The air was growing warm from the fire, but some of the night’s chill still hung here and there. Goosebumps spread up and down her legs, left bare. As he shifted upward, he ducked his arm to nudge one of her legs onto his shoulder, leaving Megan feeling even more exposed andopenthan before.
He glanced up at her one more time, and this time there was a flush across his cheeks, too. It was the first time she’d seen him even a little flustered.
“Comfy, lass?” he enquired.
Before she could respond, he moved his head down again, and this time he pressed his lips against her core itself, tongue swiping down as though he were kissing her.
Megan gave a stifled squeak, a thoroughly undignified sound. Pleasure rushed through her, pulsing in time with the movements of his tongue and lips. She pulled heavily on the belt binding her hand to the bedpost, but the knot wouldn’t come loose, even when the bedpost groaned warningly.
ShefeltRyder laugh; the low, rumbling sound seemed to echo through her. It was like a kiss, it really was, only deeper and infinitely more pleasurable. Megan bit the inside of her cheek until she tasted copper, fighting not to push her hips against him.
She wanted him to keep going, wantedmore, but it already seemed far too much. She arched her back, knocking her head against the bottom of the bed, but frankly, Megan didn’t think she would have noticed if the entire bed had collapsed under her.
It was too much, building up, more and more, until she was pretty sure that she was going to burst.
Then her climax rushed upon her, unstoppably, and she let out a ragged cry. One by one, her muscles relaxed, and she flopped backward onto the mattress, gasping for breath.
Ryder sat up, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. His lips were red and a little swollen-looking, and Megan was suddenly aware that she wanted him to kiss her very badly.
He didn’t move to kiss her. Instead, he grinned broadly down at her.
“Well,” he said. “I thinkthatwas a punishment ye quite enjoyed.”
CHAPTER 19
Ryder allowedhis grin to widen, staring down at Megan. He wondered if she knew how adorably disheveled she looked. Probably not. Calling it apunishmentwas really just part of their game.
Our game?Ryder thought abruptly, leaning forward to undo the belt tying her hand to the bedpost.That makes it sound serious. We’re only passin’ the time. That’s all there is to it.
His own thoughts worried him more than they should. This was just a job for Megan. They’d struck a bargain, and once her part of the deal was fulfilled, she’d go. And he would have to let her.
His own arousal flagged a little at the thought of her leaving, which was also worrying. Of course, she would leave—everybody left—but she was herenow, and that was all that mattered.
It’s because ye are tired,Ryder told himself, firmly ignoring the fact that tiredness or distraction had never done much to coolhis desire before. Megan Blackwood was a beautiful fiend who’d come riding roughshod into his life, but she would not worm her way into his heart. He’d decided a long time ago that he would keep his heart untouched, and it had to stay that way. If the thought of Megan leaving him bothered him more than it should, then he would have to work harder to put distance between them.
It was just as well things had not gone further than they did.
His knotted belt loosened at last, and Ryder neatly pulled it free. He frowned when he saw a reddish line on Megan’s wrist.
“Did I pull it too tight?” he questioned, nodding at the mark. “I didnae mean to.”
She flushed, drawing her wrist to her chest. “Nay, nothin’ like that. I… I pulled a wee bit. I hardly kent I was doing it.”
Ryder allowed himself a smile at that, recalling how she’d gasped aloud and arched her back. He was sure he’d heard the bedpost creak under her weight.
“I suppose I should be grateful ye didnae bring the whole bed down under us,” he remarked with a grin, looping his belt around his waist.
“Aye, I suppose so,” Megan responded. She propped herself up on her elbows, her hair disheveled, and justlookedat him. Desire came rushing through Ryder once more, forming a hotknot in his chest. He wanted to lunge forward again. He wanted to kiss her, to let her taste herself on his tongue. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, take her hand, and guide it down to his legs, so she could feel how hot and desperate he was for her.
Nay, nay, nay, ye fool! Have ye learned nothing? If ye want a thing too much, it can poison yer mind. And yer heart. Put her aside.
He rose from the bed and walked over to the fireplace. He could feel Megan’s eyes on him, but fought not to react in any way.
“Do ye plan to keep disobeyin’ me, then?” he asked at last, once he was sure his voice was even and calm.
“If ye keep doin’ things like that as a punishment, then I’ll probably do it on purpose,” she responded.
Ryder could not help but smile at that either. Of course, she couldn’t see his smile, since he was facing the fireplace. The flames were warm and bright on his face. He closed his eyes, watching the flickering brightness through his closed eyelids.
