“Should’ve run, but he stood there tae fight when he knew he was outnumbered. Ye dinnae want tae entangle with the likes o’ him. Ye would worry tae death.” Quite satisfied, he crossed his arms and nodded.
Grace stared at him. Big, burly man, worried sick for his second-in-command. All of a sudden, he peered down at her. Grace didn’t have enough time to face the water. She puffed out a breath.
His expression darkened. “Maybe ye would have preferred tae be tied tae him.”
“Why not?” Grace muttered. “He would have kept me entertained, instead of bickering me ears off.”
He turned fully, facing her. His gaze scorched her from head to tingling toes. “Ye say that, but I ken how ye reacted tae me body.” Although his words were soft, they fell like hot pokers all over her body. Igniting the recesses of her mind.
Shock, shame and pure lust swirled inside her, producing a strong denial. “Ye’re mistaken! I am nae attracted tae a burly brute who’d tried tae end me.”
He took a step, so close she could almost count his long lashes. Her heart thundered. “A brute, again.”
“Aye!” she blurted. “An indecent brute! ‘Tis what ye are and will always-”
Duncan pulled her closer by the waist and captured her lips. Grace froze, stunned by his forwardness. His lips, warmed by the food and wine, tasted wild and sweet. A combination she could hardly refuse. She did her best internally to refuse. In the end, her hands worked against her and wound themselves around his neck, deepening the kiss.
Feeling her acceptance, his other hand curled into her hair, balancing her head, while his tongue explored her mouth. She was dizzy, her head swimming with an onslaught of uninhibited, intense emotions. She did not know which sensation to build on. His lips sliding between hers, his hard body pressed into hers, his hammering heart resting on her, and oh, the bulge in his groin.
The last one elicited molten heat between her thighs and she shivered. It was testament that he craved her too. There, she’d never wanted anything like this. She’d never wished for a man to touch her there. A few experimental kisses with Harris was all she had had. They’d both disliked it and never tried again. Why was this one intoxicating?
The hand in her hair traced down to the line of her neck, caressing the sensitive skin. An involuntary moan escaped fromGrace as she trembled. He possessed her lips, like he did everything else around him. Engulfing her.
—
My dear reader,
I apologize for the interruption…
But you just stumbled upon a SECRET GIFT!
And if you download this book for free, you’ll get a ONCE ONLY opportunity to join my ARC group.
This means MORE GIFTS! Because you’ll be getting books of mine and other authors of the genre one week ahead of release and for FREE.
The only thing you need to do is use the link below and download the book!
I’ll reply in your inbox to let you know the details.
So, what do you think? Will you join me on this reading adventure? The clock is ticking…
Just click on the link!
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Have ye ever been touched by a Highlander?” his coarse voice breathed next to her ear. There was a wash of warm air, mixed with wine and meat. Grace could not get her brain to function properly. She swallowed hard, desperately casting about for a witty retort.
Gently, his teeth sank into her left earlobe. Grace gasped, arms falling weakly by her side. Her thoughts scattered. At the front, between her cleavage, a finger traced downwards. Grace’s breasts peaked, aching for even a brush of those fingers. She stuttered, “what- what are ye tryin’ tae pr-prov…oh.”
That finger cupped her right breast, which she’d arched upward, subconsciously. His palms were large, fingers thick and straight. She’d stared at them before, holding pitchers of wine, grasping at reins, treating wounds. Now at her breast. Grace blushed blood red, the heat swimming over her good senses.
“That ye ken nothin’” his whisper came, next to her ear once more, engulfing her in overwhelming shivers. “Ask me tae stopand I will.” A thumb brushed over a hardened nipple; his mouth trailed soft kisses down the nape of her neck.
His words pierced the haze of lust clouding her. Grace raised trembling hands to his chest. Fisting them, she shoved with all the strength she could muster. It was not a lot, with the way her heart thudded. Duncan quit kissing her and stepped back.
The pale moon highlighted his cold amused gaze. Some tendrils of hair had fallen into his hair, giving him a wild appearance. But for the throbbing of a vein in his forehead, Grace might have believed she had had no effect on him, based on his appearance alone. All of the things she wanted to say died under that stare. He was perfection itself and it irked her so.
Without a word, Grace turned. Her form was stiff, walking down the path that led to the tent they would share. She could almost feel the sting of his stare perforating her back.
