by Ria Cantrell
Sinead swallowed hard and began to ramble, “I know you don’t want anything serious and I don’t even know how long I will be here and you know, I think we should just let things happen…I’m sorry, I tend to ramble when I am nervous.”
“Are ye’ nervous, love? Ye’ know I would ne’er hurt ye’.”
“I am not worried that you will hurt me…remember, it’s not going to be my first time...oh damn, I shouldn’t have reminded you about that.”
“Hush. I am no’ worried about that. Ye’ are mine, now, Sinead MacDougal. No other matters and ye’ will promise me that I will now be the only one.”
“But we….”
“We what, lass? Do ye’ think ye’ wish to be with another because I can tell ye’ I’ve no wish to ever touch another woman again. Ye’ have gotten under my skin, like no other.”
It wasn’t the most romantic of words, but Jamie was not like other men she knew. For him there were no mind games. He was direct and he meant what he said. Besides, he just told her she was it for him. What more could a woman want? She flung her arms around his neck and she kissed him so fiercely, she actually heard him moan from the force of it.
He gently pushed her off and he chuckled softly, “Easy lass. I think we best find a more private place. Another kiss like that and I will have to take ye’ right here.”
Again, not frilly romantic, but Sinead liked that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. Jamie rose to his feet and he gave Sinead a hand to help her up. He tugged her against him and kissed her deeply. He said, “Come with me. Ye’ do want this, don’t ye’?”
“Oh, yes Jamie. So much.”
He laughed again. He said, “I shall have to get used to yer’ direct ways.”
“Well you don’t exactly beat around the bush either, you know!”
Jamie shook his head, smiling. “Ye’ have the oddest way of sayin’ things.”
“I do!?”
“Och, I suppose ye’ find the things I say rather strange, too, lassie.”
“For sure. Like where I come from, Lassie was the name of a beloved dog.”
“Really? Was she a pet of yers?”
Sinead laughed. “Goodness no.”
How was she going to explain things like TV to this medieval man? “I’ll try to explain later…much later.”
Jamie got her implication and he took her hand in his, almost dragging her alongside of him. When he got to the bottom of the stairs leading up to their private apartments, Jamie scooped Sinead up into his arms and he carried her, not even feeling the strain of his previous work-out.
Neither saw Morag standing by watching and neither saw her clap her hands together in glee. Her beloved bairn was going to wed after all. She might have known it would take a woman from a different century to win his heart.
Chapter 30
Sinead felt Jamie’s strong arms holding her as he took to the stairs. Her heart thudded wildly beneath her ribs as she lost herself in his arms. This was it! This was what romance novels were made of. When they had gotten to his chambers, he kicked the door behind him so that it closed with a resounding bang. He carefully laid her upon his bed, and his own heart hitched in his chest knowing that she had been sleeping there for the past few weeks. He had left her alone as best he could, but not now. Nay, this time he could no longer pull away from her dragging lure and he regretted nothing about that now. He wanted her so badly, he worried he would not last long enough to make love to her. He had grown so hard that it bordered on being painful. Still, he wanted to savor his time with her. It seemed like he had waited an eternity for her. And hadn’t he, really? He had fought love for so long it seemed it would never be his for the taking.
As she leaned up on her elbows, Jamie saw that she was watching him. It had bothered him at first that she was not a virgin, but now, he was actually glad for it. This was a woman who understood what she liked and Jamie knew that together they would be able to explore each other without fear or hesitation. Jamie did not want to think too long about anyone else who had loved his woman. There was no place for thoughts of others in their bed this day.
When he realized that she was looking at him, he deftly unfastened his kilt and it dropped to the floor. Sinead’s eyes seemed to grow wider and she murmured, “Sweet mother of mercy!”
