Binding Vows (20 page)

Without boundaries, she let her years of pent up passion and fantasies take over. His taste intoxicated her more than the vision he placed in her head. More than the taste of him she remembered from California. She sucked in a ragged breath, then eased back slightly.

“Ahh, love.” He skirted his lips along her jaw, drew her head back exposing the long expanse of her neck. “Don’t deny me. I could die with wanting you.”

“To deny you would be to deny myself. I never wanted anyone, ever, until you.” Her moan, when his teeth nibbled on her shoulder, broke off her words.

His hands trailed down her sides. She arched toward them, wanting his touch.

“You kept me up at night. Visions of you, of this,” he confessed. His hands filled with the weight of her breast. Her lips parted in anticipation.

Hearing her silent pleas only added to his need.

Her chemise was merely a thin layer between them, one he wasn’t going to tolerate. He pushed it off her shoulder wanting her flesh against his. He expected a virgin’s shyness, and was elated when she showed none as he lowered her clothing and caught her nipple between his fingers.

She all but collapsed from the chair. Her mind whimpered to his,
Yes. Please yes.
He saw her eyes close and her body go weak with wanting.

He picked her up, carried her to the bed, and pressed her back against the mattress, hardly believing she was about to grant him his every dream.

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His hands were quick to resume the exploration of her body. Hers clenched into his hair slowly at first, stroking it until he lowered his mouth to her taut nipple, begging to be claimed. His mouth closed over the tip and then her hands balled into fists, crushing him closer while she moaned.

Her frantic fingers suddenly started pulling at his clothing. He laughed at her struggle to remove his tunic.

“I want to feel you,” she said, her lips trembling.

He helped her with his shirt and tossed it off the bed. His eyes closed when her delicate hands swept over the expanse of his chest.

You like that,
he heard her say in her head.

“I crave your touch.”

She took his nipple in her mouth, the sensation piercing them both with need and want. Their thoughts mingled in their minds. He couldn’t tell if it was his pleasure or hers making their movements more desperate.

His body reacted to her slow quest. His need to disrobe and plunge into her warm folds overwhelmed his sense of right. She took away his control when he wanted to savor every moment, desperate to bring her complete pleasure in this first mating. He captured her head and brought it up to his, devouring her lips once again.

Tara felt his arousal strain against her. A gnawing urge formed in her stomach and its fingers reached lower bringing with it a need she had never experienced. She arched against him, instinct guiding her.

Her clothing dropped away from her body, as his hands passed over her, leaving her naked to his gaze. His lips and hands distracted her from her sudden and complete exposure to him for the first time. He held her hands away from her body and took a long awaited look.

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He whispered, “Lovely. You are so beautiful.”

She felt his eyes travel down her body, lower and lower. Embarrassed, she felt heat reach her face when his look stopped at the triangle of hair covering her core. “You are lovelier than I ever dreamt.”

His eyes lifted, never leaving hers as his fingers drew a trail of fire from her lips down her neck. He stopped briefly at her breast, bringing another gasp from her as he squeezed her nipple.

She went pliant in his arms, while his hand dipped lower. Pressing his palm flat on her hip, kneading her flesh, he sent another wave of pleasure through her.

When he hesitated at her hip, she lifted herself to him, wanting more, knowing he could give her
more
. His hand moved slowly to her core. Once there, he cupped her fullness, rendering his name from her lips.

He demanded, “Open for me, my love.”

She did, a little, her virginity showing.

He smiled at her sudden shyness. He ran his tongue along the expanse of her neck nibbling at her ear. Her body arched.

She felt heat searing her, melting her from the inside out. Her need beckoned him, she felt his hand, and still he made no move to possess. “Please...” she begged.

He whispered words to her in Gaelic. She heard them in her head in English.
Open, my love, I will
not force you. Show me your trust.

Her knees fell to the side giving him what he asked. His fingers found her heat, slipped inside.

She turned her head away as the shock of his probing fingers thrilled her body, threatening to consume her with the cresting waves of pleasure.

