by Eliza Knight
“Oh,” she gasped, and he grinned up at her wickedly before returning to his task.
Alec kissed his way down her thigh. Every inch lower sent trills of pleasure rushing through her. Over her knee, tracing the length of her calf to her ankle, touching his mouth to the delicate point of her bone.
She licked her lips and watched him trail his tongue up the length of her other leg, pausing at her inner thigh, just above her knee. Every kiss and lick and nip felt incredible. Oh, how she wanted more...more of whatever it was that his naughty gaze and the humming in her veins promised.
“Your legs are stunning,” he remarked as he continued to work his way higher up to the tops of her thighs, spreading them wider as he went. He paused, hovering his mouth over her sex.
“Thank ye,” she said, though her voice was barely above a whisper.
Alec blew lightly over the curls between her thighs, and Giselle gripped the coverlet to keep herself grounded as her body shuddered at the light fan of his breath. Of their own accord, her hips tilted slightly upward, as if seeking out a kiss, right there. But he wouldn’t, couldn’t. Could he? And how could she—
Giselle’s thoughts were cut short when his warm hands caressed over her hips and then beneath her arse, bringing her pulsing sex closer to his mouth. He would... He could…
“Ye’re going to like this,” he murmured with a grin that sent electrifying anticipation spiraling through her.
She didn’t get a chance to answer as his wicked, velvet tongue stroked along her folds.
Giselle cried out, biting her lower lip to keep from doing so again at the intense pleasure. Any sound from her would bring those searching for them running, and the wanton noises she wanted to make as he stroked up and down would surely alert them to exactly what was happening.
Giselle let go of the coverlet with one hand to thrust it through Alec’s hair, wanting to grip tight to him, to encourage more of the breathtaking pleasure that was taking her into the heights of heaven.
Alec’s hold on her arse—his tongue stroking, driving her mad with thrilling swirls over the very heat of her—enflamed a craving inside her that threatened to burst.
She bit the inside of her cheek hard, gasping unevenly through her nose, whimpers pushing past her lips as he increased his speed. She writhed with every lash of his tongue. Her thighs trembled; her hips rolled.
The little whimpers she’d tried to hold in turned to cries of earnest, begging him for more, for the release that was promised on the other end of this rapturous torment.
Every stroke and flick of his tongue had her climbing higher and higher until she feared tumbling over the edge as much as she wanted it. Her pelvis thrust forward, seeking more of what he gave. More pleasure, more everything. Her head was thrown back against the pillows, and she considered for a moment putting them over her face to stifle her cries of pleasure. A palm slipped from beneath her derriere, fingers edging to her pulsing core, and then he glided one inside of her. She tilted her hips, arched her back and moaned. Another finger dipped inside, stretching her most deliciously.
“I want ye to finish on my tongue, love. Let go.”
And then she was there, her body obeying his demand. All of the pleasure that piled on top of itself until it had built a tower to the heavens exploded. Every inch of her skin on fire and pulsing as her body shook with ecstasy.
Alec nuzzled her until the waves of bliss subsided, leaving her thighs shaking. The wicked curl of her lips as he caught her staring made her laugh in both surprise and delight.
“Ye were right. I did like that.”
He chuckled softly, then kissed the inside of her thigh. “I do no’ think I’ll ever get used to watching ye break apart like that.”
“I will happily do so again and again.”
Alec chuckled, the sound causing her skin tingle all the more. He climbed over her, the roughness of his kilt scratching her inner thighs and making her shudder. She reached for his belt, loosening it until his kilt unraveled, revealing the hard shaft she’d unwittingly gripped onto before.
That swollen appendage fell heavy against her belly, proud in its glory as it pointed toward her. Before, she thought she might be unnerved by his nakedness, but she was only captivated. She reached for him, this time curious about if she could make him feel the same way he made her feel. The skin was soft, heavy, firm. She gripped him, and Alec groaned.
“Be gentle with me, lass. I’m so close to the edge.”
