“I think I will possess ye, lass,” he breathed. “Do ye ken why? Because I have wanted it from the moment I laid eyes on ye. Ye drive me wild, make me feel as though I am drownin’ in open air. Because I want ye, and because…” he paused, a faint smile playing over his lips. “Because I think ye want me too.”
Nora opened her mouth to tell himno, she did not want him, what a ridiculous idea. He was wrong, entirely wrong, and she… she…
The words faded to ash in her mind. All that came out of her mouth was a shaky exhale.
He let out a low chuckle.
He sees me,Nora thought wildly, and while she was deciding whether that was a good thing or a very, very bad thing, Creighton kissed her.
Not a tentative, gentle kiss like when she was in the bathtub. No, this kiss was full of prickling teeth and desperation. He kept a firm grip on her wrist, his other hand rising to cup the back of her neck. His tongue pushed into her mouth almost immediately, with wide, sweeping strokes that sent heat rushing down her spine and curling into her gut.
The heartbeat between her legs returned with a vengeance, pulsing desperately. He tugged her against him, chests pressed together, his hand sliding down to press against the small of her back.
Nora clutched at his shoulders, trying to steady herself. Her hands slipped down, almost of their own accord, to the swell of his biceps. When he moved, muscles shifted under his skin. It was hypnotizing. What would he look like without the thin fabric of his shirt? She’d already seen him half-wet, and that was...
Nora broke off the thought when he pulled back, breaking the kiss. Fingers sliding down the curve of his chest, a low whine slipped out from between her lips.
“So very eager,” he breathed. In the darkness, his eyes seemed almost entirely black. Hair fell forward over his forehead, and Nora was overcome with the urge to sweep it back, to tangle her fingers in his hair. Would it feel silky against her fingers, or thick and coarse?
She reached out, but he moved back, dropping down to his knees. Blinking, Nora took a step back. Or at least, she tried to step back. The footboard of the bed bumped against her hips. Nowhere else to go, then.
Creighton’s eyes fixed themselves on her. He cupped her hips, briefly resting his chin on the softness of her lower stomach.
For an instant—it seemed to stretch out forever—there was only silence. They stared at each other. Could he feel the thrum of her heartbeat all the way along her body? Maybe.
With a slow, wicked grin, Creighton let one of his hands drop, sliding down the line of her leg. He reached the hem of her nightgown, and his hand slipped underneath. He wasted no time. There was no teasing this time. Rough knuckles traced upward, skimming her thighs to the hot spot in between.
Swallowing hard, Nora closed her eyes, letting her head tilt back. His fingers drew a line against her, just as they had before. Already, pleasure was building at the base of her spine. He’d called her eager, and perhaps she was. She didn’t care. Noises fought their way up her throat, little gasps and moans, and she bit her lip hard, trying to hold them back.
Abruptly, the touching stopped. Nora opened her eyes, peering dizzily down at him.
“Creighton?” she breathed.
He peered up at her, and she noticed with a jolt that he had lifted her nightdress, almost to her hips. She had barely noticed the chill on her legs, what with him crouching there, warm and solid and so fascinating that she began to shiver.
“I hope ye daenae intend on holdin’ yer voice back,” he whispered, the words coming out scratchy. “Nobody can hear ye here.”
She opened her mouth to say something in response—not that her brain was working well—but nothing came out, and he only chuckled, skimming one hand up her thigh. Delicately, he lifted her leg, careful to provide support so that she did not overbalance. He hooked her thigh over his shoulder, glanced up at her once more, and grinned.
The grin alone sent a rush of pleasure through her. After pressing a thoughtful kiss to her thigh, Creighton lifted his hand once more, this time slipping a forefinger inside her, just as he had in the bathtub.
And then he leaned forward, fitting his lips against the core of her.
The sensation was entirely different, more intense and softer at the same time. His tongue pressed against her, sliding upwards in a thoughtful, tasting motion. The finger shifted, pressing against something inside her. Somethinggood. Movement of his tongue and finger worked together, in unison.
Gasping aloud, Nora squeezed her eyes shut, fingers digging into his shoulders. Shefelthim chuckle again, the noise shivering straight through her.
There was no more waiting or teasing. He moved swiftly, his tongue and fingers working together more rapidly now, pulling and stroking, the goal only to bring her to her climax. It hit her with a shuddering rush, more intense than in the warmth of the bath, leaving Nora gasping and trembling, her fingers tangled in his hair.
Soft,she thought hazily, circling down from the height of her pleasure.His hair is soft.
CHAPTER 20
Nora’s hearthammered against her chest. Her breathing slowly, oh-so-slowly, returned to normal. She untangled her fingers from Creighton’s hair, but chunks of it remained sticking up, comically tangled and disheveled. He stared up at her, eyes dark, lips slick in a way that made her swallow hard.
“Another mistake?” she managed, her voice cracking. She wished it would steady, but apparently it was too late in the day for wishes.
Creighton said nothing, smoothly rising to his feet and tilting his head. He stepped back, creating more space between them. Somehow, there was more room than before. The room had grown darker, which was to be expected, but now he seemed reduced to nothing more than a shadowy smear in the dark. Were his eyes truly glittering, or was that just her imagination?