Sinead heard the thought in her head like a wild chant, the man is a stallion! He approached the bed and he sat beside her, kicking off his boots in a hurry. He then took hold of one of her feet and removed her slipper. He was glad she was not wearing those hideous sneakers she was so fond of. The soft leather shoe was easily taken off and as his hand made contact with her ankle, he saw Sinead arch back. So her legs were sensitive! He liked that. He ran the back of his knuckles up her calf, ever inching its way toward her thigh. She was not wearing any hose and he could feel the gooseflesh appearing on her skin as his hand moved under her skirts.
“Are ye’ cold, love?”
“Not particularly,” she rasped, suddenly feeling her throat had gone quite dry. That was probably the only thing that was for she sensed the flooding warmth pooling within her. Sinead trembled ever so slightly when Jamie pushed the fabric of her gown up her legs and she felt the cool air of the chamber react with her heated flesh.
“I want ye’, love.”
“I know. I do too…I mean, you. I want you,” She was rambling again. She had to pull herself together, but Sinead was finding it hard to concentrate. Jamie starting planting tantalizing kisses above her knees, gently biting the softer flesh of her inner thighs with nips not meant to cause pain. In fact, Sinead felt pleasure building with each tender nibble. She felt the voluminous fabric of the gown bunched up under her derriere and so she scooted back slightly and lifted the gown up from its hem, and she pulled it over her head. It was a little snug with all the lacing down the back and Sinead did not want to damage the beautiful garment, especially since it did not belong to her, but she needed to be out of it and the sooner the better. When she felt it give way, she realized Jamie had loosened the lacings slightly and he had grasped the skirts to help lift it over her head. He had expected her to be naked beneath the gown, but he was pleasantly surprised that she was not. She was wearing those strange undergarments he had accidently seen her in that first day she had arrived. That time he had turned away to not embarrass her, but now he gazed at her like a starving man. If anything, they left little to the imagination, and what little it left ignited his desire to a fevered pitch. The garments were black and made of lace. There was a tiny pink satin bow between both of her breasts, with ribbons of some sort that held it in place over each shoulder. He leaned in and kissed her neck and slid one of the straps down. He said gruffly, “I think I could look at ye’ in that forever.”
Sinead giggled. So, medieval guys liked sexy lingerie, too. The laughter died on her lips as his big hand, warm and careful, slid inside one of the cups of her bra and he touched her breast softly. Sinead sucked in her breath and she arched back again, drawing her legs up slightly. It felt so good for him to touch her. He said, “Ye’ are so beautiful, Sinead. I fear I will die happily just from looking at ye’.”
Well, then, that was very romantic; more than Sinead thought a hardened warrior was capable of. She wasn’t complaining. She knew Jamie was not a man who threw flowery words around. In fact, he was a man of few words, actually. What he said he meant and he just said he could die happily because of her beauty. What woman wouldn’t want to hear that?
As he kissed her neck and throat again, she reached out and encased him with her hand. Dear God, he was big! She felt him suck in his breath at her touch and she leaned in and said, “And you are so big. I can die happily to be filled with you.”
Jamie felt her hand rubbing up and down in a slow steady motion and he was again reminded that he may spill himself before he ever moved inside of her. He gritted his teeth and he said, “Careful, love. I dunna’ think I can wait much longer.”
“I don’t want you to. We don’t have
to go slow this time. We can save that for the next time.”
“Are ye’ certain? I’ve no wish to hurt ye’.”
“Oh, I have a feeling it will be worth it. Yes, Jamie. I am certain. There is no need to worry. I promise. I’m in good shape. I can take it.”
Sinead did not know if that would put Jamie off. She certainly did not want to dissuade him but she was used to speaking her mind, too. Instead, she watched as Jamie ran his finger over her satin and lace panties. “Hmm,” he said, as if he had been matter-of-factly examining her. “Aye, quite wet. I thought as much.”
Sinead looked into his face and nodded. “Ayyyye,” she purred, imitating him. Jamie slid one finger into the leg opening of her panties and he pressed it between her legs. He felt her soak his finger at his probing touch and he could not wait. He tugged at the little scrap of fabric and he moved it down her thighs. He wanted to kiss her there, but he worried that she would object, so instead, he slid his finger deeply into her and he watched her for her reaction. She laid back and cried, “Oh Jamie, yes. That feels wonderful.”
