Leaning back against the single pillow, Nora smiled dreamily up at him. Her blood still thumped in her ears, and lingering pleasure from her almost-peak tickled through her limbs. Watching hungry desire flare in Creighton’s eyes made her shiver, and she reached out toward him.
He needed no further urging, leaning down to kiss her roughly, tongues sliding together. Fingertips danced over her thighs again, sliding between her legs, and then something larger than a finger or two nudged against her.
“Breathe,” he whispered, voice echoing in her ears.
Slowly, slowly, he moved into her, the stretch unfamiliar and not exactly comfortable. Frowning, Nora shifted herself, angling her hips. When she did so, he pressed against something, and heat flared in her gut once more.
“Oh,” she breathed.
Creighton chuckled, low in his throat, and pressed a quick kiss to her throat. “Remember what I said. Nay closin’ yer eyes. No hidin’.”
“As if I could hide from ye.”
He let out a shuddering breath at that and leaned back, putting a few inches between them. When he moved his hips, slowly and carefully at first, Nora shifted on the bed, blankets wrinklingaround her. Winding her arms around his shoulders, she tangled her fingers into his hair, holding him closer to her.
His hands shifted everywhere, bracing himself on the mattress to prevent crushing her under his weight, cupping her hips, holding her waist, or even sliding down the outside of her thigh, a warm and reassuring touch.
“I wish ye could have seen it,” he breathed, thrusts speeding up enough to touch something inside her that made pleasure surge through her in time with his movements, “The eclipse, I mean.”
“Maybe I willnae see an eclipse,” she whispered, fighting against the urge to close her eyes once more. She’d promised him, and his gaze kept seeking out hers, her heart pounding when their eyes met. “But I’ve seen ye, and that is almost enough.”
Her peak rushed upon her, a molten fire running through her veins, more intense even than anything like it before. Creighton gave a low growl, the sound rumbling through his chest and throughhers, and his thrusts stuttered. He closedhiseyes at his peak, which Nora privately thought was cheating, but there was always next time.
Silence stretched out between them for a moment, hot and languid. At last, Creighton shifted, slipping gently out of her and leaning forward to prop himself up on his elbows over her.
“Are ye well, lassie?” he managed, voice gravelly. “Nae sore?”
“Sore? Nay,” she mumbled dizzily, reaching up to touch his face. Her fingertips danced over his features, rough stubble, and weather-beaten skin. His eyelashes, long and dark, fluttered under her fingers. “That was wonderful.”
He grinned lazily. “I thought ye enjoyed it.”
She tilted up her face, and he took the hint, leaning down to kiss her.
“We cannae stay here long,” she said when he pulled back. “I hate to ruin the moment, but Donal will be back soon, hoverin’ around the door and askin’ to be let in.”
Creighton groaned, rolling his eyes. “Bloody Donal.”
She touched his cheek, smiling up at him. “There’s always our rooms. Or indeed other places in the keep.”
“Other places, eh? Interestin’, interestin’. We’ll have to discuss that in a wee bit more depth later, daenae ye think?”
She chuckled. “Perhaps.”
Creighton’s gaze softened. He lifted a hand, pushing back her hair from her forehead.
“Marry me,” he whispered, voice cracking.
Nora paused, sure that she must have misheard. “What?”
“Marry me. Daenae leave at the end of the year. Daenae let the betrothal go away. I… I love ye, Nora. I cannae lose ye.”
“Ye want to marry once the treaty is signed?”
“Nay. I want to marry ye now. Well, soon,” he conceded. “If that’s what ye want, that is.”
A lump lodged itself in Nora’s throat. “Aye,” she breathed, nodding tightly. “It is what I want. I… I never imagined that I’d marry, ye ken.”
“Well, ye already ken thatI didnae.”
