“Aye,” he agreed, watching her with amusement and something else. “The heart does want what it wants, lass.”
Though she almost expected him to pull her close and kiss her, he just kept watching her, his dark eyes reaching into places she barely recognized anymore. She pressed her lips together and tried to ignore the feelings blossoming between them. More so, the lusty way she felt after using her lightn’. It might have been a few hours back, but it was still there, stronger than ever and damned if he didn’t know it.
“If I kiss ye this time, I willnae stop,” he said softly, his brogue thickening as well as the promise in his eyes. “’Tis entirely yer choice, lass.”
“I think we both know it stopped being my choice a while back,” she murmured. “What I won’t do, is kiss you for real or more than that if you’re engaged or even if you think you’re not but she still thinks you are.” She shook her head. “I just won’t go there.”
“Kenna ended it, lass,” he replied. “We arenae to be married anymore.”
Well, way to crawl into the bed of the next woman who comes along she nearly said but knew better. Graham wasn’t that sort of guy, and this wasn’t that sort of situation.
“I heard a rumor you slept with a prostitute the night before the Battle of Stirling Bridge,” she remarked, trying to ignore the way heat spread like wildfire over her body at the look in his eyes.
“Aye.” He winked. “’Twas a good front, aye?”
So he hadn’t but wanted his kin to think otherwise. That made sense.
Oh, to hell with this. If they were going to pretend to be together, then they might as well enjoy the benefits. That in mind, she decided to grab the bull by the horns and make the first move. So she straddled him, rested her hands on either side of his strong neck, ignored her thundering heart and murmured, “How’s this feel, darlin’?”
His eyes trailed down her torso to the juncture between her legs before they languidly roamed back up as though he had never seen anything more tempting. The way he touched her, as though measuring and worshiping every last bit, made blazing heat fire between her legs. Heat he seemed all too aware of as he gripped her hips and thrust up to remind her of what she was already aware of.
He was aroused and had a whole helluva lot to offer.
“Hot damn,” she whispered without meaning to as she pressed forward and ground her hips.
Graham seemed wholeheartedly enchanted by her as he didn’t bother ripping her clothes off just yet but wrapped a strong arm around her lower back and pulled her close. Both were breathing heavy as he held her like that, inches apart, their lips itching to touch each other’s as they enjoyed the feel of their bodies so close.
“Ye feel bloody good, lass,” he whispered in answer to her previous question as one hand cupped her cheek and neck. “But are ye sure...because we both know this isnae—”
She didn’t let him get another word out before she closed her lips over his. Yes, she was sure. More sure than she had ever been about anything. Especially when it came to a man. After all, she had never been with a man who knew about her gift...knew that she wasn’t quite right. More than that, she rarely let things get sexual because she wasn’t sure what would happen.
Gift or no gift, she was strong.
Powerful in a way she worried might hurt someone.
Graham though, he was a different sort altogether. He not only understood her but she bet he could handle her as well. Or get handled well she should say. Because she had feared pretty much her whole life that she would break a man in the sack which made her hold back. That meant orgasms weren’t something she often enjoyed. That is, unless the guy was tough as nails, or had impressive endurance. So all and all, she couldn’t count them on half a hand.
Yet as her and Graham’s kiss deepened, she knew he would be up to the task. Though she tried to keep that as her reasoning, that she deserved good sex, deep down she knew it was more than that as their tongues wrapped and their kissing intensified.
She wanted him more than she had ever wanted a guy.
And that suddenly scared the heck out of her.
She pulled her lips away abruptly, breathing heavily and shook her head, worried this was all too much. That it was unstoppable. Breathing just as heavily, his eyes held hers, and he nodded once. Just enough that she knew he felt the same.
That should have been it.
She probably should have crawled off him and kept a nice, decent friendship intact.
But looking into his dark, sexy eyes and feeling his steely length between her thighs had nothing to do with decency...or friendship. Not the least bit concerned about anyone seeing them she ran her forefinger along his lower lip then pressed it into his mouth as she ground her hips again.
All the while, thoroughly enjoying the way he twirled his tongue around her finger and nibbled it, she yanked up her dress. Just as lost in her eyes and clearly enjoying the taste of her finger then her palm, then the heel of her palm, then further up, Graham accommodated. Sweet anticipation built as he pulled at the string on his breeches, not about to waste any more time on removing clothing than she was.
She had never been so eager, so needy, as when his lips met hers again. Their kiss deepened, desperate, both so hungry for what the other had to offer that when she sank down, and he finally began filling her, the world beyond them snuffed right out.
She saw nothing but him.
Her lips fell open, and air whooshed out of her as he gripped her hips beneath her skirts and eased his way in. She dug her hands into the material at his shoulders and bit her lower lip hard to keep from groaning too loud.
Hell, he felt good.
So good she pressed her teeth together hard and sped up a process that was going way too slow. Hands still wrapped tight in his tunic, she pressed down until they were fully together.
“Och, lass,” he groaned as his head fell back, his eyes half-mast but still with hers. There were more words to be said. By her. Him. But neither could locate another syllable as she began moving.
Then it was just pure bliss.
Pure unparalleled pleasure.
