by AliyahBurke
There was a light on inside the house and Sanura knew Seamus must have stopped back by and lit it for them. “Yes, you are beautiful even with the mud on your face.” His honeyed words flowed over her making her blush.
“I need a shower.”
“Me too.” Gavin got up and pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He tasted of dried blood and a little mud, but still tasted like heaven. It had been far too long. He eagerly took what she gave him and the kiss grew more and more heated until he finally stopped. “We should get cleaned up.” He looked by the door and found his bag sitting there. “Who?”
“Seamus. He must have stopped by to check on me.”
Gavin tensed at that name and Sanura placed a small hand on his arm. When he looked at her, she whispered, “I never gave to anyone what I promised to you before God. Ever.”
He trembled with those words and she hoped it was with relief. He sank to his knees and put his face in her stomach, wrapped his arms around her waist. She held him and ran her fingers through his dirty hair.
“I am never letting you out of my sight again, kitten. I can’t take much more of this. I need you with me.”
“Work may make that impossible.”
“No. I will turn it all over to Clint and be a silent partner. I am taking you far away for a honeymoon and after, I am tying you to my side. I am not taking any more chances.”
“So now I am a chance?”
“Kitten, I’m the one taking a chance. A chance you would ever love me the way I love you.” He stood up and met her eyes with his own.
That got her to smile. “You underestimate your worth to me. I would love you even if you were broke.” I have to learn to trust.
“So I can give up all my money? That wouldn’t matter to you?”
She never missed a beat. “Not at all. You aren’t afraid of hard work. I never was after your money, you know.”
“Humph. What were you after?”
“That body. The way you fill out your jeans. Your shirts. Damn, you would make a nun lust.”
“So that’s it. My body?”
“Hell yeah, and I still need a shower.” A cold one.
* * * *
Gavin felt his body stir to life with her words. How he wanted her. Wanted to worship her body the way it deserved, wanted to show her over and over how much he had missed her. But there was a look in her eyes that told him that would not be acceptable right now. For all her willingness to try again, she was still very hurt and pained by the events that had occurred between them. Not to mention unsure. He would have to take it slow. Wine and dine her. Treat her like the queen she was to him.
“All right. You shower first and then me.” He picked up his bag and set it on the bed. “Am I allowed to stay here, or do I need to go find a room somewhere?”
“You can stay. I have to go to the village tonight, though. I have a . . . well something that was already arranged for tonight.” She disappeared into the small bathroom and he heard the shower seconds later.
Gavin took off the muddy bedspread and shook it out outside. Then he set it by the door in a basket containing some dirty towels. He got some clothes out of his bag and stayed standing until she came out.
Sanura was wrapped in a thick robe with a towel around her head. Her hand was clasped around the neck of the robe, keeping it shut tight. “All yours. Just toss out your clothes to me and I will shake them out a bit.”
Yearning leapt to life in him at the sight of her scrubbed clean. Her skin shone with health, its radiant color stood out against the white of the robe, and made him want to taste her. His insides quivered as he eagerly took in her robed figure. Her lilac scent tantalized him and his nose flared as he swallowed hard, trying to maintain his control.
He nodded his understanding and slipped into the bathroom to shut the door behind him. His body sagged against the door as his heart beat out a rhythm that would have fit in the collegiate marching band competitions. How he was going to keep his hands off her until she was ready, he had absolutely no idea.
* * * *
The door cracked open and he put out his muddy boots, pants and shirt. Then Sanura heard the shower and for a moment her eyes fluttered back as she imagined his body under that water. The soap, the lather. The clean scent of him.
Her blood raced as she blinked furiously before putting his clothes out in the basket with the bedspread. She knocked what she could off his boots and set them by the door.
The water still ran so she changed. Opening her small closet, she took out the dress she was going to wear. It was made from silvery-green, froth like material. She picked it for its ability to bring out the color of her eyes. The front scooped down to expose only the top of her breasts, only enticing those that would look. Long sleeves covered her arms, coming to a point on the back of her hand. The back appeared open, showing off her smooth skin down to the small of her back, making it seem like she had been dusted with moonbeams, when it was really covered in clear gossamer. It was gathered in at her small waist and fell straight down her lean legs to the floor. She wore heeled boots of the same color on her feet.
The shower shut off and she knew her sanity and willpower was about to be tested yet again. He couldn’t find out how much she wanted to fall into his embrace and let him reintroduce her to the planes of pleasure he had always brought her. Her heart told her he hadn’t done anything, had never had the desire to do anything with that woman, but her mind with its vicious imagination wouldn’t let it go.
Sanura had finished her hair when the door to the bathroom opened to admit Gavin back into the bedroom. She stood at her vanity and observed him in the mirror.
His hair was darker than she remembered, and a little longer as well, for it teased the collar of his shirt. Those same brilliant eyes stared at her in the mirror. She took in his black crewneck sweater and black dress pants and remembered him wearing something similar to that on their first date. Only he had worn khaki pants that night, well, she had discovered the meaning of true passion.
