Holding out his arm, he helped her down before dismounting.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered into the night.
“It’s my favorite spot.” It was the perfect place for what he had to say.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her with the passion of a warrior returning from battle. In some ways he was. The lass had crumbled every stone around hisheart. She’d conquered the beast and given him back more than the emerald. She’d given him…hope.
Collin slowed the perusal of her tongue and kissed her tender lips, memorizing every detail about this moment and her.
“Stay with me, Quinn. Donae leave.”
“Collin, I’ve got to go. I’ve put off my responsibilities long enough. It’s time for me to get back to the real world and step out of the fantasy.” She stared up into his eyes with a pleading gaze as if she truly wanted him to understand.
“I…”
She held her finger to his lips and quickly replaced them with her mouth. Her actions wouldn’t silence him from what he had to say. Collin ran his fingers through her red hair and pulled the ponytail free as he kissed her. Her red tresses danced on the breeze, wild and untamed like the woman in his arms. Breaking the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers. “I love you.”
She smiled up at him with sadness in her eyes. “Then show me.”
“Aye. I plan to do just that.” Collin slipped two blankets out of the saddlebag and laid them out on the ground, turning to find Quinn had already kicked off her shoes and was working the buttons on her blouse.
Collin stilled her hands and laid her down, covering her with his body. He kissed her lips and moved down her silky skin as he slid each button free. They had all night, and he planned to use every moment showing her exactly what she meant to him.
They lay naked beneath the moonlight, Quinn against his chest as he ran his fingers through her hair, their bodies only partially covered by the extra blanket. She raised her head and smiled up at him.
“This is perfect.”
“You’re perfect.”
She ran her fingers over his chest, tracing the contours of his muscles and then laid her head back down. “I won’t forget you.”
“How could you?” He smiled down at her. “You’re probably carrying my bairn.”
Her chuckle rang out as she rolled off him. “Not likely, handsome. I’m on the pill, but if I ever have a kid, you’d be the front runner for baby daddy.”
“Glad to know I’m in the running.” Collin rolled and settled between her sweet thighs. “Maybe you need a reminder of what I have to offer.”
“I think you’re right.”
Her smile brightened his world as her heels dug into his ass, pushing him into her sweet channel. He took his time pleasing her, searing this moment into hermemory and his. Quinn Thatcher didn’t know it yet, but her reluctance drove his determination. He’d let her leave, but never for good. This wasn’t the end of them. There would never be an end if he had his say. It was just a matter of figuring out how to convince her to see things his way. No amount of water or distance could break the bond they were forming. She’d see it soon enough.
Her stomach grumbled as the hour passed, and he finally decided they both needed sustenance to maintain their strength. They were in for a long night, and the night was just beginning.
“It’s time for food and part two of my plan.” He slid the blanket free and slipped back into his clothes. As she dressed, he took his fill, memorizing her creamy flesh and planning to kiss every inch.
“You mean your plan didn’t just include seducing me?”
‘I think you were the seducer, luv.” Collin winked, then packed up the blankets and mounted the horse. “I just picked the locale.”
Collin led the horse in a walk to ease the tender flesh between her thighs.
They’d rounded the corner toward the castle when Quinn pointed to the sky. “Is that smoke?”
“Aye.” Collin jabbed his heels into the horse, making Quinn’s hold tightenaround his waist. They broke through the clearing to find that it wasn’t the castle on fire but the caretaker’s house.
“Oh God,” she whispered.
Garth stood outside swatting the flames with blankets as the horse jolted to a stop. Smoke rose into the night sky as flames grew. The air was thick with soot, covering the surrounding leaves. Collin helped her down and climbed off.
