“Duncan.” She seized his butt and pulled him ever deeper inside her. “Make me fly, just as you did afore.”
“I would never soar to the heavens without you.” He tightened his hold on her, pounded deep and as she raked his back, sheer pleasure coursing across her face, she sent him flying right along with her toward a pinnacle of brilliant white light.
Bellowing, he sank balls-deep inside her, his release so powerful as it crashed through him and she pulsed around him. No more barriers lay between them. They’d been obliterated once and for all. “You’re my mate, Ella.”
“Aye, and now I’m also one very satisfied mate.” She kissed him and cuddled, her eyelashes fluttering down. “A sleepy one too.”
“Then rest if you wish.” With the heat of the fire moving over them, he slowly pulled out of her, not that he wanted to but the deep need to see to her care had arisen and now wouldn’t be abated.
She mewled as he left her but still slumped into sleep. Out of the bed, he eased then crossed to the side table and poured water from the jug into the basin. He splashed his cock then nabbed a cloth from the pile, rubbed a little soap on it and returned to his now peacefully sleeping wife.
Carefully, so as not to wake her, he gently wiped her clean and removed all trace of their joining and once done, settled in beside her, tucked the fur covers over them both and wrapped his woman up in his arms. Oh, how he wanted to shout from the roof tops that she was his chosen one and he’d now claimed her. Never had he known such pure joy and tranquility as this.
She was his everything, his one and all, the greatest gift he could ever have been given.
Aye, he’d accepted the bond and now intended to treasure it.
Chapter 6
Duncan held Ella tight as he awoke to the new day dawning. His heart floated so light and free even though the weather appeared as dismal outside as it had been the night before. Rain slashed down, the skies churning a slate gray, but none of that could alter his immense happiness.
At the core of him, peace and satisfaction reigned. Ella was his, would never belong to anyone else. Aye, and he wanted to wake with her in his arms every morning, to fall asleep with her each night, and to never have her far from his sight.
With her sooty lashes spread across her cheeks dusted with freckles, her breath whispering softly through her parted lips, he wanted only to kiss her. Driven to touch her, he slid his fingers through her long locks, the exquisite mass of brown rippling with lighter shades of gold. Gently, he ran one finger down the creamy expanse of her neck and cupped one full breast. He swished around the globe, her nipple puckering so deliciously. His mouth watered and his cock filled.
He moved to her other breast and swirled around it until that nipple too stood at full attention. Her body was a treasure waiting to be plundered, her soul his and her heart one he would claim too, just as he’d already claimed her body. Aye, his love for her now raged, would never be extinguished.
Over her sides, he stroked, pushed the covers back a touch more and widened her legs. The fire crackled and he swished one hand over her flat belly, trailed his fingers through the thatch of curls and cupped her mound.
She moaned and he crawled farther down the bed, the firelight sending a rivulet of red and gold flickering across her creamy skin. He raised her legs until her bottom lifted off the bed and she lay fully exposed to him. Stroking up her inner thighs, he reveled in the moment before gently parting her folds and easing one finger inside her. With the softest touch, he caressed deep within then dipped his head and licked her. He fondled her nub with his tongue and she moaned again in her sleep and rocked.
“Wake up, my grumpy one,” he whispered as he savored her.
“Aye, I’m awake.” She blinked her dreamy eyes open, passion flaring strong.
“I intend to wake you in this fashion every morning. That is the only warning you’ll get.” Stroking harder and faster, he built her pleasure with his fingers and mouth.
“This is such a heady torture, your mouth on me so sweetly intimate. I want to love you as you’re loving me.” She panted and cupped her own breasts, rolled her nipples between her thumbs and forefingers.
Hell, he needed to taste her there again too, to adore her lush breasts as they deserved to be adored. He rose up, pushed her hands away and fingered one heavenly nipple while he licked the other. Nice and slow, his need to savor the full taste of her overriding all else.
