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Avelina was a virgin no longer.

She stilled, as did he. But Niall never stopped kissing her, and she responded in kind. He wanted to ask her if it hurt but could not stopping kissing the woman. Thankfully, she gave what likely would have been her answer as her hips began to move.

Niall moved with the rhythm of her hips. Slowly, at first, and then faster. Pressing his hand between their bodies, he rubbed the spot that would make her call out his name, and sure enough, her hips bucked off the bed, but he did not stop.

His tongue matched their movements below. Niall was determined for Lina’s first time to be nothing less than the kind of lovemaking she’d be thinking of every waking moment on the morrow.

She broke their kiss then, looking at him in wonder as her fingers clutched both of his arms. “I never imagined,” she began, stopping as he slowed his movements and began to circle his hips.

Lina moved with him.

“I want you to come for me,” he said. At her confused expression, he added, “As you did before the fire. I want you to find release before I spill my seed in you.” Niall held her gaze. “You are mine now, Lina. Do you understand?”

She nodded. “As you are mine.”

He was and would prove it. Thrusting harder now, he rode her until Lina grabbed him with everything she had and dug her nails into his arms. “Niall,” she said, as he circled and rubbed, thrusting now relentlessly.

“Lina,” he said. “Come for me, love. Come all over my cock.”

“Oh,” she said, perhaps a bit shocked by his words. Eyes wide, lips open, she made a sound that told him she was close.

“Come for me, Lina. Let it go.”

“I am, Niall. I am,” she said, and sure enough, there was even more wetness than before. With a final few thrusts, he came with her, exploding into this woman who was now his—if not his wife yet.

Burying himself in her, Niall collapsed against her, ensuring he did not crush her in the process. Lying with his face buried in her neck, still inside her, Niall closed his eyes, hardly able to believe he had just taken Lady Avelina of MacKinlay’s innocence after declaring his intention to make her his wife.

Wife.

Husband.

A word that did not terrify him as it once had. Yet a title he felt little worthy of. A man such as him, one who was in all likelihood incapable of love, his actions too measured for such an emotion. . . yet worse than that for Lina.

She was a MacKinlay.

She would not have an easy time of it at Duncraig Castle.

Lifting his head, Niall kissed her neck, still not willing to move from her. “I would stay inside you all eve,” he said, kissing her everywhere his lips would reach.

“I would welcome it.”

As would he.

Chapter Twenty-One

She was supposed to have waited for Niall, but after pacing her chamber for what felt like the entire morn, Avelina finally decided to confront her brother herself. He would be finished breaking his fast by now, something she would have done, too, had she not still been abed.

With her betrothed.

They’d said the words that made the fact official and would wed that very day. A grand wedding between a Duncraig and MacKinlay would be nothing more than a breeding ground for fighting. When Niall first asked if she would consider marrying straightaway, she’d agreed immediately.

What was done, was done. She’d given herself to him, and ’twas no use waiting. Besides, they would not stay here much longer and would be parting ways soon enough. Unless, of course, they were wed.

Which they would be. Today.

’Twas madness, surely. But for once, Avelina had made a choice that was for herself, not her brother or clan. And there was a peace that came with knowing Niall and she would not be parted. Then, of course, there was what he’d done to her last eve.

As she made her way to the hall, her cheeks flushed with the memory of their lovemaking. Three times he’d entered her, the first of which had been painful for a time, but even then she’d eventually found great pleasure. The other two times. . . Avelina smiled.