“What did you just do to me?”
“What I should have done on our wedding night.” Breckin chuckled and beamed pridefully. “I need ye to touch me, lass.” He pressed her hand on his erection and groaned a sound of pleasure. With his eyes closed, he tilted his head back with abandon.
Eva was fascinated with the heat and hardness of his manhood. She clasped him and used her fingers to slide along his silky shaft. He moaned and seemed to enjoy her touch. His manly neck was on display and she kissed his skin, sliding her mouth over the softness of his throat under prickly whiskers which vibrated her lips with his groans.
Breckin shifted back and dislodged himself from her hold. “That is enough of that, lass. Ye make it too easy to lose control.”
“Do you want to continue—” Eva wasn’t sure if she should voice her question.
“Hell, aye, I do.” Breckin leaned over her and pressed kisses on her face. “I vow to ye, lass, ye will not feel pain this time, only pleasure.”
He eased into her and she gasped at the sensation of him therebetween her legs. Eva held him as he pressed onward. When he rocked against her, her mouth hung open in awe at the twinges permeating her body. Eva’s muscles tingled and she couldn’t get close enough to him. She wrapped her legs around his hips and met his thrusts. Soon, her breath came heavy as she panted with desire in unison with Breckin. The climax of their joining hit them at the same time and they groaned in surrender, their moans blended in euphoria for them both.
Eva lay lethargically beneath him until he shifted to her side. How had she been so wrong about joining with him? She could have laughed at her ignorance because she’d enjoyed every moment of their second encounter. Breckin lay back and ran his hands through his hair. He groaned and continued to breathe heavily. She kissed him and used her hands to caress his body, telling him that he’d pleased her.
The sensual act between them was over. Eva shivered as the evening air chilled her. She hurriedly retrieved her gown and pulled it over her. “’Tis cold this night.”
He reached for his tartan and handed it to her. “It is always cold in the Highlands. Best get used to it. Keep this. It shall warm ye. Ye might want to get heavier garments when we reach home.”
She grinned at the thought of having to purchase new, warmer gowns. Eva closed her eyes contently and sleepiness overtook her. She felt Breckin cuddle beside her and wrap his arm protectively around her waist. She felt safe and cared for and, with a soft moan, gave over to her need to dream.
A bang startled her awake in the morning. Groggily, Eva peered at Breckin who stood by the fire. He dropped a large log into the embers and the dried wood didn’t take long to ignite. Flames licked the air and sent cherished heat to her.
“Sorry, lass, did I awaken ye? We should eat and be on our way. ’Tis only a few leagues until we reach my land.” He turned his back to her and continued to attend to the fire and the meat—another rabbit—that cooked on the stick. As he knelt, the fabric of his tartan rose and she peered at the naked backs of his knees and lower thighs. Bulges of muscle met her eye and she smiled at the thought that she’d married a well-bodied man.
“Are ye going to continue to stare at me and laze about or rise?” He raised a brow as if he wanted her to get moving.
Eva groaned at the soreness of her body and throbbing aches. She stretched and rolled to her side. “Aye, I am getting there.” After grabbing her cloak, she pulled it around her and folded Breckin’s tartan. She approached and handed it to him. “Here, my thanks.”
“Nay, lass, keep it. It will keep ye warm on the ride.” He removed the meat and used his dagger to cut it into small pieces.
They ate in silence. She pulled the remaining bread from her satchel and offered him a piece. The awkwardness between them brought on a shyness. Eva was uncertain what to say, if anything, about what happened between them the night before. Instead, she collected her things and helped to gather his belongings while he kicked dirt onto the fire to ensure it was out.
She ambled like an old woman toward the horses. “Can we walk a little?”
“I would rather we make haste and leave Stewart land. ’Tis only a few leagues, lass, until we reach my border. We should reach it by mid-day.”
Eva moaned at the thought. “My bottom is sore, which is why I always disliked riding horses.” Her face heated at her admission.
“Are ye blushing, lass? If ye need to ride with me…”
“’Tis not because of last eve but from riding these past days. My muscles ache and I am not sure I can withstand another moment of riding, let alone until mid-day.” She wanted badly to rub her aching backside and inner thighs but resisted.
“When we leave Stewart land, we can walk. Until then, ride with me.” Breckin secured their belongings to her horse and then mountedhis. He threw his hand down at her and she took it. With a yank, he propelled her upward and she shifted her body so that her legs were to one side. As she leaned against him, she relaxed.
As Eva swallowed, she noticed that her throat hurt. She hoped she wasn’t coming down with a malady. But throughout the morning, her condition worsened and she began to sneeze repeatedly, so much so that she needed to sniffle, and worse, her eyes watered. As she peered ahead at the view, she wiped at them to abate the filmy tears.
The Highlands were beautiful even if they were somewhat barren and blurry. Hills led from one to another with valleys between great mountains. A thick fog rolled over the top of a large mound, almost ethereal in its movement. She was enthralled with the sight of it.
“Behold, Buchanan land,” he said in a whisper by her ear.
“Your land is beautiful, Breckin.”
“Aye, ’tis and I am gladdened to be home. The air seems clearer here and the water pristine. Some fairy pools lie on our land and the waterfalls are breathtaking. When I have time, I shall take ye to see the beauty that is now your home.” He tightened his hold on her when the horse pitched slightly as they rode down a hillside.
When they reached the bottom, ahead stretched as far as the eye could see were blackened tree trunks. Eva craned her neck so she could discern where the trees began and ended but they seemed to go on in a line that crossed the land. It was as if the tree trunks were warriors standing guard with outstretched swords that reached the sky.
“What happened here? Was there a fire? Was your land touched by a catastrophe?” she asked because it appeared the trees had suffered damage and were scorched to the bark.
