Michele Sinclair - [McTiernays 05]

by Seducing the Highlander

  Tipping her chin up with his fingertips, Craig kissed her with a hungry urgency, and Meriel felt herself respond with a kind of abandon that came from being totally in love. His mouth was hot and ravenous and she let herself sink into it, into his body, into his warmth.

  She wanted him. God, she wanted him. She wanted him naked and inside her. But tonight she also wanted something else. Meriel pulled back just far enough to give him a push that needed no encouragement. Craig fell backward onto the bed, bringing her with him. But when his arms came around her, strong and purposeful, Meriel resisted, shaking her head. “Tonight it’s my turn.”

  Craig looked at her in confusion for a moment, but he lost the thought once she bent her head to give him a lingering soft kiss on the mouth, then on his half-closed eyelids, beneath his ear, followed by his hard jawline. Little by little, she trailed a path downward, down his neck to his chest. Her mouth moved to his flat nipple and he gasped at the sharp pleasure as it surged all the way through him. Needing to taste her, kiss her, press her down fully upon him, he reached for her, but again she resisted.

  Taking both of his hands in hers, Meriel put them deliberately at his sides. On their wedding night, Craig had introduced her to just how sensual and powerful his tongue could be. Ever since, she had been consumed with the thought of tasting him. And tonight she was determined to discover if her mouth could bring as much sweet torture to him as his did to her.

  Craig took in her air of command and decided to let her have her way and to enjoy her ministrations, for the moment. Her movements were slow and chaste as she touched him reverently, tracing his curves and hollows. Taking her time, she slid her hand up and down his chest again and again, each time going a little lower. Daring to sweep even lower, she allowed her fingertips to travel a new path along the taut ridges of his abdomen, emboldened when his muscles contracted reflexively at her touch. She marveled at feeling the shape of him change with her persistent stroking and was inspired to place her mouth where her hands had been.

  Leaning down, she touched his now tense nipple with the tip of her tongue. Craig sucked a breath slowly through his teeth, and she felt his manhood stir against her leg. She felt wanton, intentionally seducing him this way, but she also felt powerful. Her whole body ached to feel him need her like she had needed him.

  Placing her hand low across his hard stomach, he buried one hand in her hair while the other rested in the middle of her back. Emboldened, she slipped her other hand between his legs and began to move up and down, caressing the bare flesh of his thighs until he shuddered in response.

  As her hands reached for their target, Craig stilled her fingers in his grasp, bringing them up to his mouth for a soft kiss on her knuckles. “You don’t have to,” he said quietly.

  Her hazel eyes caught his blue ones burning with passion, and her tongue swept across the taut outlines of his abdomen. “But I want to,” she murmured and freed her hand so that her palm could slide down his chest, across his belly, until it reached his heavy, fully aroused manhood thrusting outward, ready for her touch.

  Gently, she cupped his flesh in her palm before curling her fingers around him. Craig groaned in agony, but she knew it came from such intense pleasure it bordered on pain. Lightly, her hands began to caress him, then with growing purpose. He seemed massive, filling her fingers. She felt a pulsating ripple go through him and her own insides quivered in return.

  The moment Craig felt Meriel’s fingers close around him, he thought his heart might stop. His muscles tensed and he arched his head on the pillow, rolling his eyes closed, his every sense heightened. All misgivings had vanished and his only remaining thought was that he must have more. Helplessly, he thrust himself forward, deeper into her palm, needing to increase the delicious pressure.

  Meriel watched him for a prolonged moment, and then dropped her gaze to her hands. All doubt left and she began to dip her head.

  The moment Craig realized what she intended, his body went rigid as another wave of need thundered through him. “No, don’t touch me like that,” he choked. “I won’t be able . . .” He trailed off, stumbling over the words as she traced the bones of his hips.

  His hands were clasped into fists at his sides. Opening them, he tried to pull her down to him, but again she resisted. “Shhh. But I want to do this for you,” she told him quietly. “The way you do for me.”

