She nodded earnestly.
He began to move slowly, rolling his hips almost thoughtfully. The pace was almost agonizingly slow, and Hannah shifted her hips, wondering if she should ask him to move just alittlefaster. The sensation was different from what she had felt before, but somehow also the same.
Reaching up, she looped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him close to her. He leaned down, pressing his lips against her neck, supporting himself on his elbows so as not to crush her.
Her breath caught in her throat as he began to thrust faster, bodies slapping together with a thrillingly obscene slick sound. He pressed against something inside her, something that sent pleasure flooding through her. She gasped loudly, adjusting her grip to let her arms wind around his back, fingers sliding across the familiar ridges of his scars.
He moved quickly now, sliding in and out of her with an urgency. With every thrust, pleasure throbbed, pulsing through her, pushing her onwards to her peak. Hannah moaned, throwing back her head, and arched her back, grinding herself against him. Her climax made her shake, almost taking her by surprise.
“There we are, lass,” Aiden said, his voice a rumbling growl deep in his throat. “There we are.”
She was barely aware of his movements becoming erratic, another low growl stuttering out past his lips. Something hotspilled inside her, just catching the aftershocks of her pleasure, and he stilled at last.
For a moment, they lay together, struggling to breathe. Hannah had lost track of where her body ended and his began, since their limbs had gotten so tangled up. He draped himself over her, a warm, welcome weight, still propped up on his elbows to avoid crushing the breath out of her.
Closing her eyes, she buried her face in the crook of his neck and breathed deeply.
“I could stay like this forever,” she whispered.
She had not meant to say it aloud. But he heard it anyway, chuckling to himself.
Gently, he pulled back, sliding out of her. For a moment, the emptiness was uncomfortable, as if she’d lost something. Then he kissed her again, slow and soft and warm, and heat flooded through her anew.
“Did ye like that, then?” he asked, pulling back to get a good look at her face. He chuckled warmly. “I rather think ye did.”
She reddened. “Aye. That was… That was something, all right. Nay wonder folks have so many bairns.”
He gave a hoot of laughter, carefully rolling himself to the side and off her. At once, her skin prickled, cold air rushing over herheated body. He pulled out a blanket and draped it carefully over her, before propping himself up on his elbow, facing her.
For a moment, there was silence, just the two of them looking at each other and thinking of each other. At least, Hannah was thinking of him, and she hoped that he was thinking of her, too.
“Do ye intend to stay this time?” she asked, voice soft.
He reached up, curling a hand around her cheek. “Aye, lass. I do.”
“We’ll have to get up soon,” Hannah sighed, rolling onto her back and staring up at the ceiling. “Violet will be back before it gets dark.”
Outside, the shadows were lengthening. The fire blazed, having been recently rejuvenated by Aiden’s efforts. The light cast the spider and its magnificent web into relief high above her head. The spider itself squatted proudly in the middle of its creation. A little smug, maybe.
I willnae let Violet dust that cobweb down. Nae yet, at least.
“We’re safe for now, then,” Aiden murmured, leaning forward to press a kiss to her bare shoulder. “So, I bet Duncan has been here every day since ye returned, eh?”
She sighed. “He visited often, aye. I ken he was worried about me. Nae every day, though. The man has work to do and a life to lead.”
Aiden threw her a look that she could not quite interpret. “Humph. And on which of these visits did he ask ye to marry him?”
She twisted to look at him properly. “Are ye making a joke?”
“Deadly serious, love.”
“Duncan hasnae asked me to marry him. Why would he? I told ye—I ken ye didnae believe me—that Duncan isnae in love with me. I daenae believe I’m the sort of lass he fancies. We are good friends, but that’s all.”
He blinked slowly. “I’m sorry, ye mean to tell me that Duncan never asked ye to marry him? Nae even once?”
She rolled onto her side, propping herself up on her elbow. “Nay, he didnae. Never has.”
Aiden flopped onto his back and groaned loudly, covering his face with his hands. “BloodyLucas.”
