Kieran began to alternate between suckling at her, applying pressure as he tugged at her nipple slightly, and using his tongue to draw lazy circles around it.
Vivien threw her head back, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she let him drive her to unbridled passion. Kieran’s hands held her close to him, wrapping his arms around her waist.
She moaned and whimpered as he trailed kisses across her collarbone, between her breasts, working his way up her neck. He licked and nipped at her skin as he trailed his kisses wherever he could place them. Kieran’s breath tickled Vivien’s ear as he drew her earlobe into his mouth, giving it a brief suckle before raining kisses down her neck and chin, across her closed eyes, before finally finding his way back to her lips.
Kieran drew her back in with more passion than she had felt up until that moment.
His touch, his kisses, his tongue all drove Vivien to the point of a desperate need that she felt could never be quenched. Nothing had ever brought her more satisfaction than her time with him. Kieran’s touch was nothing like Reginald’s.
He touched her with desire, passion, need, and tenderness. He wanted to touch her, to bring her pleasure. His touch was warm, heated – fire that burned away every single thing that had ever brought her pain.
Vivien pulled back with a start, her eyes wide as she pulled away from Kieran.
Reginald.
In the heat of passion and lust, she had completely forgotten herself. She had forgotten who she was, what her station in life was. That she was married to a cruel, cold-hearted man.
But married she was.
The illusion of a union made of passion, love, and tenderness shattered before Vivien’s eyes. She closed her eyes briefly, feeling tears prickling behind her eyelids as she tried to steady her breathing.
“What’s wrong, Sassenach?” Kieran said softly, his tone gentle and concerned.
“I can’t do this, Kieran. I am so sorry. Maybe in another lifetime…” she trailed off as she raised her eyes to look at him, willing the tears to stay at bay. She refused to cry in front of him for something that was none of his doing.
“There’s naething tae be sorry for. It is I who should apologize tae ye. I should not behave like this with ye. I just cannae control myself around ye.” Kieran shook his head, frowning slightly.
“Neither can I.” Vivien smiled slightly, her heart in pieces at the thought that he might want her as much as she wanted him. “If I find out anything further about Lord Stone and his dealings that will help you, I will send a message with one of my maids.”
“Ye cannae tak’ that risk, I cannot let ye,” Kieran said emphatically.
“I have to do it, and I will do it. Just let me help where I can, please? I hate the things he does, the way he does them. It is the least I can do.”
Kieran nodded, the frown not leaving his face.
“I will send you a message through Helen; she is my most trusted maid at this point. She holds no allegiance to the English; she was raised in Scotland by her mother after her English-born father abandoned them. She feels no love for them. You can trust her,” Vivien searched Kieran’s golden eyes, seeing the mixed emotions clearly.
She could see his concern for her, but she could also see the flames of passion burning brightly in their depths.
“You’ll know her by her light red hair; she has freckles across most of her face,” Vivien said, finding that trying to hold her tears in check was becoming more difficult with each passing second.
“I must go,” she said, reaching up to pull Kieran’s face close enough so that she could kiss him briefly one last time.
Vivien turned away, unable to face the look she imagined was on his face. His hand gripped her fingers lightly as he asked, “When will I see ye again?”
“I don’t know,” she replied, glancing at him quickly over her shoulder, “I will see you when it is safe. I will do my best.”
Vivien smiled sadly as she began to make her way out of the castle grounds as quickly as she could.
Chapter Fourteen
Kieran’s head was spinning as he watched Vivien leave, a weight like lead settling in his stomach.
The Sassenach was crawling deeper and deeper into his psyche, and there was nothing he wanted to change about that.
He made his way to the castle as quickly as he could, his prime purpose of seeking out Tilly and Bailey.
He found them easily enough; they were sitting in the dining hall, a generous helping of food on Bailey’s plate, as was typical. Bailey smiled broadly, greeting him happily, while Tilly’s expression spoke volumes about her concern.