  Fear was consuming him, fear and an almost intolerable desire. He clamped his eyes shut and clutched the coverlet in a fierce grip, half fearing and half anticipating the first touch of her lips. He had given her his heart and his body, but if he let her touch him, know him this way, she would have all the power. He would be at her mercy. The heavy weight of his manhood throbbed with anticipation and he could not make himself force her to stop.

  The soft brush of her hair against his skin was followed by the moist heat of her breath. She withdrew her hands and for long moments Craig thought he would go mad with anticipation. Then he felt it, the searing heat of her tongue, licking him from root to tip.

  Meriel allowed instinct to guide her. Pressing her hand flat against his groin, she held him steady as she followed the path of the prominent vein. When she reached the top, she opened her mouth wide.

  A gargled moan erupted from somewhere deep within him and Craig’s last thought before she took him into her mouth was that he would die from the pleasure if she continued and die from the lack of it if she did not. When the edge of her teeth skimmed lightly over the most vulnerable place on his body, he nearly exploded. He tipped his head back, exposing the taut cords of his strong neck and shouted, “Mo creach! You’re killing me.”

  Meriel smiled, for she distinctly recalled saying the same thing to him when he had taken her into his mouth. This was without doubt the most intimate act she had ever performed, focused solely on his pleasure. Being joined with him, having him inside her body, was beautiful and even overwhelming. But this—this was just as potent.

  Eyes closed and lips parted, Craig knew only sensual agony as the tip of Meriel’s tongue circled him. He was torn between grabbing her and pinning her beneath him and simply lying back and enjoying the unfamiliar excitement of surrender. She was using every weapon in her arsenal to assault his senses. Her lips, her tongue, her teeth, sucking and licking. He emitted another tortured moan.

  His jaw clenched tight and Craig knew he was about to lose control. He cried out, “No more. I’m going to—” and abruptly pulled her away.

  Unable to play the role of gentle tutor, he pushed her legs apart so that she straddled him. His face contorted with barely suppressed agony. “I need you,” he whispered, and without waiting, he brought her down so that she impaled herself on him.

  Meriel gasped, filled with a sudden, wild abandon as the hot, shocking sensation of him filling her so deeply rippled throughout her body. Instinctively, she rocked against him, pulling him deeper into her. Vaguely she was aware of Craig reaching out for her, pressing his face between her breasts. The added stimulus caused her to loll her head back so that her hair hung down across her buttocks. She moaned as he took one of her nipples and matched her rhythm with the sweet tug of his mouth. Meriel arched her back more and rode him, feeling him tighten each time he pushed into her.

  Clasping her neck with one hand, Craig pulled her face up to meet his and began to kiss her aggressively. He dipped his tongue deep into her mouth, relishing her ecstatic moans as their bodies rubbed together. They were both on the cusp of climax, but he was not yet ready to let either of them come. Breaking off the kiss, he lifted his head and sucked in air.

  “Craig,” she whimpered, continuing to rock against him. She was driving him insane. His hand on the small of her back tightened and pulled her even closer. He was of no mind to allow her conquest to continue any longer.

  Before she could move a muscle, he raised himself, and with a tortured moan he deftly rolled her beneath him and plunged deep. He kissed her once more as he sank exultantly into the snug, tight chann
el.

  She cried out as her body contracted around him, meeting each of his powerful thrusts with one of her own. The air around them turned into steam. Craig could feel Meriel’s nails digging into his back. She was mindless with passion, writhing with it, needing him, ready.

  Wrapping her legs around him, he spread her wide and pressed his face into the curve of her neck as Meriel clutched him to her, taking him deep within her. Then suddenly she gasped. Her hands curled into fists as her muscles clenched and unclenched in small spasms that made her entire body tremble.

