“Fine. I’ll just figure it out myself.” She rocked forward and hugged her knees as close to the horse’s sides as she could get them. “Giddy up, Geal.”
The mare flipped an ear.
Maybe bribery would work. Kenna lightly flipped the reins. “If you’ll go, I promise I’ll get you a carrot when we get back.”
Geal slowly swayed three steps forward, then stopped again.
Colum’s deep, rumbling laughter filled the air just as Rua deftly swooped close enough for him to reach out, scoop Kenna from the saddle, and plop her down in front of him. “Enough with the lesson. I hunger.” He leaned forward and kissed a searing trail along her neck as Rua headed them up the hillside.
Pulsing heat spurred her on as she twisted in the saddle and wrapped her arms around his neck. The current position might be a bit awkward, but she wasn’t about to miss the opportunity of returning the favor. She flicked her tongue along the salty sweetness of his neck, then slipped her fingers up into his hair, and nipped along his jawline.
“I’m kind of hungry myself,” she said, then underscored the statement by licking him.
He groaned and pulled her closer.
She happened to glance back over his shoulder, and there stood Geal, still waiting back at the clearing. Poor Geal. It was such a lovely day for an outing, but the docile mare stood rooted to the spot. “What about Geal. Will she be okay?”
His chuckle vibrated against her. “Yer sweet mare will be fine. One of the stable lads will see to her.”
“Good.” She returned to nibbling on his throat. What a lovely appetizer. Highlander alfresco.
“Lore, woman. I swear ye will be the death of me.” He halted Rua, tightened his arms around her, and covered her mouth with his.
She pulled back, maneuvering around until she faced him and straddled his lap. With her legs hugging his waist, she scooted up against his delightful hardness. A shudder stole through her as she rocked against him and drowned his rumbling groans with a kiss.
Burning desire. Insatiable need.She welcomed him deeper into the kiss, rubbing harder against his promising length as his emotional energy echoed her own. She wanted him so badly. But she couldn’t. Just couldn’t. Not yet.
He finally lifted his head and stared into her eyes while filling his hands with her behind and pulling her harder against him. “I shall spread the blankets so we can . . . ” He rasped in a deep breath, then exhaled a slow shaking groan as she ran her hand inside hisléineand teased a finger across one of his nipples.
Rumbling in her arms with another deep sensual purring, he splayed his hand across the base of her throat and with aching deliberation worked his way lower until he cupped her bare breast. Need echoed in his whisper as he nuzzled a searing trail along her jaw. “I’ll spread the blankets so we can enjoy the fine lunch Cook put together for us.”
Without commenting, she loosened the neckline of her tunic and guided him to her nipple. Unbearably delicious twinges shot through her as he moaned and sucked her deep into his mouth. She laced her fingers in his hair and pulled him harder against her. “Yes. Blankets. Do.”
Heaven help her, she ached and risked exploding as he nibbled his way to the other breast. She shuddered and molded herself against his delectable hardness, reminding herself she couldn’t have it until after theI do’s.
“We must hie to the blankets afore we fall and break our necks.” Colum kissed the swells of her breasts, then the end of her nose. He dismounted and pulled her into his arms. Another rumbling groan escaped him as he slid her down his front and took her mouth again.
She fanned her skirts around her overheated body as she took the lunch pouch from him. After kicking off her shoes, she followed him to a patch of softly waving grass overlooking the sparkling sea. This place was perfect. So much beauty.
He spread the blankets across the grass, layering them into an inviting pallet, then knelt in the middle and held out his hand. “Come.”
She hoped she would.As she settled down beside him, she plucked at the leather ties tightly cinching the lunch sackbut made no headway.After a deep breath to calm herself, she rubbed her fingers together, then tried the laces again.
Colum eased the bag of food out of her lap and dropped it on the opposite corner of the blanket. “Later.” He slid his fingers along the curve of her jaw as he leaned in and gently nibbled her bottom lip. “I would taste ye first.”
The rest of the world fell away as she leaned back across the blankets and pulled him down with her. A myriad of sensations flooded her, whetted her need for more. Broad, muscled chest against her. A promising hardness against her thigh. She raked her fingers across his shoulders, then dug them into his hair, pulling him harder against her.More.The word pounded through her as she opened to the urgency of his kiss and welcomed him in. She so neededmore.
He rose above her, a faint smile accenting the pleasure burning in his eyes. With his gaze locked with hers, he trailed a finger across her collarbone, then lightly brushed it lower.
She arched her back, struggling to breathe as she rocked against him. Maybe virginity wasn’t such a big deal after all. Perhaps it was time to let go of it.“I need you,” she whispered, sliding her hands down his back and pulling his hips forward.
“Nay,” he whispered against her throat as he nibbled lower. “I mean to pleasure ye, but we will not break yer oath.”
Now, he gets a conscience? Now?She released a strained breath, closing her eyes as he flicked his tongue lower, nipping and kissing until he reached her nipple and sucked it in deep with a slow pull.
A gentle breeze brushed across her as he shoved her skirts higher until they were wadded around her waist. Without lifting his head from her breast, he trailed his fingertips up and down her inner thighs. She squirmed beneath his touch.
“You’re killing me,” she gasped, bucking as he lightly brushed his fingertips across her slit, then slowly gyrated his thumb in a tantalizing circle against her throbbing nub.
