by Jane Charles
Her brow wrinkled with concern. Did she not believe him?
“But ye danced with others and walked with Alana.”
Heat infused his cheeks. “Because ye wouldna court me.” Did he admit he hoped to make her jealous and that it had worked? Nay, it might ruin what they were enjoying now. “I thought ye had changed yer mind and no longer wanted me.”
“Nay. For a moment, perhaps, when I was angry, but that was stubbornness and not my heart.”
Her scratching out his name in anger was no worse than what he’d done to get her attention. “So ye are no’ interested in Gideon Trent?”
With that Davina frowned. “Only if ye were to take up with Alana Lennox, and only because he lives in Cornwall so that I wouldna have to see the two of ye together.”
Ian set the bouquet aside and reached out to pull Davina onto his lap. “Alana is fine enough, but she is not ye, Davina.”
“She’d let ye manage her,” Davina said dishearteningly.
“No man truly wants a lass he can manage,” he admitted. The idea sounded dreadfully dull. “I only wish for yer uncle to think I can.”
Her brown eyes looked up into his. “Truly.”
“Truly, lass.” And with that, he kissed her in the way he’d longed to do since he’d left her to her golf. In the way that had plagued him since he’d first arrived at the wedding and saw her once again gowned in fine, lavender silk and her dark curls tied up in white ribbons.
Davina wound her arms around his neck as he lay her back among the bluebells. She was his, now and forever, and he intended to claim as much as she would allow.
Chapter 33
Davina couldn’t keep the smile from her lips, even though Ian was kissing her. The relief was so great that he’d come to her, accepted her bouquet and said he loved her. This was all she’d ever wanted and so much better than holding onto pride and being stubborn.
“Ye’re doin’ it again,” he grumbled against her lips and then pulled away.
“Doin’ what?”
“Smilin’ in a way that keeps me from thoroughly kissin’ ye.”
“But ye make me happy.” She grinned even wider.
“Lass, how am I to seduce ye if ye are grinnin’ at me?”
At his words Davina blinked. “Ye’re here to seduce me?”
“Aye, if ye will let me.”
“Why?”
“Because I want ye. Why else would I wish to seduce ye?”
“Ye’re a rake,” she pointed out. “How do I ken that once ye have yer way with me, ye willna chase down another lass?”
Ian narrowed his eyes on her. “Ye willna be makin’ me prove myself again, lass.”
With that he kissed the side of her neck and heat scorched through her veins as her skin prickled in anticipation.
“Ye will be true to me?”
“Ye and only ye.” His hand slid up her midriff and closed around one breast. Heat pooled in her nether regions.
“But, I will seduce ye, here and now.”
“I shoudna let ye take such liberties with my person.” The intended forcefulness of her objection was lost in her breathless tones.
“Do ye no’ understand what seducin’ is?”
With that he pulled her gently forward, and it was then that she realized her dress had become loose. He’d been unfastening the back of her gown while he kissed and caressed her. “Ian Grant, ye are wicked indeed.”
“Aye, and I’m hopin’ ye will have no objections,” he said as he pushed the sleeves of her gown down, exposing her breasts. “Before we leave this field, ye will be mine in every way, lass.” His eyes bore into hers. “Ye ken what I am sayin’?”
Her entire body heated as her breasts grew heavy and her nipples tightened. Ian leaned forward, molded one in his hand then lowered his mouth to the other. Davina sucked in a breath as the pleasure shot to her very core. This was wicked indeed and she wanted nothing more than to enjoy everything he had to offer. “Ye are set to ruin me?” She asked between breaths.
“Aye.”
She reached to the side of her, patting the ground until she found the bouquet and grabbed it. “But I have one question.”
Ian lifted his head, though his hand didn’t leave her breast. “Yes, lass.”
“Ye willna leave me after?”
Love filled his green eyes. “Never, lass. I wouldna’ be seducin’ ye if I was to ruin and leave ye. I love ye,” he insisted earnestly.
