Why not, Helena? ’Tis what we both longed for within the first few moments that our eyes met.”
He cradled her body with a firm arm beneath her knees. He laid her back so that her bottom touched the seat beside him but he kept her legs across his lap.
“’Tis nae common, this sort of attraction.”
“Which is why it should not be given too much attention. Passion leads to sin.”
He undid the first few buttons on her doublet. “Och now, that’s nonsense, seeing as how we are going to be wed in a few hours.”
“You believe what I think is nonsense?”
He spread the open edges of her doublet apart. The morning air swept over her skin, drawing a sigh from her. She wanted to sink back into the flood of sensation and leave the talking behind. The pleasure called to her, tempting her with its rich intoxication.
“Nay, but I do think ye spend too much time fighting yer own nature. Ye want me to touch ye. I see it in yer eyes. And I am no’ a blackguard set on spoiling ye. I’ll wed ye gladly.”
His fingers trailed over the tops of her breasts. She jerked and fisted her hands in her skirts as sensation shot through her. A little gasp passed her lips and she heard him chuckle in response.
“That is no nonsense, lass. It is pure passion. I’m going to enjoy showing ye its way.”
He leaned down and pressed a kiss against the swell of one breast. It was too much. She arched upward, unable to contain all the pleasure. It tore through her and she danced over the flame. His lips were so hot, they burned over the swell of one breast until he reached the valley of her cleavage. The tip of his tongue traced the seam where her breasts met, slowly licking deeper. Between her thighs her passage suddenly felt empty. It was bluntly carnal but she couldn’t shy away from it, either. Hidden somewhere beneath the fold of his kilt was the hard flesh that would ease that emptiness.
“Tonight I am going to discover what shade yer nipples are.”
“Keir! You can’t say things like that.”
He lifted his head, his lips curved into a roguish grin. “And why not? I’m intent on gaining the church’s blessing on our union aren’t I?”
“Yes, but talk such as that is wicked.”
He chuckled, the sound deep and male. She seemed to notice so much about him that was different from her own female gender, as though they were fashioned to fit against one another.
“Did yer father raise ye to be one of these puritans? Intent on no’ enjoying anything life has to offer?”
She laughed. “Obviously you do not understand puritans. They shun face paint and silk dresses, among other things that they consider vanities.”
He touched her face, tenderly trailing his fingers over her jawline. “I may need to convert. I cannae wait to see ye bare of all this court fashion.” He reached up, poking softly at one of the pads her hair was still rolled over. “The thought of seeing ye with yer hair flowing down over yer shoulders haunts me.”
Something in his tone sounded needy. But the look on his face humbled her. She felt so beautiful just witnessing the way he looked at her. She reached up, drawn to him. Her hand hesitantly stroked over his jaw, absorbing the texture of his skin. His eyes closed to slits, enjoyment shining in them.
“Touch me.” His voice was husky and so tempting. It was liberating, too, granting her the chance to choose what she wanted.
“I’m not sure how….”
But she longed to do it. Her hands smoothed over his chin and onto his neck, her fingertips slipping over the warm male skin until she reached the collar of his shirt. She froze when he rubbed a hand over her thigh. Even through the fabric of her skirts the touch set off another round of need from her passage. This time she felt a pulsing need from the folds of her sex. One, small point pressed between the delicate tissues, swelling and demanding the touch of his hand.
“I am going to enjoy allowing ye to learn, Helena.”
“You want me to…to be a bold wife?” Wicked and tempting, the idea caught fire inside her.
“Aye.”
His mouth took hers with a hunger that stole her breath. All teasing was missing from the kiss. He took her mouth and thrust his tongue in deeply, invading and stroking along hers until she mimicked his motions with