Page 41 of The Beastly Earl

Beneath her, Morag’s hooves pounded the ground as the mare increased the pace. For what seemed like forever, the forest was a stretch of indistinguishable green. Suddenly the tree line began to take shape more clearly. She could now see the evergreen bushes clumped together in various spots along the edge of the forest.

As she drew closer to the large expanse of woods, Morag’s ears flicked back just before Louisa heard Lachlan behind her. The stallion’s hooves were hitting the ground hard, which meant Ewan was pushing the horse. Louisa urged the mare to go faster, thinking there might still be a chance to win the race. Despite her urging, Morag began to flag, and the moment Lachlan raced past them, Louisa eased up on the mare.

It was pointless to push the horse any further knowing she couldn’t win the race. Instead, she slowed Morag to a slow canter then a walk. When she reached the edge of the forest, Ewan had already dismounted and was walking Lachlan in a circle. She gently pulled Morag to a stop, and Ewan arched his eyebrow as a small smile of triumph tilted the corners of his mouth. Excitement swept thorough her. Perhaps losing might not have been a bad thing after all. Appalled by the audacious thought, she quickly threw her leg over the pommel and started to slide off the horse.

Ewan reached her before she was halfway to the ground. His good arm wrapped around her waist to pull her into his chest before setting her down in front of him. He didn’t release her for a moment, and she thought he was about to kiss her right then and there. Instead, he glanced back to where the wagon was.

The small smile still curving his mouth didn’t fade as he ushered her to the opposite side of Lachlan so they were hidden from view. Overhead, a screech filled the air, and they both looked up at the sound. A red kite soared high above, its wings dipped from back and forth as it rode the wind. Ewan turned his attention back to her to study her intently. Several locks of hair had escaped the knot at the back of her neck, and Ewan wrapped one of them around his forefinger.

“Your hair is the soft brown color of a kite’s feathers.” His words sent a heat wave up over her cheeks, and his gaze darkened with an emotion that made her stomach lurch in a pleasant way. “You blush like a schoolgirl every time I give you a compliment.”

“I do not,” she exclaimed as her cheeks burned even hotter. His soft laugh made her heart race as his finger released the lock of hair and his thumb pressed down on her lower lip. “I believe my prize was a kiss.”

His voice was a soft caress against her senses, and she swallowed hard. Unable to speak, she simply nodded. Desire settled on his face as his smile faded, and he slowly lowered his head. Breathlessly, she trembled as his lips brushed over first one corner of her mouth and then the other. A moment later his mouth lightly teased hers.

The caress made her heartbeat quicken with anticipation, and she took a small step forward to return his kiss. Hands splayed open against his chest, the low growl rumbling out of him vibrated against her fingertips. Excitement spiraled and slid its way through her body leaving behind a molten heat that warmed her from the inside out.

It had been a long time since a desire of this strength had assaulted her senses, and she reveled in the sensations engulfing her. All her times with Devin had been warm, loving, and passionate, but this was a different kind of passion. It ignited a fire inside her belly that threatened to consume her at any moment. The instant the hard steel of his metal arm pulled her deeper into his embrace she went eagerly.

In a sensual, provocative movement, his tongue slid along the seam of her lips until her mouth parted. Their tongues danced together in an imitation of a carnal act her body had begun to cry out for with a fervency that made her tremble in his embrace. Her arms slid up to encircle his neck so she could slide her fingers through his thick, sable hair.

The crisp Scottish air mingled with his masculine scent, and it teased her nose as she breathed him in. It was an aroma that brought her senses to a fevered pitch. The faint taste of gooseberry jam from breakfast lingered in his mouth as she matched the passion of his kiss. With her hips pressed deep into his, she could feel his hard, thick length against her thigh.

Dear God, she wanted more than just this kiss. It had been so long since she’d been touched intimately, and until now, she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed being held tight and caressed. Lost in the heady sensation of his embrace, her hips moved against his erection in a silent invitation she desperately wanted him to accept. A dark groan rumbled in his chest. It pulsated its way into her fingertips and then her blood to increase the fire streaking through her veins. Every inch of her taut with need, she released a soft moan as his mouth continued to tease and tempt hers.

Chapter 10

Rosebuds. She smelled like a soft, sweet rosebud just before it opened. His tongue swirled around hers, and her fiery response made his cock stiffen. A soft mewl feathered its way past her lips. It was a sound of passion and need. Immediately his body tightened with a demand that had him on the brink of laying her down in the grass and pleasuring her body with his.

The thought pulled a groan out of him. As if her mind was in sync with his, her thigh shifted against his cock in a silent, feminine sign of acquiescence. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had aroused him to the point of throwing caution to the wind. Her mouth tasted hot and sweet beneath his, and his heart slammed against his chest at the thought of burying himself between her legs.

Desire surged through him at the image, and if possible, his cock stretched and tightened further beneath his kilt. He wanted to explore every soft curve of her body. He was certain her skin would be silky smooth against his hand.

A sudden sense of danger pierced through the desire engulfing him. The excited voices of the children made him lift his head and stare down at her. Hazel eyes fluttered open, and her heart-shaped face was soft with a sultry desire that made him drag in a harsh breath. Passion had made her skin glow, while the slumberous look in her eyes made him curse the fact they weren't alone. The sound of laughter grew louder, and her eyes widened in dismay.

“Those lips of yours have the power to drive a man to madness, mo leannan.”

The pink flush cresting over her cheeks made him capture her mouth again in one last, hard kiss before he stepped away from her. In the back of his head he heard the clanging of bells alerting him to a danger far greater than just the approaching children.

It wasn’t just her lips he found intoxicating. Everything about Louisa Morehouse made him want to do something he knew would be a mistake. Ewan turned back to Lachlan to retrieve the hat he’d snatch up off the ground. When he turned around and offered it to her, Louisa’s eyes widened in surprise then frowned in disappointment.

“You stopped to pick it up? That means I didn’t even come close to winning.” The despondency in her voice made him laugh.

“No, lass, I slowed Lachlan down just enough to reach down and pick it up off the ground. I would not have jeopardized losing my prize for a hat.”

Another wave of pink darkened her cheeks as she met his gaze then looked down at the hat to brush some invisible dirt off the crown. Her pleased expression reduced the raw, burning skin on the end of his stump to a minor discomfort.

“Well, thank you for retrieving it. It’s my favorite hat. I would have been sad to lose it.”

“Mama, Mama.” Louisa’s youngest boy ducked under Lachlan’s head to stand between the two of them. “Did you see the way his lordship rode his horse? He hung down between Lachlan’s legs without stopping and picked up your hat.”

Louisa’s eyes widened as she looked at him in dismay. Before she could speak, Wills tugged on Ewan’s sleeve.

“Will you teach me how to ride like that, my lord?” At her son’s request, Louisa gasped with alarm.

“You will most certainly not be learning how to ride a horse in that fashion.”

“I had years of riding experience before I learned how to do that trick, lad,” Ewan said with a shake of his head. His gaze met Louisa’s whose dismay had become disapproval.