“I will have Aymer handle that for ye.” He helped her to place the coverings and blankets, fluffed the pillows, and smoothed the wrinkles. “This night, we shall sleep in our chamber and be together as we should be…”
Outside, Breckin heard his brother Caden shout, and frowned.
Eva cleared her throat. “You want to stay here this night? I told the lads that we would return to Clare’s. They’re probably here now, looking for me. But…there is something that I should tell you…” Eva saton the bedside and looked down at her hands, which she clasped on her lap. “I am not sure if you will be angry.”
Breckin sat beside her and took her hand. “What could ye have done to anger me?”
“I arranged with Clare and told her that if she taught me how to cook, your brothers could live with us. I realize now that I should have spoken to you about it before I made such an arrangement with her. But she seems not to want the lads there.”
“She is getting on in age and she is short-tempered.” He pressed his hands on his knees and shifted his gaze to the doorway when his brother’s footsteps pounded on the floor in the front of the longhouse, followed by thethump whump shuffleof Connor’s limping steps. “Eva, if ye want the lads to stay here, then of course I agree. I probably would have suggested it once I spoke to Clare about it.”
Her shoulders rose and then fell with her deep sigh. “My thanks for that. The lads need your guidance more than ever now. Being here will help them more than you know. They need family…us.”
He didn’t have time to respond, because Caden entered the room. “There ye are,” he said. “Aunt Clare sent me to find ye. She said supper is on the table and ye should come and eat.”
Breckin stood and took her hand, lifting her to stand. “Then let us onward to supper.” He guided Eva from the longhouse and they walked toward his aunt’s cottage. Caden sprinted ahead. “We will eat with them and then spend the night here by ourselves. We deserve at least one night alone.”
Eva nodded. “One night, that is more than I could hope for.”
Chapter Sixteen
After their meal,on their walk back to the longhouse, Eva kept quiet. She was gladdened that Breckin had returned even though he’d been somewhat high-handed with Caden at the loch. Still, that he was concerned for her also lightened her heart. It had taken most of the afternoon for her to understand why he’d reacted the way he had, and then she reproached herself for being so harsh toward him.
The night sounds came, that of insects and birds making their way home to their nests. Breckin captured her hand and held it as they meandered on the lane toward the end of the island. The solitude and being with him relaxed her, and yet, she could not wait to be in his arms.
When they reached the longhouse, she stepped through the threshold and pulled her tartan away from her shoulders. She dropped it on a chair as they passed by the hearth and made their way to the sleeping chamber. Eva opened the door and sighed at the sight of their private space. There, they would be as close as they could be. Nothing could interfere in their relations when they were inside their room, except, of course, their most guarded thoughts.
That made her consider the fact that Breckin had shared very little of himself with her. She didn’t know what happened between him and his betrothed, why he kept a torch lit for her, how he’d lost his parents, and why he sought to war with just about every clan in the Highlands.One day, she might gain answers but for now, she had to be patient because he was a warrior and such men were reticent about their thoughts.
“Ye are quiet,” he said as he discarded his garments. Breckin lit the few candles she’d placed within the room. Shadows danced in the corners of their chamber as they readied for bed.
When Eva turned around, she found him unclothed, completely unabashed at displaying his body. Words got caught in her throat as she peered at the manliness before her. His muscular torso shone in the candlelight, sinewy bulges of his arms and legs braced as he stood staring at her. She was uncertain whether she should go to him or await him by the bed. Orinbed.
“There will be no coyness betwixt us, lass.”
Eva stepped closer to him and held out her arms. “True enough, Breckin. ’Tis just… We have not been together for some time and I am taken aback by your handsomeness.”
“As I am with ye. Ye are a bonny lass, Eva, och your beauty is but a small part of the reason I find I’m utterly taken with ye.”
A smile tugged at her lips. His words filled her heart with hope that someday he might be more than taken with her. Perhaps he might come to love her—dare she dream? “Do you mean that?”
“Of course I do. I never say anything that I do not mean. Now, can I kiss ye the way I have longed to all day…since my return?” He pulled her against him and settled his mouth on hers.
Eva kept her lips against his and the fervor of their passion sent desire through her. She turned her mouth over his as passion took hold. Nothing mattered at that moment: not her inane thoughts or his secretiveness—only the intense urges his caresses invoked. She stroked his bare, warm abdomen and chest, effectively kissing him and letting him know her need.
Breckin groaned and pulled back. “Ye make me burn for ye, lass.” He scooped her in his arms and set her gently upon their bed. Hishooded eyes seemed to darken. He joined her and pressed his hard body against hers, set his mouth back on hers, and used his hands to heighten her desire, knowing where to touch. He shifted his lips to her neck and said, “I love this part of you. Ye do not know how bonny ye are.”
Her breath hastened when he pressed her womanhood with touches to excite her. Eva moaned softly as twinges flowed through her body, knowing what would come. He cupped her breast as his tongue explored her mouth and his other hand continued to caress her. She settled her hands on his shoulders and returned his sensual kisses. When he dislodged his mouth, he leaned back and smiled.
“I cannot cease looking at your lovely body,” he said with a deep gruff tone. “But, aye, ye excite me and I cannot wait to be inside ye.”
She gasped lightly as she peered back at him; his skin shone with the flickering candlelight, making him appear fierce, strong, and desirous. Breckin glided his hands along her body until they rested on either side of her neck. With gentle kisses, he slid his nose along her cheek and as he did so, he reached for her center again. When his fingers slid inside her, she drew an awed gasp, certain she would expire sooner than she hoped. He teased her with caresses to incite her undoing.
Eva was overwhelmed with the heat of their encounter and the feeling of his nakedness against her. As if she’d succumb if he didn’t join with her, she pulled at his arms, wishing he would make her his. Breckin didn’t seem to be in a hurry and shifted his head lower even though he’d alluded to wanting to join with her. He took the tip of her nipple into his mouth and used his warm tongue to spur its reaction. She could barely breathe as each touch, lick, and caress further lured her to plead with him to end her torment.
With her fingers spread in his soft locks of hair, she tugged at him. His hair fell forward as he dipped his head once again to her breasts. She continued to comb her fingers through his hair as he lavished hisattention on her bosom.
Breckin groaned lightly and pulled away. “I vow, lass, ye weaken me to a state of… I have not the strength to resist ye and am filled with my need to take ye.”
