"Just think, my lord. I might lie upon your bed squeezing my eyes shut as stiff as an effigy."
Anne turned, retaining her grip on his cock. Watching had lost its appeal. Need was whirling around deep inside her belly. She wanted to touch and be touched. But she was also feeling bold, as though she needed to be as confident with the subject of intimacy as he was. She wanted to tease him with the same ease that he toyed with her, not shiver like an ignorant virgin.
"Ye certainly tried to avoid me well enough." A hint of frustration laced his tone. Working her fingers over his cock again, Anne shrugged.
"Really? You believe so?"
He grunted. "I have a good memory."
Anne walked past him, careful to step over of her skirts. She felt his eyes on her bare bottom, her clitoris begging for a stroke from his fingers. The side bed curtains were drawn, the interior of the bed glowing red from the coals in the fireplace. Casting a look over her shoulder, she placed a knee on the bed.
"Be careful what you suggest. I might decide to repent my lustful infatuation."
The bed ropes groaned when she crawled up onto the ticking.
"I'd have to take ye in hand and warm you up … again."
He was following her, slowly stalking. He paused near a stool, propping one foot onto it. With a pull and tug, his boot dropped to the floor. The head of his cock pushed against the creamy shirt tail when he moved. A smug look decorated his face because he watched her looking at his crotch. Anne didn't lower her eyes. She stared straight into his gaze, refusing to consider whether it was right to look at his sex.
Watching in the mirror had been very pleasing and she wasn't a liar.
His second boot hit the floor. "Lie back."
"All the way?"
"Aye."
She scooted back while he gripped the hem of his shirt and drew it over his head. There was no teasing about it. Brodick threw his remaining garment across the room. With him completely bare, she lost a great deal of her bravado. He was magnificent, his body honed into tight ridges of muscle. On an animal she would have been impressed; in this man she quivered because his strength would soon be working between her thighs. The idea was as intoxicating as the reflection had been.
"Now spread yer legs."
Her thighs pressed tight instead.
"Do it." Command colored his words. His eyes narrowing with expectation. "Part yer thighs. I want to see if yer slit is glistening with sweet dew."
It was …
The folds of her slit were already slick. Her attention moved to his cock, the staff thick and engorged.
"Unless ye be too timid."
She forced her hesitating knees to part. He didn't chuckle, didn't mock her for the slightly nervous way she complied, spreading her legs so that he could see her sex.
"Wider. Much wider."
A ripple of excitement went through her. The folds protecting the opening to her body separated, exposing her completely.
"Now lie back and close yer eyes. No peeking. Wait for me to touch ye."
His voice was rough. It suited the sharply defined muscles running over his limbs and body. Everything about him felt and looked hard.
And she was soft.
Her body fashioned to be opposite to his. The bed ropes creaked once more as she lay back. Closing her eyes raised a soft moan from her chest. Every inch of her skin suddenly became more aware. She could hear her own heart beating faster, feel her blood accelerating. Goosebumps rose along her arms and down her torso. The tiny bumps covered the mounds of her breasts. Through her eyelids she detected only the flicker of the dancing candle flame.
A moment later it died.
Her heart increased its pace yet again. The folds of her sex turning hot as blood rushed through the delicate tissues. Without her sight, time moved slowly as she waited for a tiny sound to tell her where Brodick was. The bed was still, her ears failing to hear anything.
That left her waiting.
Anticipation was a torment. Her clitoris throbbed with demand. Her passage begged to be filled. A single stroke down the center of her slit drew a cry from her lips.
A hard hand pressed her back down.
"Interesting, isn't it? The way the flesh heightens its awareness when ye don't have yer sight."
"Indeed." The single word was an effort to force past her lips. Her breathing was uneven, most of her attention needed to keep her eyes closed. She was rapidly losing the ability to conquer her impulses. Signals raced from her skin to her spine and up into her brain so quickly she couldn't make sense of it all. Couldn't understand what she wanted anymore. Part of her wanted to open her eyes to restore her balance. A hard shudder shook her, the spasm pressing another sound past her lips and this one sounded more like a wail.
