“Yes,” she repeated.
It was not in Eleanor’s nature to surrender to anything, but with Hart’s strong body behind her, his hands holding hers, she opened her heart, opened her body, and gave herself to him.
“Yes,” she said a third time.
Still on his knees behind her, again with the effortlessness, he pulled her upright so that she knelt back onto his lap, her knees parted, his thighs sliding between hers. This opened her to him, she realized, his body around her making her relaxed and warm. Hart snaked one arm around her, the other still holding the bond around her wrists.
She was completely vulnerable to him. His body was solid behind hers. The only way to get away would be to crawl across the bed, but he held her bound wrists.
She should panic, she should fight… and yet, she knew he would not hurt her. If a stranger had done this, then, yes, terror. But she knew Hart, had shared a bed with him, had woken in his arms, curled against his side. She’d seen his face soften in sleep, had seen him weep for his child.
Passion and pleasure. That was what Hart Mackenzie wanted to give her, not fear and pain.
Surrender.
Eleanor sighed, relaxing back against him, and the thickness of him slid straight inside.
Pure pleasure blossomed where they joined. No tightness, no pain, just Hart gliding his way in. She groaned.
“Yes, that’s it,” Hart whispered. “You see?”
“Hart.”
“Shh.”
Hart smoothed her hair, and she felt his lips, the enticing brush of hair that was his new beard. He did nothing with her bound hands, only held the end of the cloth. Eleanor’s wrists were pressed against her chest, Hart behind her and surrounding her.
Another cry escaped her lips. Hart responded with a groan, not immune to what he was doing.
“My sweet El. How does that feel?”
“Beautiful. You are beautiful. Oh, Hart, I don’t think I can stand this!”
“Yes, you can.” Hart licked her ear, the beard again tickling her. “You can stand it, my beautiful Scottish lassie. You are strong, like your kin who pushed the Sassenach soldier off th’ roof.”
Eleanor laughed, and the movement moved sweet bliss through her. Even Hart’s jests were calculated to bring out the finest feelings.
Passion and pleasure, bodies hot where they joined. Hart held her thus for a long time, moving very little. He simply filled her, giving her the joy of feeling him inside her, of being one with him.
Hart’s lips at her ear. “Do you want more?”
“Yes. Yes, please, Hart.”
Eleanor heard the begging words come from her mouth, but she could not stop them. Hart chuckled, the vibration of his body wonderful.
Eleanor found herself rocking forward to her hands and knees, Hart never coming out of her. He surrounded her with arms and legs, releasing the cravat enough so that she could brace herself on the bed. But he held her, never letting her fall, never letting her go.
Their bodies grew slick with sweat, droplets trickling between Eleanor’s breasts to be caught by the cravat. Where Hart joined with her was nothing but heat.
“My El,” he groaned. “Don’t ever leave me again. Do you understand me? I need you.”
Eleanor shook her head. “No. I’ll stay. Always, always, Hart.”
“I won’t let you go. Not Fenians, not my stupid pride, not my past will get between us. I’m finished.”
She wasn’t sure exactly what he was talking about, but she loved his words rumbling over her. “Good. Good.”
“You and me, El. We’re meant to be. And the world can go hang.”
“Yes, Hart. Yes.”
“El, lass, ye are so beautiful.” His Highland Scots erased every bit of English schooling pounded into him. “Stay w’ me forever.”
“Yes. Oh, Hart, I love you.”
Without realizing he’d moved her, Eleanor found herself flat on her belly, Hart positioning her hands so that they stretched out in front of her. He was on top of her, the full weight and length of him on her body, still joined with her. She couldn’t go on with this, and at the same time, she couldn’t get enough of it. Hart had to stop—no, he had to never stop.
His words trailed into groans. His loving rubbed her against the coverlet beneath her, the friction of that driving her wild. She was trapped beneath him, and yet, the fire of him inside her made her feel powerful. She could do anything, anything, because Hart shared with her his strength.
The moment of joy went on, Hart finally surrendering to his. He shuddered, his skin damp, his breath warming her. “My El,” he said as he kissed and kissed her. “My sweet, wicked lass.”
He slid out of her and rolled her over, stretching on top of her and loosening her hands.