"Damnation, Isobel, you steal my sanity," he grated.
She again felt she was flying for a moment, then the bookcase shelf dug into her back. He thrust, driving up into her, gently at first, but then with increased force and speed. His jaw clenched, his eyes darkened, he looked like a fearsome warrior determined to take every inch of her and then some.
She cried out.
He halted. "Am I hurting you?"
"Nay. More… give me more," she whispered.
To feel the strength of his powerful, hard body as he held her aloft increased her arousal. His gaze fierce and steady with passion and determination, he continued to drive himself into her, quick and deep.
"Aye," she gasped. "This… I wanted…" She accepted the erotic kisses he fed her just as she accepted him inside her.
He slid his hand between their bodies and rubbed that most sensitive nub of flesh with his thumb, wet circles that made her ache and wiggle, reaching for that pinnacle of pleasure again.
The tingles intensified sharply, converging on her. She arched and stiffened in anticipation. Her breath deserted her and the pleasure smashed in on her like a gigantic wave crushing her, carrying her away. She tried to scream, but his mouth covered hers. She rode him, enthusiastically taking all he'd give her. His hard shaft was merciless. The pleasure spread out through her limbs into her fingers and toes and ricocheted, bouncing back and grasping hold of her again where she clenched around him, desperate to hold him just where he was forever. He was hers. That was the only thing she knew. He was hers and she wasn't letting go. Ever.
He plunged to her depths and held himself there before releasing a growl. His warmth filling her, he jerked against her twice more. He held her tight for a long moment, his harsh breath gusting against her ear.
Muttering a curse, he slowly withdrew and set her to her feet. But her knees were so weak she couldn't stand. Taking her into his arms, he lifted her, then slid down the wall to the floor.
"Damnation," he whispered, gasping for breath.
Sitting there, staring into each other's eyes at close range, they struggled to regain a normal breathing pattern.
His gaze dropped and she realized her petticoats were hiked up past her hips. No doubt he could see all her secret female places that should be hidden, but somehow she wasn't ashamed. He'd put his mouth there, so obviously he liked that part of her. He knew all her secrets and wanted her anyway.
After he surveyed her scandalously bare places, including her breasts, for several moments, his jaw clenched hard, the muscle in his cheek jumping in that sexy way she loved. His eyes met hers and darkened again. "You are…" He shook his head. "There are no words," he whispered.
"You don't need words." She knew how he felt just by looking into his expressive eyes. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him in sweet and passionate abandon.
A knock sounded at the door. "You're wanted in the great hall." It was Rebbie's voice.
***
Around midday, Maighread had opened the shutters of her chamber to try to catch a glimpse of what was going on outside. She'd heard a few yells, but no sounds of battle. Through the glass, she'd seen a large number of men on horseback some distance from the castle. They had to be the MacLeods come to recapture Isobel, didn't they?
Maighread had waited… and waited. Still, there were no sounds of swords clashing and men dying. A few horses galloped away, their hooves striking the frozen ground. After this, at gloaming, the roar of conversation from the bailey and the great hall reached her.
What was happening? Why were the MacLeods not attacking Dirk and his men?
Surely sending Haldane all the way to Munrick couldn't have been for naught. And where was her son anyway?
She knocked at the inside of her own door. That bastard, Dirk, had made the men add a lock to the outside of the door.
"What do you want?" one of the guards asked from outside.
Disrespectful lout, she'd see he was forced out of MacKay Country when she was free.
"I must speak to my maid about a delicate female matter," she said in a submissive tone.
"You tell me and I'll tell her."
Damn the man. She was not accustomed to people refusing to do her bidding. It was all because of Dirk.
She paced back and forth before the fireplace. Somehow she had to find out what was going on.
An hour or so later, the door creaked, startling her. She whipped around. One of the guards set a tray of food inside on the floor. She hurried toward him, but he slammed the door and the lock clicked.
"Guard?" She knocked on the door. "Guard! I want to speak with my son, Aiden. Send him to me."
Her request was met with silence. Bastards! She had never been treated so horribly in all her days. Dirk would pay dearly for this!