The edge... She’d been there moments ago. Teetering on the cliff, as she’d been before he lifted her out of the mud. They were there to lift each other up, to hold on. To bring them back to life—and to take each other to earth-shattering bliss. She wanted him to feel that same awakening. Even as she touched him, she felt her insides flutter, the beginning stirrings of need returned, or had they ever fully left her?
“Och, lass, do no’ make me wait,” he groaned. “I want to be inside ye.”
Alec gripped her bottom, his cock resting over her most sensitive place, giving her another thrill of pulsing need. Her legs instinctively circled his waist. He rested on an elbow, his mouth on hers, his warm, thick shaft sliding with scorching pleasure at her center. But he didn’t enter her. Instead, he rubbed back and forth. Taking his time tormenting them both.
“Please,” she begged, elevating her hips, knowing instinctively that the delicious ache inside her would only go away with the joining of the two of them together.
“Are ye certain?” he asked. “We have no’ gone far enough yet that ye couldn’t—”
“I’m yours,” she said, cutting off his words. There was no going back. “Forever.”
“Aye, my love, forever. Nothing is going to come between us ever again.” Alec sealed his vow with a scorching kiss, one that branded her his for life.
As he kissed her, his hand crept between their two bodies, and he took hold of his shaft, skimming it through her folds until he came to the entrance. He hesitated a moment, and she thought he might ask her again if she was sure. Giselle slanted her hips, pushing against his cock, giving him permission. Alec eased inside, going slowly and gently. The stretch of her body accommodating him stung, but the caress of his tongue on hers, the groan of pleasure in his throat, increased her excitement enough that she barely felt the pain.
Buried inside her, he stilled and broke their kiss. “How does it feel?” Concern knitted his brows.
“Wonderful.” The weight of his body on hers, the feel of him inside her—it was exactly what she’d been craving. Uncomfortable at first, but only for a few breaths before the passion and desire building inside her returned with a vengeance.
“Thank God because ye feel so good.”
Giselle grinned up at him, amazed at how their two bodies could fit so well together and at the pleasure they were able to give one another. Her fingers danced over his shoulder to his neck, curling around the nape and threading into his hair as she gently urged him down to kiss her.
Alec pressed his lips to hers, his tongue dipping in to tangle with hers. They kissed, bodies still until she could barely stand it, and she wiggled beneath him. She moaned at the new sensations that undulated from within her and shifted again, this time angling her hips even closer.
“Oh, Alec, this is…” But she didn’t know how to describe what she was feeling, what was happening, other than to sigh and whisper, “heaven.”
“Ye have no idea,” he said, his voice strained. “I’ve never felt this good before. Ye make everything better.”
Alec burrowed against her neck, kissing the place where her pulse leapt. And then he too shifted above her, withdrawing his body from hers, but only a fraction before he thrust forward.
The sensation was incredible, and Giselle moaned softly at the pleasure. He did it again, farther this time, then driving back inside. His mouth progressed from her neck to her ear, back to her lips, and then down the front of her throat to her chest. He nuzzled her breasts. Drew a taut nipple into hi
s mouth.
But Giselle wasn’t about to let Alec be the only one exploring, tasting. She mimicked his ministrations. Kissed his neck, nipping at his collarbone. She took his earlobe between her teeth and told him how much she liked his strong body and what he was doing to her.
What was happening between them was transcendent, and she was certain never to come back from it the same. She was also certain to want to do this over and over throughout the day, which might become a problem.
Alec brought her to new heights of pleasure. He thrust fast, then slow. Withdrew nearly all the way until she demanded he come back. Over and over, until at last, the torment was no match for the passion their bodies demanded to be released.
Rapture overtook her then, shattering her insides. She clamped her legs around him as her body exploded with pleasure. Tremors rocked her from the inside out as she arched into him, rising and falling with each thrust. Alec swallowed her cries of pleasure with his kiss, keeping this exquisite moment to themselves and not the entire castle.
