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Chapter Fourteen
Liam’s first reaction was shock and awe when he saw Elizabeth in the small, rough inn. She seemed oddly placed. He could never have pictured her in a place like that with her pink lips, golden curls, and a face of pale innocence. Despite what Brea had said to him about Elizabeth’s lack of interest in him, he found he had to talk to her. Elizabeth Darling would not be around forever, and he needed to take the opportunity while it was before him.
She was walking away from the innkeeper towards the door, and instinctively, without any thought, he reached out to grab her wrist. He was surprised at his reaction. It was like his body had taken over and was working on its own without logic.
When she turned to face him, a small gasp escaped her lips. The sight of her bright blue eyes made his heart melt. He had struggled to utter his first words, but somehow they came out, and then she was sitting before him, a smile on her face. Liam still was looking at her with surprise. He wasn’t sure how she had done it or when it had happened, but Elizabeth Darling had caught hold of his heart.
He hated that she had spoken of him in such a way to Brea, that she had not even considered him to be someone that meant something because she meant something to him. When the realization hit him, it felt like a pleasant ache, and it changed his entire mood. He was smiling, he was joking, and he brought up the moment on the hilltop.
She had avoided the question for the most part, but she had mentioned passion, and that gave him a flicker of hope, but he never expected what was happening right then. Wordlessly, Elizabeth was leading him up the stairwell of the inn. He looked around, wondering if others were seeing what was happening or if he was merely in a dream. The other occupants of the tavern didn’t seem to notice much, for they were so deep in their cups, but a few looked up at the sight of a pale pink cape fluttering behind a tall, lovely woman.
However, it didn’t matter what they thought if they thought anything. His focus was entirely on Elizabeth as they ascended the steps, and his mind was working too fast for him to focus on stating anything clearly. His whole body was thrumming with heat and a renewed desire. She paused and turned around to him to whisper, “Which room is mine?”
Liam blinked and handed her the key, pointing lamely at the door in front of them. She took the key but didn’t release his hand as she found the door and fitted the key into the lock. Once it opened, she turned to him, and Liam could see a flush in her cheeks. They stood awkwardly in the doorway for a moment while Liam waited for her to speak. He could tell that something was on her mind.
“I know that this all seems rather untoward, just as my act on the hilltop was. I know this may sound strange, but I wish to be a different person, Liam. I wish to be stronger, bolder, more confident, and more courageous.” Liam watched her. She was looking down at her hands, and they were twisting in front of her, covered in their elegant, lace-covered gloves. “I cannot return to the way I was, so fearful and timid, so trapped by my father, and the way things were meant to be. I want, if just for once, not to think about anything. I want to be like Brea and fight for what I desire.”
Liam stepped forward, his heart beating fast. His hands lifted to her elbows and touched them lightly, his fingertips caressing her soft skin there. His voice was low and sultry. He tried to catch her eyes. “What is it ye desire, lass?”
She looked up, and he could see her eyes were full of resolve. He searched them, searching for her answer. For a moment, they just looked at each other, trying to read one another, and then, Elizabeth said very softly, “You.”
* * *
As soon as Elizabeth uttered the words she never thought she would say, Liam lifted his hands to her cheeks, and smoothing his thumbs over each side of her face, he leaned in and kissed her. At first, he had moved slowly, gently, but then, the kissing grew hard and heavy, each of their mouths moving quickly to capture the other. Slowly, they pushed inside, and he shut the door behind him.
He released her mouth and moved his lips down the side of her neck, trailing soft, heated kisses down its sweet, pale length. Elizabeth leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Her mind was a blank, filled only with thoughts of Liam and the desire that had ached within her for so long, slowly growing to a peak, becoming more unbearable with every moment. Her arms were clasped about his strong shoulders. She wanted to feel all of him, see his skin, trace her finger over his ever mark and curve.
Was this what she had long awaited? Yes, her every vessel was screaming out its acquiescence. It set her heart to beating feverishly in her chest, so much so that she feared Liam could hear it as he made his way down her neck and over the front of her chest. He even laid soft kisses on the top of her breasts before turning his face back up to meet her eyes. “The thing that puzzles me greatly is why do ye want tae be someone else, lass? Ye are perfect.”
