by Lois Greiman
She kissed him. Heat suffused him, rattling his wits, and he pulled back quickly, lest he lose his nerve.
“Bel,” he said. “I am untried.”
Her mouth opened, but no words came, and her hps remained parted for a moment. “What’s that?”
He winced as he drew her hand into his. “The truth is this, lass,” he said and stroked her wrist. “Never have I bedded a woman.”
Some sound escaped her throat. He wasn’t certain what it was, exactly.
“But the tales of…” she began.
He shrugged. “Just tales, I fear. I have always admired women—many woman—and they seem to be… rather fond of me, but there was never one who…” He lost all words for an instant. “Who I wished to live out me days with.”
“You’re a virgin!”
” ‘Tis not as bad as all that,” he said, taken aback. “I realize the groom is expected to have a bit of experience. But I truly doubt if I am incapable of learning the—”
She wrapped her fingers in his doublet and kissed him again. Desire roared through him. With a groan, he pressed her back upon the pillows.
Her fingers were busy on his buttons, and in a moment his doublet lay open. He moaned at the feel of her hand against his chest then gently suckled her bottom lip. She trembled, and in an instant his brooch was undone from his tartan.
He kissed her throat, her shoulder, the tiny v where her pulse beat like thunder.
She groaned, but her hands had already slipped to his belt.
Slowly, reverently, he slid his palm down her shoulder, scooping the gown away from her pearlescent flesh and kissing every satiny inch revealed. Dear heavens, she was perfect. He slipped one finger along the edge of her gown then followed the ribbon down, down, over her nipple.
It was that which most fascinated him. That nipple, just below the fabric. So close. He leaned in and gently kissed it.
She gasped as her hands tightened against his belt.
“Dammit, MacGowan.” She yanked at his buckle. “Are you going to help me with this thing, or am I going to have to find someone with more experience?”
He growled, lowered his hands to his belt, and ripped it away.
His plaid was gone in a second. Her hands felt hot and nervous as they grasped his tunic. Their gazes met as she pulled it up, skimming the fabric along his abdomen, up his chest, over his head. And then he was naked.
He leaned toward her, aching with need, but she pressed a hand to his chest and pushed him back as she ran her gaze down his hard muscled form.
“What do you want now, Bel?” he asked, his voice deep and low.
“Me?” She moved her gaze slowly up his rippled torso. “I want what all women want,” she whispered. “I want Mour.”
Epilogue
Christmas day came again to the high castle. Children laughed, parents feasted, and young men battled and wooed. But finally the day came to an end.
Silence fell over Evermyst. The hounds made circles in the rushes on the floor of the great hall, then settled down to rest. In the stables, the horses snorted, blowing frosty air into the night and then resting their hind legs as they nodded over their hay. High above the crashing surf, in the rooms below die turrets, the MacGowan rogues cuddled with their brides. And in the nursery where Mary sucked her thumb and Claude slept without a care, Senga hummed a soundless tune.
Aye, she had done well. She had brought Anora together with her bonny laird, and she had led sweet Gilmour down the dark passage to the secret chamber she herself had cherished long ago. Then young Isobel had met him there. Stubborn, she was, as stubborn as her mother, but in the end it had all worked out for the best. For they were happy. Aye, they were content.
There was only one left now for her to help. Just one, Senga thought, and smiled as she planned.
Discover Lois Greiman
“Dangerously funny stuff.”
—Janet Evanovich
European Historical Romance
Highland Wolf
Highland Flame
Highland Jewel
Highland Heroes Box Set
Highland Hawk
The Fraser Bride
The MacGowan Betrothal
The Warrior Bride
Highland Enchantment
Highland Scoundrel
The Lady & the Knight
Women’s Fiction:
Finally Home
Home Fires
American Historical Romance:
Surrender My Heart
The Gambler
My Desperado
Contemporary Romantic Comedy:
Counterfeit Cowgirl
His Bodyguard
From Caviar to Chaos
Paranormal Romance:
Charming the Devil
Seduced By Your Spell
Under Your Spell
Bewitching the Highlander
Tempting the Wolf
Taming the Barbarian
Contemporary Mystery:
Not One Clue
One Hot Mess
Unmanned
Unscrewed
Unplugged
Unzipped
Uncorked
Praise for Lois Greiman
“Simple sexy sport may be just what the doctor ordered.” -Publishers Weekly
“Lois Greiman is a modern day Dorothy Sayers. Witty as hell, yet talented enough to write like an angel with a broken wing.” -Kinky Friedman, author of Ten Little New Yorkers
“What a marvelous book! A delightful romp, a laugh on every page.” -MaryJanice Davidson, NYT bestselling author of the Undead series.
“Amazingly good.” (Top Pick!) -Romantic Times
“L.A. psychologist, Chrissy McMullen is back to prove that boobs, brass, and brains make for one heck of a good time…laugh out loud funny…sassy…clever.” -Mystery Scene
“Excellent!” -Library Journal
“Sexy, sassy, suspenseful, sensational!! Lois Greiman delivers with incomparable style.” -Bestselling author of TO THE EDGE, Cindy Gerard
“Move over Stephanie Plum and Bubbles Yablonsky to make way for Christina McMullen, the newest blue collar sexy professional woman who finds herself in hair raising predicaments that almost get her murdered. The chemistry between the psychologist and the police lieutenant is so hot that readers will see sparks fly off the pages. Lois Greiman, who has written over fifteen delightful romance books, appears to have a great career as a mystery writer also.” -thebestreviews.com
“Ms. Greiman makes a giant leap from historical fiction to this sexy and funny mystery. Bravo! Well done!” -Rendevous
“A fun mystery that will keep you interested and rooting for the characters until the last page is turned.” -Fresh Fiction
“Fast and fun with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Enjoy the ride!” -Suzanne Enoch, USA Today bestselling author of Flirting with Danger
“Lucy Ricardo meets Dr. Frasier Crane in Lois Greiman’s humorous, suspenseful series. The result is a highly successful tongue-in-cheek, comical suspense guaranteed to entice and entertain.” -Book Loons
About the Author
Born on a North Dakota cattle ranch, Lois Greiman graduated from a high school class of sixty students before moving to Minnesota where she professionally trained and showed Arabian Horses for several years. Since that time she’s been a high fashion model, a fitness instructor, and a veterinary assistant. But an incurable case of writing fever put a stop to all those occupations.
Since selling her first book to Avon in 1992, she has sold 22 romance novels, 5 mysteries and the first in her Witches of Mayfair series.
While caring for three children, fifteen horses, and a menagerie of pets on her small farm in Minnesota, Ms. Greiman writes full time, producing two or three novels a year and garnering much praise from readers and reviewers alike.
Her Highland novels have received Affaire de Couer’s Critic’s Choice Award, Romantic Times K.I.S.S. Award, and have been nominated for Romance Writer
’s of America’s prestigious Rita. Her titles have appeared on Barnes & Nobles’ bestselling romance list and won her the Midwest Fiction Writer’s Rising Star Award.
To learn more about Lois Greiman and her award-winning novels, please visit Lois Greiman’s website.