Page 157 of Claimed Highland Brides

“Ye’re no’ sure o’ me. Ye want more time.”

She shot to her feet. “No, that isnae it at all. I am sure o’ ye. Ye’re an honorable man. ’Tis quite apparent. I just…I need to catch my breath.”

Barclay got to his feet and walked towards the window, his chest heavy, breath shallow. “I see.”

It’s not rejection.

Even as he tried to tell himself that it was not, he felt the sting of it like a lance to the shoulder. The warmth of her hand on his shoulder startled him, and he turned to find her behind him, staring earnestly up at him.

He cocked an eyebrow in inquiry.

“I’m afraid,” she whispered.

His entire being softened, shoulders coming down, and eyes losing their hard edge. He turned completely so they were facing each other. “And ye think I’m not?”

She took in a deep breath before shrugging with a wry glance up at him. “Ye dinnae look like ye are.” She chuckled, cheeks heating up with embarrassment.

He cupped her elbow in his palm and gazed at her, everything displayed for her to see: his hurt, loneliness, and need. She gasped, surging upward to press her lips to his clumsily. The steel band of his arms around her waist held her securely against him, and she sighed into his mouth, letting him take over the kiss.

In no hurry at all, Barclay explored her mouth with painstaking attention to detail. Every reaction was noted as he nipped at her bottom lip before suckling it into his mouth. The way her pupils dilated, her eyes going almost black with lust made his manhood twitch with lust. Her nipples pebbled against his chest as his tongue played inside her mouth, and she squirmed needily against him.

Hands trailing downward until they cupped her bottom, he picked her up, enjoying the squealing gasp that escaped her as she clung to him. He carried her easily to the bedchamber, despite her height.

Dropping her on the bed, he hovered over her, hand on his ties. “Ye do want this, do ye no’?”

She nodded, hand stretched out in entreaty. He pulled off his sark before putting one knee on the bed and leaning over her. He reached for the laces of her bonnet, pulling them apart with one determined tug as his eyes held hers. She lay, seemingly mesmerized, and let him undress her, only showing some self-consciousness when she lay naked before him. She reached up and covered her breasts; her cheeks flushed a deep red.

“Dinnae hide yersel’ from me, please.”

Slowly, she moved her hand away, putting it back on the bed. He breathed in deep, savoring the sight of her spread before him, so long and lean, svelte and graceful like a fox with her brown and white coloring. Running a hand up and down her arm, enjoying the smooth softness of her skin, he reached down and kissing the hollow of her elbow. She giggled. “Tha’ tickles!”

He smiled against her skin. “Trust me, Aileen, I’ll be doing a lot more than tickling ye before this day is through.”