  Her soft cries of sensual fulfillment continued to be the most incredibly exciting sounds Craig had ever heard. A second later he surrendered to the hot whirlwind that would tear him apart and put him back together once more, a whole man.

  Craig collapsed beside her, lying limp, awash with wave after wave of tantalizing tingles. He would never, ever get enough of her.

  She curled into the curve of his body and they remained that way for some time, neither wanting to move or speak. Just enjoying the sensation of being so close.

  “I love you, Craig,” she finally whispered.

  “And I love you, my perfect angel.”

  Meriel sighed. “I like that.” She giggled. “Means I’ll never have to change. I’m already perfect.”

  Craig nuzzled her neck. “That you are. I don’t want you to change. I married the woman I want. I don’t need anything more.”

  Meriel twisted around so that she could face him. Looking into his blue eyes, dark with passion, she said, “And I don’t want you to change either, Craig. I love you for who you are. Don’t ever doubt that.”

  “I won’t,” he whispered and kissed the tip of her nose. “Nothing would ever keep me from loving you.”

  Slowly he leaned forward to press soft kisses down the left side of her neck, and once again Meriel could feel the stirrings of his desire. “Aren’t you hungry?” she asked hoarsely, as his mouth began to fondle her nipple.

  “Aye, I’m famished,” he replied, moving to her other breast.

  Meriel swatted his back. “I meant for food.”

  “I knew that,” he teased, continuing his assault.

  Meriel knew that if he did not stop soon she would willingly fall victim to his caresses. “If you and I continue at this pace, I will soon be like Raelynd.”

  Craig reluctantly stopped and pulled her once again into his side. “I am happy for my brother. They have wanted to conceive for some time, but I am also glad that it will not be us. Surely, God knows better than to give us a child.”

  Meriel tried to turn around, but he would not let her. “You cannot be serious.”

  Craig nuzzled her hair with his chin. “Children are the messiest of all creatures. Look around. Can you imagine an infant in this place?”

  Meriel smiled, realizing that he was teasing her. “No, I honestly cannot.”

  “Besides, I want you all to myself.”

  “And this time should be for Raelynd. She has been trying for so long. It would not be fair to steal any of her attention. Have you seen the way she basks in Crevan’s constant attention?”

  Craig squeezed her close. “I’ll smother you with attention if that is what you desire.”

  “I just desire you.”

  Craig closed his eyes, thankful. He had not thought about her becoming pregnant, but now that he had, the idea terrified him. Her mother had had terrible difficulties carrying a child to term, and it appeared after trying for a year that Raelynd would also be troubled. Meriel was her identical twin and it followed that she too would not have an easy time. Her mother had lost so many children, and he did not want to see such sadness in Meriel’s eyes.

  Aye, he wanted a family, but he wanted her more.

  Craig cracked open the door of their cottage and peeped inside. Taking a deep breath, he said a silent prayer, reminding God who his wife was and how he could use an extra dose of patience. After three days of living together, he should have known what he would see on the other side of the door, and yet tonight, coming home, he had hopes otherwise.

  Craig knew he was looking more and more haggard. Every leine he owned was caked with mud and sweat, so much so that his men were beginning to tease him for not having any clean clothes. Craig was beginning to wonder just when Meriel intended to do the wash, when this morning one of his married soldiers had slapped him on the back and said not to worry. That it was about three days after he wed before he could depend on the wash to be done and a good meal to be waiting for him. And based on the pile of clothes still on the floor and the lack of cooking aromas from the kitchen, Craig could only conclude Meriel needed more than the standard three days.

  Pushing the door harder in an effort to budge whatever was in his way, he heard something tumble onto the floor. “Oh, hold on! You’re home early! I need to move a few things before you come in!” Meriel called out.

  Craig’s mouth twitched. She was surprised to see him? If anything, he was running late. He waited as she began to shove aside whatever was blocking the door, but through the small opening that he had nudged open, he could see that his home had not improved. Just the opposite; it had become significantly worse. He was trying to be patient, but the place was beyond ridiculous!