Breathing became sparse, nearly impossible, as she kept moving.
Not just caught in the throes of being with a man like Graham but feeling the remnants of her gifts and its sexual leftovers, she quickly lost control. Renewed strength filled her as she quickened her pace. Grinding harder. Riding faster.
Anything to bring him closer.
To feel this bliss over and over.
She knew her energy levels and adrenaline were high, but she couldn’t stop. She couldn’t make sure he was okay. Based on the way he dug his fingers into her thighs tighter, and his lips fell apart, it seemed he was just fine with what she was doing.
Because she was doing.
Going.
Sweat beaded and glistened on them both.
She was so alive she could barely see straight as she released all her pent up energy on him, grinding and moving so quickly, bliss ravaged his face. Yet he held out. Something no man had ever done with her. He held out and by all accounts enjoyed every last moment of her pleasure.
They moved together incredibly well, finding a tremendous amount of pleasure in each other without any foreplay. Without seeing beyond their clothing. Their connection was potent. Undeniable.
Her energy only grew as it tried to spend itself. And all the while he stayed with her. One hand kept clenching her ass while his free arm wrapped around her lower back but that was it.
He didn’t try to pull her closer.
He didn’t try to steer her.
Graham let her remain in complete control while he somehow kept himself from letting go.
“I want to kiss you,” she tried to say but couldn’t get the words out. “But I can’t stop.”
“Then dinnae,” he whispered as his half-mast eyes stayed with hers. “Dinnae stop until ye’ve had me, lass.”
Caught by the feeling of what she knew were his thoughts within her mind
, she lost it right then and there. She lost it so hard, and so fast she barely understood what hit her. Because hell if something didn’t hit her square in the chest and spread through her body like wildfire in a windstorm. It happened so fast and seized every last muscle up so hard she fell forward against him.
After that, things went haywire, but at the same time, dead calm as liquid heat spread through her. It was the oddest but best sort of combination of sensations. So poignant and all-consuming, air sucked clean out of her lungs, and her body was lost to her.
Graham wrapped his arms around her and held on tight.
That’s it.
Nothing more.
He didn’t move. He didn’t try to find his own release. No, he just held her tight and close and so damn well tears leaked from the corners of her eyes as she rested her cheek against his shoulder. Lost, gone for a good while, she came down from the best climax she’d ever had. One that seemed to go on and on and she hoped might never end.
All the while, Graham kept his arms around her and held her. Like an anchor in rough seas, he never let go. He allowed her to feel everything she was feeling without an ounce of shame. Because that was somewhat like how this feeling had been the scant few times she had taken it before. Too much, over the top, and with shame because the guy had always known he hadn’t given the pleasure.
She had taken it.
Not with Graham though. It was all somehow very different with him.
A thousand times better.
“I’m sorry, handsome,” she finally managed to whisper, drifting back down to reality. “That was pretty selfish of me, wasn’t it?”
That’s when she heard the change in his voice and felt the racing of his heart.
“Selfish? Och, nay, furthest thing from it,” he said hoarsely. “Bloody hell, lass, I released three times!”
Chapter Twelve
GRAHAM HAD NEVER experienced so much pleasure in his life and told Christina as much. Then he just kept holding onto her. They stayed that way, totally spent, for a good while before they gathered enough strength to move again.
She wore a soft, dewy expression, as her lips curled up ever-so-slightly and she met his eyes. “Well, I’m definitely just as impressed by you, darlin’.” She almost seemed a little dopey and he well understood. “It’s not every guy that would be up to the challenge not only once but three times.” She chuckled. “Impressive.”
He met her smile and shrugged. “’Twas the least I could do considering you did all the hard work.” Now it was his turn to chuckle. “I verra much like the aftereffects of your magic, lass.”
“Why, thank you.” She pressed her lips together and blushed. “Any chance we could wash up somewhere?”
“Aye, there’s a small stream not far from here.” His eyes narrowed on a nearby satchel that hadn’t been there before. “I would imagine we’ve a change of clothes in that.”
She glanced at it and arched a brow before her eyes met his again. “Grant left that, didn’t he?”
“Aye.” He adjusted his trousers then helped her up. “My guess is he figured you would be ready for a change of clothes after being imprisoned.”
“That makes sense.” She gave him a knowing look. “Among other things.”
“This did seem somewhat planned by him,” he admitted as he strapped on his weapons, grabbed the satchel and pulled her after him. “We’ll only speak within the mind now lest anyone happens upon us, aye?”
When she didn’t respond, he stopped and whispered, “Did you hear me within your mind, lass?”
She shook her head, frowning. “Should I have?”
Aye, she bloody well should have, but he didn’t tell her that. “Nay, ‘tis all right.” He squeezed her hand. “When we talk it should be whispered just to be safe.”
Christina nodded before they continued. Why couldn’t she hear him but he could hear her? Especially after lying together? It made no sense. Though frustrated, he made no further mention of it as they came to the stream and began undressing. The eve was warm enough that it should not be too uncomfortable bathing.
Though there was only half a moon and plenty of tree cover, he could still make out her nude body. A trim, athletic but curvy body that made his mouth water. His eyes trailed hungrily over her high, firm breasts, toned stomach and long slender, shapely legs.
