlessly. “I…I like the way you look naked too,” she admitted in a rush.

  It was true—with his broad chest, muscular arms, and tight abdomen, the big Kindred was a feast for the eyes. But Emmeline didn’t just want to look—she wanted to touch.

  Pushing herself forward, she pressed the entire length of her naked body against the entire length of his. Skahr made another rumble of approval and his arms went around her, as strong as steel chains but Emmeline didn’t feel bound or constricted by them in any way. She only felt comforted and protected and loved as he held her close.

  Loved? whispered a little voice in her head. Don’t get ahead of yourself, Emmeline. You know this is a on- night occurrence—you can’t afford to fall in love with him!

  She pushed the voice away. As her fear and uncertainty melted, she was finally beginning to enjoy herself and she refused to let anything get in the way of her pleasure.

  “Mmm, you feel so good against me,” Skahr murmured in her ear. “So soft and warm, little one. I love to hold you.”

  “I love to hold you, too,” Emmeline admitted, looking up at him. His pale blue eyes were as deep as the ocean in the firelight—reflecting the gold of the dancing flames. As he bent to kiss her again, she felt like she was drowning in their strange but lovely depths.

  And then his lips left hers and traveled down to her neck. Emmeline gasped as she felt his hot mouth there, lapping and sucking gently at the tender flesh just below her ear. Shivers raced down her spine and her body seemed to come alive in a way it never had before. Her nipples were suddenly tight little peaks at the ends of her breasts and she could feel the spot between her legs beginning to get hot and wet, just as it had the night before.

  “Oh!” she gasped, writhing against him. “Oh, Skahr!”

  Despite her writhing, the big Kindred kept licking and kissing her in a slow, unhurried fashion. And while he did, one big hand explored her. Emmeline felt it skim down her shoulder and then cup the full curve of her right breast. She gasped as he gently thumbed the nipple, lightly caressing the tight little bud and sending even more sparks of pleasure through her entire body.

  “Oh…” It was a moan this time as she pressed against him. No man had ever touched her this way before—her body had never felt this alive, this needy. She was beginning to feel so hot and wet she hardly knew how to handle it. “Oh, Skahr, please!” she begged, though she wasn’t sure what she was begging for.

  At last he pulled back from her neck.

  “Does it feel good, delora?” he murmured. “And is your soft little pussy getting all wet and hot for me?”

  “I…I don’t know,” she whispered, pressing her thighs together. “I…I think so.”

  “Would you like me to find out? Would you like to spread your legs for me and let me stroke your soft petals to see if you’re wet enough to take me?”

  His eyes were half-lidded with desire in the firelight, yet he still spoke gently, his voice a low rumble. Emmeline knew if she didn’t want him to touch her, he wouldn’t do it.

  But she did want him to touch her—so much!

  “Yes,” she whispered, looking up at him. “Yes, Skahr, I…I think I’d like that.”

  “Good.” He gave her a slow, lazy smile that seemed to make something low in her belly clench with need. “Then spread your legs for me, delora. Let me stroke your soft little pussy.”

  Biting her lip, she turned over on her back, her head pillowed on his muscular arm, and did as he asked.

  She had expected him to reach between her legs at once but Skahr surprised her again. Instead of grabbing for her, he took another long look at her body and groaned in approval.

  “Look at you,” he murmured. “So beautiful and so open for me. Look at your full breasts,” he continued, stroking one big hand gently over her breasts. “And your ripe nipples…” He plucked at her tight tips lightly, sending sparks of need through E