His words went straight to her heart. Liam MacLean was in front of her, telling her that she did not need to change anything about herself. Could that really be true? This moment was more perfect than she’d imagined it would be. She didn’t want it to end. She looked at him for a moment longer and then drew his lips back to her own without answering, savoring the feel of their strength.
He smelled like a true man and so natural. It brought to mind the cool sea breeze or the scent of fresh grass and soil. Liam’s scent made her feel more like a woman, and she wanted to give herself up to him. His lips worshipped her, and she felt like the most desired, most beautiful woman in the world. She finally could understand why people would do as she was doing right then. Why they might visit a house of ill-repute or even be one of its employees. Why they would not wish to be constrained by society’s rules and forcing themselves into marriage with people they did not even care for, let alone desire.
She suddenly wished to be rid of her clothing, wanted to feel his skin against her own. She put Liam’s hand to the front of her dress, silently prompting him to untie the laces there. When he felt what she wanted, he looked into her eyes for a moment, waiting a breath. “Are ye certain, lass? This is what ye want tae do?”
She nodded and smiled. “Yes. More than anything in the world.”
He grinned and began to pull at the laces to her gown. First, he removed her cape, and it fell to the floor in a light rustling of folds. Then he removed her stomacher, and once her front laces were loosened, she pulled her sleeves down over her shoulders. The dress came undone, and soon, she was before him in only her stays and shift. Breathing heavily, he undid his cravat, waistcoat, and kilt, leaving him in only breeches, his naked chest rising and falling to the rhythm of his breath.
Amazed, Elizabeth stepped forward and pushed her hands over the skin of his open chest. It was lightly sprinkled with dark-reddish hair, and her mouth fell open as she traced the outline of every valley and mountain shown to her. His every inch was covered in muscle. No part of his chest did not ripple with strength, and it titillated her to be held a man of his power and beauty.
He chuckled at her studying touch. “Now, I wish tae see ye, lass. ‘Tis only fair.”
Smilingly, he helped her out of her stays, and once she was just in her shift, he lifted his thumbs to trace over the pink nipples that were poking through the light sheen of fabric. Elizabeth gasped with the pleasure of it all, the feel of his hands cupping her large breasts, the delightful wickedness of his fingers rubbing and smoothing until the nipples rose to a blissful peak, and she felt a wetness spill out at her core.
As if it had been called to do so, one of his hands slid down the silky length of her shift and landed between her legs, where she knew his fingertips could feel the moisture there. She was afraid he would recoil.
Instead, he smiled and drew her mouth to his, pushing her forward to the bed until they were lying atop it, and he was propped up on his arms above her. “It means that ye desire me, that ye desire our union. It will smooth me path inside of ye.”
She had no idea what he meant, but the words ‘inside of ye’ sent tingles down her spine, and she realized she wanted it more than anything. “Good.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, but he pulled them away. “I want tae see ye, I said. Ye are still covered in fabric. I want tae see ye without any clothing at all and have yer bare skin touching mine.” With a smile on her own face, Elizabeth lifted the shift up over her legs, and then slid it from her torso and shoulders, finally pulling it from the ends of her arms and laying bare before Liam’s admiring gaze.
“Good God, lass. Ye are the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes upon. What God has made of ye, lass.”
Elizabeth trembled under his praise. She had known only somewhat that she was a lovely-featured woman, but her father had always told her that was her way to entice men to make good marriages. It had never been about the simple fact of being admired or desired or savored. Her beauty had never meant much to her. In fact, she almost wished it away so that she wouldn’t have to have made that promise to her father or be subservient to evil men.
But she didn’t want to think about that right now. Instead, she preferred to watch Liam’s eyes rove over her every feature. Keeping his gaze locked to hers, he untied the laces of his breeches at his waist, and she sat up to watch as his lower body became bare for her view. His manhood stood tall and erect before her, and while it was foreign to her, it didn’t scare her.
