He groaned as he entered her, and she arched as he filled her with exhilarating warmth.Their union felt so right.So destined.So perfect.
Because she was blind to his beautiful face in the dark, her other senses compensated, drinking in all the smells, sensations, flavors, and sounds around her.
She smelled the fresh hay and earthy horseflesh of the stables, as well as Adam’s own masculine scent—a subtle blend of steel and sweat, leather and cinnamon, smoke and woodruff.
His breath rasped against her ear, and his sensual groans brought out the animal instincts in her body as she thrust against him in carnal pleasure.
He kissed her, opening her mouth to feast with abandon.He tasted sweet and intoxicating, like the mead they’d drunk to celebrate their vows.
Every nerve in her body felt alive, awakened by the searing contact with his flesh as he drove smoothly into her, like a dagger into a sheath.Her blood pulsed.Her skin flushed.Her head swam in a dreamy cloud of longing.
Together they scaled the walls of passion.Climbed a mountain of desire.Flew among the stars of heaven.
When they arrived at desire’s destination, they cried out in triumph and ecstasy.And as Eve gazed blindly in the dark—into the face no one else ever recognized, the face she had memorized as well as her own—she realized she would indeed find her Greater Purpose.With Adam.
Afterwards, spent, he slumped off of her, and she collapsed back onto the pallet, breathing heavily and grinning like a fool.
He pulled the plaids over them and tucked her in.“Will you forgive me for bringing you to the stables for our wedding night?”
She laughed.“I’ll tryst with ye in the stableseverynight if ye’ll keep a goose-down pallet in here.”
His laughter was as pleasing as a lute to her ears.She could no longer feel the chill winter air.Wrapped in their plaids and nestled together in the straw of the stables, she glowed from the warmth of their lovemaking.
But surely his clan would find them soon.
“Are ye sure Laird Deirdre won’t be angry we left?”she asked.
“I’m sure.”
“If the clan wants proof I came to ye a virgin…”
He chuckled.“There’s no need to fret.”Then he whispered, “To be honest, I bet I can count the number of virgin brides in my clan on one hand.”
“Adam la Nuit,” she scolded.
“’Tis true.The Rivenloch women are a hot-blooded tribe.My own mother—”
He stopped abruptly.
She’d heard it too.A sound coming from outside the stables.A person.
Panicked, she clutched the plaid to her chest.
He put a finger to her lips, indicating silence.
They were invisible in the dark.They were safe.So far.
But if whoever lurked outside came in, and if they carried a candle…
The door creaked open.Eve held her breath.
There was no candle.They couldn’t see her.She couldn’t see them.
Whoever it was entered and headed for the horses.When they walked, she could hear the squeak of leather and the clink of chain mail.The intruder was clad for battle.
While Eve breathed soundlessly, one of the horses whickered softly, and she could hear the stranger putting a saddle on the beast.
“Easy, lass,” the intruder said.“You and I, we’re going on a long journey.”
