“But you told me that you would never let me hold you back fromkillingRichard,” she said, “or distract you from it.”
“Aye, and I resent you very much right now, so be careful what you say. I’mill-tempered.”
Sheswallowed uneasily. “I do not understand.” He resented her, but he wanted another night with her?
Then suddenly her imagination was running riot and she was permitting herself to wonder if she might be able to sway him from his goal afterall—that perhaps asmallsliver of affection for her could become more important to him than the bloodshed he craved. Perhaps he might give itallup for the sake of her happiness. He was risking a great deal, afterall, camping here for one more night, when Richard might be heading in the other direction at this very moment.
But then she understood, more realistically, that it was not an affection for her that had slowed their progress but a simple physical lust. She remembered how he had watched her throughout the day, and shivered with apprehension—a fear of something inevitable, something she might not be able to control or prevent.
“Make no mistake about it,” he said. “I want my vengeance, and justice, too. Nothing can stand in the way of it. But when I achieve it, you’llnot be able to look at me, lass.
You’llsee only the brutal savage that I am.”
She felt a lump of dread rise up in her. Of course she wanted to reach Moncrieffe and return to her comfortable, civilized world, but the horrors of what Duncan feltcompelledto do before he could release her did not bear thinking of.
She did not want to imagine him committing an act of murder.
“I want this to end,” she said. “I don’t wish to be your captive. But must you real y do it? Can you not have your vengeance another way? Report Richard to the authorities.
Write a letter and demand an official inquiry.”
Duncan chuckled bitterly at the suggestion, then reached up and pushed her hair away from her face. “I’ve enjoyed your company, lassie, and I’llmiss you when you’re gone.”
Why would he not see reason?
He slid his arm around her waist andpulledher closer.
“I’ve been aching for youallday, and try as I might, I can do nothing to slake my lust. I’ve never felt more savage than I do when I am lying next to you.”
Shocked by his confession and flushed by the heat that was simmering inside her body, shepulledback and stared at him. But before she could utter a word, his mouth collided with hers, and herolledover on top of her.
A breeze swished through the leafy treetops, and Amelia arched her back wantonly. The desire to hold him and be held by him was powerful, and her head began to swim. He cupped her breast and massaged it, and she gasped helplessly. She wanted the passion and intimacy, but at the same time she wanted to fight against it.
His tongue swept into her mouth; then he lifted her skirts, slid them up to her waist, and caressed her thighs.allthat stood between them now was her split drawers, which he soonpenetrated with skillful, probing fingers. She felt his whole palm slide between her legs, then stroke and knead her sensitive damp flesh. The pleasure became a kind of insistent ache, and she pressed her legs together, squeezing them around his hand.
“I’m just touching you, lass,” he whispered against her lips, and she quivered with delight, even when she knew it would lead to so much more. This was seduction. He was luring her to a very dangerous place.
Her legs parted readily when he used the heel of his hand to pleasure her. Sensations rushed forward, and shethrilledat his touch. He tasted her with his tongue, then rose up on his arms and mounted her.
Her rational mind wastellingher to put a stop to this, but her body refused to listen. Legs spread wide, she felt the silky tip of his erection, pressing against her. Everything was hot and wet, and she did not want it to end, even when she knew it was wrong.
“I want to take you now,” he said, “but you must bewilling.”
Her chest was heaving. She hesitated to respond.
“If you do not want to part with your virginity, you must say so now.”
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I don’t want to stop, but I always believed I would save myself for my husband.”
Duncan gazed down at her in the firelight, then drew back and rested his forehead on her shoulder. He seemed to be taking some time to bring his desires under control.
“I’llnot ruin you,” he softly said, “but I canstillgive you pleasure.”
She did not understand what he meant.allshe could do was watch him inch downward on the fur and disappear under her skirts. She gasped in shock as he kissed her ankles, her knees, her inner thighs, then pushed her legs wide apart and plunged hard with his mouth and tongue into the folds of her womanhood.
She arched her back and sucked in a breath, reeling in a blind and mindless haze of rapture. “What are you doing to me?”
He offered no explanation, however, for his lips were very busy.