  Every day Meriel was bringing more and more of her things from the castle. Did it really escape her that there was simply no room for all of her things? Practically everything he owned was covered with some frilly item or something that most certainly did not belong to him. He did not mind clutter. He was comfortable with untidy rooms, but this was pure chaos and close to unlivable.

  Meriel opened the door. She was smiling and her hazel eyes were dancing with delight. “Come in! I’m sorry you had to wait.” She stretched her neck to see behind him and realized that the afternoon sun was completely gone and it was not dusk, but dark outside.

  “Why are you bringing that in here?” she asked as he stepped inside, still carrying his targe. Normally he left the shield outside, propped up against the side of the wall.

  Craig pulled her in close for a welcome-home kiss. “I need to do some work on it and don’t have time during the day. Thought I would do it tonight while we talk.”

  “Oh, well, I had no idea how late it was. I must have lost track of time,” she said brightly.

  Craig nuzzled her hair. “By the looks of things in here, I assume we are going to be eating at the castle again.”

  Meriel beamed a bright smile at him. “You, oh handsome one, are correct. Just give me a few more minutes to finish something and I will be ready.”

  Craig watched as she went to sit down by a large pile of what appeared to be a variety of half-sewn items. Whatever she was doing, he was positive it was going to take significantly longer than a few minutes for the surrounding area to be transformed into something that approximated order. “You realize that we cannot keep doing this.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Going to your father and asking to join him for dinner.”

  Meriel waved her hand dismissively before ripping two pieces apart. “He enjoys our company and I know my sister does not mind. She said so today when I joined her for the noon meal. There,” she said, separating the two pieces and putting them onto two different stacks.

  She rose to her feet and circled her arms around his waist. “Now we can go get you something to eat.”

  Craig could not help but return her smile and kissed the tip of her nose. “And just what has made you so happy this evening?”

  Meriel pulled out of his embrace and, with her arms stretched out, turned in a tight circle. “Can you not tell? All my stuff is finally here! At last I can begin organizing things so that I can find them. It seems forever since I have been able to do so.”

  Craig took in a deep breath, closed his eyes, and smiled in relief. It was comforting to hear that nothing more was coming into their overly crowded home, but it was even more reassuring to hear Meriel use the word organize. So getting things to where they
should be was going to take four, maybe five days, rather than the standard three. It did not matter, now that he knew very soon his home and marriage would start resembling his expectations. “Just make sure there is still room for me.”

  Meriel put her hands on her hips and gave him a wicked smile. “I thought the bedroom was yours,” she said with a wink.

  Craig growled, suddenly hungry for other things, and tossed his targe onto the table, where it landed on a large pile of material, knocking half of it over. He was reaching out for her when she screamed and shoved his hand away, diving for the items that had just fallen. Placing them back on the table, she grunted and attempted to pick up his shield. “Find somewhere else to put that thing,” she said, her tone laced with warning.

  “And where would that be?” he belted out. “There is nowhere to put any of my things. I thought we would share the cottage, but right now this place looks like a woman’s retreat! I’ve been patient, but a man would go mad living like this.”

  “Your things already took up every possible place I could put mine. I was lucky to get my clothes, let alone sewing materials, in here at all. And,” Meriel continued, grinding the word out between her teeth, “I know far more about sharing a room, since I actually did so with my sister for the majority of my life!”

  Craig lifted his shield before she toppled over in her efforts to pick it up. In doing so, he again accidentally knocked several items back onto the floor. He ignored them, just as he ignored the fact that several of the items that fell belonged to him. “You only think you know how to share space,” he huffed. With his free hand, he made a wide gesture, pointing around the cottage. “That room you shared was twice the size of this entire place!”

  Craig pivoted and headed toward the door.

  “Where are you going?” she shouted at him.

  He grabbed the handle and yanked it open. “To get something to eat,” he growled, and exited.