onto the bed. Returning to his task, he suckled her breast once more. She pulled the tie holding his hair back, freeing the mass to graze his shoulders, and ran her fingers through it.
He moved between her legs, skimming his hand down over the smooth slope of her belly until he found the curls at her sex. He stroked her folds, drawing a gasp from her as she arched up from the bed. She clutched at his head, her soft whimpers sharpening his desire.
“Tavish,” she breathed.
He lifted his head and looked down at her. Eyes closed, red-gold hair splayed across the pillow, lips damp and parted, she was exquisite. He teased her clitoris and with each touch of his fingers, she moved with him, her body begging wordlessly for more. He slipped his finger into her, and she clasped his shoulders. Moving between stroking her clitoris and filling her sheath, he coaxed her response until she was coming up from the bed to meet his thrusts. On and on he worked as her cries intensified.
“I don’t know what to do. I feel something…” She moaned as he filled her with two fingers.
“Let go, Elspeth,” he whispered against her cheek. “You’re so tight for me. You’re ready. Let yourself fall. I’ll catch you.”
He increased his pace, and her body began to shudder. Her muscles clenched around him. She cried out his name. Spasms racked her thighs as she dug her fingers into his back.
Though he wanted so badly to bury himself inside her, Tavish knew he should stop. They were not wed, nor were they really handfasted. She deserved to know that he wouldn’t leave her.
He rolled to his side. “Elspeth.”
Her eyes opened, but just barely. “Where are you going?”
“Nowhere. I’m right here.”
“But we aren’t finished.” She put her hand on his hip, then slid it down to curl her palm around his cock.
Tavish groaned softly. This was not helping his resolve. “Elspeth,” he rasped. “We should wait.”
She turned her head toward him. “Wait? For what?”
He cupped her cheek. “Will you marry me?”
Chapter Eight
Elspeth froze in shock. Had she heard him right?
“What did you say?”
He cracked that half smile that never failed to squeeze her heart. “I asked if you would marry me. And I swear it’s not because you’re touching my cock.”
She couldn’t help it, she laughed. So hard that she put her other hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry.”
“Forgive me for not joining in your amusement. I’m afraid that while you’re touching me like that, laughter is not the reaction that comes to mind.”
She slitted her eyes again and stroked her hand along his length. “What is?”
He closed his eyes briefly. “Good Lord, woman, are you trying to torture me?”
“No, I’m trying to arouse you. Is it working?”
“Quite. But, truly, we should wait.”
“Why? If we’re to be wed, I see no reason for us not to consummate our union right now.”
He rolled over on top of her, settling between her legs, which she bent to accommodate him. “Does that mean you’ll be my wife?”
She hesitated. “We really could handfast, instead of pretending to. We’ve hardly known each other.”
“As you said, handfasting is little more than a temporary arrangement—or something like that.” His eyes darkened, sending a flush of longing through her. “And I wasn’t pretending. I want you, Elspeth. In my bed, in my life, in my heart.”
She’d been afraid to admit that she was falling in love with him. What if he didn’t feel the same? Yet here he was, proposing marriage, and not just because she was touching his sex. “Yes,” she said softly, joy and wonder filling her. “I’ll marry you. Now, will you finish?”
He laughed finally, just before he kissed her again. He took his time exploring her mouth as he pressed between her thighs. She still held him, and began to move her hand along his shaft.
He put his hand over hers. “Take me into you,” he said against her mouth.
Together, they guided him into her sheath, already sensitive from the pleasure he’d given her. He went slowly, filling and stretching her, until he was completely inside. She moved her hand to his backside, skimming her palm over him as he moved. Sliding from her, he pressed forward again, the muscles of his backside growing taut.
“I think I could just enjoy fondling your arse,” she said before she nipped his ear with her teeth.
“Elspeth.” He gathered her in his arms. “Wrap your legs around me—tight.” Then he truly began to move, his hips thrusting