“Dae ye like this, darling?” she heard him ask.
How could she not? Everything he did was enough to drive her mad with desire. He knew exactly what he was doing, the wicked man. And she loved him for it.
She felt his manhood pressing between her thighs. To show her how much she did, she spread her legs wider, wrapping them around his waist, keeping him even closer.
“Take me, Duncan…” she moaned softly.
They locked gazes as he claimed her. She felt him inside of her, slow and full, claiming every inch of her. His handsome face stood before her, even more handsome in restraint, as he tried to be as gentle as the first time.
He lowered his forehead to hers, not taking his eyes off of her. Just like before, everything changed in an instant. One full buck of his hips was enough to make her fully his. She felt that same throbbing, that same heat and wetness. Her mind was a blank, and all she could do was thrust her own body upward, toward his, offering herself up to him.
“More,” she dared to whispered, and he smiled in a way that made her insides clench.
“Whatever me lady wishes,” she heard him respond, and he slid inside of her deeper than before.
He groaned, aiming for his lips, kissing her through the groan. The sensation that spread throughout her body threatened to unravel her, but she kept on moving, following his rhythm. She welcomed his tongue in her mouth, and his manhood into her wet heat. She felt his finger playing with the slick nub of her center, adding to the pleasure.
She couldn’t resist any longer. Clenching around him, she let go and fell into the abyss of ecstasy, relinquishing all control of herself and her body. He was thrusting faster now, and a moment later, he followed, tensing inside of her, only to roll to the side, still breathing heavily.
He didn’t take his arms off of her. Instead, he pulled her closer to himself and she pressed her ear to his chest, listening to the frantic drumbeat of his heart.
She had no idea when she fell asleep, or when he covered her with a blanket so that she wouldn’t be cold.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Duncan woke to the sound of her crying. It was not loud. It was soft and broken, barely more than a breath pulled too sharply in the quiet of the room. But it was enough.
His eyes opened instantly, his body already turning toward her before thought could catch up. The darkness of the chamber pressed in around them, with the faint glow of dying embers casting just enough light to shape her beside him.
“Elaina,” he whispered her name like a prayer.
She was trembling, curled slightly into herself. The soft sound was breaking from her again, as though she were caught somewhere far from him, far from there. Without hesitation, he pulled her closer, with one arm wrapping firmly around her, drawing her against him and anchoring her there.
“Elaina,” he said again, his hand coming up to cradle the back of her head, pressing her gently into him. “Ye’re safe.”
She did not answer. Her breath stuttered, because her body was still caught in whatever had found her in sleep. Duncan held her tighter.
“It’s over,” he murmured despite the tension that had already begun to coil through him. “Whatever it is, it’s over. Ye’re here, with me.”
His hand moved slowly along her back in a steady, grounding rhythm, meant to pull her from wherever she had gone.
For a moment, nothing changed. Then, she gasped in a sound that was sharp and sudden, and her body tensed in his arms before she drew in a breath as though she had been pulled from deep water.
“Elaina,” Duncan whispered tenderly. “Look at me.”
Her eyes opened wide. They were unfocused at first, still caught between dream and waking. Then, they found him. The fear in them did not fade immediately, while recognition broke through.
“Duncan…” she whispered.
“Aye,” he replied quietly. “I’m here.”
She drew in another breath, shakier this time, her hand lifting slightly before resting against his chest, as though she needed to feel it, to be certain he was real.
Duncan did not move away. He stayed exactly where he was, with his hold on her steady.
“Ye’re safe,” he repeated even more softly now.
Her breathing slowed gradually, though the tension in her had not fully eased. He could still feel it as he held just beneath the surface, as though whatever had found her had not yet fully released its grip.