Need built inside her at his gentle touch. Her breath mixed with his as he prepared her for him.

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One finger became two, stretching, filling. She arched further, faster. Her breathing ceased as he brought her over the first crest. Spasms shook her body, tightening around his fingers.

He crushed her mouth to his, refusing to allow her passion to ebb, for even a moment.

Her arms and hands ran down his broad muscular back, lower over his narrow waist and gripped his buttocks. His complete nakedness thrilled her. When had he removed his clothes?

She’d been too enthralled to noticed.

She felt his full desire for her pressing against her entrance. He let her get used to his body, the weight and feel of him. She knew he was doing everything in his power to make her comfortable, wanting to ease the pain of her first time. Knowing this, had tears threatening, tears of joy for his compassion and tenderness.

Instead of weeping, her hands grew bolder, exploring his body with little of the shyness she held before. One hand slipped around his back and more thoroughly traced his hips. Slowly, she brought them to the front and found the long, thick, hard length of him. His body stiffened to hold control as he enjoyed her touch. Her eyes widened when she felt his size, his girth. She was sure she blushed. A little frightened, she traced his length. His head fell forward as her hands explored his body.

She sensed him holding back, waiting for her to be ready. Tara caught his lips in another desperate kiss, feeling her need mounting again, unable to wait any longer.

His body jerked against hers. Neither could he.

Take me.
She urged with her mind, wanting to feel him inside her, wanting his fullness, and the sensation of having him fill her.

He moved above her, hovered over her. “Look at 171

Catherine Bybee

me, Tara. Let me see your eyes.”

Lashes fluttered opened, her eyes locked with his. The tip of him sought entry where none had been before. He forced control he didn’t know he had.

Slowly he lowered himself, she opened for him wider. He held back. “Make me yours, Duncan, I was meant to be yours.”

She gasped as he entered her body, felt herself tightening at his intrusion. He paused, and stopped moving. “I’m sorry, lass, it won’t happen the next time.”

“I know.”

He kissed her long and deep, waiting for her to adjust. Slowly his hips moved. With each slow stroke, she felt her body giving him the room he needed. The more they moved, the less pain she felt.

Each patient thrust brought her closer, closer to feeling his heart beat with hers.

Hunger replaced the pain. Patience, murmured words of encouragement, and friction brought a bigger and brighter need. Her hips moved, matching his rhythm. She raced with him, knowing the
more
was around the corner.

Higher and higher they climbed, and when she could hold back no longer, she wrapped her legs around his waist and let go. She exploded, becoming a thousand shimmering stars as she shuddered with her release. Tara called out, “Come with me, Duncan!”

Needing no further encouragement, he joined her mind, body and soul, his seed spilling deep inside her womb.

****

Slowly, she floated back down to earth. He pulled her on top of him to keep from crushing her with his weight. Her cheek rested on his chest, as his hands stroked her hair down her back. Neither of them seemed to have the strength to move, to talk, 172

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or even open their eyes.

Finally, when Tara looked about, firelight flickered on the walls of the room casting romantic shadows in their wake. The rain outside still fell in steady sheets, but the lightning and thunder had stopped.

She felt his heart beating beneath her ear. Her body never felt so wonderfully used.
What does one
say after such a satisfying experience?
Thank you

doesn’t seem to cut it.

His chest started to rumble.

“You heard that?” Embarrassed, she glanced up at his smiling face.

“Guilty.”

Her lips tilted at his expression. His eyes were shut, but his grin was just this side of wicked.

“Well?”

He opened one eye, stared at her a moment, then shut it again. “Well what, lass?”

“You know exactly what.” She hit a playful hand to his chest. “You’re the teacher here, what does one say?”

He forced a slight snore, pretending.

“Duncan!” She swatted at him again.