Davina shoved the bouquet between them. “Will ye marry me?”
“As soon as yer uncle gives me permission.”
Uncle Aiden had become unpredictable of late. “What if he doesna?”
“I’ll marry ye anyway.” At that, she felt her skirt shift, then his palm rest on her thigh. Goodness, he really did wish to seduce her. “But, if ye keep talkin’ I’ll not get to the seducin’.”
“Why is it so important to ye?”
“So yer uncle canna tell me no.”
His hand slid further up, caressing and heating her thigh on its path to her more private areas that now throbbed and ached in a way she’d never experienced or even imagined as Ian returned his lips to her breast. Waves of pleasure rushed through her body, her breathing grew heavy and she dropped the bouquet so that she could hold Ian close, and then he stopped and looked up at her.
“This isna right.”
Her brown eyes, darkened with passion widened as she looked at him. “What do ye mean?”
“I mean what I said, this isna right.” And, it wasn’t. He was seducing Davina here and now not only because he wanted her, and had been wanting her, and because he loved her, but also so Aiden could not reject him.
“It feels very right to me.” Davina tried to pull him back to her breast.
Ian resisted. “Nay, I shouldna seduce ye to take the decision away from Aiden. I shoudna make love to ye until we are wed and when I do, it should be in a proper bed.”
Davina frowned. “But what if I doona care for those things?”
“Ye should, lass.”
“All I care is that ye love me and that we will be married.” She looked around “And, we are in my favorite place in all of Scotland.”
“Ye are a temptin’ lass,” he ground out.
“Not temptin’ enough if ye wish to stop kissin’ and touchin’ me.”
Ian narrowed his eyes. “Are ye challengin’ me, Davina?”
The corner of her lips quirked. “That’s exactly what I am doin’, Ian Grant. If ye doona make love to me now, I will not believe ye want me.”
“Davina, ye ken there are ways to ken when a man wants ye. It is impossible to hide.”
She blinked at him and frowned.
Aye, she was an innocent, of that he was confident, but did she have any idea of what happened between a man and a woman? There were animals all over Annagburn, she had talked to her cat about getting a certain reputation, was she not aware of how the cat became in the family way?
He’d pressed himself against her when she was golfing, when he was harder than he’d ever been. Had she not noticed?
“Davina, ye do ken what happens when a man makes love to a lass?”
“Aye, I believe so.” Then she frowned again. “Do I need to roll over and get on my knees?”
Ian bit back laughter. “Only if ye wish, but we arena cats, lass, and there are many ways in which to enjoy each other.”
Her arms rose and pulled Ian close. “Then show me.”
“What about the celebration? Will ye not be missed?” And, why hadn’t he worried about that before now? Alistair knew he’d come looking for Davina and if she didn’t return in a reasonable time, he might come looking for him. As much as he wished to be with Davina this very moment, he was not looking forward to Alistair’s fists anytime soon.
“Doona worry.” With that she kissed him, and all control Ian had tried to hold onto disappeared. “I’ll claim that I trapped ye and dinna give ye a choice.”
As if anyone would believe her,
but Ian no longer cared. He wanted to be trapped and with those thoughts in mind, he set his mind to seducing Davina and brining her pleasure she never dreamed was possible.
Her perfect coral nipples begged to be kissed and he once again pulled them into his mouth, sucking and teasing each nipple with his tongue as he slipped his hand to the apex of her thighs. Her curls tickled his knuckles as he parted her. Already she was damp, ready, but he’d not rush this. Especially as this was her first time. Parting the folds he found her nub and brushed his thumb across it. Her moan of pleasure encouraged him and he grew painfully hard in anticipation of what was to come.
