Though her response may have put him off at another time, Darragh did not feel compelled to back off right now. He had done his best to get her to share with him whatever Terrence refused to disclose, but if she continued to say there was nothing then this needed to stop. They needed to move beyond it. Whatever their situation, he believed they could work things out if she but tried. He’d seen her spark of passion, and he’d felt her surrender to it. He wanted that again.
“A husband can usually expect to bed his wife more than once.”
“Oh.” She faced the fire again, shaking her head as if that was of little importance.
A fist to his gut. He exhaled slowly, his patience at an end. “Or did ye believe ye needed only submit to me once?”
Brighit’s eyes flashed at him. “Submit?” Ah, the tone he recognized so well.Thiswas the Brighit he’d longed to see these last days.
“That is indeed the word I used. If ye’ll not come willingly to my bed, there are other ways to have ye.”
“Other ways? To have me? And what is it ye’re thinking exactly?”
That gently flaring nose. Excitement raced to his groin and he stuck with the same belligerent tone. “I will wait no longer.”
“Wait? For what?”
“I want ye. Yer my wife and I’ll have ye. I will no longer be put off.”
“Put off? Who has put ye off?”
“Yehave. Now take off yer gown. Or I will be happy to take it off for ye.”
“Ye’ll do no such thing.”
“Do not tempt me.” Though his words were merely a ploy intended to kindle some spark in her—and it was working beautifully—his body didn’t seem to understand the difference. His need was painful.
“Ach, why would ye hold yerself back from me, lass?” He searched her lovely face, her eyes closing slightly as he stroked her. Leaning into her because he hadn’t the strength to watch her obvious desire for him when he was so damn in need of her, he said, “If ye want me, why aren’t ye with me? Why d’ye keep me away,mo mhíle stór?” His voice was hoarse and low, feverish with desire.
He rubbed against her with his thumb, and she moaned. “I cannot. I… cannot.”
“We are wed. We may enjoy each other. Let me have ye?”
He dipped his head down, kissing her alluring neck. His fingers moved with a steady rhythm, while he thought of the pleasure he’d have were it another part of him inside her.
“What are ye—” She sounded torn between decency and desire.
“Hush.” He took her mouth, pulling her closer with a hand at the back of her head. “Mmm, just as I remember.”
As always, she was lost in his kisses, giving of herself with abandon. When she flattened her chest against him, he knew they must either stop immediately or finish this. More than anything, he wanted her willingness.
“Let me love ye.” He nibbled her ear, urging her back onto thebraithe’d spread out under them. “I’m in desperate need of ye.”
Her groans set him on fire and he pushed her shoulders back until she lay before him. One-handed, he loosened the ties at her bosom, using his teeth when necessary, and paused to suckle each gorgeous pink nipple before loosening it further, leaving behind a trail of kisses.
Dropping a kiss to her belly, he sucked on her there as well, while his hands worked at pulling up her skirt. He kissed a bare hip, keeping his eyes on her, and worked his way lower. He knew the exact moment she opened her eyes.
“What are ye about?”
“This is having my sweet.” He ran the tip of his tongue along her wetness. “And ye are very sweet.”
Her breathing remained stilted, as if trying to reason out the sensation with the act. Clearly she enjoyed his attention, and he certainly enjoyed giving her this attention. Relief filled him when her eyes drifted closed in pleasure.
Thinking nothing of his own need, he responded to every moan, learning the places that pleased her most by the tightening of her hands in his hair. And the lovely sound of the groans from deep inside her throat. He pleasured her until she quaked, receiving her release.
“Nothing but pleasing ye, sweet wife. That is what I would give to ye.”
A guttural sound of agreement and she pulled his face up to hers, their lips locked for a tighter exploration. He settled atop her, and she immediately stiffened beneath him. The suddenness of the change surprised him, but when her hands ceased their caressing and the cadence of her breathing shifted, he knew to stop.
