Page 10 of The Lass and the Laird

He embraced her, covering her with the blanket and pulled the shivering woman against him. Her hair smelled of water and flowers. The soft curves against him sent burning trails of desire throughout his body.

"I will warm you, lass." He ran his hands over her covered form. "Relax against me. That's it." Of their own accord, his eyes closed.

Slowly, her shivers subsided but he wasn't ready to allow her free of his embrace. She looked up to him, her green gaze traveling from his eyes to his mouth. "I am unsure why, but I feel so much when with you. Never before has a man affected me so."

He took her mouth and once again was astonished at her eagerness. She kissed him in return, her lips pressing hard to his. "Slow down, lass." He saw to it that she held up the blanket and took her face with both hands. "Now, soften your lips and allow me to kiss you. When you respond, do so without trying."

"I don't understand..." he pressed soft kisses to each corner of her mouth and then slowly drew in her bottom lip. When she inhaled sharply, he slid his tongue into her mouth and toyed with hers. She responded by suckling at it. One hand holding the blanket in place, she wrapped the other around his neck and pressed her body against his.

Her response brought his body to life, desire filled him and his length hardened, demanding release against the barrier of clothing.

"Mmmm," the lass let out a soft sigh when he pulled back. Her eyes opened slowly and she regarded him. "I have never felt so. I don't know how to explain it."

"Are you unspoiled, lass?" He knew she'd been married to the older man for a few days, but they may not have consummated the marriage. If she were a virgin, he'd not proceed further. Although he'd bedded many women, he'd never deflowered one.

"Nay. I lay with my husband of three days. He died soon after." Bottom lip between her teeth she blushed. "I shouldn't share such things with you. But yet, you are correct. We do not know what will happen once my brother brings you before the laird. Still, I will not join with you. I will only do so with my future husband." Her gaze on his lips belied her words.

"What will you do if the laird and your brother force us to marry?" Declan asked.

"I will run away. I will only marry a man of my own choosing and who, in turn, chooses me, not one who is forced to marry me." She jutted her chin out and he found it adorable.

"Is that so?"

"Aye. First I will beg the laird to take me on as a maid. I can cook and know herbage well."

"What if I want to marry you? Would you marry a man with no title, with only a small home and parcel of land to claim?"

Her face softened and the moist lips curved. "As long as I chose to. Aye, I would."

He lowered to take her mouth with his. She gasped and grabbed his shoulders. Not sure if she planned to push away or pull him closer, Declan suckled at her lips, taking her with great care, not wishing to scare her. It was obvious from her clumsy attempts to kiss him earlier she'd not been kissed well before. He pulled back and waited for her to open her eyes. It was hard not to chuckle when she opened her eyes and studied him. "You are beautiful."

A blush crept across her face. "Do not lie to me. Allow this moment between us to happen without ruin."

He wondered why she was so willing to allow his kisses, but at the same time, it was nothing new for a woman to seduce him or allow him to.

She held on to his shoulders and her blanket began to slip. He trailed kisses from her jawline down to the apex of her neck and shoulders and teased her there with the tip of his tongue. Her sharp inhalation a sure sign she enjoyed it. He lifted one of her breasts free of the blanket and took the pert tip into his mouth.

"Oh," she exclaimed and ran her fingers through his hair. "I fear I will fall."

"I won't allow you to." Declan teased the now hard tip with his tongue and fondled the other beauty with his other hand.

"Relax into me, lass."

"I cannot stand this. I feel as if I'm about to break to pieces." Her breathless words made his already hardened member throb with need. "I have never felt such stirrings."

He slid his hand under the blanket which she held up with one hand and slid his fingers through the center of her sex. The lass trembled and grabbed his shoulders with both hands, not seeming to notice the blanket had fallen to the ground and pooled around their feet. Declan circled the swollen nub of her center with his finger until she began to shake.

When she opened her mouth to cry out, he covered it with his own. No need to bring the attention of anyone that may be out looking for him.

Slowly, he lowered her to the blanket and lay next to her. His hand between her legs, he prodded them a bit apart, then slid a finger into her sex.

"I'm going to make you feel good things today, lass, but will not take you fully. You are not mine as yet."

Her head moved from side to side when he strummed her center while moving his fingers in and out of her wet tightness. "Oh. Oh. Oh," she repeated over and over.

Declan covered the breast closest to him with his mouth and lapped at it, taking pleasure in watching her come undone at his ministrations. Finally, she cried out and trembled all over, her legs stretching, toes pointing.

"You are breathing as heavy as I." She turned to him when she finally settled and her gaze traveled to his bulging sex. "What can I do to bring you pleasure?" Her hand slid from his hip to wrap around his erection. Through the fabric, she caressed him and Declan found himself pushing into her small palm. "That feels good." His stilted words like those of a young lad almost made him blush.