Giselle clung to him, riding out the waves, kissing him back with all the love and passion she felt for him. Alec gasped against her lips, a guttural, primal sound climbing in his throat. He shuddered violently, his pelvis slamming against her own.
Sweat glistened on their flushed skin. Their kiss slowed, becoming more tender than hungry. And they stayed that way until their breaths became even. Alec rolled to the side, pulling her with him, her breasts against his chest, one leg hooked over his hip. His arm tucked protectively around her.
Giselle stroked the side of his face, smiling as her fingers curled into his ginger beard. She kissed him again, feeling so at peace, so full of bliss. The rest of the world could have melted away.
“If only I’d known in that darkened garden years ago that we’d be lying here like this, my world complete, I’d no’ have waited so long to ride toward your castle.”
“And if only I’d had the ballocks to pursue ye as I wanted. Alas, we’ve a lot of years to make up for.”
In the distance, she could hear the sound of her name being called from somewhere in the castle.
She let out a disappointed sigh. “In the meantime, I think we need to put the search party out of its misery.”
Alec chuckled, rocking her onto her back and rising above her. “Or we could make them wait a little longer.”
Epilogue
Six months later
“Are ye certain ye want to do this?” Giselle asked, holding her husband’s hand and gazing up into his green eyes as they stood outside the stable at Slains Castle. The air was crisp, and the sun shone. And for one rare day in early spring, it didn’t feel as though it might snow or rain at any moment.
“Aye. I think ’tis important,” he finally said with a long sigh.
After marrying six months before and spending an extended honeymoon in the Highlands through the winter, they’d finally decided to return to Edinburgh now that it was spring to make their debut as a married couple to Scottish society—a prospect the two of them dreaded.
However, Giselle was excited to see Jaime, who was nearing the end of her pregnancy and expecting the child in a month or so’s time. Giselle had some news of her own to share with her dearest friend.
Alec slipped his hand into the front of her cloak and pressed it to her swollen belly. “We can always go tomorrow.”
Giselle laughed. “I might be busy tomorrow. Or it might decide to hail. Perhaps we should wait until next year?”
It wasn’t that they didn’t want to see their friends, for they dearly did. Their hesitation landed squarely back to where they’d been when they first met in the garden several years prior—the dowager countess and her party planning ways.
When they’d sent word to Alec’s mother that they were planning to visit Edinburgh though they didn’t mention they would be returning to the country for the birth of their child. They wanted the news of their pregnancy to be a surprised. Despite their requests for a quiet visit, his mother had insisted on planning a party to celebrate the two of them. If Alec had denied his mother, she would have done so anyway, so he reluctantly agreed.
Which was why Giselle was not at all surprised that he was worried about it. They’d been so content to live quietly, enjoying each other after the whirlwind madness of the house full of guests during their quick courtship. They’d spent endless days naked in bed, as much as they’d spent them buried in the pages of books and riding on the moors—not during thunderstorms. Being thrust back into society felt as if they’d be walking on a bed of nails together.
“We could wait until the birth of the bairn,” Giselle added with a teasing grin. “But then we might be too tired. And the way we are, I’ll likely be with child quite soon after the first.”
Alec wiggled his brows with a chuckle and leaned down to kiss her. “I do love the idea of remaining in seclusion with ye forever.”
“As do I.” Giselle let out a long sigh. “But knowing both of our mothers, if we do no’ go and show our faces now, in a few weeks’ time, they’ll have moved into Slains, and we’ll never be free of them.”
Alec looked genuinely terrified at that prospect and shook his head vehemently. “We’ll go to Edinburgh.”
By the end of the day, they’d arrived in Aberdeen, where they boarded the ship Jaime had sent for them. The Andrewson Shipping Company that Jaime owned had been thriving. While they were mostly well known for being a cargo carrier, they had recently begun incorporating passenger travel into their business as an additional service.
