by D. K. Combs
“Lass, I want—I want this to be gentle for ye’,” he grunted, pumping his length inside of her. She wrapped her legs around his waist, locking him to her.
“Nay,” she whimpered, arching under him. The action brought him even deeper. She felt her body begin to heat, flaming to an even higher flame than before. “Hard. Oh, Kane—so good.”
A devilish smile curled his lips, and then it was gone. He pulled out of her arms, their bodies still connected, and grabbed her by the knees.
“What are you—“ She found her calves once again on his chest, and then he was hauling her up by her ass. Then he pushed forward, slowly, his hand reaching between them. He began to rub her clit, softly plucking at it, and she gasp, slamming her hands into the bed. “Again. Kane, again.”
“Anything for my woman,” he growled against her calf. He bit down, and her body tensed. The pleasure began to singe her from the inside out. Her breath stilled, the world falling away. He continued to thrust his hips against her, sending his cock into her tightness over and over again, until she was screaming his name, grabbing for his shoulders.
He took her hand, connecting them in an even deeper way, and then it all ended when she felt as if their souls had bonded together in the midst of their passion. A rush of ecstasy swept through her, and Saeran wept from the sheer intensity of her orgasm, and even then, he didn’t stop pounding into her body. He kept going, until she was tumbling into yet another orgasm. This time, he joined her.
Kane swore and jerked as his cock swelled inside of her, and then he was roaring. Hot jets of liquid filled her, body pumping endlessly against her convulsing core. He set her legs down onto the bed and fell forward, then he dragged her against his chest. Their hearts raced together, and Saeran thought she had died and gone to heaven.
It was more intense than the first one. It was blinding, glorious. It had brought them together on a level she had never felt—and she never wanted it to end. Saeran pressed her face against his neck, breathing a sigh of content as she gradually came down from the europhic sensations still coursing in her body.
Kane drew her closer to his body. When he slid out of her, she had to fight to keep back a sound of disappointment. His hands began to trail down her back, making her shiver.
“Are ye’ cold, my love?” he asked quietly. He reached for a nearby plaid before she could object and slid it around her. It smelled like him—masculine, musky. Perfect. She snuggled into the cloth and kissed his neck, sighing again.
Perfect.
Everything was perfect.
Saeran had never felt more relaxed and safe in her life. The cat was out of the bag with Blaine, and she knew that her sister knew what Saeran had done with Kane. She should feel guilt, but she didn’t. She felt content, relaxed, and…love. She felt love for the man who was holding her so tenderly against his chest. With a patience she wouldn’t have expected from her, he had walked her through her fears and given her the best experience of her life.
Her eyes closed, sleep starting to take over. Aye, sleep. Sleep was what she needed.
“Alice.” She was so close to falling into the darkness that she almost didn’t realize he hadn’t said her name. “Alice, why did ye’ no tell me you were a virgin?”
If his words hadn’t gotten her attention before, they sure did now. Her eyes popped open and she stared at him, confused.
“I…Why wouldn’t I be a virgin, Kane? I tried to tell you…”
He stared at her, realization dawning in his eyes. He cursed. Her breath was cut off when he crushed her against his chest, a ragged apology breaking through his lips. It was probably the first he had ever uttered. Saeran frowned against his chest, confused.
Why wouldn’t she be a virgin, really? Had he thought her some whore?
She asked him as much. He stiffened against her.
“I was foolish,” he bit out, kissing her temple. He sounded furious, yet the tenderness of his embrace told her something else. “I was so damn foolish—I should have known she would lie about it. Ye’ve always seemed so pure, Alice. So innocent. Precious.” He buried his face in her hair, but she couldn’t register it.
“What…what are you talking about?”
Hadn’t he figured out her secret? Hadn’t Blaine told him that Alice was actually Saeran? What he was saying now didn’t make sense. Blaine had revealed her secret to him, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t a virgin. Also, if he knew her real name, why did he continue to call her Alice?
