‘No.But I’m not finished with you yet.’He moved her hand away and slid her trews away, baring her womanhood.He caressed her stomach, inching a path lower, until she guided his hand between her legs.
She was slick and ready for him, something he hadn’t expected so soon.The moment he touched the hooded flesh above her entrance, she moaned.
She was so unbelievably sensitive.As he circled her, using her own wetness to smooth the touch, she grew more agitated.He paused, wondering if he should stop.
‘Balor,’ she pleaded.Her fingers were digging into his shoulder, but when he pressed a little too hard, she winced.
‘Show me,’ he demanded.He idly wondered if she had ever touched herself before.
But she brought his head back to her breast and demanded,‘Kiss me here.’Then she guided his finger inside her while she circled the flesh with his thumb.
He obeyed, and the change upon her was instantaneous.She shuddered as he moved his finger in and out, and he added a second finger, stroking her from within.
‘Gods above,’ she breathed.But she was moving against his rhythm, moaning as he suckled her nipple.
Mairead reached for him again, and this time, his trews loosened until his erection rested against her hip.‘Don’t stop,’ she pleaded.
But he still wouldn’t dare take her offering.Instead, he continued his siege upon her womanhood, watching as she raised her knees, her body straining.
If he didn’t gather the threads of his self-control, he wouldn’t be able to stop.And so he withdrew his hand.His own breathing was unsteady, but he had an instinct of his own.
Without asking permission, he lifted her hips and tasted her intimately.
Mairead shattered at the first brush of his tongue upon her swollen flesh.She arched deeply, crying out as he licked and suckled her.‘Balor, you—Oh, gods.’
This was heaven, he decided.She was utterly at his mercy, and he held the power to drive her over the edge until she found her fulfilment.Her hands dug into his hair, and he tasted her again as she came apart, her body trembling.
She was so responsive, he gloried in the way she gave herself to him.And although his own body was raging for more, he held himself back.This moment was for her.
Even if it was all they’d ever have.
* * *
Whatever Mairead had thought of Balor before, she’d been wrong.This man was nothing at all like she’d expected.He had no reason to travel with her across Éireann to find her brother.It wasn’t his responsibility.But he’d somehow become her protector, and it warmed her.
Balor had hidden the boat amid the rocks past the shoreline before they began travelling on foot.
Although she knew her father would never allow her to wed someone like Balor, she was starting to question everything about her own future.Her heart flinched at the thought of being with anyone else.Especially now.
The memory of his hands on her body, his mouth on her skin, made her flush.But she refused to feel embarrassed or guilty over what they had done.She had wanted him to touch her, and it had been as wonderful as she’d imagined it would be.
She was distracting herself with finding her brother, but the true dilemma was Balor.He’d said nothing about this morn or the way he had pleasured her.She couldn’t discern his emotions, and he seemed almost like a stone wall, utterly unreadable.
Dozens of questions roiled in her mind about what to do now.Should she tell him that her feelings had shifted beyond attraction and desire?Would he ever consider staying with her?Or would he refuse, claiming that she had to marry a nobleman?
As they walked inland, he barely spoke to her.His silence bothered her even more.Did he feel anything for her in return, or had it only been a stolen moment of pleasure?What if he wanted her body but nothing else?It frightened her to wonder whether it had been a terrible mistake to lower her defences.
But she wasn’t brave enough to ask.Better to keep the vulnerable thoughts to herself than face the risk of rejection.
She gripped her arms, trudging doggedly across thefields while he never stopped searching for enemies.His hand rested upon his sword, and she grew aware that he was always alert.He truly was one of the strongest fighters she’d ever met.
She needed to know if her feelings were one-sided.But the thought of baring her emotions was too much.
Instead, she matched her pace with his, letting her fingers brush against his left hand.Without hesitation, he took her hand in his.She silently exhaled with relief.
And when he lifted her palm to kiss it, his gaze still fixed on the horizon, she had her answer.A smile slid over her face, a smile of relief that she wasn’t so alone.His blue eyes turned to glance at her, and though he didn’t smile, she saw the answering hunger in them.
It was enough.
