Highlander Unchained Read online

  He groaned, a deep guttural sound that hinted of danger. He was holding her against him, taking her with his mouth and hands, but it wasn’t enough. She wanted more pressure, more of everything. She wanted to feel the weight of him on top of her. She wanted him inside her.

  She wanted everything he had to give.

  Blood pounded in his ears. The urge to explode in her hand was crushing. He’d never been this close to losing control. Never been so damned aroused as when she’d circled him in her hand and milked him so innocently—and so perfectly. He’d fought the urge to come and hadn’t been completely successful. His stomach clenched as he fought the pull, but a few drops escaped nonetheless.

  He wanted to strip her down and caress every inch of her with his mouth and tongue. She was driving him insane with her innocent touch. With her eagerness. With her open desire.

  The heavy haze of lust had crashed over him so completely, it took every ounce of his will to pull back.

  She was offering herself to him, and the hardest thing he’d ever had to do was not take her.

  He hadn’t known until this moment to what lengths he would go to see her bound to him. But his sense of honor, at least as far as she was concerned, went deeper than he’d realized. He might not be able to risk telling her the whole truth about Argyll’s complicity in arranging their marriage, but he would not seduce her and take her virginity. Not until she agreed to marry him. He just prayed that she didn’t wait too long. His body raged with pent-up desire. The fullness in his loins had long passed the point of pain.

  Mindful of her fear in the water, he held her firmly but nonetheless pushed her away. “We have to stop now,” he said through clenched teeth. “I won’t take your innocence. Not without marriage.”

  Her mouth was swollen and red from his kiss, her eyes hazy with passion. “I don’t want to stop.”

  His heart paused for one long beat, not daring to believe what he’d heard. She would marry him. He looked deep into her fathomless blue eyes. “You know what you are saying? You would come to me of your own free will? You will not try to claim later that I seduced you into agreement?”

  His voice was fierce, refusing to allow for the possibility until he heard it from her own lips. But every muscle strained. He wanted this more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life.

  “I understand the consequences.” She took a step toward him and put her hand firmly on his chest. “I want you.”

  Blood surged through his body, and he shook with the last threads of restraint. He clasped her hand and brought it to his mouth. His lips pressed against her damp fingers. “There will be no going back. If you give yourself to me, I want all of you.”

  A flash of uncertainty flickered in her gaze, but she nodded.

  Elation spread through him. The significance of this moment would be forever etched on his memory. Of this sophisticated, beautiful woman giving herself to him. A thick ball lodged in his chest. He was overwhelmed by the force of emotion swelling inside him.

  He swept her into his arms and carried her to shore. God, he would make this perfect for her. With what she’d given him, he could give no less.

  Carefully, as if she were the most precious treasure in the world, he laid her down on the plaid.

  He sensed her uncertainty and, now that it was agreed, her rising embarrassment.

  Bending over her, he took her chin in his hand and placed a tender kiss on her lips. “There is no shame in what we will share, Flora.”

  She nodded shyly and circled her hands around his neck, bringing his mouth down to hers.

  He drank her in. Sliding his tongue in her mouth, he circled her slowly, delving into the deepest recesses as his fingers stroked the velvety softness of her neck.

  Her tongue entwined with his, meeting the sensuous thrust with her own and making urgent little sounds that tore to shreds his intention to take it slowly.

  His hands were on her. Cupping the heavy weight of her breasts, squeezing the fullness in his hands, as his tongue thrust against hers in the slow rhythm of lovemaking.

  Her skin was on fire, her nipples tight and pebbled in his palm. He pinched her with his fingers until she arched against him, her need painfully clear.

  Breaking the kiss, he slid his hands under the damp fabric of her shirt and lifted it to expose her breasts. The ivory perfection took his breath away. Her waist was flat and thin, in contrast with the very womanly curves that rose and fell enticingly with the quickening of her breath.

  “God, you’re beautiful.” She shifted her gaze shyly, but he turned her face back to his. “Do not hide from me, lass. I’ve waited for this for too long. This time, I intend to savor every naked inch of you.”

  He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on each delicate pink tip, then helped her shimmy the shirt over her head. And then he worked the trews she wore. Deftly, he untied the wet knot and slid his hands around her hips. She was so slim, he could almost span her with his hands.

  She sucked in her breath as he slowly slid the wet wool down her long legs.

  He wanted nothing more than to take off his own trews and lay naked on top of her. But not yet. He didn’t want to frighten her.

  He drew in his breath, allowing his gaze to roam over her nakedness. The sun drenched over her; she radiated golden warmth. Her hair had begun to dry and glistened like a golden crown around her head. He skimmed his hands over her, memorizing every flawless inch of her.

  She shifted uncomfortably, and his hand turned from reverent to caressing. He stroked her breasts and nuzzled his face between them, inhaling the sweet floral scent of her skin.

  She was so sweetly restless against him. So eager for pleasure that he chuckled, murmuring for patience.

  Finally, he took the ripe tip of her breast in his mouth, sucking hard as she arched her back against him so urgently that he could feel her body shudder in his hands.

  He knew how close she was to falling apart. Never could he have imagined her responsiveness. Her deep sensuality.

  Ignoring his own frantic need, he took it slowly. Drawing every ounce of pleasure from her as he brought her to the very brink just by sucking her breasts.

  What would happen when he touched her?

  He slid his hand down her flat belly and cupped her mound. She let out a cry of such pleasure, his erection jerked hard against her hip. He was so hard, he strained painfully against the damp fabric of his trews.

  Her hips pressed against him, and he fought the fierce surge of heated pressure to his loins. He ached to thrust up high inside her, feeling her damp heat surround him like a tight glove. But damn it, he would make this good for her if it killed him. He slid one long finger deep inside her. She was deliciously wet and responsive. He kissed her again, probing her mouth with his tongue as he probed her core with his finger. She writhed against him, pressing her breasts against his naked chest. Lifting her hips to meet the frantic rhythm.

  God, she was going to come. She was killing him. He slid his mouth over her jaw, down her neck, and down her velvety soft belly until he’d positioned his face between her legs.

  Her skin was flushed and pink with their lovemaking. He would picture her like this always, he thought, feeling a surprisingly sharp tug in his chest. Never had she looked more beautiful. She was his.

  She eyed him warily. Not knowing what he intended, but perhaps guessing. “What—”

  “All of you, Flora,” he reminded her. “I want all of you.” He held her gaze as his tongue flicked out to taste her. It was the most darkly erotic moment of his life. Looking into her eyes, seeing her surprise, tasting her on his tongue, and feeling her body quiver with a surge of damp pleasure.

  Any objections she’d been about to make were lost as he cupped her soft bottom and lifted her fully to his mouth, sliding his tongue deep inside her.

  He heard her moan, felt her shake, and watched as her body gave over to the pleasure he was bringing her. Watched as every last veil of modesty dissolved under the skilled