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Kieran watched her tiny, graceful movements. Lord, she was a sweet, caring woman when she wanted to be, but she was as feisty as a cornered fox. She was the epitome of female temperament.
“Go away, Kieran, and leave me be,” she said after a moment.
“Nay, I will not,” he said firmly. “And do not start feeling sorry for yourself. You always do this when I scold you.”
“I canna change who I am.” Her head came up. “I have always been this way and I canna change. I am not the calm, sweet, gentle girl my cousin is so quit trying to mold me into an image of Jordan. I am what you see….me.”
He went over to her. “I would not change you into Jordan.”
Her eyes narrowed at him. “I heard that when ye were traveling with Jordan from Northwood, ye and the captain were in love with her. So William married her and ye had to take the second prize.”
His eyebrows rose and he sat on the seat next to her. “Who told you such lies?”
“It doesna matter who told me,” she looked away, “but I know it’s true. It has always been true with Jordan. She’s always been the most beautiful, and I have always been second.”
“That is the biggest cock and bull story I have yet to hear you utter,” he said bluntly. “You are not, nor ever have you been, second to me. I knew the first minute I saw you that you were special.”
Jemma turned back to him. “But were ye ever in love with my cousin?”
If he admitted it to himself, he had been. But that would be his secret and his alone and he was sorry he would have to lie to Jemma. But he could not have that cloud hanging between them, or between Jordan and Jemma.
“I think she is very beautiful, but I love you,” he said softly. “And I think you are more beautiful.”
She smiled a little, her cheeks flushing at his look. “I am not.”
“Aye, you are,” he reached out and grabbed a fistful of raven’s-wing colored hair. “Your hair is silkier, your eyes purer, your smile brighter. Aye, you are more beautiful than your cousin.”
She smiled broadly as his hand caressed her cheek. “Then I thank ye, sir knight. I had no idea ye felt that way.”
“Aye, you did,” he corrected her. “I have been telling you that for weeks now. You were never my second choice, Jemma. Always my first.”
She threw her small arms around his neck and kissed him with all of the passion and force her luscious red lips could muster. He wrapped his massive arms around her, swallowing up her entire torso as he pulled her against him. Their tongues met and probed, suckled and licked at each other until Jemma was gasping with excitement. Without another word, Kieran picked her up and carried her into the ladies’ apartments.
He took her into her small bedchamber and laid her upon the bed, removing his armor and clothing between hot kisses. He had tried before to bed her, but she had always balked. This time, however, she had stripped herself nude before he was done undressing and his eyes raked over her small, perfect form appreciatively.
“Jesus, you are beautiful,” he said, running his hand lightly over her full breasts.
She shuddered at his touch, forgetting her fear and reservation, only wanting him to touch her and love her. He laid on the bed next to her, half-covering her with his big body while his hand roamed freely about her silken skin. He was so pleased to see the way she responded to him and for a brief moment their eyes met.
“I love you, Jemma,” he whispered. “I always will.”
She put her tiny hands to his face softly. “I know what a bitch I can be,” she said. “I pray ye can forgive me my indiscretions. Sometimes I act before I think. But know that I would never do anything in the world to embarrass ye intentionally.”
He grinned and kissed her cheek. “Jemma, you bring fire into my life. I would not have you change for the world. With you, I know my days will never be dull.”
She smiled at his words and he descended on her mouth, kissing her until she could not catch her breath. His huge hands completely covered her full, round breasts as he teased her nipples into hard little peaks. She ran her fingers through his close-cropped hair as he suckled the hard pellets, wondering if there was anything more wonderful on earth than his hot mouth.
His hands parted her thighs and he moved in between them, being ever so mindful that she was the smallest woman he had ever made love to, yet by far the most perfect. Even so, she was easily less than half his size and it excited him greatly.
“How tall are ye, Kieran?” she breathed out of the blue.
His head came up to look at her. “Three inches over six feet. Why? How tall are you?”
She shoved his face back into her abdomen. “Almost five feet exactly.”
She had asked because it suddenly excited her terribly to have this huge man possessing her. Her mind was full of silly, irrational thoughts. She smiled and closed her eyes as he returned his attentions to her belly and thighs. Then her eyes opened again and she gazed dreamily up at the ceiling, feeling the newness of his intimate touch.
“How tall is William?” she asked.
