“That’s it,” Murdock murmured, working her through it. “That’s me lass. So beautiful when ye come undone.”
The aftershocks rolled through her, leaving her trembling and weak. If not for his body pinning her to the tree, she would have collapsed.
Slowly, carefully, he withdrew his fingers. She whimpered at the loss, suddenly feeling empty, and he hushed her with a gentle kiss.
“Shh, I’ve got ye,” he soothed, wrapping both arms around her. “Ye did so well, lass. So perfect.”
Leona sagged against him, her legs unable to support her weight. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and her breath came in ragged gasps. She’d never felt anything like that. Never imagined her body was capable of such pleasure.
Murdock held her while she trembled, one hand stroking her hair, the other rubbing soothing circles on her back. His touch was tender now, protective, so different from the desperate passion of moments ago.
“Are ye all right?” he asked quietly.
“I…” Leona struggled to find words. “That was…”
“Intense?” he supplied, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
“Aye.” She buried her face in his chest, suddenly shy despite what they’d just done. “I daenae ken what that was, but it was great.”
“Good.” He tilted her face up, his eyes searching hers in the darkness. “Because nay other man is ever going to make ye feel that way. Only me. Understand?”
The possessiveness should have annoyed her. Should have made her bristle at his presumption. Instead, it sent a fresh wave of heat through her.
“This is more than just business, is it nae?” The words escaped before she could stop them. “More than just a convenient arrangement?”
Murdock’s jaw tightened. She watched him war with himself, watched the walls he kept so carefully maintained struggle against something that wanted to break free.
“Aye,” he finally admitted, his voice rough. “It’s more. God help us both, but it’s so much more.”
The confession made her chest tighten. Made something warm and dangerous bloom in her heart.
She reached up, cupping his face in her hands. “I’m glad.”
Before he could respond, before he could say something that might ruin the moment, she pulled him down for a kiss. This one was softer, sweeter, full of feelings she wasn’t ready to name but couldn’t deny.
He kissed her back with a tenderness that made tears prick her eyes. His hands cradled her face like she was something precious, something worth cherishing.
When they finally broke apart, they were both breathing hard again, but for different reasons this time.
Murdock rested his forehead against hers, his eyes closed. “I’ve never felt like this,” he admitted quietly. “Never wanted someone the way I want ye. Never felt so… undone.”
“Is that bad?” Leona asked, her heart in her throat.
“I daenae ken.” His eyes opened, and the vulnerability in them stole her breath. “All I ken is that ye terrify me. What ye make me feel. What ye make me want.”
“What do ye want?”
“Everythin'.” The word was a confession. A surrender. “I want everythin' with ye, Leona. And that’s what scares me most.”
She opened her mouth to respond, to tell him that she felt the same terrifying pull, when voices drifted through the trees.
They both froze.
“This way, I think,” a woman’s voice said, closer than was comfortable.
“Are ye sure? I thought?—”
“Just come on!”
