A gasp went up. This was high drama, the sort of thing that would be spoken of for years to come in both the halls and hovels of Ireland. Why was Lord Burke so intent on having the bride? To be sure, she was a lovely creature, but it was very rare for an overlord to claim thedroit du seigneurof a vassal’s bride.
Dom O’Flaherty whitened, then reddened, with fear and helpless rage. His eyes swept over Skye, then back to Lord Burke. He pictured them locked in an embrace. Damn the bastard! thought Dom. He’s got me trapped! At last he said savagely, “I yield. And damn you to hell, my lord Burke!” Turning, he stamped from the chamber, followed quickly by the O’Malley and the rest of the guests.
Niall Burke walked slowly to the door of the room and, shutting it, slammed the bolt home. Turning back, he looked at Skye. Throughout the whole exchange, she had remained as silent and still as a hiding rabbit. “I do mean to take you,” he said quietly.
Her eyes were enormous, blue-green against her white face. “I know,” she answered softly. “You’ll have to tell me what to do. No one has ever told me what is required, and I am very ignorant. Anne didn’t have time to explain,” she finished helplessly.
A warm smile lit his features, and he was suddenly her Niall again. “I think, sweetheart,” he said in a kindly voice, “that the first thing would be to get you into bed. You look chilled.” With a sweeping movement he pulled the covers back and, scooping her up, gently tucked her beneath the down coverlet.
“Kiss me, Niall.” It was a simple request, and it was also the first time she had called him by his name.
“I have every intention of doing just that, Skye. Give me but a moment to divest myself of my clothes.”
“Please, now!”
Had she been anyone else he would have made a ribald jest. She was so intense. So urgent. Instead he bent, kissed the lips she offered. It was a sweet kiss, and they were both loath to stop, but finally she drew away. “I had to be sure it would be as lovely with you this time as it was the last. When Dom kissed me today I wanted to die because he revolted me so.”
“And is it still as lovely, my darling?” His silvery eyes caressed her warmly.
“Yes, Niall. It is still lovely.”
Thoughtfully, without haste, he removed his clothes and approached the bed. “Have you ever seen a man naked before, Skye?” The firelight from the small corner fireplace flickered across his bare body.
“Only the top part. The sailors often strip their shirts off when it gets too hot. I’ve seen bare feet, and part of the leg too.” Her eyes slowly traveled the length of him, lingering a moment on his sex, then blushingly moving upward.
He grinned mischievously at her. “I trust I meet with your complete approval, sweetheart,” he teased, climbing into bed with her.
Her heart-shaped face was very serious. “I don’t understand how it works.”
“Let me worry about that,” he answered. Taking her into his arms, he rolled her beneath him. “Ah, Skye! Sweet Skye! I have dared much for you, my darling.” His mouth found hers again, but this time it was different. His lips teased, playing lightly across her mouth, her fluttering eyelids, her forehead, cheeks, chin, and lastly the tip of her nose.
The shock of his sweet assault left her slightly breathless, and she was certainly not ready for the warm hand that gently cupped her breast. “Oh!” Then, “Oh, Niall, I am sorry I am so small,” she apologized shyly, unable to meet his warm gaze.
“You are perfection, Skye. See how sweetly your breast nestles into my hand? It is like a little white dove.” He bent his dark head and kissed the pink peak, pleased that it hardened almost immediately beneath his lips.
Gently he pressed her back among the pillows, lightly straddling her. His warm mouth now pressed kisses all across her trembling breasts, taking pleasure in her rapid rise to passion. Her beautiful hair billowed shining and dark across the white linen pillows. Head thrown back to reveal the slender column of her throat, she tempted the warm lips to leave a string of burning kisses down the quivering flesh.
His big hands slipped over her torso, enjoying the silken skin. Suddenly Skye was afire, and she moaned helplessly, frightened. Her body felt liquid. She was languid, yet filled with a great strength at the same time. His voice murmured soft and reassuring words of love.
Still she gasped softly, surprised as his fingers gently explored her, probing tenderly, forcing the tension from her body. Then she became aware of a new touch, that of his manhood, hard against her soft leg. Gently his knee nudged her thighs apart. The pulsing root of him touched the tip of her womanhood, and in a sweet haze of fear and desire she heard him say, “It will hurt you just once, Skye. After that there will never be pain again, my love.”
“Yes! Yes! Oh, please, yes!” she panted, not even knowing what it was that she sought, but desperately wanting it. A deep, burning pain quickly receded, leaving her filled with a wonderful, throbbing warmth. His silvery eyes met her blue ones, and passion mirrored passion as he loved her. For a moment they hung suspended in time and then she cried out her pleasure as his hardness broke, filling her with his creamy juices.
After a few breathless minutes he rolled away and cradled her in his arms. He stroked her hair, marveling at its soft density. When he spoke again his velvety voice held the faintest hint of a tremor. “Thank you, Skye, my little love. Thank you for the most precious gift a man can receive from a maiden.”
She moved so that she could see his face, her new womanhood making her brave. “I have waited all my life for you, Niall Burke. Do not leave me now, for I should sooner be your leman than Dom O’Flaherty’s wife. I would go where you go.”
He sighed. “I cannot let you go now, Skye. We will get your marriage annulled based on your adultery with me. I have no intention of returning you to O’Flaherty. We will leave for my father’s castle in the morning. Your husband is a vain peacock. A fat financial settlement and a new and noble bride should soothe his swollen pride.”
“You will not leave me?” Her eyes were shining with happiness. “Oh, Niall! I love you! I love you so much!”
“God, sweetheart, I adore you!” He kissed her hard. “I love you too, my darling. I love you!”
Their bodies melted together once more. Skye was completely overwhelmed by these new and delicious stormy sensations sweeping over her. Her body responded to his every touch, eagerly seeking each new thrill.
He lay on his back and, lifting her, lay her atop him. Her blushes delighted him. Shyly she hid her face in his shoulder. He chuckled. “Nay, sweetheart, now you must love me.”
“But Niall, I don’t know how,” she protested.
