Page 98 of The Laird’s Sinful Claim

They sat in silence for a moment. Then David lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles.

"I meant what I said yesterday," he murmured. "That kiss, it meant somethin' tae me. More than I was ready tae admit."

Elinor's heart stuttered.

His smile was rueful. "Because carin' about ye means riskin' losin' ye. And I've lost too many people I cared about."

"You're not going to lose me." She cupped his face with her free hand. "I'm right here. And I'm not going anywhere."

"Promise?"

"I promise." She leaned in, pressing her forehead against his. "But you have to promise something too. Promise you'll talk to me when you're scared. When you feel like shutting down. Promise you'll let me help you instead of pushing me away."

"I promise." His hand came up to cover hers. "I'll try, at least. It might nae always work. But I'll try. Fer ye. Fer us."

"That's all I ask."

They stayed like that for a long moment, breathing together in the quiet room. Then David pulled back slightly, his eyes searching her face.

"Can I…" He stopped. "The rules ye set. About touchin' and kissin'."

"The rules are stupid," Elinor said. "I was scared. Trying to protect myself too. But I don't want to be protected anymore. I just want to be with you."

"Ye're sure?"

"I'm sure." She leaned in, closing the distance between them.

He kissed her then.

Not like the desperate kiss in their bedchamber. Not like he was afraid she'd disappear.

The kiss was different. Slower. Deeper. Full of promise and apology and the tentative hope that maybe they could make this work.

His hands cupped her face, gentle and sure. Her fingers threaded through his hair. And when he pulled her closer, settling her across his lap, she went willingly.

He kissed her again.

And that time, when his hands moved to her waist, when his mouth trailed down her throat, when he pulled her tighter against him—she didn't pull away.

She melted into him, letting herself feel everything she'd been holding back. The desire. The need. The desperate want for this man who'd bought her freedom and somehow stolen her heart in the process.

He stood, lifting her with him. Elinor gasped, wrapping her legs around his waist as he carried her to the pillows. He laid her down gently, his body covering hers, his weight welcome and right.

The rough fabric of the upholstery scratched her thighs as he laid her down, the sensation both jarring and exhilarating. The fire crackled nearby, its warmth enveloping them, a stark contrast to the cold outside.

David knelt between her legs, his kilt pooling around him like a royal mantle. He looked up at her, his eyes dark with hunger, his beard shadowing the hard line of his jaw. "Ye’re mine, Elinor," he growled, his voice a low, possessive rumble that sent a thrill through her.

She nodded, breathless, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes David. I’m yours."

His fingers hooked into the waistband of her skirts, pulling them down slowly, his gaze never leaving hers. The fabric slid over her hips, exposing her to his hungry stare, and she felt a flush creep up her neck, warming her cheeks.

Her core throbbed with anticipation, already damp from the mere thought of his touch.

David leaned in, his beard brushing her inner thighs as he pressed a kiss to her knee. His lips trailed upward, leaving a path of fire in their wake, his breath hot against her skin. Elinor arched her back, her fingers tangling in his hair, as he nuzzled her core, his breath teasing and tantalizing.

"David," she whispered, her voice trembling with need, but he silenced her with a deep, devouring kiss to her clit. His tongue flicked and swirled, sending sparks of pleasure through her, and she gasped, her body arching off the settle.

He parted her folds with his thumbs, his mouth following, lapping at her like a starving man. His tongue plunged deep, with slow, deliberate strokes, while his fingers pressed into her soft flesh, holding her open for his feast. Elinor moaned, her hips bucking against his face, her nails digging into his shoulders.