“Aren’t you coming swimming?” she whispered, grinning at him. “Or am I on my own?”
His eyes glued to her the whole time, he nodded then began stripping down. In the meantime, she watched him just as avidly.
“Son of a gun,” she whispered. “Just look at you, handsome.” Her eyes trailed over him with appreciation, lingering on his cock before she winked. “Every inch the man I knew you were.”
Before he could respond, she sauntered into the water, giving him the view of her backside he had wanted to see since the moment they met.
“Oh, this feels like Heaven,” she whispered as she waded in. “I run so dang hot.”
Understandable considering the energy she just exuded. By the sounds of it though, she meant all the time. He joined her, grateful for the chill as well. The water wasn’t too deep. Waist high for him.
“So I suppose we should talk about what that meant back there,” she murmured after she dunked beneath the water then surfaced and met his eyes. “What that meant for us.”
“What do you want it to mean?” he asked, still trying to sift through his own emotions. He hadn’t looked much beyond being with Kenna lately, so he wasn’t sure. Before his promise to her, he had never considered commitment but enjoyed many lasses. On occasion, at the same time.
“Well, for starters, we better darn well stay friends,” Christina said in answer to his question. “As to the rest, I hadn’t thought much beyond steering clear of a relationship.” She shook her head. “And now you know why.”
“Because of your sexual prowess?” He grinned. “Truly?”
It was hard to imagine any man not thoroughly enjoying what she was capable of.
“Yeah, well, you might’ve taken me like a champ, but most guys can’t quite handle it.” Frustration and hurt flickered in her eyes. “I learned a while back, that loving ‘em and leaving ‘em was the best policy for me...and them. In and out.” She flinched. “And I mean that literally. Half the time, it was wham, bam, thank you man on my part.”
He might not be from the twenty-first century, but he understood her meaning. “I thought it was bloody amazing being with you, lass.” He shook his head, never more serious. “Like nothing I’ve ever felt before.”
“I know. You said as much.” She smiled softly. “And believe me I’m thankful for the praise.” Her brows drew together as her lips tilted down. “Though I’ll admit having the tables turned a bit wouldn’t be so bad.”
“You would like to lay with a man with your stamina.” He smirked. “Your extraordinary energy.”
“Oh, I think I’ve just found a man with plenty of stamina.” She smirked as well. “As to your energy levels, we’ll just have to wait and see.” Her brows flew up as she drifted closer. “If you’re up for friends with benefits that is.”
“I’m up for being any kind of friend you need me to be, lass.” And mayhap more, echoed through his mind.
“Because it’s just a friend thing for now, all right?” she murmured as she drifted even closer. “Until we figure out what’s going on with Robert the Bruce and I guess, Bryce now.” She shook her head. “Not that I see me with either of them.”
Yet she did the moment Robert the Bruce came around and well he knew it. Magic was at work. As to Bryce? Never. He refused to let that happen.
“I wasn’t going to mention it because I’m not entirely sure what I want it to mean,” she murmured. “But we said we’d be straight with each other so you should know that I think I heard you speak into my mind once at MacLomain Castle.” Her eyes stayed with his. “Then again when we were in the throes of it back there.”
“Aye? ‘T
is good.” He offered a reassuring smile. “And it doesnae need to mean any more than you want it to.”
As she nodded, he couldn’t deny a spark of hope. More notably, what that hope likely said about how he truly felt. Mayhap he was not all that confused when it came to what he truly wanted.
“But you cannae hear me now, can you?” he said into her mind.
When she offered no response, he knew she could not. Why was this happening so randomly? Though frustrating, he supposed he should be happy that it had at least happened twice now rather than not at all.
Graham did his best to keep a light expression on his face as he took full advantage of ‘friends with benefits’ and reeled her closer. Almost as if she was waiting for him to do it, she wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders as their eyes held.
He bit back a groan at the feel of her soft skin against him as he cupped her arse. Lessening his brogue was impossible. “Bloody hell, yer well made, lass.”
“So are you,” she whispered, still smiling as she dropped several kisses on his lips before she groaned and a few kisses became many then deepened. He became so lost in the taste and feel of her, that he almost didn’t catch the slight vibration that ran through the water.
He gently broke the kiss and peppered more along her jaw until he could whisper in her ear. “We’re not alone, lass. Follow my lead and dinnae act like anything’s wrong.”
Clearly able to keep a level head despite the circumstances, she kept kissing him while he carried her out of the water. As though caught in the throes of passion, he lay her down close to his weapons. Then he wrapped his hand around the hilt of his blade, focused the best he could with her beneath him and whipped the blade in the direction of the intruder.
Though it was barely audible, he didn’t miss a woman’s grunt of pain.
“Bloody hell,” he muttered as he leapt to his feet, peered into the darkness and thought he saw a shadow.
“Was that a woman?” Christina exclaimed as she scrambled into her dress. He didn’t bother with clothes, but raced into the forest, terrified that he had hurt some lass happening through. Yet even as he ran in that direction, he knew no average lass could have stirred his magic like that.
Promised to a Highland Laird Page 15