“Mmm, more.” She pressed her breasts harder into his mouth and he teased his teeth over one sensitive tip then drew the bud deep inside and tickled it with his tongue.
“Oh, you have one very skilled tongue.”
He continued to suck and his efforts won him a soft cry which made his cock harden even further and jab the inside of her thigh.
“Duncan.” Body twisting, she seized a breath. “I’m going to come from your mouth on my breasts alone if you dinnae come inside me.”
“Aye, come as you please.” He ravished her breasts, stroked one finger through her heat below and caressed her.
Gasping, she bucked against him and his balls tightened, his cock trembling with want. She was so slick and close, her needy cries urging him on and he ground his cock into her hip to slow his raging desire, only it didn’t ease his need one bit, only hastened it.
“Please, inside me now.” She thrashed underneath him, her snug channel tightening around his finger and locking it firmly in place.
“I took you hard last eve and you need time to heal.” His balls tightened to the point of pain and a wicked pressure sizzled from the base of his spine around to his groin.
“Oh goodness, I’m healed.” She gasped the words then exploded around him and he got lost as her inner muscles clamped down and dragged his finger deep within.
Too lost. He growled, pulled her legs up and spread them wider. In a primitive way he had no control over, he thrust his cock into her in one single hard move and her scream of pleasure echoed off the walls. No mercy. He could allow none now. Over and over, he lunged and she joined him in another wild release that pushed them both to a blinding peak.
* * * *
Limbs heavy and his desire sated, or at least for this moment, Duncan licked across Ella’s lower lip as she stretched and curled into him. “Sleep if you wish. We shall remain here until this storm breaks.”
“Mmm,” she murmured and slowly drifted.
A light tap sounded on the door. “Duncan, ’tis I, Hamish.”
“One moment.” He popped a kiss on Ella’s nose as she snuggled her head deeper into her pillow. Needing to answer the door, he dragged himself from their bed, snagged his kilt and wrapped it around his waist before stepping outside into the gloomy passageway. “This better be important.”
In his gray pants and fur jacket, Hamish smiled. “Glad I am to see you’ve now accepted the bond.”
“We spoke handfast vows last eve.” He gripped Hamish’s shoulder. “I told her the truth about my birth and she’s agreed to keep my secrets. Tell my men we’ve wed, but naught about our bond. ’Twill be as we spoke about yesterday, that I desire her fae blood within my direct line. That is the only reason we’ve wed.”
“Will do. What of her brother and Gavin?”
“She caught up with Ethan on her arrival here.” He checked both ends of the darkened passageway, each door remaining firmly closed, the only light penetrating through from a small window at the far end. “She compelled Gavin and he seeks shelter elsewhere from this storm, then once it breaks, he’s to continue on to Dunscaith Castle. Ella intends on meeting Ethan and Gavin there, to ensure Gavin is halted in his attacks, that his chief is informed of it all, only I cannae allow her to travel to Dunscaith alone.”
“I understand. She’s your mate and we can never permit them far from our sight.”
“We’ll need a plan to ensure all goes well, but we’ve time to formulate that fully while this storm rages and keeps us land-bound.”
“Agreed. I’ll see to your o
rders now.” Hamish clapped him on the back then with a cheery whistle, strode back down the passageway.
Footsteps echoed up the stairwell and a maid of mayhap two and ten, a flour-smeared apron tied around her waist, passed Hamish on the top step. The lass walked toward him with a breakfast tray in hand. “Mama told me to bring Mistress Ella a tray, to give her a hot cup of tea with honey as well.”
“You have my thanks. I’ll take this to my wife.” There appeared to be plenty for two and he accepted the tray from the lass. “Bring a tub and plenty of hot water as well. My wife will wish to bathe when she awakens.” He wished to make certain any soreness from their joining was eased and a bath would certainly aid Ella in her recovery.
“Aye, sir.” The lass dashed back downstairs.
He opened the door and slid the tray on the table before shutting it behind him.
