Ceci Giltenan(27)

“I’m distracting you?”

“Well, the details on who is distracting whom may be a bit fuzzy. We will have to work them out later,” he said with a wink and, taking her elbow, led her downstairs for the evening meal.

Niall walked to the refectory table in the great hall with Katherine on his arm. Generally, everyone who lived or worked in and around the keep ate their meals on the trestle tables, while the laird’s family and invited guests dined at his table. Diarmad and Fingal were seated there, as well as Alan. Niall introduced their other guests, Cairbre, his other captain, Cairbre’s wife, Maude, and Alan’s wife, Effie. Katherine appeared thrilled to see Tomas at the table too, and gave the lad a quick hug before taking her seat.

She seemed to enjoy the company of the two women. Effie and Maude told her stories about their families and the clan and kept Katherine laughing through the meal. Niall conversed with his men, but Katherine’s voice or her musical laughter frequently distracted him and he often caught himself gazing at her.

“Laird, are ye listening?” he heard Cairbre ask.

“Listening? My apologies, I was preoccupied for a moment.”

“A moment? Ye have been preoccupied all evening,” Cairbre answered. “Ye can’t take your eyes off her. Has she captured your heart, lad?”

Momentarily taken aback by the comment, Niall recovered quickly. “Make no mistake, Cairbre,” Niall said soberly, “She is lovely and she pleases me. I am glad she is my wife, but my heart was never part of this bargain.”

Niall retired with Katherine as soon as the evening meal ended. It had been a very long day and his yearning to taste her charms once again had only intensified during the meal. This surely was what Cairbre had perceived. Once they reached their chamber, Niall pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She was so sweet and responsive. He wondered how he had been able to think of anything other than kissing her since he first captured her lips in the chapel at Cotharach. If he thought giving in to into those desires the previous evening at Brathanead would quench his need, he realized now he was sorely mistaken. He explored her mouth zealously with his tongue as she responded eagerly.

He pulled her hair loose from the braid, running his fingers through it. Clutching the silky lengths, he sought her mouth, finding her kisses and mewling responses intoxicating. He undressed her as he had the night before, but tonight she returned the favor, removing his plaid and belt.

“Ye are too tall, bend down. I can’t get your tunic off.”

Bending forward he said, “It is also called a léine, but ye can call it anything ye wish, as long as ye remove it. I love the feel of your hands on me.”

Obliging, she removed the garment, rubbing his shoulders. She ran her hands lightly through the sandy hair on his chest before clasping them behind his neck and boldly pulling him into another kiss. He gave a low growl of pure pleasure, her delicate touch making him shudder with desire. He had never wanted anyone as much as he did this sweet little morsel in his arms. He lifted her and carried her to the bed.

As he had the night before, he took a moment to savor the exquisitely beautiful lass lying naked in his bed with her shimmering hair spread beneath her. She blushed shyly, but it pleased him that she didn’t attempt to cover herself.

“I don’t think I will ever tire of looking at you, sweetling.” He lowered himself onto the bed beside her, kissed her forehead, and rubbed his cheek against her hair. “You are sweet enough to eat,” he said, burying his face in her neck, kissing and nibbling at it until she giggled. That musical sound, which had distracted him all evening, was now his alone to enjoy.

She appeared to lose herself in the sensations, responding to his touch and exploring his hard muscled body with her hands. He teased her nipples into hard peaks, flicking them lightly with his tongue. He grinned when he heard her swift intake of air and he continued suckling one breast while he rubbed the firm peak of the other. He slid his hand down her body, finding the spot that had driven her mad the evening before. Moaning, she pushed into his touch, seeking more. “I love your touch, too,” she whispered, her blush deepening.

Her uninhibited response thrilled him. All conscious thought fled his brain and he became aware only of the fire growing within him. As she writhed against him, the almost unbearably intense sensations overwhelmed him. Her unrestrained response increased his own desire until he ached to possess her completely. He pushed her legs apart and entered her with as much restraint as he could muster. He did not want to risk hurting her, but she crushed his good intentions. She was like a wild thing rising to meet him. She drove him deep within her, over and over again, until he felt her muscles contract around him as she reached her climax moments before he exploded with his own release.