it all. Her breaths were coming in keening moans now, as she rode his fingers the way she’d ridden his cock not too many nights ago.
“That’s it, Katlyn.” He nipped at her skin, his lips finding all her most sensitive spots. “Come for me.”
She did, hard and fast, her orgasm exploding like white lights behind her eyelids. She didn’t scream, but only managed to stop by sucking hard on her lower lip, the spasms causing her to whimper as she jerked against him.
He didn’t move, but kept his fingers deep within her, his hand cradling her as if she were someone special. As her passion slowly abated, leaving her in a sated haze, she became aware of his hardness pressed against her hip.
He hadn’t found his pleasure.
Tentatively, she shifted her pelvis, flexing not only against his hand, but against his solid cock hidden under his kilt, and he groaned.
“Nay, lass, dinnae move.” His command sounded hoarse. “I need…” With a muttered curse, he dropped his forehead to his arm still braced against the wall. “Just let me breathe for a moment.”
Shy, now that she’d come apart—again—in his arms, Katlyn loosened her hold on his shoulders. “Ye…ye didnae need… Can I help?”
His chuckle sounded more pained than joyful, but he shook his head. Without opening his eyes, he smiled wryly. “Ye are a gift, Kat. I’ll treasure each time ye come apart in my arms, from now until our deaths.”
That sounded like a vow.
Her heart began to pound faster. “But now?”
“Och, lass…” Finally, he lifted his head and met her eyes with a rueful grin, then blew out a breath. “Up against the wall in the darkness is no’ where I want to officially make ye mine. I want every candle burning when I plunge into this.” Inside her, his fingers flexed once—making her suck in a breath—before he slowly removed them and pulled her chemise down as he spoke. “I’m going to watch yer face as I spill my seed into yer womb, Kat, and mark ye as mine. Mine. Only mine.”
Her eyes widened.
Now that sounded like a vow.
“Kiergan,” she breathed.
And his lips reached for hers. “Aye, love. Mine.”
But right before their lips brushed, he jerked upright, his head swiveling toward the bend in the corridor. “Did ye hear that?” he hissed.
Before she could answer, he stepped away from her, leaving her feeling cold, and gestured to her to stay back as he peered around the corner.
He cursed under his breath, and she reached for the candle, the excitement already pushing aside her earlier release, despite the reminder from the dampness between her thighs. “Kiergan?” she breathed.
Suddenly, he yelled, “Stop! Stop, ye bastard!” and darted around the corner.
And all she could do was follow.
Chapter 10
It was amazing how quickly his body could go from aroused-beyond-belief to danger mode. Actually, his erection made it damned uncomfortable as he tore down the passage toward the shadowy figure he’d seen, but Kiergan did his best to ignore it. A visceral need welled up in him, a need which had naught to do with what he’d felt while pressing Katlyn against the wall moments before.
The man who was currently hurrying away from him in the darkness wasn’t one of his brothers, nor an Oliphant he recognized. He was the man Kiergan had seen last night, prowling through these passages, as if he had something to hide. So he could mean danger to Katlyn, and now Kiergan had claimed her as his, he wasn’t going to allow any harm to come to her. Or his family.
To be honest, he wouldn’t have allowed harm to come to anyone in his presence, even Kat if he hadn’t claimed her. It was in his blood to protect after all.
“Stop, damn ye!” he growled again, but the man ignored him.
Putting on an extra burst of speed—a dangerous gamble, here in the dark—Kiergan lunged forward and wrapped his hand around the other man’s wrist. He dug in his heels and whipped his momentum sideways, and the other man crashed against the stone wall.
As Kiergan threw his weight at him, he realized the light was growing. Katlyn must’ve grabbed the candle and followed, against his order. The thought made him feel strangely proud, knowing she wasn’t afraid, and the light was helpful. ‘Twould allow him to see his opponent.
Kiergan used his body to pin the man to the wall, capturing his legs with one thigh and the man’s arms with his hands. His opponent hadn’t drawn a blade, which was interesting,