“Because I snorted it out.”
He grinned.“You’re still adorable.”
She rolled her eyes but smiled back.“Tell me why Dr.Jones was your boyhood hero.”
“Because he was cool and he was able to use a whip.What about you?”
“I didn’t have anyone I wanted to be.”
“Really?Come on.It won’t go past these lips.”
Mairi glanced around, as if making sure they were alone.“Okay.When I was a little girl, I thought it would be cool to be a train.”
“A conductor?”
“No,” she replied, shaking her head.“A train.Literally.I thought Thomas the Train was real.After all, why else would he have a face?So, in preparation, I made sure to memorize every episode ofThomas and Friends.”
A smile was fighting to break free on his face, and she appreciated that he wasn’t laughing outright.
“You would’ve made an awesome train.”
“Right?And I think you would’ve been an awesome Indiana Jones.”
They both chuckled, and then, as the moon’s light encircled them in the clearing, an electrified awareness wrapped around them.The levity fell away as the gossamer threads between them solidified.
“You know, I am impressed with this dinner,” she murmured.“I need to pay off my bet.”
Moving closer, he sifted his hand gently through her hair and gripped it lightly to pull her closer to him.Her head tilted back as she placed her hands upon his chest.Light barely filtered through the trees, but her wolf sight allowed her to see the blatant lust on Tavish’s face.It sent a thrilling jolt through her body.The caress of his lips parted her own and the subtle pressure allowed him to sweep his tongue inside.
It was everything and more.The universe exploded.Transcendence illuminated the dark.The mate bond took its first step into cementing them together, and she knew there would never be another man for her.She had secretly loved him for a long time, and as terrified as she was of this revelation, there was no denying it anymore.Little by little, Tavish had been tearing down the walls she had erected around her heart, until she stood before him raw and untethered.
He rolled them until she was beneath him, and supported himself on his elbows.When they broke for air, he leaned his forehead against hers, and she felt him.Felt how hard he was for her.It sent a thrill down her spine and her heart pounded.Would he kiss her more?Make love to her?Or would he walk away from her again?The moment teetered on see-saw.
“I want you,” he muttered, his voice thick and guttural like broken glass.“I want to lie you down,a stór, and claim your body.You’re mine, Mairi.And I’m yours.”
My treasure.He had called her his treasure.
“But do you want to become mine?”
She wanted to say yes, but a sliver of fear remained.That he would reject her once more when the passion faded, and if that happened again, she didn’t think she’d recover.Did she have the courage?Better yet, would she hate herself for the rest of her life, and live with bitter regret, if she didn’t try?
“Aye, I do,” she breathed, then bit her bottom lip with her top teeth.Hope and fear dueled in her head.
He apparently noticed.
“What’s wrong?”
“What if ...you ...don’t want me anymore?After, you know.After.”
“Oh,mo luaidh,I have so much to make up for.”He took a deep breath as he lightly traced her jawline with a fingertip.Tenderness temporarily softened his hunger.“Biology may have played a part in me recognizing you as my mate, but that was just a catalyst for what I feel for you now.And I will spend the rest of my life undoing the words I put in your ear.I hope one day you’ll believe me.”
Framing his face with her hands, she took the leap of faith.
“Kiss me,” she ordered softly.
He did just that.Tavish captured her lips, plunging his tongue inside as he took over all her senses.Gone was any hesitancy.He kissed her with a scorching heat that burned through her veins.Everything around them disappeared into the ether, and Mairi surrendered willingly.
“Aye,” she breathed when the kiss broke.“Here.Now.Nothing more appropriate than being witnessed by the High Luna.”