“Ah, love. I want to make it all wonderful.”
He felt her rise up to his hand and he gently explored her until he found her delicious little bud. With the pad of his thumb, he rotated his touch around it until she cried out in earnest. He willed himself to hold back until she had had her time and it took all the discipline he had mastered as a warrior of the clan. Even so, a small bead of moisture appeared on the tip of his shaft and he was afraid he would lose control rather quickly. As he felt her clenching around his buried knuckle, Jamie could wait no longer. He wanted to make her come but he needed her too badly himself. He peeled the damp little underthings off of her and he moved the lacey top off her shoulders until both breasts peeked out over the top of the cupped lace fabric like beautiful rose buds. He leaned in and slowly suckled each one and when he did, he heard her moan.
“Good,” he said huskily.
He felt Sinead’s legs parting for him and he settled between them. She then wrapped them around his hips, drawing him further to her. The head of his cock throbbed as he brushed against her heat and when he felt her legs about him, he knew there could be no more waiting.
Sinead wanted him to forget about taking it slowly. She needed to feel that glorious erection of his deep within her so she raised her hips and met him, urging him into her. She gasped at first, thinking there was no way he would fit completely, but as the miracle of nature did its magic, she stretched to accommodate every hard delicious inch of him.
Jamie held his breath. Even though she was a strong lass, Sinead was a small woman and virgin or no he did not want to hurt her, but as he felt her lengthening naturally, he filled her. He looked down into her lovely aqua eyes that had become like the color of the frozen loch beneath the snow and he felt himself drowning in their depths. His heart welled almost painfully in his chest and he realized it was he who had fallen in love with her. As he felt her beautiful body taking him, Jamie knew he had spoken the truth that he could never want another woman again. He whispered things to her; things she did not really comprehend because he had slipped into his native tongue but Sinead realized that the words he spoke, she did not need to translate because regardless of the language, it was the way it had been said that she felt surely she could understand. Sweet nothings whispered in any vernacular were easy to find the meaning of. As she felt him moving slowly she encouraged him and moaned, “Yes, deeper…faster….”
Jamie was nothing if he was not a gentleman and far be it from him to deny this sensual woman her request. Sinead tugged him down and she kissed him; letting her tongue mimic the motion of their bodies. He felt her legs clasp around him and he lost himself inside her while he kissed her and loved her. Sinead realized that it had never been this good and she probably would never feel like this with anyone else ever again. Jamie was it for her, as well. That realization brought a deep shuddering and rapid orgasm that overtook her so quickly; she had not even realized it was going to happen. It seemed to surprise Jamie, too but he held her and watched her as she came in his arms. Her tight wet heat splashed over him and he felt each wave of her ecstasy ripple around him. He whispered more tender words to her and just when he thought her climax had ended, she rolled with him, landing him on his back and her astride. She smiled down at him, and she said through whispered moans, “Oh, I hope you don’t mind…I sometimes like it this way.”
He laughed, despite his deep arousal and he said, “Why would I mind, beautiful one? Uhh, love, it feels perfect.”
At his encouragement, Sinead then put her worries aside. Jamie was allowing her to be herself and to experience passion in her own way. She had thought he might find it a turn off for her to be sensually assertive, but it seemed he actually did not. Sinead instantly felt comfortable, knowing she could explore a deeper level of passion with this man and to not be shy or embarrassed. Didn’t lots of women wish for that? Here in this medieval world, where women were held in very different regard, Sinead found her sexual equal. Who would have ever believed such a thing?
In this position, she was able to control the depths of his thrusts and Jamie could barely contain his excitement. The exquisite pulsing around his manhood finally undid any resolve or restraint and as he felt his seed bursting within her, she came again. It had happened so quickly for both of them, that even Jamie was a little embarrassed. He had wanted it to last much longer but as Sinead climbed off of him and sank into his arms, she said, “Wooh, that was a doozy. Can we do it again?”