Ella stirred and stretched, pushed the bedcovers back and smiled so sensuously at him. “I smell food.”
“Come and eat.” He pulled out a chair for her.
“I’m famished.” She eased out of bed, swiped his white tunic from the corner chair and slid it over her head as she sashayed toward him. The white cotton fluttered past her knees, the deep V neckline dipping all the way to her navel and the sides of her breasts showing. She was such a vision, her dark hair swishing about her tiny waist and her brown eyes flecked with gold, burning bright. She halted before him, her gaze flicking to the window. “The weather looks dismal.”
“We’ll remain here until this storm breaks.” He caught the dangling ties of his tunic and tugged her closer. “I just spoke to Hamish and he’ll alert my men of our plans to travel to Dunscaith, as well as inform them of our handfasting. All they are to learn is that I desire your fae blood, wish for it to flow strongly through my own direct line, and now I’ve ensured that.”
“I understand. That certainly is the best option to take if you wish to keep your secrets safe.” She rubbed her breasts against his chest, a tease of her pink aureoles showing through the thin white cotton.
“You look beautiful in my tunic.” He wrapped one arm around her back, the other around her waist and dipped her backward, the sleeves of his shirt slipping over her shoulders and her breasts bobbing completely free. He buried his nose between both mounds and breathed deep. “Now you hold my name, there is no doubt should the MacDonald learn of it, that you’d become a very valuable pawn in our war.”
“You forget my skill.” She twined her arms around his neck. “There is none who can successfully capture and contain a compeller. We are very hard to restrain when with only a few words we can so easily see to our own release. I shall also take great care no’ to let him hear of our vows being spoken until after my mission is complete. Following that, I simply willnae visit Dunscaith anymore.”
“Aye, agreed. You’re mine now, Ella, forever mine to protect and care for.”
“As you’re mine, and I also intend to see to your safety and protection as well during our coming mission. Make no mistake about that.” She nipped his ear then so damn hypnotically, murmured, “Release me, Duncan. I wish to break my fast.”
“Ella.” He growled her name as he tried to wrestle against her compulsion, only he didn’t have a chance of doing so. With a snap of his teeth, he straightened and set her back on her feet and let her go.
“Thank you. See, with only a few words I can ensure my own release.” Grinning, she pulled the dangling ties of her shirt closed and knotted them, swished across to the table and sat on the chair. She stuck her nose into the steam wafting over the hot cup of tea, daintily picked it up and sipped. Knife and fork in hand, she cut into the bacon and eggs and ate. “Mmm, this is delicious. Come and join me.”
He stepped in behind her, slid her hair over one shoulder and sucked the skin of her neck into his mouth and left a nice red mark behind as he did. “You are far more of an appealing meal. I’d rather eat you.”
“I cannae provide nourishment, whereas this food can.” She popped a rasher of bacon into his mouth and demanded in her compelling tone, “Sit.”
“We need to speak about your commands and when I dinnae wish for you to utter them.” He went to sit only a knock sounded and he opened the door and bid the two lads holding a tub between them to enter.
Barefoot and with sooty marks on the rolled hems of their loose-legged tan breeches, they heaved the tub before the crackling fireplace then scuttled out. Maids entered carrying pails of steamy water and filled the tub. Lizzie arrived with clean drying cloths, set them on the side table, added a dash of vanilla scented oil to the bathwater then tossed another log on the fire and once done, bobbed her head and closed the door behind her and the others as they left.
He sat at the table and forked eggs into his mouth, devoured the bacon rashes and smeared a slice of the crusty bread with jam and polished that off as well.
“I need to warn you.” Ella watched him as she munched, her gaze firm on him. “You’ve wed a very strong woman, one who likes to use her skill as needed.”
“And you’ve wed a man who thrives on protecting his loved ones.”
“So I see.”
* * * *
She couldn’t argue that fact, and she had no desire to change it either. They’d work things out in the days to come, ensure both of them survived their current mission.
