Finally he spoke. “I feel responsible for their deaths.”
She hugged him closer. Her hand dropped tohis back, brushing over tense muscles. “Why do you say that?”
From the sound of his breathing, she knew he fought to say more, and waited. “The boats they use have small open hulls. They’re easily swamped. Your father agreed to supply the village with new fishing boats built with covered hulls.”
He raised his head and looked down at her. “The new boats are scheduled to arrive next month. I delayed our marriage out of a sense of panic at being trapped. If I hadn’t, the boats would have been delivered by now and those crews might have survived.”
He released her to roll onto his side, facing her. Diantha remained silent as she digested his words. She hated thinking about his financial reasons for marrying her, but she could not deny they existed.
She adjusted herself to face him, shivering unexpectedly as the blanket lifted to allow a draft on her backside.
He pushed their covering back and slid out. “I’ll be right back.” She watched him as he squatted on the hearth, seemingly oblivious to his nudity. He built up the fire and returned to the makeshift bed.
She lifted up the top blankets to allow him to crawl back in beside her. Pulling them up over his shoulders, she scooted close to him, warming him with her body as they faced each other side by side. “You can’t blame yourself for losing those ships.”
He started to protest, but she placed her fingertips against his lips. “My dear, there are too many variables.”
“One, we were both out in the storm yesterday. We know how severe it was. Two, it was bad enoughto smash wooden buildings close to the water’s edge. Is that normal, or worse than normal?” She removed her fingers so he could answer.
He traced her hip with his hand. “Worse.”
She snuggled closer to him. “And were the men going out on your orders?”
“No.” He shook his head. “They know—” He shut his eyes and swallowed. “They knew the sea better than I ever could.”
She brushed his lips with her own. “They thought it was safe. Then that storm blew up too quickly for them to get back. And it was worse than average.”
She pushed him onto his back and leaned on her elbow, her face above his. “I don’t know how soon my father promised the new boats after our marriage, but I think it’s quite possible they would have foundered too.”
Her fingers brushed a tangle of dark hair off his cheek. He had not shaved yesterday, and the prickle of his emerging whiskers teased her skin. “And because you are a conscientious landlord, you’d be blaming yourself because they were new and the men were unused to them.”
He pulled her down to lie on his chest. Contented, she listened to him speak. “But that’s what it meant for centuries for the Rossburns. The clan system was based on ties of blood, not oaths from vassal to lord. When you put on a tartan and badge, it meant you were part of a family and that your first loyalty belonged to it.”
She lifted her head. “Ah, yes. You had to swear to love and serve the laird of the clan.” She kissed hischest and looked at him. “Why didn’t you ask me to take that oath?”
His hand stroked down her back as he smiled. “We have a family tartan, but I’m not a clan chief.”
She kissed him again, a few inches lower. “You always think of yourself as responsible for the happiness of others.” She flicked her tongue farther down, raising gooseflesh across his skin. “I think you need to let someone take care of your needs for awhile.”
His eyes gleamed green in the firelight. “And what needs do you think require attention just now?”
Her hand slid down to fondle the rapidly hardening flesh of his erection. “I can think of one I’d like to take care of.” Becoming serious again, she placed a hand in the center of his chest. “You’ve thought enough tonight, Kier. Just lay back and feel.”
He did as she asked. He watched her, though, as she moved down his body, kissing and stroking her way to his cock. And she watched him. Watched his chest rise and fall as she nudged his thighs apart to make room for her to crouch. Watched his neck cord as she ran her fingertips over the insides of his thighs. Watched his eyes darken to black as she removed the chemise she had slept in.
When she took the head of his shaft into her mouth, his eyes closed and he sucked in a breath. As she explored the hard flesh with her mouth, he buried his hands in her hair and moaned her name, urging her to go faster and deeper.
Then, panting, he sat up and flipped her over, spreading her wide with shaking hands. “I need to be inside you, Dina.” He poised himself at her entrance,but although she was willing, her body had too little moisture yet.
Wild-eyed, he lowered his mouth to the apex of her thighs and used his tongue to tease her nub while slipping two fingers inside her.
She groaned as the familiar tension started to build. As soon as the thick digits could plumb the depths of her body easily, he lifted himself over her, positioning his cock once more at the opening of her channel.
She looked up at his beautiful face, now contorted with need and desire. “Come to me, Kier.” And then she gasped as he thrust smoothly inside.
He set an ever-increasing rhythm, pounding in and out of her as he whispered his need of her. She met every movement eagerly, matching herself to him. They mated wildly until he raised himself up on his hands and ground into her with a hoarse cry. His release set off hers and she could only cling to him as tremor after tremor shook her.
They remained joined for a long time afterward. Then Kieran moved to her side and gathered her close, tucking the blankets into a warm cocoon around both of them.
