He lowered me to my feet and I was so enraptured by the sight before me that it took me a moment to realize he was undressing me. First my weapons were laid beside the boulders alongside the satchel I hadn’t realized he’d been carrying, then he went to work on my bodice, his gaze intently green but his expression neutral as he focused on the ties.
“Vrogul?”
“Hush, lass. I cannae worship ye if ye’re dressed.”
My arousal spiked again.
“I thought you were pillaging me?”
And about damn time!
A hint of a smile ghosted his lips.
“I’ll do both in a moment.”
He moved before me, blocking my view of the sea, but when he pulled my chemise over my head and I stood naked save for my stockings, he turned us both.
Turned us so he stood at my back—the hard ridge of his erection pressing into the small of my back—and I faced the sea from the top of the cliff. He surrounded me with his warmth, although the wind here at the edge of the cliff caused my skin to prickle. The juxtaposition between cold and hot caused my blood to hum, and when he lifted my breasts in his hands—warming them, aye, but also rolling the nipples—my knees went weak in response.
“Do ye see,dkaar?” he murmured against my hair. “Do ye seeeverything?”
Foreverseemed to roll out before me and I found myself clutching his forearms, trying to hold myself steady, hold myself here on this cliff so I didn’t shoot off into that sunset from the sensations lashing me.
“We’re standing on the edge of the world,” Vrogul continued. “That land over there? Yer people call thatIreland. My warriors have raided there as well as the mainland and the isles. This isours. Islay is no’ an easy land, but ‘tis ours, and we are happy here.”
When he squeezed my breasts again, I arched into his hold, whimpering with need, my arse rubbing against his thighs, pleading without words.
“These are my people, Rowena. Icannaeleave them…”
I felt him take a deep breath.
“But I would consider it. For ye.”
What?
My mind stuttered to a stop, especially when Vrogul dropped my breasts and moved around before me, blocking the wind, protecting me. He cupped my jaw.
“There is a kenning,dkaar,” he whispered, lifting my hand to rest against his chest. Vaguely, I noted that he was still dressed and thought it unfair, but I was far more focused on the thrumming I could feel beneath his skin.
“That’s what we are told as kitlings.There is a kenning.”
Why was this so familiar? Oh aye, he’d told me this that first time we’d sparred.
“Mates?” I managed a strangled whisper.
“Rowena, I feel yehere.”
He pressed my palm against his chest.
“I ken ye. I kenthis.We’re connected.”
We were.
Wewere.
My eyes slowly widened in understanding; my heart thumped wildly.
Vrogul lowered his chin slightly to hold my gaze.
