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Maisie looked up to the loft. “I’d always wished for one to place guests when we run out of rooms.”

“I’ve slept many a night in such a loft as that.”

“Have you now?”

“Aye, lass, I have.”

“Slept? Or . . .”

He would not answer that particular question but supposed there was no need. In not answering, he’d inadvertently done so. Maisie’s eyes widened.

“I care little to think of you with other women.”

“As I do to think of you with other men.”

“But I’ve been with just one. And you know the kind of experience it was for me.”

“Ach, well, there’ve been no other women that could compare to you, Maisie.”

“So you’ve said.” With a glint in her eye, she glanced back up to the stable loft. “Perhaps we should be certain of it.”

If she was hinting . . .

“Maisie? Are you suggesting—”

“We should get rid of any memories of you with any woman but me making love in the loft of a stable? Aye. I am.”

Kieran did not have to be told twice that Maisie wished to be with him. But she was unlikely prepared for him to toss her over his shoulder as he’d done.

“Kieran,” she exclaimed. “Surely you do not mean to carry me up there this way?”

“Surely I do, my love.”

Ascending the ladder was easily done. Thankfully, Maisie wore a cloak, which he stripped off just as easily. After laying it down atop the hay, praying none came into the freshly finished stables, Kieran eased Maisie onto the cloak.

“I am fully clothed,” she said. “As are you.”

Fully clothed but still as enticing as ever. Reaching down, Kieran freed himself while keeping much of his clothing intact. Enjoying watching Maisie’s eyes widen—he was fully erect and ready for her—Kieran knelt below her.

When he lifted the hem of her gown, Maisie aided him by pulling it up toward her. The sight of her as such, lying in the hay, skirts up, her garter essentially welcoming him to play, was more than he could handle.

“I need you, Maisie,” he said, leaning into her. Though made a bit more difficult with the bulk of her gown between them, Kieran found his mark.

Guiding himself inside as Maisie held on to his shoulder, he groaned in sweet relief as he finally fully buried himself in her. As she’d been from the start, Maisie was not shy with him.

“I need you as well,” she said, thrusting her hips upward, her hands pulling him down.

They’d had many sweet moments between them. Soft kisses. Whispered words of affection. Lovemaking so slow and sensual, Kieran could not believe he’d ever lived without her. But this was not one of those moments.

He did not go slow. Or softly. And Maisie wanted more.

“Please,” she said. “Kieran, all of you.”

He gave her precisely that, thrusting into her as deeply as he possibly could.

“Yes.” She ground against him, her hips circling as he stilled. “Yes, Kieran. Yes. Please.”

She was close. He would push her over the edge. His hands beside them propping him up, Kieran was able to fully see her, and she him. He looked into her eyes and demanded, not asking.