Page 54 of My Notorious Highlander

Her arousal heightening, she buried her hands in his hair and arched up to meet his powerful thrusts. Growling, he besieged her body as if he couldn't get enough. Erotic decadence ran rampant through her.

Torrin could hardly believe he was making love to Jessie. Each time felt like an amazing dream, but the pleasure and need for more which consumed him told him 'twas indeed real. Her eagerness was beyond anything he could've imagined. Her pale blue eyes darkened with desire set him off like flame to gunpowder. Her hands in his hair pulled, sometimes painfully, but he didn't care. He wished she'd bite him and leave her mark on him.

He'd thoroughly enjoyed feasting upon her moments ago. Her sweet essence was like strawberries and honey, but twice as addictive. Driving into her tight depths felt like something he'd waited for his whole life.

Digging her nails into his shoulders, she sucked in a hissing breath and arched her neck back. How he loved bringing her to the peak of carnal delight. Watching her, gauging her reactions, he waited until she was on the precipice, her breath held, then he increased his pace with sudden intensity. Muscles deep within her clutched at him, caressed him. Saints! He couldn't endure it. His release blasted through him like a cannon. Fiery, explosive hedonism that burned up his thoughts and rationality. He consumed her mouth as the last waves of pleasure rippled through him.

Damnation, naught had ever felt so good. Not just physically. But for the first time in what seemed like years, he felt true happiness and found himself smiling like a fool. "I've dreamed of this since I first saw you over six months ago," he said, lying beside her.

"Hmm," she said.

"I knew we'd be perfect together."

"I did not know such… intense pleasure was possible," she said in a shy tone, refusing to meet his gaze.

"In truth?"

She shook her head.

"You mean the climax?"

Lifting her gaze, she searched his eyes, then nodded.

He smiled, then compressed his mouth into a line, trying to hide how pleased he was. "Am I to assume MacBain didn't ken how to bring you to climax?"

She shrugged a slim shoulder. "He didn't. At the time, I didn't ken anything about it. I thought that was all there was to it."

Torrin snorted. "I knew he was a daft bastard."

"Indeed. I don't want to think of him anymore."

"Nor do I, for a certainty."

When she stroked her fingers down his chest and abdomen, exploring him, his heart warmed. He wanted to kiss her head to toe. It wasn't simple lust he was feeling now but something much deeper. 'Twas the reason he couldn't get her out of his mind. He had to convince her to marry him; he needed her for a lifetime. She meant more to him than the chiefdom of Clan MacLeod or an heir. Alarm blasted through him. Was he mad? He didn't know. He didn't understand himself. All he knew for certain was he didn't want to live his life without her. He'd never imagined feeling this way. He'd heard of men tossing all aside for a woman, but could never comprehend it. Now he did. Some obsession had overtaken him… body, mind and soul.

He wanted to ask her to marry him now, wanted her promise that she would, but fear gnawed at his gut. She might say nay again. He didn't want to ruin this perfect moment. What could he say to convince her?

His one hope was that if he could get her with child, she would agree to marry him. But he didn't care. He'd marry her either way, whether she was barren or could have ten children. And he knew the reason—because he was in love with her. Saints! He'd always thought such emotions daft. He was a chief and a warrior; he was supposed to be too hard to feel such things. But it seemed he had a heart after all. His father hadn't beaten it out of him. All of the battles he'd fought… none of it mattered. A lady had brought him to his knees. A lady he'd give anything and everything to if she would let him.

"Jessie?"

Her fingers stroked leisurely over him. "Aye."

His heart pounding, he kissed her forehead. "I want…" 'Slud, he couldn't think of the right words.

"What?" She stroked her hand over his bare hip.

A potent combination of lust and emotion struck him. He took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. "What do you want… in life? What do you wish for most?"

She tried to pull her hand from his, but he tightened his fingers.

"It matters not," she whispered.

"Aye, it matters. 'Tis the most important thing."

"Peace."

"Indeed, peace is a good thing, but you must want more."