But there would be pain when she gave up her virginity tonight. She knew that, too. He was a generously proportioned and virile man. She sat up in the bed and hoped she would be able to accommodate him.
The fire had died down and raindrops pelted against the window. The room was lit by a single candle on the bedside table. It flickered when a knock sounded at the door.
“Enter.”
The door opened, and Duncan strode in, carrying a candelabra with half a dozen candles. Shadows swung across the scarlet-drapedwalls. He closed the door behind him with a quiet click, set the candles down on thetallchest of drawers, and looked at her.
Hestillwore his dinner attire—the black velvet coat with silver trimmings, gray waistcoat, and a white shirt with a ruffled lacecollarand cuffs. His hair, however, wasfallingloose upon his shoulders in wild disarray, and for the first time since her arrival at the castle she felt as if she were looking at the rugged Highlander who had abducted her from her bed at the fort.
She wet her lips and tried to focus on something other than the rising tide of her apprehensions.
“Are you ready for me, lass?” he asked,stillstanding just inside the door.
Remembering her previous resolution to be brave, she said matter-of-factly,“Yes.”
He approached the bed and shrugged out of his velvet coat. The movement showed his muscular shoulders and male brawn to shocking advantage. He folded the coat and draped it neatly on the back of a chair. Next he removed his waistcoat, thenpulledhis shirt off over his head, and Amelia was arrested on the spot, gazing up at his scarred bare chest and massive upper arms.
“You best be bracing yourself, lassie,” he said, “for the enormity of what you’re about to behold.” His lips curled up in a teasing smile. “Come here now. Unfasten my breeches.”
He held his arms straight out to the sides, and she found herself obeying his commands with curious amusement, for this wasallnew to her, and she did not know what she was supposed to do, or how she should behave.
She slipped out from under the covers and crawled across the bed. Sitting back on her heels at the edge, she released the fastenings on his breeches, which served to keep his enormous erection contained. Sheswallowed hard as the breechesfellopen and her eyes took in the part of him that would soon break through her tender maidenhead. Her blood began to race.
“Take off your shift,” he gently suggested as he slipped out of his breeches, “and get in the bed, lass. I want to hold you close.”
Seconds later, she was naked beneath the covers, feeling the cool sheets on her sensitive skin, while he slid in next to her. His large,callused hand brushed over her bel y, and a flash of excitement lit her senses. She tried to stay calm as herolledon top of her.
She did not spread her legs. He did not ask her to. She became very aware of his muscular inner thigh rubbing against the top of hers, his lips touching her cheeks in teasing, light kisses, then settling deeply, deliciously on her mouth. A tiny moan escaped her, and she ran her fingers through his hair, surprised that she could feel such desire when she wasstillso nervous about what was yet to come.
“Tel me when it is about to happen,” she said, “so that I may prepare myself.”
His lips brushed over her eyelids. “It’s already happening, lass, and don’t worry. You’llbe ready. I’llsee to it. I’lldo nothing in a hurry.”
With that, he bent lower and used his mouth to kiss and caress her breasts, her arms, her belly, her thighs—
everywhere. His touch was light. His lips were moist, leaving her skin damp and tingly with a trail of sensitivity and rapture.
She, too, caressed his body with her hands. She ran her fingers up and down his battle-scarred back, down to the curve of his muscular buttocks, and lower, to his rock-hard thighs.
It went on for quite some time—this touching and loving in the candlelight—and soon she reached a quiet mood of tranquility, where her body seemed to melt beneath him like hot butter. She wiggled closer. Any rational thoughts seemed hazy and numb.allthat existed in her mind was an awareness of his hands working over her body and the feel of his hot, bare flesh, tight against her own.
Unconsciously, she parted her legs and wrapped them around his hips, and felt an aching need from within her heated depths. He reached down with his hand and placed himself at her opening.
“You’re slick and ready for me, lass, but you musttellme that you want me.” He shifted his hips, positioning himself between her throbbing flesh. “I must have you when you’rewilling.”
“Yes, Duncan, I want you.Please.”
Something wicked flashed in his eyes.«Well, since you’re begging…”
Her hips lifted, and with a deep groan of need he drove forward and plunged some two inches up inside her, stretching and filling.
She sucked in a sharp breath of shock, because there was pain. There was most definitely pain. He was very big, and she was tight and untested.
But she wanted it. She wantedallof it. And she felt very wanton. She could barely believe this was happening.
It was permission, at last, to surrender.
* * *
