Bride of Ice (The Warrior Daughters of Rivenloch #2) - Glynnis Campbell Page 0,72

before.

From the time he’d laid eyes on the beautiful Valkyrie, he’d been dreaming of holding her in his arms. Of kissing her mouthwatering lips. Of running his hands through her silvery tresses and over her glorious skin.

Now he had a lifetime ahead of him to do just that.

Yet he felt like he didn’t want to lose a moment.

Hallie didn’t want to waste another instant. Now that she’d come to a decision, she saw no reason to hold back.

From their first touch, she’d felt something special between them. A spark of life. A whisper of something far greater and more powerful.

Now that they’d made a commitment, there was no excuse not to further explore that feeling.

She slipped her hand through his, locking their fingers together.

He lowered his head again over their joined hands, brushing her knuckles with his lips. When he lifted his head, his gaze focused on her mouth.

She could read his intent at once.

“Shall we seal our vow with a…” he began.

She didn’t let him finish. Rising on her knees, she caught the back of his head with her free hand and pulled him forward for a kiss.

Startled for only an instant, he began to answer with tentative kisses of his own. They were soft at first, as if he were tasting blancmange, relishing the smooth, silky sweetness.

But soon the pressure of his lips coaxed hers open, and he deepened the kiss. Their breath mingled as she sighed in awe and discovery. Her eyelids grew heavy. Her limbs melted. Their mouths met and fed and battled and soothed while a warm vibration of longing swirled around her head.

He loosed his hand from her limp fingers and lifted it to capture her cheek. Nudging her jaw open with his thumb, he slanted his head and gently swept his tongue inside.

While fragrant steam rose from the bath, molten desire radiated through her body. Filling her veins. Igniting her senses. Thawing her heart.

The playful splash of water slurping at the side of the tub contrasted with the rough and hungry growl rising in her throat.

She wanted more.

No longer tenuous, his kisses became insistent, demanding. She welcomed his aggression, answering him with a passion of her own, exploring his mouth with her tongue and letting her hands range over his tempting flesh.

Her fingers glided across his smooth, wet skin. She tracked the insistent throb of his pulse in his corded throat. Sighed over the supple muscle of his magnificent chest. Gasped at the hard pucker of his nipple as she brushed it with a fingertip.

A low groan escaped him. She responded as if the primitive sound were the call of a wolf to its mate. Every nerve awoke. Every sense was heightened. She felt an almost irresistible imperative to join with him.

And then he made things worse.

He began to return her explorations in kind. He traced the contours of her jaw and neck with his thumbs. Tugged open her kirtle until it rasped from her shoulders. Slid the backs of his scarred knuckles slowly across her bosom, then lower, over her breasts, making her breath catch as he brazenly brushed across her nipples.

At his touch, a bolt of current, as lethal as lightning, shot through her body, wringing a gasp from her. Need licked at her skin and coursed through her veins.

Breaking free just long enough to wrench the pesky kirtle and leine from her arms, letting them drop to the floor at her knees, she faced him with raw lust and bold challenge.

His gaze raced over her with a brazen thirst that filled her with heady triumph and sent her desire spiraling to new heights.

“Och, lass,” he despaired, “ye tempt me sorely.”

Her thrill of victory didn’t last long. Once she lowered her gaze beneath the water and spied the beast rising from its nest of dark curls, passion quickly wiped the satisfied smile from her face, leaving her mouth open in awe.

Several thoughts raced through her mind in the span of an instant.

He was beautiful.

He was attracted to her.

He was ready for her.

One day soon, she would become his wife.

At which time he would consummate their marriage.

With that.

And suddenly it seemed so…impossible.

But before she could dwell too long on the physical logistics of mating, he seemed to sense her hesitation and released her.

“I’ll go no further, lass,” he said on a sigh, withdrawing and using his hands to shield his erection from her view. “I don’t wish to frighten ye.”

He meant to do the gentlemanly thing. He meant to protect her from