“Welcome aboard, my lord, my lady,” an enthusiastic young woman with glasses said as she swept into a low bow. Rather than a gown, she wore breeches, a starched shirt and a frockcoat in Sutherland colors. “I’m Emilia, the Duchess of Sutherland’s assistant. She sent me to welcome ye aboard the Duke’s Sails.”
Giselle instantly remembered the amiable, hard worker from years before when she’d first met her. “Lovely to see ye again, Emilia,” Giselle said.
Emilia looked slightly embarrassed. “Ah, begging your pardon, my lady, for no’ recognizing ye right away. A blunder on my part that I do apologize for.”
“Oh, ye need no’ apologize. I’m certain ye must meet many people, and it has been quite some time since I visited Jaime’s ships. No offense taken.”
Emilia grinned. “Thank ye, my lady. Ye’re too kind. If ye would accompany me, I shall take ye to the cabin where ye may enjoy a rest from your long journey. The moon is high and the wind excellent this evening, so we plan to set sail soon and arrive at the Leith docks in the morning.”
Giselle was grateful for that because she was incredibly tired and hoped the boat's rocking would lull her into a deep sleep, so she was fresh when they arrived.
“Would ye prefer two cabins?” Emilia said, her back to them as she led the way.
Giselle bit her lip and glanced up at Alec. Were they supposed to want two cabins? She loved sleeping beside him, curling into his strong embrace and feeling safe and loved. “I think one should suffice.”
Emilia sighed with relief, glancing behind her. “Good, because we only prepared for one, thinking of their Graces. Ye’re in the minority. Alas, I probably should have kept that to myself. Here we are.” She pushed open the door to an opulent cabin with a massive, carved-oak four-poster bed, a matching wardrobe and a round table with two chairs, all of which were secured to the floor.
The room's colors were green and gold with embroidered purple thistles, giving it elegance and a feeling of a united Scotland. Being above the deck, they had a wide window view of the sea, with pillow-covered benches to watch the rolling waves as they traveled. It was too dark now to see out of them, but she thought it would be splendid in the morning. For now, the room was lit by several candelabras that were also secured to the surfaces.
“Your servants will be given their own quarters as well. Shall I instruct your maid and valet to help ye prepare for bed?” Emilia asked, pushing her glasses back up the bri
dge of her nose.
The last thing Giselle wanted was her maid fussing about when she wanted to flop onto the bed and tug Alec down with her. “I think we can manage. Thank ye, Emilia. Ye’ve been a wonderful host thus far, and we’ll be sure to sing your praises to Her Grace.”
Emilia blushed. “Thank ye so much.” She curtsied before backing from the room, closing the door behind her.
Alone at last, without their overeager servants fussing about and bone-weary from a long day of travel, Giselle and Alec undressed each other and climbed into the large bed, both of them asleep before the ship set sail.
Giselle woke to the most glorious sensation—often how she awoke— of her husband kissing his way across her collarbone to her mouth. She opened her eyes, discovering a smiling Alec staring down at her and the light of the sun filtering through the window.
Alec loved to make love in the morning, and she found that even with child, she was enthusiastic about the act too. As it turned out to her surprise, bedding her husband wasn’t only about creating a child—but a glorious and delicious pleasure.
They made love languidly, with the ship’s slow rocking only adding to the lazy, dreamy indulgence of a morning in bed.
By the time the ship docked, they’d spent several hours in each other’s arms, wolfed down the breakfast Emilia had dropped off and then dressed. Despite a full night’s sleep, Giselle was exhausted again—but in a good way. A smile seemed to be permanently formed on her lips. Being married to Alec had made her the happiest person in the world, she was certain, because he enjoyed and encouraged her to be who she was.
They meandered down the gangway to the docks and to a carriage that awaited them there. They arrived at Errol House a short time later, greeted by the servants who were pleased to see them and to meet their mistress for the first time, and of course by Alec’s mother, who was dressed impeccably at this hour already. She often looked as if she expected the queen to walk through her door at any moment. Given it hadn’t happened yet, Giselle wasn’t holding out hope, even though Lady Errol was.