She slipped her hand through the opening, moaning at the feel of him—hot, heavy, alive beneath her touch. The warm length pulsed in her hand as she let her thumb brush from the tip, then all the way down.
Donell growled.
She slipped both her hands onto his hips and slid his pants down to his ankles. Trapped now, he couldn’t escape with his pants holding him hostage. She ran her fingertips along his thighs as she’d imagined doing while standing in front of his portrait. Corded with muscle, they were covered in soft curly hair. He must get plenty of sun with no clothes on. Not a single tan line marred his skin. Boy, would she like to be the lucky lady who stumbled on such a sight. Leaning in, she flicked her tongue over the tip, laughing sultrily when he took in a ragged breath.
“Oh, Lainie.” His hands ran through her hair, gripping it tight.
His moans were all the encouragement she needed. Her mouth worshiped him, slow kisses and gentle sucks that made him tremble against her. Lainie breathed hotly on the tip, smiling at his loud moans. Finally, she ended his torment and placed her lips around the head, sucking slowly. He tasted so good and smelled even better. Clean male scent. Sweet and salty taste. She moaned as she took him deeper into her mouth and then withdrew at a titillating pace. He bucked against her, but she held his hips in place.
“Oh, god,” he moaned, his hands tugging on her hair.
Lainie teased him again with her tongue, flicking once more along the tip.
“Please, Lainie…” Donell moaned.
Her body pulsed and hummed with his begging. She took a little more of him in and then let him slide back out. Gripping his length with her hand, she stroked him as her mouth bobbed up and down, her pace increasing a little. Her other hand cupped his sac, massaging.
Lainie didn’t think it was possible for him to grow thicker, but he did. The silky skin pulsed in her grip.
“Stop, no, don’t stop,” Donell moaned. His hips thrust forward, and then he dragged himself from her mouth.
She looked up. His green eyes were cloudy, heavily lidded. Between her thighs quivered from his gaze, knowing she’d been the one to turn him on. She smiled devilishly and licked her lips. He hauled her up roughly and placed his lips on hers. The kiss wasn’t tender, but rough, demanding. Showing her just how much he wanted her, how much she aroused him.
As he assaulted her with his mouth, his hands disrobed her, tossing her clothes to the side. For being a man of a different century, Donell had no problem removing modern clothing. She laughed low in her throat at his urgency.
“Ye tease me, little minx.” He nibbled on her lips, lifting her in the air. She wrapped her legs around his hips, her arms around his neck, and let him take her to the edge of the spring. “Care to take a dip?”
“Mmm…” Her head fell back as he lowered his head to her breasts, flicking his tongue against one nipple and then the other.
They slipped into the pool. The warm liquid against her skin only heightened the sensuality and pleasure Lainie was experiencing.
“Donell, this is pure heaven.” She sucked on his lower lip as she rubbed her pelvis against his.
“Nay, this is pure heaven,” he whispered as he shifted their hips and thrust into her. Lainie gripped his shoulders, her nails digging in as she massaged the taut muscles.
“Oh, yes.” She wrapped her legs tighter around his waist and reveled in the sinewy muscle that rubbed against her mons.
Their bodies molded perfectly to one another as she gyrated her hips with Donell’s rhythmic motions. Being in his arms was exquisite bliss. Lainie was sure no other man could make her body purr the way he could.
Their pace quickened. Her body sang from every pore as Donell once again propelled her to a crescendo.
“Donell!” His lips captured her moan as lightning ripped through both of their bodies.
As the electric shock of their lovemaking subsided, their kiss became tender. The echo of their cries still shimmered in the cavern. For a long moment, neither spoke. She traced the water’s ripples and thought how easily time itself could ripple too—and what it might cost to change its course. Lainie sat back and looked deep into Donell’s eyes.
“I don’t want to live without you in my life. This has all been better than a dream,” she whispered.
“Aye, sweetness. ‘Twould be a nightmare, that.”
She clung to him as the spring light shimmered around them, half afraid that when the steam cleared, he’d be gone. But for now, he was still hers—and that was enough.
On the cottage table miles away, the box trembled once, its carved knotwork glowing faintly. The air smelled of rain and rosewood, the scent of what it guarded.
8
Morning came too soon, sunlight a cruel reminder that magic had an expiration date. Even the air seemed to hum with the awareness that borrowed time was running out.
The storm beating the earth outside the cottage was ominous to Lainie, like a sign her days with Donell were numbered. They’d spent the last week in glorious ecstasy.