“You’re absolutely stunning, wife.” His words floated down and settled around her heart, cracking the wall erected there at the mortar itself.
“Why are you dressed up?”
Stay hard, stay firm. He was hard and firm, did that count? Her body flushed with desire.
“I was hoping you would let me tag along wherever it is you are going tonight.” Sanura wasn’t dumb enough not to hear the unspoken words in that. He was going wherever she was; it would only be in her best interests to accept him by her side.
“What if I had a date?” She couldn’t shake the vision of that damn woman in his hotel room.
“You are wearing your wedding rings, why would you go on a date?”
She swallowed her attitude and nodded.
“Okay.”
All he did was put the back of his hand towards her cheek, trail one finger down her cheek and she felt the familiar rush of wetness flood her body. Her nipples hardened and she knew he knew, for his gaze flicked down in the mirror and then she watched as his eyes grew dark with desire. He stepped away and put on his Italian leather shoes.
Gavin had a cut in the corner of his mouth from his fight earlier but all it did was make him even more desirable to her. She wanted to run her tongue along the cut and lave it with kisses. To taste the saltiness of his blood mixed with the taste of him. The moan slipped out of her throat before she could stop it.
* * * *
The sound reached his ears, stopping his body quicker than a car hitting a brick wall. Pure lust raged to life inside him as he raised his head to look at the ebony woman he loved more than life itself.
Her hand was at the base of her throat, head dropped back, eyes closed. That bountiful chest of her rose and fell faster than normal. God, she was exquisite.
Gavin felt the desire flare to life in him again. He was going to have a difficult time controlling it tonight. Suddenly as if she realized what she had done, her eyes widened and she tur
ned to look at him to see if he had heard.
His look warned her all it would take would be for her to make the slightest gesture of acceptance and he would be there to take her in his arms. But the choice was going to be hers. There would be no persuasion on his part. He might not like it, but he was going to do it that way.
He rose in one smooth motion and prowled closer to her, trapping her between him and the vanity. His eyes were soft as they gazed upon her face. “You cut your hair.” It was half question and half statement.
“I needed a change. It is growing back now, it was much shorter.” He reached out and touched one of her curls. He slipped it around his finger as he reveled in the feel of the silkiness against his skin. “I like it. Do I have permission to kiss you?” he asked as his head was already lowering to hers.
Her feet were nailed to the floor; the question was not even relevant for she was held in place with the desire to have his perfect mouth on hers again.
Gavin stopped a hair’s breadth away from her trembling lips. “Do I?” His warm breath teased her body as he waited for her answer.
Sanura knew the answer her body was crying out for her to give. Just like when they first met she seemed to lose control of her common sense with this man. Her response, when it came, was all ragged and husky. “If I say no?”
He stiffened before he said in that potent voice of his, still flush to her own mouth, “Then I will not.” Slowly, ever so slowly, he backed away from her mouth and stood up straight.
“Kiss me?”
When her moans came back he slid his tongue inside her willing mouth. His large hands slipped down to cup her butt and press her closer to the hard ridge so plainly evident in his pants, as he growled low in his throat. She sank lower. In this position she was even with his head and she moved her hands into his thick hair and ground them closer together.
Gavin let go of her but only to slide his hands up under the satin material of her dress, to find the silkiness of her own skin. As he touched her all thoughts of behaving himself flew right out the window. He found her satin underwear, slipped his strong fingers under the waistband and jerked, snapping the elastic. With a quick pull he removed it from her and it fell to the floor from his hand.
“Ohh, God, Gavin. We can’t. We have to stop.”
His answer was to plunge one finger deep within her molten heat and stroke her into a frenzy. She was so wet, so hot, so ready for him.
“Why?”
“’Cause I have to be somewhere.” She began to ride his hand.
“Where?”
“Yes. We have a wedding to . . . uhh.” Her words trailed of as he slid another finger in to join the one already tormenting her.
“Would you rather I stop right now?”
“Yes. Yes. Yes!” Her screams got louder as she arched her back and came with a force that shook her body.
He had her on her back with the skirt part of her dress up around her hips.
“You really want me to stop?”
“No, oh God no. I want you. It was only ever you that I wanted to be with. Please, it has been so long.”
He knelt on the bed and pulled her body onto his with one motion. Locked them together, hip to hip. Both groaned with pleasure as he slid into her velvety heat. She gripped his cock with her internal muscles and he swore.
He looked down at her and saw her straight white teeth chewing on her lower lip. Her hands had fistfuls of the bedding in them as she rose to meet his thrusts.
“You won’t leave me again, kitten,” he growled as he increased the power of his plunges.
Her whimpers increased and he knew she was about to hit the pinnacle of her pleasure. He slowed down and slid his hard length all the way in before almost sliding all the way out. Sanura’s green eyes flashed open and he saw the need to find her peak, the frustration he wouldn’t let her.
“Promise me,” he ordered as he continued to tease her.