He shook his head, pressing an open-mouth kiss against her neck. She shivered. When he stayed silent, she thought he wouldn’t tell her at all.
“Kane,” she said quietly, feeling like her heart had dropped to her stomach. “Kane, what did you hear about me?”
“I donna want to trouble ye’ with it, love. Just rest. I should no’ have brought it up anyway.” He pressed a chaste kiss to her lips, then settled into the bed. As they laid in the silence, her mind running wild with her thoughts, she began to notice how tense he was, how…distanced he was.
“What’s wrong?” she asked into the darkness.
“Nothing. Sleep.” His voice was rougher, pained.
She pushed herself into a sitting position, leaning over him. “Tell me what’s wrong,” she insisted, gently touching his jaw. This was not how she had wanted the aftermath of their love making to be. Though she had no clue what couples did with themselves after hours of passion, she knew that the sadness in the air wasn’t right.
“I canna believe I listened to her,” he said quietly.
“Listened to who?”
“Blaine.” The word came out as a disgusted sneer. In the dim, moon lit room, she saw his face twist with the force of his hate for her sister. She…understood completely. Saeran dropped her eyes to his neck, unable to look him in the face.
He didn’t know who she was.
He had no clue that she was the other sister, the one he could have proposed to if she had revealed herself to him sooner.
“She told me she saw ye’ and Saeran…doing unmentionable things. In the hallway. That he stole yer virginity. I went—lass, I am so sorry,” he said thickly. He wrapped his arms around her once again, crushing her against his chest. His heart was racing. “I’m so, so sorry that I did no’ believe ye’. I hurt ye’ because o’ that, and I—I never wanted to hurt ye’ for the world. I felt so betrayed and it turned out…”
Saeran stared up at him, utterly shocked. He had thought she had lost her virginity to herself? Granted, he didn’t know that Saeran and Alice were the same people, but it was enough to make her laugh. She hid her face against his neck as the laughter rolled through her. It was so ridiculous! Saeran had lost her virginity to herself. Oh, if Connor could hear this now.
“What are ye’ laughing at? Alice, I hurt ye’ because of my own ignorance.” He tilted her chin up towards him. His gaze softened at her continued laughter.
“I—I am sorry for laughing.” She sobered slightly. “But…Kane…you should not believe everything you hear!” Especially from Blaine. Why had she made up the tale instead of revealing Saeran’s lie? To hurt her? It had certainly worked. He had nearly kicked her out of the castle because of Blaine’s never ending lies. Anger began to build within her. Blaine was no sister of hers. All of her lies, her deceit, everything she had said and done to Saeran over the years, was beginning to build on Saeran’s shoulders like a boulder.
“I ken,” he said quietly, shamed. “I was blinded by jealousy and betrayal and did not stop to think that mayhap Blaine was speaking out of her own jealousy.”
Saeran raised a brow. Blaine? Jealous? What was there to be jealous of if she had everything she wanted? Even if she didn’t have something, she eventually achieved it.
“Alice,” he said deeply, seriously, gazing into her eyes. “I would have given ye’ a gentle first time, had I known. I…I donna know how ye’ll forgive me for hurting ye’ as I did, and ruining ye’ like—“ He stopped abruptly, staring down at her with grow
ing horror.
“Ye’…I did no’ pull out of ye’.”
She frowned at him, even though a blush came over her cheeks.
“Is that not the point?” she asked, wringing her hands together. Had she done something wrong? The flush in her cheeks washed away, making her pale. Why was love making so complicated? Shouldn’t it be as simple as joining together and then resting? She felt the lull of sleep like a heavy blanket, yet her concern was keeping her awake.
“What if ye’ were with child? Alice, I’ve ruined ye’,” he groaned.
Realization dawned. Saeran didn’t want to tell him her secret, the one that had caused her to lie to everyone in the first place, but his torment was clear. Her heart felt like lead. There were so many things between them that could potentially drive them a part—she didn’t want this to be added to the list.
With a tight throat, she said, “I cannot have children, so it is no concern.”
