Tears filled her eyes, and there was nothing she could do to keep them from falling. All her life she had kept her feelings bottled up, afraid of the repercussions if she showed she had a woman’s heart. Her father preyed endlessly on vulnerabilities, especially those of his daughters. It gave him complete control over them.
“I canna stay here forever, Adam.”
“I know.”
“My sisters need me. I need them.”
“I know.” He pulled back and gazed down at her, his thumb skimming a couple of tears off her cheek. “These should be tears of joy, not regret.”
“And I should be free to choose whom I love.”
He didn’t reply, and she didn’t offer further explanation. The word love hung between them. Kali knew she loved him, how much or in what way, it was too soon to tell. But the bond had been made. Everything that needed to take root to grow that love: attraction, respect, trust, and above all things, laughter, had been borne between them. Undeniably so. She regarded him with fascination and gratefulness. He had gifted her with joy. And the children, he would look after them once she left this place.
“Kali Bane,” he whispered her name.
She lifted her eyes to his. “Say my name again, softer this time.”
“Kali Bane.”
She shifted her body upward and kissed him, and Adam sighed, opening his mouth to her. His strong hands slid up her arms, and he fisted one hand in her long hair, the other seeking entrance beneath the blanket. She welcomed his touch. Wanted it badly. His fingers found one of her nipples, stroking gently, then caressing her breast. He coaxed her back, opening the blanket and climbing atop her.
She let him cover her body with his. ’Twas the closest she would ever come to making love to a man she chose. And besides, Adam had breeches on now. A barrier of protection of some sort was better than none. Yet she could feel every inch of his excitement—the heat of his skin against hers, his manhood—what would he feel like moving inside me? Openly loving him?
She was a sensible woman. Freedom was a fantasy. But if she could choose the man she married, one who valued her intelligence and treated her with care, she’d hold on and never let go. Adam was that sort of man. She knew it with all her heart.
Featherlight kisses rained down over her face and neck, between her breasts, to her stomach as he moved down her body, then the inside of each thigh, before he ever so gently urged her legs farther apart.
What was he going to do? She raised her head and met his hungry stare. He smiled at her, that boyish grin tugging at her heart and inspiring heat to pool between her legs. “What are ye doing, Adam?” Her legs quivered in anticipation.
He rested his palm on her stomach and stroked her right leg. “Let me give ye this wee gift.” His offer was absolute, she could see it in his expression.
What wee gift did he have to offer, for there was nothing small about this man. He could have said something else to ease the tension throughout her body, to relieve the slight twinge of fear and guilt she felt for letting a man touch her like this. But he had other intentions, as his head dipped between her legs and his tongue met her sensitive flesh. So sensitive she nearly jumped out of her skin as sensations flooded her body—wonderful, indescribable physical feelings.
The little pearl at the top of her womanhood throbbed as Adam pushed her inexperienced body to the edge, his fingers and tongue working in harmony to build her up, then break her down. She wanted to scream out his name, but then she fell silent as waves of pleasure overwhelmed her. Much like the waves crashing around them, tumultuous and unending, but beautiful.
Her thoughts scattered as her eyes fluttered open. Parts of her body still tingled. Parts of her heart would never be the same. The gift he’d given her was priceless.
“Kali.” She awoke to Adam’s fine voice sometime later.
Though still dark, she could see faint hints of light on the horizon. They must have fallen asleep in each other’s arms by the fire.
She couldn’t face him, not yet. She forced her eyes closed again, reaching blindly for the blanket to cover her nakedness.
“Kali,” he called her name again. “Please, look at me.”
“I’m afraid to. It feels like I have been irrevocably exposed. Anything that was once mine, gone.”
He took her hand and raised it, kissing her knuckles. “My tongue possesses that much power over ye, lass?”
“Ye arrogant arse!” She shot upright and slapped his chest. “Yer tongue is… Well. Sinful!”
The dimples in his cheeks appeared with a grin. “Well then. Me chances at sainthood are surely sacked.”
“I’ll saint ye…” She scrambled to her feet, stomping around to find her shift and dress. Adam MacKay infuriated her by turning this intimate moment, this life-altering encounter into something to jest about.
“Lass.” He chased after her. “What are ye all worked up about? Have I failed ye in some way?”
Aye. He’d failed to warn her what would happen once he kissed her senseless. Licked her flesh. Whispered her name so softly in her ear. Touched her body everywhere, leaving her breathless.