As he increased the tempo, Ian slid first one finger, then another, inside her tight, hot channel, then stretched them. Her breath hitched and became labored, mixed with her moans of pleasure. He’d dreamed of having Davina in this state and it was far better than he’d ever imagined, except in his mind, she was completely unclothed, which was not possible given where they were. But once they were married, he’d have the pleasure of looking upon her beauty without a shift or skirt that was hiding all that he wished to see.
As she swelled beneath his thumb, Ian knew she was close and brought her to the brink and then over it. She arched and cried out his name, stiffening beneath him before she once again lay back upon the now crushed bluebells, her panting causing her breasts to rise and fall as if she’d just run a race. Her flushed face was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.
Davina blinked her eyes open and looked at him in wonder. “Goodness.”
“Aye.”
“There is more?”
“Aye.”
“Show me.”
“Are ye certain?”
“Now, more than ever.”
Ian took her hand and pressed it against his hard member so that she could feel him and understand. “Are ye certain?” he asked once again.
“That is what goes in me?” Her eyes widened as she pressed her palm against him and curled her fingers around what she could with his trousers between them.
“Aye.”
“Will it fit?”
At those words, Ian was certain he swelled further. “Aye, but the first is…”
“I ken, uncomfortable.” She frowned. “At least, that is what I’ve overheard.”
He liked to know whose conversation she’d been listening to, but now was not the time to find out.
“Which is why I asked if ye were certain. Ye canna go back once it is done.”
Davina placed a hand against his cheek. “Please. Be mine.”
Ian needed no further encouragement and freed himself from his trousers and settled between her open thighs. “I do love ye Davina, and we will marry before the week is out.” With that, he pressed toward her opening.
Chapter 34
She should be afraid, but she wasn’t. This is what she wanted. More so since Ian had sent her to the most pleasurable heights anyone dared to imagine.
His hands cupped her bum as he lifted her. His large member pressed against the opening where his fingers had been earlier. He moved so slowly, but perhaps it was for the best since he was stretching her far more than he had earlier.
“Ye are so tight, lass.”
“Is that bad?”
“Nay, but I fear harmin’ ye.”
“Ye willna,” she assured him, though she wasn’t entirely certain. Not that it mattered because she wanted Ian more than she feared pain.
Bending her knees, she planted her feet and lifted her hips, because it seemed the proper way to go about this. Her movement pulled him deeper and Ian groaned. It was a good groan, she assumed, or at least hoped.
He let go of her bum and placed his hands on either side of her, bent forward and gave her the most tender kiss, then he thrust forward.
She stiffened from the sudden pain, and he held still. Though she ached, the pain was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
“Are ye alright, Davina?”
“Aye.”
‘Are ye certain?” He was so concerned it nearly melted her heart.
“I said aye,” she assured him and tilted her hips. Surely, that wasn’t all.
And it wasn’t a moment later he pulled back and then filled her again, over and over as she matched his rhythm. The familiar ache that had led to such pleasure before built once again, but it came from deep inside and from a different place, and just as he surged forward, arching, everything inside her splintered, her cry matching his moan.
Goodness!
Ian looked down at her, his green eyes filled with love, his breathing labored. “Ye are now mine, Davina. Forever and always.”
As much as he hated to get up, Ian knew that he must. They’d been gone for some time and someone was bound to come looking for them. The very last thing he wanted was to have the most pleasurable afternoon ruined by Alistair’s fist to his face.
After helping Davina stand, he fastened the back of her gown as she fluffed her skirts. He’d told her they’d be married by the end of the week, but even that was too far away. He wanted to be married now.
Davina picked up the bouquet from the ground and handed it to him.
“I doona need this, lass,” he assured her.
“Aye, but my uncle and brother need to see ye carryin’ them. How else are they goin’ to ken that ye’ve found a way to manage me?” With a grin she went up on her toes. “And if managin’ me means that we spend more time doin’ what we just did, I doona think I’d mind being managed at all.”
And with that, Jordan and Lachlan’s words echoed in his mind. Aye, if this was how Davina managed him, he’d willingly allow her to do so as well.