With the bath beckoning, she rose from the table, hunkered down before the tub, swirled one hand through the water and sighed as a delicious curl of steam wafted from it. “This is the perfect heat. Would you care to join me for a bath?”
“Absolutely.” He prowled to the door, slid the bolt home and halted in front of her.
“I want you to undress me.” On the tips of her toes, she kissed his chin, her compelling tone strong.
“That order is one I’ll gladly follow.”
“I’ve been without my skill for over a sennight and I crave using it this day.”
“I crave you, so provided you dinnae halt my hand as you did afore, then you may compel me all you wish.” He lowered to a crouch, his voice a purr as he skimmed his big, warm hands over her calves. Trailing slowly upward, he caressed behind her knees and over her outer thighs, the white cotton of his tunic gliding higher as he rose. Puffing hotly against her skin, he scraped the fabric across her sensitive nipples as he lifted it then tugged it fully over her head and tossed it aside. “There is naught more beautiful to behold than having you standing so unclothed afore me. We need to spend at least a month locked away together, and preferably where no one can interrupt us.”
“That I would love. Allow me to undress you now.” Sidling against him, she unbelted his kilt and let it drop to the floor in a heap. His cock brushed her belly, hard and hot and she encircled the heavy length with her hand, wanted only to lower to her knees and wrap her mouth around him. “I want to nibble on every inch of your flesh.”
Never had she spoken in such a brazen way before, yet standing here with him like this, being so open and honest about her desires, felt so very right.
“I hope this storm never ceases.” His gaze consumed every inch of her.
“That would be wonderful.” The rain pelted down outside the window, the waves a roaring wash as the surf crashed into shore.
“I need to touch you. ’Tis like a craving in my blood that now released, willnae be halted.” He cupped her breasts, eased them together and licked one nipple. The sweetly sensual stroke of his tongue over her sensitive flesh sent a flare of heat rippling straight to her core.
“Mmm, I love how you touch me.” Head tipped back and body arched, she soaked in his decadent touch.
“I want my wife.” He swirled around the tip with his tongue, sucked her nipple deep into his mouth and she wobbled, her knees buckling until he swept her up then lowered her into the tub.
Warm water cascaded over her flesh, adding more heat to the blaze already burning through her and she wriggled back to make more room for him as he stepped into the tub.
His body was so heavily muscled from hours of sword training, his shoulders so broad and strong and his biceps bulging. As he eased down, his abs rippled, one glorious layer upon layer and each defined contour making her yearn to touch him.
She traced one finger along the delicious tease of black hair narrowing down his unyielding belly where it slowly thickened into a nest of curls at the juncture of his legs. His cock saluted her from the water, the head plump and all hers for the taking. “Our bond grows stronger by the hour.”
“Aye, it does.” Water sloshed over her chest as he reached over the side of the tub, picked up the soap the maid had left sitting beside it and built a lather between his hands. With a twinkle in his eyes, he lifted her feet and placed them against his chest. “I’ve always known about the bond your fae kind formed with another, but never could I have imagined it would be like this, that it could rage so strongly.
“This is just the beginning. We have an entire lifetime for our bond to grow even stronger.” Smiling, she rested her head back on the rim as he worked the bubbles over her feet. He massaged one of her heels, kneaded along the sensitive arch and around each toe before moving to her other foot and caressing with the same dedicated attention. The water sloshed and her hair swirled over the tops of her breasts.
“I dinnae care to see these hidden from me.” He brushed her hair away, pinched her nipples and grinned as they beaded tight. “It appears you like that.”
She more than liked it. A fiery tingle radiated outward from where he’d touched her and she couldn’t keep her need contained. “Do that again. Now, harder.”
“Aye, my love.” He tweaked them again. More pressure this time, just as she’d demanded with her compelling command.
“Perfect. There is naught more seductive than a man who knows how to follow his wife’s every request.”
Highlander's Caress: Medieval Romance (The Fae Book 2) Page 10