The gown’s neck widened and slid easily down her length. Pulling back, he left no part of her untouched with his gaze, and when his hands followed along the thin material of her undergarment, she closed her eyes.
With a single sweep of his hands, he doffed the only thing keeping him from seeing all of her. “Ethne, ye are more beautiful than a sunrise on a warm summer’s day.”
She met his kiss with urgency, but he was not going to rush through this. He wanted to leave her sated and well loved, secure in his love. She would know whose she was. Even going back to deal with her brother would not shake her belief in that.
A palm flat against her rounded bottom, he kneaded her, pulling her against his hardness. “I plan to spend the rest of my life showing ye the depth of my love.”
Dropping his head, he swept his tongue against the firm peak of her nipple and rested the weight of its fullness in his hand. “My children will suckle at these breasts.”
Her quiet moans might have been her agreeing. He lifted her chin, raising her eyes to meet his gaze. “Taking ye to wife would give me great pleasure.”
She held his gaze, still searching to discern the truth. Best he show her what his words could not.
A soft patch of grass covered by hisplaideserved as their pallet. With her eyes on him, he made quick work of his own clothing.
“Oh!” She sat up, a hand reaching toward him. “Yer side? Does it cause ye pain?”
His lips twitched. “I canna say it has bothered me at all.” He wiped a hand over it. No blood. “Mayhap the rest of me hurts even more.”
“Oh, Lachlann.” Ethne’s tone sounded far too serious and concerned.
“Whisht.” He winked and dropped to his knees before her. “We’ve far more pressing matters.”
He covered her, supporting his body with an arm on either side of her, and kissed her passionately. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his back to pull him flush against her. Such unleashed passion sent him past any thought of holding off. When he entered her, he was reminded of how well she fit him in every way.
He rode her slowly, every movement a special gift to her of his undying promise of love. She cried out in her pleasure, and he tightened his control to not do the same. When her breathing eased, her expression was questioning.
He explained, “I would have ye cry out yer pleasure again.”
Ethne watched him this time. And he kept his eyes on her to know when the moment neared.
When she cried out his name, he let lose his release and was overwhelmed by the explosion of pleasure flooding his entire body as he filled her. He’d never experienced such a feeling. A feeling of being where he belonged.
Spent, he collapsed onto her, but was quick to turn and tuck her against his side, her head on his chest and her leg over his. He sighed. All was right with the world once again. “How is it I have such peace with ye here beside me? I have never felt so before.”
Her only response was a gentle snoring, and he chuckled. That would do for now.
* * *
Awakened by the sound of a single horse galloping at a great speed toward where Ethne lay asleep in his arms, Lachlann jerked theplaidefrom beneath him to cover her. He sprang to his feet and quickly yanked on his trews and tunic. Aidan’s men surrounded him. His skin grew itchy, and he rolled to the balls of his feet, readying himself for whatever came next. How long had they watched them here in the dark, the sun not even having cleared the horizon?
Aidan jumped down from his horse, his men filling in behind him like a force to be reckoned with as he approached Lachlann. With angry strides and his red face tight with fury, saying he was enraged was no exaggeration.
“Oh, no.” Ethne's quiet voice carried only as far as Lachlann. “I thought we were safe here.”
“As did I.” He spoke in the same quiet voice. He reached behind him, and she took his hand, coming up alongside him wrapped only in hisplaide. "Get yerself dressed. Quick now.”
“Are ye certain?” Her rounded eyes showed her fear. “I'm afeared for ye.”
“I am certain. Go.”
She collected her clothes that had been left forgotten in a pile on the ground. When she would have trotted to a more secluded spot out of the sight of prying eyes, Thomas moved to intercept her. He shifted course whenever she tried to go around him, a wide grin on his face.
“What is this? A game?” Lachlann exploded at the ridiculous action. “Allow her to pass, damn it!”
Aidan responded. “She bared herself forye. There’s no reason for modesty now.”
Lachlann took a step closer to Thomas, the hilt of his dagger gripped tight in his hand. “There is. And well ye know it.”
