Killian stroked her chin tenderly as she snuggled closer into his arms, wanting to fill her lungs with his scent.
“I was so scared I’d lose ye,” Killian whispered against her hair and smoothed a hand over it. He kissed her forehead. “I thoughtI would lose ye in that fire. I would have never forgiven myself if anything happened to ye.”
It took courage, but Lily slowly raised her hand to his chin and stroked it. She fell asleep in his arms again, and by the time she opened her eyes next, it was dusk.
Killian came into the chamber with the healer to check on her, and once the healer nodded softly, Lily saw the relief on Killian’s face.
The healer left them alone a few minutes later before Killian sat on the edge of the bed and smiled at her.
“The keep didnae burn to the ground, but we willnae be able to stay in there for a while,” he told her softly. “We will stay in this cottage until the repairs are finished. Everyone is safe now.”
Lily nodded as she sat up on the bed, and Killian looked like he was about to say more.
“Killian—”
“I love ye, Lily,” he blurted out, interrupting what she was about to say. “I have loved ye from the moment ye threw me off that saddle and jumped over that cliff. I have loved ye through every smile, every tear. I love ye even when my heart aches. I love ye even when it seems like there’s no hope for the future. I have loved ye for a long time, Lily, and I dinnae think I will ever stop.”
Lily’s smile softened as she saw his chest rise and fall with the force of his breaths. “I love you, Killian,” she told him after some time. “I will never stop loving you. Ever.”
Killian’s gaze told her all she needed, and when he pulled her to him gently for a passionate kiss, she went willingly into his arms.
His tongue swept into her mouth, and his taste flooded her, banishing every fear that had gripped her heart after the fire.
There were no words as Killian lowered her to the bed. Lily wanted him to make love to her just like he had in his study the other night.
She wanted this. She wanted him, and there was no holding back now.
Killian broke the kiss when she slid his hand on her chin down to her chest.
“Lily,” he whispered, his eyes searching hers.
“Do not pull away from me this time, Killian,” she begged him. “Make love to me.”
While his hand rested on her bosom, Lily offered him her lips and gave herself to the ecstasy he elicited in her body. He lowered her to the bed and slowly peeled off her clothes to expose her heated skin to his touch.
Every stroke of his tongue and flicker drove her towards the edge of madness.
She cried out when he slid one finger into her moist core, then buried his face in the crook of her neck. She bucked her hips, loving every thrust of his finger while his mouth devoured her.
Killian took one erect nipple into his mouth and aroused her to the core when he suckled on it. He withdrew his finger and replaced it with his hardness so quickly that she couldn’t breathe for a second.
His thrusts were slow and deep. Lily wrapped her hands around his neck, clung to him, and raised her hips off the bed to meet his every thrust.
Together, they tumbled over the peaks of their pleasure. Together, they were complete, and Lily knew she wanted to stay here with him.
For time unending.
They lay together in silence for a long time after their climax, and Killian kept kissing the side of her neck while his hands stroked her body.
She dozed off a little, but his next words shocked her. “Stay here with me.”
Lily raised her head to stare at him and found his eyes on hers. Once again, her heart fluttered because she was near him, and his warmth seeped into her body.
“I want ye here in MacColl with me. I want ye to stay Lily.”
It took a second, but a smile spread across her lips before she lowered her lips to his for a soft kiss. “I will stay,” she whispered, just before he deepened the kiss and stole her senses.
When Killian finally pulled back, Lily laughed, and he kissed his way down her body, stopping just above the swell of her breasts to stare deep into her eyes. “I want to make love to ye again.”
