He went motionless, realizing that she was not speaking only of the time during the past fortnight. She was talking of the choice she’d made, to wed Edmon de Laurent.
Her face flushed, but she reached up to touch his cheek. “You have a terrible temper, and you’re as stubborn as that wretched stallion. But you’re the only man I want. And . . .” She mumbled something against his chest that he couldn’t quite hear.
“And what?” He tipped her chin up, certain he’d misheard her. “Say it again.”
“I never stopped loving you,” she whispered. “With every moment I spent at your side, I wanted another day. I can’t imagine being with anyone else.”
He searched her face to know if there was truth in her words. When she tried to pull away again, he held her fast. “You’re going to drive me to madness if I let you stay, aren’t you?”
A hopeful smile touched her mouth. “I want to stay, Dougal. But only with you.”
His mouth came down upon hers, as if he’d needed the words. Celeste wound her arms around his neck, their tongues tangled together as he warmed her wet skin with his body. “You need dry clothes,” he said. “We’re going back.”
“Or you could build a fire here,” she said. To convince him, she kissed him again, pulling his body as close as she dared. The need to be with him again, to feel his body against hers, was taking apart her inhibitions. His hands were moving over her, and despite the chill of her wet clothes, she was feeling warmer with his touch.
“No. We’re returning to Glen Arrin,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because if I don’t, I’m going to lay you on the ground right here.” He lifted her onto Titan’s saddle, and then startled her by swinging up behind. He took Ivory’s reins and tied them to the saddle, walking the mare behind them.
“Why did you do that?” she asked.
He sent her a wicked smile. “So I can touch you during our ride.” Against her bottom, she felt the rise of his erection.
“There’s no need to rush,” she said, reaching back to touch him. “It might take a while before we reach the fortress.” Her palm curled around his length, and he sucked in a breath of air when she rubbed him.
“Are you wanting to play, a chrìdhe?” he asked, sliding one hand beneath her wet skirts. The warmth of his palm against her bare skin was shocking, and she inhaled sharply when another hand stroked her breast. She felt him unfasten the ties of his trews, and a moment later, his hot shaft was pressed against the base of her bottom.
The touch of him made her achingly wet. “I don’t know if I can wait until we get back,” she murmured, groaning when his fingers teased her nipple. She was grateful that the stallion was walking slowly, allowing Dougal to touch her intimately. He cupped her, and she was so wet, she reached back and lifted herself up to guide him inside her body.
For a moment, he remained sheathed within her while the horse walked. The slight motion of the animal made her shift against him, and she shuddered at the tight sensation. If anyone saw them, they would see only her skirts covering his legs. No one would know that they were joined together in lovemaking, and Dougal thrust against her, using the horse’s gait to ease the penetration.
Inside, her body was throbbing against him. She’d never felt anything so exquisite as his body within her, until he nudged the horse lightly and sent Titan into a trot. Now the rhythm was bolder, and Dougal forced her to rise up while he thrust and withdrew.
“You’re riding both of us,” he said against her ear, using one hand to stroke her breast while he plunged against her. “Don’t fall off.”
It was a fight to keep her balance while he slid so easily within her, and with every bounce of the horse, the nerves within her gathered tightly, rising hard. She sat upon him, letting him fill her deeply, thrusting over and over.
“Dougal,” she moaned, and he doubled his rhythm, grasping her waist and slamming her against him. Her hands dug into the horse’s mane as he filled her, forcing her to grind against him until she went liquid and convulsed around him.
“More,” he ordered, changing the horse’s rhythm back to a walk again, until she was breathless, accepting his hard invasion over and over. She was crying out, but he never stopped his thrusts, pushing into her until at last he let out a shuddering breath and took his own release. Even when the horse continued to move, the aftershocks made her clench around his shaft.
He kissed her neck, and remained inside her while they continued the journey back. “I’m not wanting to start over, Celeste. I want to continue on, where we left off.”
“Then you’ve forgiven me?” She drew his arms around her, feeling as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders.
“I said many things out of anger the morning you left. But you were gone before I could come to my senses.” He nuzzled her neck before he withdrew from her body at last and fumbled with his trews to fasten them again. Even when he adjusted her skirts, she could feel his body pressed close. “I’ll admit, I have a few faults. Not too many, though.”
She laughed at that, drawing his arms close. “You’re a hotheaded man,” she said. Tilting her head back, she added, “Hot-blooded, too, I’d say.”
“With you, I am.” His mouth moved up to her ear, and she trembled at the warm breath against her skin.
“I want to ride faster with you,” she said. “Take me home, Dougal.”
He urged the stallion on, holding her close. Ivory kept up with their pace, and there was beauty in the sight of the two horses running together. Celeste felt so alive in his arms, she could hardly piece together any thoughts.
When they reached the outskirts of Glen Arrin, he lifted her down. Then, he took her hand in his and led her back to his home. The interior was dim, and he took a few moments to light the peat fire. She saw the simple pallet on one side, while there was a wooden table and bench on the other. In the small space, she held him tightly.