Defiance flared in her eyes so he stopped moving completely, and when her eyes begged him to continue he slammed into her once. Hard. Fast. The scream left her mouth and made his body clamor for release as well, but he was determined to have her promise first.
“Promise me.” Again, he pulled out so only the large head of his manhood was in her, before he plundered her depths with another fierce stroke.
“Never again. I won’t leave you again. Dammit, don’t do this to me,” she cried.
“You’re damn right you won’t.” But she had said it and he could no longer control the beast that was within him. His fingers bit into her hips as he held her up higher off the bed. Her spine was curved until she planted her heeled feet down on the mattress, bracing her body for the force of the mind-numbing thrusts.
The beast had escaped and taken over his control. He pounded into her repeatedly until he felt her convulse around him. With a loud shout to the cottage and the pounding surf below he plowed into her welcoming warmth one last time and covered her womb with his life-force.
Gavin was exhausted. He fell on top of her, staying buried deep. “Oh hell, kitten. I am so sorry. About everything.”
Chapter Twenty
Her eyes opened to focus on the brown hair beside her and she smiled. Her voice was languid as she said, “They always did tell me the best part of fighting was the making up. Guess that was the truth. And now you have ruined yet another pair of my drawers, I really have to get up. I am going to be late.”
“Where are you going?”
“I told you, a wedding.”
Reluctantly he moved off her and walked to the bathroom to clean himself off. Minutes later he walked out dressed again and carrying a damp cloth in his hands.
He pushed her back and gently wiped away the traces of their passion from between her legs. With only one kiss to her nether lips he stepped back and helped her off the bed. His gaze never left her as she opened a drawer and pulled out another pair of underwear and slipped it on under her dress. Sanura faced the mirror and shook her head as she brushed her hair and styled it again.
“Whose wedding is it?”
“One of the girls in the village. I was invited, so let’s go.”
“Were you going to be with Seamus tonight?”
“Yes, he was going to escort me. Like usual. Let’s go.”
Gavin fell into step beside her as they walked out the door into the night air. “Like usual, what does that mean?”
“Just what it sounds like. Come on, I have a wedding to get to. So get in and drive.” She pushed him and slid into the passenger side.
He did as he was told and before long they pulled up to a small church. As he turned off the engine he noticed Seamus standing there.
Sanura waited for Gavin to help her out of the car, and as they approached the church she snapped under her breath, “Behave yourself.”
When they reached the black-haired man she smiled at him. “Good evening, Seamus. Are you alright?”
“Fine lass, fine. That husband o’ yours got a mean hook on him, though.” He looked at Gavin and stuck out his hand. “We were never introduced, I am Seamus O’Grady. Friend of your wife.”
“Gavin Rawlins.” He shook the hand but didn’t look too happy about it.
“Are we late, Seamus?” Sanura interrupted the intense anger that was brewing between the two.
“Nae. Actually lass, she wants to see you beforehand.”
“Everything alright?” Immediately concern for her friend sprang up.
“Go see her, lass. She is back in the same room that she was in for the rehearsal.”
“Okay.” She turned to her husband. “I’ll meet you inside. Seamus can show you where to sit.” She flattened her lips and glared. “I expect the two of you to behave. No fighting. Am I understood?”
She put a hand on both of them. “Seamus? Gavin? I’m warning you both, I had better not come out to find you two behaved poorly. Or, so help you God, I will teach you both the meaning of ‘hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.’ I
will not allow her day to be ruined by childish behavior. Understand?” When all they did was glare at each other they found her nails digging into their soft skin. “I asked you both a question,” she hissed.
“Of course, lass, I’ll behave.”
“I can behave as well. For you, wife.”
“Come with me, Gavin, so she can attend the bride.” Seamus stepped up to the door and opened it as he waited for Gavin.
Gavin hauled Sanura up to his side and kissed thoroughly in the presence of Seamus and the others approaching the church.
* * * *
“See you inside the church, kitten,” he purred as he released her, totally basking in the fact she sagged against him until she regained her balance.
Sanura turned and walked off without another word. But both of the men had gotten the message from her glacier glare.
Gavin followed Seamus into the church. It was beautifully decorated with flowers and streamers. As they walked down the side Seamus spoke to Gavin in a low tone, so only he could hear. “So tell me, Gavin, what do you think of our lady’s tattoo?”
Our lady? Oh hell no. “I already know about her two tattoos, Seamus. Remember I am her husband.”
“Here’s where you can sit. Sanura will need to be by the end for she will be singing later.” Then he pinned moss-green eyes on Gavin and spoke in a tone that said he knew exactly what type of trouble he was stirring up. “I was talkin’ about her new tattoo. Don’t tell me ye haven’t seen it yet? I mean, it goes so well with that beautiful trinity knot that she sports so perfectly.”
Gavin took a deep breath. He had promised Sanura he would behave. “Shut up, Seamus,” he growled.
“Oh, so you didn’t see it yet. Well, since I was with her when she got it, trust me when I say it fits her so well. I would have thought you would have had the chance to see it since you seemed to have made up and are back together now.”