Mhairi cried out, her nails digging into his shoulders as her body stretched to take him.
He was big—so much bigger than she'd imagined—and the fullness was overwhelming, slightly painful at first, but the way he moved, the way he watched her, his eyes dark and intense, kept her from spiraling. He bottomed out with a groan, his hips flush against hers, and for a moment, they both stayed still, breathing hard.
Then he started to move.
His thrusts were deep, measured, each one dragging against something inside her that made her toes curl.
Mhairi wrapped her legs around his waist, her heels digging into the firm muscle of his arse, urging him deeper.
The bed creaked beneath them, the furs rustling with every roll of his hips. His manhood filled her completely, the drag of his length against her inner walls sending sparks of pleasure skittering through her veins.
"Ye feel so good," Alpin growled, his voice rough with effort. His hands gripped her hips, his fingers bruising as he angled her just right, his thrusts hitting that spot inside her that made her see stars. "So tight, so wet?—"
Mhairi couldn't form words. She could only moan, her back arching off the bed as pleasure coiled tight in her belly.
Her breasts bounced with every thrust, her nipples aching, and when Alpin dipped his head to take one into his mouth, the sharp pull of his teeth sent her over the edge. She came with a cry, clenching around him, her body trembling beneath him.
Alpin groaned, his pace faltering as her orgasm milked him. "Fuck, Mhairi—" His voice was ragged, his breath coming in harsh gasps. "I'm close."
She nodded, her fingers clutching at his back, her nails scoring lines into his skin.
With a final, deep thrust, Alpin buried himself to the hilt and came, his manhood pulsing as he spilled hot and thick inside her.
Mhairi whimpered at the sensation, the wet heat of him filling her, marking her in a way that felt primal, right. His body shuddered above hers, his breath hot against her neck as he rode out the last waves of his release.
For a long moment, neither of them moved.
Alpin's weight pressed her into the furs, his manhood still buried deep, softening slowly. Mhairi traced idle patterns on his back, her touch gentle now, her heart still racing.
The fire crackled low in the hearth, the embers casting a golden glow over their sweat-slicked skin.
Eventually, Alpin rolled onto his side, pulling her with him so she was sprawled half atop his chest. His fingers twined with hers, his thumb brushing over her knuckles in slow, soothing strokes.
Mhairi listened to the steady thump of his heartbeat beneath her ear, the rhythm slowing as their breaths synced.
"Ye're mine now," Alpin murmured, his voice rough with satisfaction. It wasn't a question. It was a fact.
Mhairi smiled against his skin, her lips pressing to the steady pulse at his throat. "Aye," she whispered. "And ye're mine."
The fire burned low, the chamber warm and quiet around them.
Outside, the wind howled against the stone walls, but in there, there was only the two of them, tangled together, their bodies still humming from the force of what they'd shared.
Exhaustion pulled at Mhairi's limbs, her eyelids growing heavy, but she fought it for a moment longer, memorizing the feel of him beneath her fingers, the scent of him in her lungs.
When sleep finally took her, it was with Alpin's arms wrapped tight around her, his breath warm against her temple.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
"They're here."
Alpin looked up from the supply reports he'd been reviewing to find Callum standing in the doorway of his office. Through the window, he could hear the sound of horses entering the courtyard, more than just a few, by the sound of it.
"How many in the party?" he asked, already moving toward the door.
"Maybe twenty guards, plus packhorses. Peadar's nae takin’ any chances travelin’ through uncertain territory."
"Smart." Alpin grabbed his cloak from the hook by the door. "Is Mhairi?—"