Jamie had no idea what a doozy was, but he gathered that meant it had felt good for her. Hell, she had been so responsive and easy to please, he was beyond enchanted. He said, “Come kiss me. I will do my best to do it again very soon.”
“Oh, good. I’m sorry I came so fast…it’s just that….”
“Shh, my love. It was urgent for both of us. As ye’ said, this next time, we can go much slower.”
Sinead smiled and said, “Making love with you was wonderful. I’m afraid I will need it again and again.”
“And I shall be happy to oblige.”
He took her into his arms and he felt along the back of her sensual lace undergarment. There seemed to be hooks and he realized that was how it was fastened, so he slipped his thumb underneath it and slid the hooks free. Sinead giggled and said, “Amazing…you aren’t from my time and yet, you easily unhooked my bra like guys who grew up learning to do it.”
Jamie knew he shouldn’t spoil the afterglow of their lovemaking but now that she had mentioned it, he just had to know. Almost barely audibly, he asked, “Were there very many who knew how to?”
Sinead leaned on his chest with her chin perched on her arms and looked directly into his warm cocoa eyes. She said honestly, “No. There was only one.” She saw the relief instantly in his gaze.
“Truly? What happened? Why did he not wed ye’?”
“He didn’t love me, Jamie. That’s the truth of it.”
Tugging her against his warmth he kissed her mouth gently and as his fingers sifted through her long hair, he said, “He was a fool.”
Those words broke through all of Sinead’s past hurt and her defenses. She looked at him again and said, “What are you saying, Jamie?”
Twirling a lock of her hair around his finger, he said, “I asked ye’ before if ye’ fancied yerself in love with me. Ye’ avoided the question. I avoided the question myself fer’ ye’ see, Sinead, of a faraway time and place, lady of the clan MacDougal, I didna’ want to admit the answer, either.”
“And what answer would that be, Jamie?”
“That I fancy myself in love with ye’.”
“You-you love me? You are in love with me?”
Jamie shrugged and with a half smirk he said, “So it would seem.”
“Oh, Jamie. I don’t know what to say.”
Jamie glanced away and he murmured, “Ye’ dunna’ have to say anything. I understand that ye’ dunna’ love me. I prepared mys
elf for it.”
“You stupid, stupid man.”
Jamie felt all the remnants of desire leave him at her words. She was not only rejecting him, but she thought him to be stupid in the process.
He started to roll away from her and he swung his legs over the side of the bed.
“I should go,” he said, feeling like a fool. She had just wanted to have a good tumble with him and here he was professing his love for her like a besotted boy. He was stupid! Stupid and a fool!
He felt her hand on his upper arm and the warmth of her breasts against his back. He could feel the beat of her heart as she pressed herself against him. She kissed the back of his neck and she said, “I don’t want you to go, Jamie. Don’t you get it? I am in love with you. I knew it almost right away, but I sure could not admit it.”
“But ye’ just said I was stu….”
“Yes, you are stupid. You are stupid for not knowing it. I know you can’t understand, but I do not throw myself in bed with every man I meet. Jamie, I have been falling for you a little more with each passing day. I was the one who felt stupid. I felt like I was making a big mistake falling in love with a man I could never be with…a man I could never have…a man who could never return those feelings.” He turned back to face her; the momentary hurt evaporating at her words.
“But, ye’ are with me and ye’ do have me. And most of all, I fully intend to love ye’ with all my heart. The man who did not love ye’ enough to marry ye’ was truly the stupid one.”
Holding her in his arms, Jamie took her hand to his lips and he said, “I’m not that stupid, love.”
“You mean-you want to….”
“Marry ye’? Yes, if ye’ will have me.”
Tears welled in Sinead’s eyes. Thoughts of home vanished. She was home, with this man; this unlikely mate of her soul, who had called to her through the eras and she had responded. “I’ll have you, Jamie MacCollum. I will marry you.”