"Enough, lass."
The bed rocked as she was caught up against his body. Hard arms drew her into his embrace, his skin caressing hers. It was sweet balm to her quivering flesh. Reaching for him, she held tight as he rolled her beneath his large body.
"Enough play for tonight. I just want to rock ye to sleep."
Her thighs clasped his hips and he cupped the back of her head. His lips sought hers, teasing them with a warm kiss. It was a slow meshing of their mouths, his tongue soothing the dry surface of her lips. His cock pressed against the opening to her body, sliding smoothly into her sheath. There was no protest from her body this time, his cock lodging deep with the first penetration. His tongue delved deep at the same time, filling her mouth.
He moved between her thighs, rocking her with a gentle rhythm. His cock departing and returning slowly. Each breath drew his scent into her senses. Every downward motion pressed his chest against her breasts. The soft globes gave way to his harder torso. Pleasure streamed along her body, first from where he rode her and then back to tighten around his hard flesh. She was keenly aware of the entire length of his cock. It slid against her clitoris, pressing down on the sensitive nub until the head knocked against the mouth of her womb.
She broke their kiss, gasping for breath. Her body was twisting tighter and tighter again. It was far too much to hold inside. Her lips remained open as she panted and wailed. It was a thin sound she didn't recognize. Pleasure washed over her and she willingly went with the current.
"Aye, lass. That's the way of it."
The speed of his thrusting increased, his hips working harder. His embrace tightened as she heard his breathing turn harsh.
"Look at me."
Her eyelids felt too heavy to move.
"Open your eyes."
His words were hard. Her eyelashes fluttered to obey. Hard hunger met her stare. It was far more primal than she'd ever seen on a human. His eyes glittered with determination as he thrust harder against her spread body.
"Dinnae ever leave me. I'll come for ye. Ye have my word on it."
He gritted his teeth as she felt his seed spurt deep inside her passage. A harsh growl made it past his teeth as he pressed against her to empty all of his offering into her. His shoulders quivered a moment and he drew in several long breaths.
"Ye're mine."
He rolled over onto his back, clasping her against his chest. His words echoing inside her head, both endearing and frightening. He stroked her back with a warm hand as she felt his body shudder softly. It was almost too slight to feel, just a mere whisper of vulnerability in his hard body.
Yet she felt it.
Laying a hand on his chest, she threaded her fingers into the crisp hair. Somewhere inside his honed exterior was the same doubt that plagued her. It was an unspoken thing, but one that gave her peace. With a sigh, she allowed sleep to lead her away. Back to that place where she'd slept last night, where her lover cradled her against his warm body, his heartbeat filling her head.
It was perfection on earth.
The bells on the walls shattered their bliss.
It was soft at first, only invading her slumber like a memory. But more bells rang, bringing the volume up. The chest her head was pillowed on jerked and sat up.
The chamber was much darker now, the candles extinguished. Yet the ringing of the bells was loud.
"What is it?"
"Trouble."
There was a soft growl in his voice. He left the bed, grabbing a boot first. His hands made quick work of lacing it closed and he pushed the second one onto his foot.
The clanging of the brass bells drove every bit of sleep from her mind. Whatever befell the castle, she would share it. In the eyes of Brodick's enemies, she was his wife and a possible target to extract vengeance from. Crawling over the heavy coverlet, she stood up, trying to find their clothing in the dim light. His shirt was a soft hump on the floor. Picking it up, she shook it and turned it right side out. She turned and took it toward him, her heart moving faster as the bells continued to ring.
Brodick looked surprised. He was already pleating his kilt across the foot of the bed, his wide leather belt in place. Stretching up, she placed the shirt over his head. She didn't worry about her own nudity; getting the men to the walls was the first priority. He lifted his arms and put them through the sleeves of the garment. Her fingers were already closing the button at the collar.