“Yourkinsmen will be here on the morrow,” she said and felt him tense. She waited alittle breathlessly to see what would happen next and eyed him warily when hegrasped her by the chin and turned her face up to his.
“Thenthis will be our last night together,” he said.
“Aye.”She frowned as she searched his expression for some hint of what he was feelingor thinking, and found none. “Ye will be ransomed and may return to Gartmhor.”Even the reminder that he was a prisoner for ransom did not produce a flickerof expression she could understand. “Weel, do ye have naught to say?”
“Allthis talk is wasting what little time we have left.” He began to unbraid herthick hair. “So, ‘tis my leave-taking that makes ye sad.”
“Idinnae ken why ye should think so.”
“Ah,so ‘tis just concern for your old ailing cook that puts the shadows in youreyes.”
“Aye,‘tis that.”
Shedid not like the crooked, arrogant grin he wore and decided it was time todistract him. If he kept teasing and questioning her, she feared she wouldreveal far too much. He did not want her love, and she had no intention ofallowing him to guess the state of her emotions. She would not bare her souljust to stroke his male pride and vanity. Passion was all he sought, and it wasall she would freely give. She knew it was also the perfect way to distracthim.
Smilinginvitingly, she pulled free of his hold enough to unlace his shirt, teasinglykissing each newly revealed patch of skin. Beneath her hands she could feel hisheartbeat quicken. She fleetingly wished she had more experience, knew moreabout pleasing a man. It was the last night she would ever spend in his arms,and she dearly wished to make it one he would never forget. As she tossed hisshirt aside and slowly removed his hose, she decided that, although she mightnot be able to give Ruari all he liked or wanted, she would certainly try.
Ruariheld himself still, despite his rapidly growing passion. He wanted to see justhow daring Sorcha Hay would be. There was an odd look on her face, a strangemix of determined, impish, and sensual, and he ached to see just where thosefeelings would lead her.
Shesat up, straddling his body, and began to unlace her gown. Ruari’s breath grewso uneven and swift it was almost uncomfortable as she slowly shed her clothes.He knew she was an innocent, that the only experience she had had with a manwas in his arms, yet he was sure he had never seen, nor would see again, awoman shed her clothes with such sweet invitation and sensuality. He clenchedhis hands so tightly to keep from touching her that he could feel his nailslightly scoring his palms. He could not fully suppress a groan when she shedthe last of her clothes. When she bent to kiss him, he finally reached for her,unable to resist any longer. Her kiss was bold and hungry, firing his blood. Ittook all his willpower to let her go when she ended the kiss, but he washeartily glad he did. Sorcha edged her way down his throat and chest, caressinghim every inch of the way with her hands, her lips, her tongue, even her lithe,silken body. He shuddered as she teased his thighs with kisses and slowlyremoved his braies.
Herthick hair brushed back and forth over his groin as she kissed and stroked hislegs, and Ruari found that almost painfully tantalizing. When she touched akiss to his aching manhood, he cried out, startling her. He quickly stopped herretreat, threading his fingers through her hair and gently holding her in placeas she intimately caressed him. Silently, with subtle movements of his body, herequested she take that last step. A hoarse, unsteady cry of delight escapedhim as she enclosed him in the warmth of her mouth.
Grittinghis teeth until his jaw ached, Ruari fought to control his raging desire. Hewanted to enjoy the exquisite sensations she was gifting him with for as longas possible. Too soon he had to bow to the need screaming within him. Hegrasped her under the arms and pulled her up his body, trembling at the look ofsensuality flushing her small face and darkening her eyes.
Sorchaneatly eluded his attempt to take control of their lovemaking. She found thatleading their intimate dance was a rich, heady experience and she was loath togive it up. He was short of breath, a faint trembling rippled through hisstrong body, his face was flushed, and its lines were taut from the strength ofhis passion. She knew she had caused that and the knowledge was intoxicating.He had barely touched her, but her own passion was running as hot and fast ashis.
Smilingand brushing a kiss over his mouth, she slowly joined their bodies. The controlshe had so jealously clung to abruptly vanished as he filled her. He graspedher by the hips, but she did not need his direction. Lost in the depth of blindneed, she took them to the height they both ached for, their cries of releaseblending perfectly.
Itwas several moments after she had collapsed in his arms before her sensesreturned enough for her to consider all she had just done. She felt no tensionin the man she sprawled on top of, no hesitation in the languid movement of hishands over her hair and body. That did not completely quell her growinguneasiness, however. Men were strange creatures, liking such passionateinterludes but condemning the women who indulged in them. She was stillstruggling to garner the courage to look at him, when he grasped her by thechin and turned her face up to his, touching a kiss to the tip of her nose.There was not a hint of reproach or disgust in the sweet smile he gave her.
“Ah,lass, ye could easily send a mon tumbling into madness,” he said in a quietreverent voice.
“Weel,I wouldst prefer ye sane.” She knew it was foolish, but before she could haltthe words she asked, “So ye were pleased?” She grimaced when he laughed, butthen he kissed away her embarrassment, holding her close as he turned, placingher beneath him. “A foolish question?”
“Aye,verra foolish.” He began to cover her slim neck with slow tantalizing kisses.
Shefelt the first hint of his renewed desire twitch against her leg. “Dinnae yeneed to rest?”
“Thereis no time.”
Helooked at her and saw the hint of sadness return to her eyes again. It did notreally surprise him to feel a pang of regret as well, not after suchall-encompassing pleasure. And he was beginning to accept that Sorcha Hay wascapable of stirring some very inconvenient feelings inside of him. He also knewthat tomorrow when the ransom was handed to her, he would leave withouthesitation, and his anger would return. Now, however, he did not wish to thinkabout that. He wanted to revel in the sweetness of her passion. He wanted tosoak himself in the feel and scent of her.
“Sweet,bonnie Sorcha,” he said in a low voice as he nibbled on her full bottom lip. “Yeare going to be verra tired come the dawn.” When she slowly smiled, he kissedher with a hunger he made no attempt to hide and tried not to remember thatthis would be the last time.
Chapter Ten
Sorchastared down at Ruari as she silently tugged on her clothes. He was sprawled onhis back sound asleep, and she heartily wished she could join him. Her eyeswere itchy and swollen with exhaustion, and her body ached from the long nightof lovemaking they had so greedily indulged in. She knew she had to slip awaybefore he awoke, however. Sorcha did not want the matter of his ransoming tosteal any of the pleasure they had found in the night.
Asquietly as she could she slipped out the door. When she turned to make her wayto the great hall to break her fast, she came face-to-face with Margaret.Clasping a hand over her mouth, she stifled her sharp cry of surprise overbeing so unexpectedly confronted. She grabbed Margaret by the arm and draggedher away from Ruari’s door.
“Yefrightened me half to death,” Sorcha scolded when they were several feet awayfrom the bedchamber.
“Whyare ye being so secretive?” Margaret asked, sullenly yanking free of Sorcha.
“Ididnae wish to waken him.”
“Whynot? He is leaving today.”