His head snapped to the side, his gaze as sharp as a dirk. “Ye’ canno have children?”
She shook her head. “I…I had the fever when I was young. It nearly took my life from me.” Thick arms crushed her against him, and she let the boiling emotions over flow. Tears stung her eyes and burned her cheeks as he cradled her. Without explaining the rest of the story, he understood—and that meant the world to her.
Blaine had never understood her. She had never been able to confide in her, talk to her about random things, or express the pain she had felt growing up. Kane has been the only one to listen and comfort her, and it made her fall even harder for him.
“It’s why—it’s why I let this happen…between us. I do not want to trap you in anyway,” she said earnestly, meeting his eyes through a watery gaze. He swiped his thumb over her cheeks, clearing away the soft trail of tears. “I have never been with another, but that…that does not mean I will bind you to me.”
“I would no’ mind it if ye’ did, lass,” he said quietly. “Because ye’ already have.”
The meaning behind his words was not lost on her.
Her eyes widened. “But Blaine…”
Maybe there was a chance that she could reveal herself to him. If he accepted her with her flaws, there was a chance. Hope filled her, mingling with the newfound love she held for this man.
“Is leaving the second I return from the MacLeods,” he growled. His eyes went dark with stark fury. “I will no’ be married to a liar. I detest them more than anything. Liars are too weak to face the thing they hide from, and I’ll no’ be taking a wife like that. I only misdirected her to protect my clan. Call me a hypocrite, but it is needed for their safety. Ye’ve seen the way she treats the servants here, or anyone who is not a lady as she is. There is a difference between a conniving liar, and a liar doing so for the sake of his people. I’ll never be married to a woman like that.”
The hope crashed and burned. Her throat seized, but she nodded, the only consent she could give to hearing him. There had been a chance that they could be together, but the moment Blaine had concocted her plan, it died. Of course it had.
He settled into the bed, tugging her flush against him. He did that quite a lot, as if he couldn’t bring her close enough.
“But yer the perfect woman,” he said into the air. It sounded like he wasn’t talking to her, but to himself. “Aye, perfect. Beautiful, pure. Verra strong.”
“You’ve already proposed to Blaine,” she said, feeling sick. His hand stroking her back didn’t alleviate her sickness. If anything, it made it worse.
“It does no’ matter, love. Everyone is aware that when I return, she will be leaving.”
Saeran frowned at him. “Why would you propose, just to send her away?”
He chuckled, kissing her temple. “Ye’ canna expect me to actually live with a dragon like that, can ye’? Nay, by the time I return, the messenger would have returned and her dowry will be mine. Then I’m breaking the engagement.”
“What?”
Kane scowled at her. “Donna shout so, lass.”
“What?” she repeated, utterly horrified. “Kane! Dowries do not work like that—you have to actually marry the woman to obtain it—wait. You only wanted her for her dowry?” If she had still been the blind little girl who adored her viperous sister, she would have been offended beyond belief. However, all she felt was a tingle of alarm and confusion. “What could she have in her dowry that you do not already have? You’re one of the strongest lairds in the Highlands.”
“The king and I signed a contract that said as long as I’m betrothed to Blaine, I’ll get the dowry. It said nothing about going through with the marriage.”
“But it’s intended that way—“
“Ah, but it is not written that way, love.”
“He’s the king. Even if it is not written as such, he’ll have his way.”
Kane chuckled again. The sound was deep and sensual, making her shiver. Why did he affect her at such times? This was a pressing matter, and he was laughing at her.
“Lass. By the time I return, I will already have the dowry. There’s no more to it than that.”
“What is so important in the dowry that you have to trick the king? That’s treason, Kane. You could become in serious trouble.”
“No’ if Blaine is the one that breaks the engagement,” he said slyly, tapping her on the nose.
“I do not know why she would do that, but tell me why the dowry is important to you?” Had Saeran gotten an important dowry as well? The king had made no mention about dowries to her, or Blaine. At least, that’s what she got from the meeting they had held together.
“Amnesty for my family.”
