Page 55 of His Forgotten Highland Bride

Chapter Twenty-One

Watching his wife fall apart nearly undid him. He hadn’t been lying when he’d said the first time would be over quickly. He’d barely seated himself inside her when she thrust up against him, and he erupted.

He might have felt shame for it, except he was hard again immediately and able to continue as he’d wanted to. He thrust into her as she arched up to meet him each time, her body moving in perfect time with his. Unfortunately, he soon became distracted by the pain in his leg, which threatened to give out on him from the exertion.

“Bloody hell,” he said, and Brenna looked up at him, clearly confused. He reassured her quickly, not wanting her to think she displeased him in their bed. “’Tis my leg. It is not used to such effort.”

Always a willing healer, she asked, “Do you want me to rub it?”

“Nay,” he said as he rolled over, bringing her above him without breaking their contact. Her eyes went wide as she looked down at him. “Ye don’t need to rub my leg, but I would be much obliged if you could take over.”

“I—I’m not sure…” She frowned but moaned in pleasure as he pressed up from the bed into her.

“Move as you like, however you like.”

She did, and after a few moments, she found her stride. Her eyes closed, and her head fell back in pleasure, exposing herself to his gaze. He reached up and caressed her breasts, making her gasp and jerk by playing with her nipples.

He’d never seen anything so beautiful in all his days as his wife riding him toward their pleasure. There had been many times over the years he considered taking pleasure with one of the women who offered it. When his need became more than he thought he could endure. But now that he was here with his wife, he was glad he hadn’t.

She’d been prepared and even expected such, but he knew now it would be different between them had he strayed. Their loyalty to one another made this reunion all the sweeter.

“Ye are mine,” he said amongst his other ramblings of how lovely she was as she cried out his name. He hadn’t thought much about it as it crossed his lips, but hearing the words in his strained voice sounded right.

His wife responded with a moan and a confident, “Yes. Only yours.”

But he wouldn’t allow it to be one-sided. She was his equal, and he wanted to make it clear. “I am yours, Brenna.”

“Yes,” she said. “Only mine.”

As he reached his peak this time, she joined him, taking everything he had to give, body and soul. She collapsed atop him, her unruly curls covering his face, unleashing the honey scent as he caught his breath. Her heart raced against his chest as he smiled for the sake of smiling. Eventually, she shifted and managed to throw the covers over them. He wasn’t nearly done making love to her, but he’d take advantage of a rest.

“Was it how you remembered?” he asked her.

He felt her shake her head, though her answer came a few breaths later.

“Nay. It was better.”

“No pain?” he guessed, remembering the reluctance he’d felt to hurt her when he took her maidenhead.

“Well, yes, but that was not what I thought.”

“How was it different?”

“We know each other a little better than we did then. There is a comfort in that.”

“Aye. You’re right. I’m glad we’ve not taken our pleasure with anyone else,” he said. He was still holding her close, so it was easy enough to feel her body tense. The silence went on for some time.

Rolling her onto his back, he looked down at her.

“Have you taken your pleasure with another?” he asked. She’d told him she hadn’t lain with another while he was away, but it had been a long time. If she had… She merely shrugged.

“Is it a difficult question, wife? Has another man touched ye and made you tremble as I have?” He tried his best to keep the anger from his voice, but the thought of another man touching her… He couldn’t bear it, even knowing he would have to accept it.

He was the one who left. Brenna bit her bottom lip and winced but shook her head. “What is it?”

She looked away, but he nudged her chin back to meet his anxious gaze. “Please just say it.”

She let out a breath and the words in one quick exhale. “I brought pleasure to myself.”