A warm hand clasped her thigh and worked higher to grip her rear.The sensation of his fingers gripping her cool flesh made her head spin and when she glanced at the skies, the stars all seemed to blend into one.Only Logan’s face commanded her focus.He broke away for a moment but it gave her enough time to imprint his expression in her memory—his eyes hooded and intense, his mouth open slightly to draw in deep breaths, the dark dusting of hair across his jaw and the crease of his scar.His strong features and the way his brows dipped as if concentrating on marking her in his memory too. It all imprinted in her mind.
When he brought his mouth down on hers in a possessive, passionate kiss, he lifted her leg and hooked it over his hip.It left her open to him and he slipped his fingers around her thigh to find her sex.With skilled fingers, he parted her folds and skimmed a thumb over her nub.Sizzling pleasure made her buck against the confines of his body and she gasped against his mouth.
“So wet,” he murmured.“God’s teeth.”
Without warning, he plunged his fingers into her.He was right.She was wet.and so ready.He slammed two fingers into her and her body took them easily, needing them so badly.She had to be filled, craved that sensation so badly that all she could do was remain pinned against that wall and take whatever he gave her.
He pumped his fingers in and out, and though she tried to work him deeper, the wall of stone behind and the wall of muscle in front constricted her movements.She scrabbled her nails across his back in a silent plea for more.
Logan answered it by withdrawing his hand, gripping her other leg and lifting her clean from the ground.Her back scraped across the stone until he found the dip in the wall and rested her on it.The drop behind her might have scared her, the thought of all the men somewhere in the darkness waiting for the moment to strike, should have horrified her, but nothing existed apart from Logan and this night.
One arm around her back, he lifted her skirts again.A rip sounded as his impatient movements rent one of the layers but all Lorna cared about was having Logan between her thighs.She urged him forward with her legs around his hips while he bundled the fabric as high as possible.She reached around to free him from his clothing and his solid heat filled her hand.
They both groaned and the hand on her back pressed up to support the back of her head while the other landed on her hip.He needed no encouragement.As soon as his arousal met her heat, he thrust—a swift, searing thrust that left her unsure where he ended and she began.
“Oh, Lord...”
She dug her heels into his rear and moved against him.His earlier attentions had left her coiled with need and each slide of him inside her increased the friction until nonsensical sounds slipped from her mouth.He kissed her urgently, clumsily and she felt the strain of his muscles.Lorna closed her eyes and concentrated on the pleasure each thrust brought.
Their movements grew erratic and the tightening inside increased.His beard scuffed her cheek as he gripped her tighter to him.She muffled a cry against his shoulder and a great shudder wracked her.The skies above appeared to explode in a scatter of stars, and pulsations rolled through her, over and over.
Sagging in his embrace, Lorna attempted to gather her breath but his desperate movements gave her little chance to relax.She found herself spellbound as she drew back to meet his gaze.
He locked his gaze on hers.His expression crumpled.Vulnerability flew across his face, the cords in his neck stood out, and every part of his powerful body shuddered.She closed her eyes briefly and relished the moment she made this strong warrior fall apart.
“I love ye,” she whispered against his chest when he bundled her into him.
He didn’t respond.She didn’t expect him to.But the kiss to the top of her head was enough for her.Lorna smiled against the rough material of his shirt.The great weight on her shoulders lifted.She was no longer afraid.
Chapter Eighteen
Had it been any other morning, waking up with a golden-haired lass snuggled into Logan’s side would have filled him with joy.It still did, he supposed.He gazed down at her, noting the way her freckled nose squashed against his chest and her arm curved around his waist.But even the beautiful scene she created did not subdue the heavy weight of dread that made his mouth dry and his pulse quicken as soon as he awoke.
He had so much to lose now.
Logan winced as he tried to flex his tingling arm and withdraw it from underneath Lorna without disturbing her.She murmured and tossed, flinging an arm across her face.In spite of himself, a smile tugged at his lips.The lass did not do mornings well.Who knew such a sight could soften his hard heart?Yet it did.Everything about her did.Mayhap he even...
Ach, but his head was still a muddle.His body knew what it wanted.Her.Every instinct told him this was the woman for him.He had a family now and he needed to be by her side more than anything, but a small part of him still held back.The black cloud haunting his mind refused to abate and he suspected it never would.In truth, it terrified him.
Sliding out of bed, he tiptoed over to the crib nearby.Ewan slept on, both arms raised above his head, his fists curled.Logan brushed a finger over his jaw.The babe only woke once during the night and from his limited experience of children, he thought Ewan had to be the most placid babe in all of Scotland.A testament to his mother—though with her fiery nature and his temper, it was a miracle they had been blessed with such a child.But mayhap he used to be calmer.He just didn’t know.
He risked touching a tiny curled fist and glanced over at the bed when Lorna released a muffled snore.It was not a bellowing snore like that of the men from the keep but a wee noise that yanked his bruised heart and drew him to her.He stood over her for several moments, watched the inhalation of each breath and the way her delicate body moved against the cotton of her shift.He did not know everything yet.Could not even be sure how he felt about everything he had learned.He had gained a family, friends and a new home within a matter of days.But he knew one thing.
He would fight to the death to protect them.To protect her.
He only prayed it did not come to that.
A crashing noise made him jerk his head up and Lorna bolted up to sitting.She shoved her curls away from her face and peered at him blearily.“What is it?”
“I dinnae know.”
She blinked and took in his naked state.A sultry smile curved her lips and he saw her gaze land on his arousal.Another crash and they both jolted.He snatched his plaid from the floor and fisted it around his waist before striding over to the shutters and pushing them open.Peering out, he saw the men crowding the hills around the castle.The army had drawn close and were preparing for battle.Far back, he noted the large tent that no doubt housed the laird.He dug his fingers into the stone ledge and imagined it was Gillean’s neck instead.
“Has it started?”
Logan turned, tempted to say nay.Nay, all would be well.Nay, they would never break through and slaughter them.Nay, he would not die protecting them this day.But he could not.As he fumbled for some reassuring words, something zipped by him and the wooden door made a cracking sound.He peered at the arrow for several moments as it bounced in position, embedded in the oak, before slamming the shutters and motioning for Lorna to get up.
“Get to the centre of the keep,” he barked.
