Page 28 of Wicked Kilted Highlander

"Ye ken," he began, his voice low and husky, "it might seem strange, but the neck is my favorite part of a woman's body." Darragh leaned in closer, his breath warm on her ear as he whispered, "So delicate and sensitive."

Lara swallowed, the movement drawing Darragh's attention even more to her neck. She glanced at him, curiosity and desire flickering in her blue eyes. "And what do ye find so arousing about it?"

"Would ye like me tae show ye?" Darragh asked, raising an eyebrow as he gauged her reaction.

"Show me? How?"

"By touch," Darragh responded, his black eyes never leaving hers. "With yer permission, of course."

Lara's gaze flickered between his eyes and his hand, still resting atop hers.

"Aye," she breathed. "Show me."

Slowly, Darragh reached up, gently cupping her face in his hand. His thumb brushed across her cheekbone, and he leaned in, his lips a mere hairsbreadth away from hers.

"The first thing is the gentle touch," he murmured, his eyes locked with hers. "A soft caress tae ignite the flame of desire."

Darragh gently reached out, his rough fingertips tracing along the curve of her jaw before descending to her throat. He could feel her shiver beneath his touch, the rapid beat of her heart against his fingers. "The skin here," he explained softly, "is thinner than elsewhere on the body, making it more sensitive tae touch.

"Is that why I feel… like this?" Lara asked, her voice trembling.

"Aye," Darragh nodded, his breath ghosting over her skin as he continued to caress her. "It's like the brush of a feather against silk—delicate and sensual."

He watched her eyelids flutter closed, her lips parting slightly as she leaned into his touch.

"Yer body is responding tae my touch, just as it did before."

"Please—" Lara whispered, her vulnerability evident in her voice, "—continue." Her breath caught, her cheeks flushing with color beneath the intensity of his gaze.

"It's so graceful and delicate," he continued, "but it also contains so many sensual places—like the base of the skull and the pulse points beneath the jaw."

He watched as Lara's hand instinctively went to her throat, her fingertips brushing over the soft skin there.

"Ye're driving me mad, lass," he finally confessed, his desire for her increasing by the minute. "The feel of yer neck against my lips…" He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence, the words too scandalous to say aloud.

"I dinnae ken what tae dae, Darragh," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Can… can ye show me?”

"Are ye sure," he murmured, his eyes never leaving hers, and at her nod, he caressed her neck. The feel of her skin against his fingertips was like a bolt of lightning. He caressed her neck slowly, sliding his hand around the exposed skin tantalizingly.

"Dae ye feel that, Lara?" he breathed, his voice strained with the effort of controlling his desire. "That's passion, and it's something ye shouldnae be afraid of."

Lara's eyelids fluttered shut as she leaned into his touch, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

"Darragh," she murmured, her voice a breathy sigh.

"Aye, lass," he replied, his own voice thick with desire. "I'm here." His hand moved lower, sliding beneath the neckline of her dress to caress her collarbone.

"Ye've never kenned such pleasures, have ye?" he whispered, his lips inches from hers.

"Nae," Lara breathed, her blue eyes opening to reveal a depth of longing that nearly drove him over the edge. "Show me."

Darragh brushed his lips against her ears.

"Aye, I will," he promised.

His hands moved down her shoulders, caressing her arms. She quivered beneath his touch. "Ye're so beautiful," he whispered, his lips brushing against her neck.

"Darragh," Lara moaned, her head falling back against him as she surrendered to the pleasure.