She nodded against his shoulder. His touches were wonderful, but she was embarrassed at where his hand was. She made a move to push his hand away, but stopped herself. His hand caressed her leg back and forth, moving over to the top of her thigh. His thumb rubbed a path down the inside of her thigh. Her fingers dug into his shoulder, her eyes still closed.
“Alex,” she whispered. What was happening to her? Her belly was full of butterflies. She kept her eyes closed, rejoicing in the feel of his hand on her skin. There was a burning at the juncture of her legs that she didn’t understand, but she didn’t want him to stop. She reflexively moved her thighs apart, then gasped when she realized what she had done. Her head jerked up as her eyes flew open in embarrassment.
Alex reached for her cheek, and ran his calloused thumb down and over her neck. “It’s all right, lass. People that are to be married touch each other. It is supposed to be wonderful. You are supposed to enjoy it. Relax.” He kissed her lightly on her lips, tugging her lip out before he ran his tongue over it.
“Touch me, lass. I want to feel your touch,” he whispered in her ear.
Maddie reached for the hard planes of his chest and ran her fingers down through his coarse hairs to his abdomen and back up again. She brushed his nipples and jumped, but then touched him again. She liked the feel of his skin. A dark line trailed down his abdomen and disappeared inside his plaid.
“Precious, look at me,” Alex said.
She raised her eyes to gaze at him and saw the desire in his eyes. Blushing to her core, she realized how special she felt at that moment.
“This is how it should be between a husband and wife, Maddie. Touching and caressing should feel wonderful. You should trust me not to hurt you. It is about giving pleasure and receiving pleasure. It is about wanting to do even more for the person you care about.” He removed his hand from her leg and reached to brush a lock of hair behind her ear. “We will do this together, sweeting. Do you believe me?”
“Yes!” She leaned forward and Alex took possession of her mouth. The kiss was demanding. He angled his mouth over hers, hungrily thrusting his tongue, mating with hers. He stopped abruptly, cradling her head in his hands. He leaned in and touched his forehead to hers letting out his breath with a sigh.
Wrapping his hands around her waist, he set her apart from him before standing on his good leg. “And now, before you make me completely lose my wits, we must stop.” She stared at him with a dazed expression on her face.
“But we still have one more thing we need to decide, my lady,” he said as he helped her straighten her skirts and her hair. “We need to decide when our wedding will take place.”
“Oh, Alex, I need to make my dress and plan the feast. I don’t know how long that will take,” she explained.
“You are not going to make me wait too long, are you?” Alex’s eyebrows rose.
Maddie blushed when she glanced up at him. “I do not want to wait either,” she confessed.
“Alice and Brenna can help you with your dress and the planning, can they no’?”
“Certainly, they will. It is Brenna’s kitchen, my lord.”
“Soon to be yours.” He added with a smile.
Maddie scowled as she thought about it. She hadn’t realized she would then be mistress of the keep. “Oh, Alex, I hope Brenna won’t mind.”
“I think Brenna will be relieved. Mayhap we can think of Brenna getting betrothed. ‘Tis time for her, I think,” he paused in thought. “I think a fortnight should be enough time, don’t you?”
“Oh, my goodness, that is not much time! Perhaps I should get started.”
He pulled her back into an embrace. “Nay, Maddie, to bed with you. It has been a tiring day.” He kissed her briefly and opened the door. Brodie was asleep on the floor. They stepped over him so Alex could escort Maddie to her chamber. When they reached her door, she turned back to him and he ravished her mouth again.
She stepped inside with a blush and a smile, rubbing her fingers over her lips, remembering how good Alex tasted.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Maddie tossed and turned through most of the night at the thoughts of all that needed to be done in preparation for her wedding. She found herself torn between fear and elation at the impending nuptials. Would she be able to be a true wife to Alex? Would he have enough patience for her?
Yet she also rejoiced in the thoughts of being a true part of his family, of a loving, happy clan that cherished each other. She so missed her mother and father, she hoped her new family would help to fill the gap left behind by their loss. Often times, she sensed her mother’s loving spirit near and intuition told her that her da approved of her newfound love.