Page 43 of The Highland Heir

“We seem very good at kissing,” Ella said.“It’s reasonable to think we shall be good at the rest of it.”

He smiled against her lips.

“Aye. Let us find out.”

*

Ella feared her heart might beat right out ofher body for as fast as it was going. Her breathing had picked up,quicker than ever before. It was as if she’d run a great distance,yet she hadn’t moved at all. If she were going to die, she hoped itwould happen after she and Kieran had this moment. But peopledidn’t die from the act. She knew that much at least.

She was still pressed up against Kieran’schest with his arms holding her tightly to him. As if he worriedshe might try to escape.

That was not likely. There was nowhere shewanted to be but here with him.

Something felt odd about her gown, and sherealized he’d loosened it. She wanted to commend him on his abilityto disrobe her while also kissing her neck and bosom, but she wastoo distracted by the feeling of his warm tongue on her nipple tospeak at all.

Kieran should not have worried they wouldn’tknow what to do. They were already off to a delicious start.

Ella worked at the buckle on Kieran’s weaponsbelt and nearly shouted for joy when it finally freed and fell tothe ground. She next ran her hands over his bare chest and stomach.She’d seen him many times without a shirt, but she’d never had theopportunity to touch him.

She was surprised when she ran her fingerover his flat nipple that the touch caused a moan from Kieran.Mayhap men’s nipples were as sensitive as a woman’s. She hadn’tknown.

She had to wait before moving onto the beltthat held his kilt when he took over and stripped her gown off herbody. She felt exposed standing in the middle of the forest in justher shift, but before she could think more on it, her shift waspulled over her head as well.

She looked down at her bare skin and back tohim, watching as his gaze traveled over her. She need not worry hewas displeased with her body, for he was muttering his praisealmost like a prayer.

“Good heavens, Ella, ye are so beautiful. Idon’t know what I want to touch first.”

Kieran kneeled on the plaid and placed softkisses to her breasts, sucking and licking her nipples. He movedalong her ribs as his large hands cupped her arse. Squeezing andholding her in place, he kissed lower still. When his lips touchedthe place where her body and her legs met, an intense tingle wentthrough her body, making it difficult to remain standing.Fortunately, Kieran must have noticed, for he gently tugged herdown onto the blanket to lie next to him.

They kissed again and continued kissing untilshe was practically begging for more of him. And then he touchedher in the place that needed him most.

“Wet,” he whispered, and for a moment shewondered what he meant until he moved his fingers and she felt theway they moved easily where she was slick with desire for him.

It wasn’t the first time he’d managed to makeher respond in this way, but it was so much better when he touchedher there. And then his finger slipped inside her body, and it wassomehow even better.

“Kieran,” she said but didn’t know what elseshe meant to say. It was as if her mind was in some fog of lust.She couldn’t think. There was nothing else in the world except thetwo of them and the way Kieran was touching her.

When Kieran slipped a second finger into her,she felt her first twinge of concern. She knew the first time awoman lay with a man there was some pain involved as her maidenheadwas penetrated. She’d overheard the maids speaking of it once as ifit was no more than a bother. Ella thought pain in any way was tobe avoided, and she worried about Kieran’s size.

He was large. Tall and broad. It only madesense that the part of him under his kilt would be large as well.His fingers seemed to stretch her there; his member would do farworse.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Nothing,” she said. She didn’t want him tothink her a ninny to be worried over a bit of pain. She’d spentmost of her life proving she was as brave as any man. As brave asKieran. But in this, she didn’t feel quite as brave.

What if she screamed from the pain? She knewKieran well enough to know he’d feel guilty over it.

He paused in kissing her, and after removinghis fingers from her body, he raised his hand, the one with thescar. Before he spoke, she knew what he would say.

“We promised to only speak the truth to oneanother.”

She swallowed and nodded. “I’m a bit worriedover the pain part of it.”

“I’m a bit worried over that part as well,”he confided while resting his forehead against hers. “Do you wishto stop?”

“Nay,” she said quickly.

He let out a breath and shook his head.