Taking her hand in his, Ian led Davina away from the bluebell clearing, out of the woods, across the field and back to the lawn where guests still mingled, ate and danced. Alistair noticed them at first, then he touched Aiden’s shoulder and pointed toward them.
Aiden seemed to study them and then frowned. How the blazes could he tell what they’d been about? Or, perhaps he was just assuming?
The two stepped forward and greeted them before they were near any of the guests.
“Ye’ve accepted Davina’s suit?” Aiden demanded.
“Aye.”
“Did ye ask Ian to court ye, lass?”
“Aye.”
He nodded then looked them up and down. “What else might ye have been doin’?”
Bloody hell. Somehow Aiden knew but Ian couldn’t imagine how. He looked at Davina but other than her hair being down, which was easily explained by the ribbon around the flowers, she was put to rights.
“Why is yer dress wrinkled, Davina?”
“I was kneeling to pick the flowers,” she answered indignantly.
Aiden glanced at the bouquet. “Yer ribbon?”
“Aye.”
Then he studied Ian. “And ye, were ye helpin’ Davina pick bluebells?”
Why the blazes would he ask that?
“Because, Ian, that had better be the response to explain why the knees of yer britches are dirty.”
In an instant his face heated and Ian cast a quick glance at Alistair, praying his hands weren’t fisted and ready to pummel him. Instead, his future brother-in-law laughed.
“As I doona think Ian wants to answer the question, and as we ken how he feels about lyin’, perhaps a rushed courtship is in order,” Alistair finally said.
“Rushed?” Davina asked, almost panicked.
Ian’s heart skipped. Surely she didn’t intend to put off their marriage. If so, he’d haul her lovely arse back down to the bluebell field.
“How long?”
“Today!” Aiden announced and turned to Ian. “Go fetch the vicar.”
“But it is yer day,” she cried.
“Aye, but all of our friends and family are already here.”
“It’s Rose’s day too.”
“I’ll ask her, but since it took ye this long to agree to courtin’, I willna wait a year for ye to decide when ye will be wedded.”<
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With that, he stormed away.
“I’ll gather the families,” Alistair grinned and headed off in the direction of the distillery.
“I thought ye wanted to marry?” Ian asked once they were left alone.
“Aye, I do, but I thought to plan somethin’ nice.”
“I told ye by the week’s end.”
“Aye, and I could have seen it done.”
“So, ye arena puttin’ me off again?” He stared into her dark eyes.
Color came to her cheeks as she slowly smiled. “On second thought, a ceremony is no’ so important if I get to sleep in yer arms tonight.”
Just the thought of having Davina, naked in his bed, caused his cock to stir to life again. “We will do much more than sleep, lass.”
“Are ye goin’ to teach me about yer wicked ways?” Her eyes sparkled with delight.
“I’ll need far more than a night to teach ye everythin’.”
Chapter 35
What more could there be? What Davina experienced among the bluebells certainly felt wicked, and delicious and wonderful.
“Is it true?” Rose asked as she came forward. Her blue eyes were bright with happiness.
“Aye.” Why was she blushing all of a sudden?
Rose pulled her into an embrace. “Then let’s see you married right away. It’s what Aiden wishes.”
“Are ye certain?” Davina stared into Rose’s eyes. As much as she didn’t want to wait any longer to be Ian’s bride, she did not wish to take away from Rose’s day.
“Darling, you have crushed bluebells on your back.”
Davina’s eyes widened. “I do?” Then she turned to Ian. “Why dinna ye tell me?”
His cheeks were also coloring. “I wasna lookin’.”
“Let’s get you upstairs and changed into an appropriate gown,” Rose insisted. “Ian, get your trousers cleaned up, or borrow from one of the MacGregor men, and we’ll get you two before the vicar within the hour.”
“It’s about time,” Alistair announced. “I’ll be takin’ Ian to see that he’s put to rights. Donovan will send Sheena and Arabella up.”