“But…pardon?”
“The king added amnesty for my mother and brother if I proposed to Blaine. By the time I return from battle, they will be here, waiting for me.”
“I’ve never known the king to be so…forgiving.”
Kane nodded. “Aye. I’m willing to bet he gave Blaine a dowry like that so I would choose her over the other sister—who actually was a boy. Saeran.”
“Why do you say that? Surely Blaine is not all that bad,” she said, though she almost gagged at the words.
“She’s a dragon! Who on earth would want to marry her, let alone live with her? Love, yer as blind as Saeran is when it comes to his sister.”
She stiffened. “What is that supposed to mean—“
The door burst open before she could finish her sentence.
THT | 29
“Kane, I—“
Kane pulled the covers over Saeran’s head under the plaid completely, shielding her from the woman that had barged in on them.
Blaine.
Of course. She always came around at the worst times. Despite the flowing hatred she felt for Blaine in that moment, she didn’t want to reveal herself to her. It would only cause more trouble—and Blaine might be angry enough to tell Kane who “Alice” really is.
I will no’ be married to a liar. I detest them more than anything. His words from earlier came back to her like a slap. She held her breath, praying that Blaine hadn’t noticed her in the darkness.
“Kane,” her sister said demurely. “That isn’t anyway to treat your future wife. I simply wanted to come show you my appreciation for your proposal.”
Before, Saeran never would have caught onto the innuendo. Now, however, she did—and she wanted to rip Blaine’s hair out. If she hadn’t been submerged in darkness, she knew she would be seeing red.
As if Kane knew of her angry, he slid a hand under the plaid, finding her fingers in the darkness. It helped to alleviate the anger, but minimally. She still wanted to show Blaine the skills she’d learned from Brodrick.
“Ye’ can show yer appreciation by leaving.” He shifted in the bed, a knee raising. Through her anger, a flash of wickedness struck. Keeping their hands together, she used her free hand, feeling along his ribs.
He stiffened.
“Really, my lord. I want you to approve of me…let me show you sh
ow how thankful I am of you.”
Saeran focused on tormenting him more than the anger. The quick beat of his heart, which she could clearly feel and hear with her head on his abs, fueled her determination to ignore her sister. By all accounts, Saeran had won a battle that Blaine would never win—and even though Blaine didn’t know it, Saeran was going to enjoy her victory. Her hand slid lower, to his hips.
A sharp warning pat to her bottom made it nearly impossible to hold back her laughter, but she refused to foil her own plan.
The sooner she drove Kane crazy, the sooner he would force Blaine out of his room. Any confrontations her sister had planned—and Saeran knew she had many—could be put off until after the battle, when Blaine was on her way out of the door.
Heavy footsteps sounded in the room. Blaine was coming closer to the room.
“Is there—is there someone else in here?”
Kane grunted. Her hand slid under him, to his butt. This was so improper of her. Never in her wildest dreams could she have seen herself doing this—with her sister in the same room. It was purely for professional purposes, though. When Kane began to crave her in earnest, Blaine would be forced to leave the room—leaving them to their business.
Aye, she thought, smiling wickedly. Leave them to their business. She slid down his body, mindful of the plaid revealing any of her pale skin, and gave his butt a light pinch. Lord, but he had a fantastic butt, even in the darkness.
“You are going to be married to me,” Blaine suddenly snapped. Saeran paused, eyes narrowing. Nay, she wasn’t. She didn’t say it though, and neither did Kane. In a way, his silence hurt, even though she knew he was going to break it off the second they returned. “Not anyone else. I swear, if there is another woman in here, I’ll—“
“Do nothing,” he growled. “Now get out. I have no need of ye’ in here.”
“Kane—“
“You will call on me as your lord. Now, get out,” he roared. The silence was deafening. Saeran stilled, shocked. When he raised his voice…it was terrifying. Like The Lion he was reputed to be, his voice carried the strength of a thousand men in one word. It felt as if her heart had stuttered—and she was struck by the unbelievable attraction she felt to him.