Like a tiger on the prowl, he pounced, and with little effort, she was under him again, gasping. “The teacher says, you are the most beautiful creature alive, and I look forward to our many lessons on making love.” He nipped her nose then caught her lower lip in his teeth. “And if it wasn’t your first time I would take you again right now.” He lowered his face to her neck, playfully tasting the salty aftermath of their passion.

On a moan she asked, “Why let this being my first time stop us?”

“I want you to be able to walk, my love.” His teeth traveled lower.

“If I can’t walk, I’ll need to stay in bed all day.”

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She arched when his lips met her breasts. “Doesn’t sound like a bad idea to me.”

“All day?” he asked.

She felt him grow hard. “I could think of worse things.”

She lost herself in his warmth once again.

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Chapter 15

Like a kitten, after lapping up all the cream, Tara stretched her limbs alongside Duncan’s and settled into his arms. Even though the hours of accumulated sleep the night before could be counted on one hand, she couldn’t remember ever being more rested.

He stirred, waking slowly to a beautiful day.

The sun was bright through the window, the rain only a memory. A few smoldering embers gave way to a wispy trail of smoke up the fireplace.

“Good morning, love.” She felt his lips kiss the top of her head.

“Morning.”

They had slept most of the morning away, the sun was already high. “We must make our way back.”

Smiling, she snuggled deeper. “I don’t want to.

Let’s pretend it’s still raining.” An idea formed in her head. “Can you call the rain, like you do fire?”

He pulled her closer. “Not without at least a few dark clouds I’m afraid.”

She lifted her head and gazed at him. “I was joking. But I can see by your face, you’re not.”

“And I can see by your blotched face that I need to shave.” There were scratches on her skin from the evening’s activities. He brushed her cheek with his hand. “I’m sorry to have marred your sweet skin.”

His eyes darkened slightly.

“Why don’t you wear a beard like the other men?”

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His brows drew together. “You told me you preferred a clean shaven face.”

Hiding a grin she confessed, “I lied.” When his face pinched together, she continued. “What I mean is, I
thought
I liked a clean shaven face, until I saw you with a few days growth. Very sexy! But, I was angry and didn’t want to be drawn to you.”

He lifted up on his elbows forcing her back to the bed. “So I’ve been torturing my face with a blade daily, and you prefer it otherwise.” His voice was strong, but his look was playful.

“Sorry?”

“You should be.”

“I should be punished.” The glint in her eyes betrayed her desired punishment.

“I know the perfect penalty for your offence.” He held his mouth a fraction away from hers, waited for her breath to hold. Anticipating.

“No kisses.” He drew away, as if leaving her side. She caught his arm and pulled him back. “Oh, no you don’t.” She toppled him, straddling his chest.

Her hair cascaded down, framing them both. “That,”

she said, poking his chest with every word, “would be considered cruel and unusual punishment, mister.”

“Now, lass, I deserve to lay out the punishment since you did the lying.”

She sat up giving him full view of her naked body, pulling her hair behind her back. “All right.”

She smiled a siren’s smile, one full of knowledge and power. “Don’t kiss me.” Her hands flattened over his chest, circled his nipples. “But I can kiss...” She dipped her head and her lips led fire down his torso.

He struggled not to move. Her mouth moved lower, tasting along her path. His breath caught when she dropped below his navel, nearing his raging need.

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She won’t kiss me there
. The thought escaped his mind and from the look on his face, he didn’t know it. His body shuddered.

“Mmm, what is this?” He wasn’t expecting it, she thought, all the better.

She let Duncan’s body want a bit longer, moved her lips toward the inside of his thigh. He went rigid, his breath caught in his chest when she brushed against him. Longing. Hoping. But not saying a word, either aloud or in his head.

Tara smiled before taking him into her mouth.

Surprise, shock and consuming pleasure poured from his mind into hers. She swirled her tongue in circles over the tip of his sex, long wet strokes over his length, and pulled a moan from him that sounded only remotely human.

Enjoying his pleasure, she took the bulk of him inside of her mouth and added pressure. She used her hands to explore the parts she couldn’t consume.