She gasped as he came toward her, but turned away instead as if with another task in mind—though the servants had already stoked the fire.
She watched as he poured water from a pitcher into a bowl to wash his hands with a sliver of soap, and dry them on his breacan, which he tore impatiently from his shoulder and unwound from his waist.
Only then did he approach her again, something so carnal burning in his gaze that Rowen began to tremble anew.
“Is it true that you bathed me while I lay abed, lass?”
She bobbed her head as his sword belt was dropped with a thud to the floor, followed by his own boots that he flung into a corner before stopping right in front of her.
“Did you like what you saw?”
He was breathing harder, which made Rowen’s breath catch at the way he still looked at her.
“Y-you were sleeping…and Simeon assured me you were doing better or I wouldna have touched you…but aye, Alec—ah, God, are you feeling well enough to…to…?”
Rowen blushed so deeply that he gave another husky laugh, which made her shiver as he yanked his tunic over his head to toss it onto the floor and stand naked in front of her.
His body so magnificent in its masculinity that she could but stare wide-eyed as the lower part of him swelled to stand upright amidst a dark blond thatch of hair, making her gasp.
“Y-you didna look like that while you slept—oh!”
CHAPTER12
Rowen was swept off her feet so abruptly she felt lightheaded as Alec carried her toward the bed, where he set her down with the back of her thighs against the mattress to unfasten the belt around her waist.
“No more of my tunics after today,” he murmured, his large hands cupping her hips for a moment as he stared down at her, though she couldn’t read his face now cast in shadow. “I will have some cut down tae fit you and you’ll have them tae wear by midday tomorrow…unless you wish tae wear something else.”
Rowen knew he referred to the gowns, but he didn’t wait for an answer. He bunched her tunic in his hands to pull the garment over her head, leaving her breathless and standing just as naked in front of him.
She could feel his gaze raking her from head to foot, but she couldn’t read his eyes with the firelight behind him though his low groan told her all.
Aye, it was happening…the very thing she had hoped desperately would never come to pass only days ago with her promised rescue by Errol ever forefront in her mind.
Now as she stared back at Alec, her heart beating wildly, she knew she didn’t want to be rescued from what she ached for with an intensity she’d never known before…even as Alec took a step toward her.
Not reaching out for her, not touching her, but standing so near that she felt the warmth radiating from his body—och, a quick downward glance making her shiver at how close that swollen part of him was poised near her lower belly.
“Look at me, Rowen.”
Her face burning, she sucked in her breath and met his gaze, his hand reaching out to stroke her cheek.
“You know what is tae come?”
“A-aye, I heard my brothers boasting many times of-of their conquests?—”
“This is no conquest, lass. You’re my wife and I’m your husband…and I’ve waited long enough tae consummate our marriage. Yet if you still dinna wish it…”
Alec fell silent, his words hanging in the air as he stepped closer, his lower body grazing her belly, which seemed to quiver at his nearness, ah, God…
A sigh escaped Rowen and she said not a word, either, as she felt herself pushed back gently upon the bed with Alec now standing between her parted thighs.
His hands moving up her legs to caress her hips and then splay beneath her bottom to lift her up to him as he bent over her, Rowen gasping in surprise.
“There are many kinds of kisses, lass…and I dinna want tae hurt you when I claim you…”
He didn’t say anything more as he lowered his head to press his mouth to the very heart of her, Rowen jerking against him as his tongue slipped into her—though Alec held her fast.
Her moan of fresh surprise only urging him on as he teased and caressed her with an intimate kiss so carnal that her body began to shake from the sensations overwhelming her.
