Maya Banks - In Bed with a Highlander

Ewan reared back in surprise and then he laughed, the throaty sound sending prickles of delight down Mairin’s spine.

“You’re a bloodthirsty lass.”

She nodded. “Aye, Alaric said as much.”

“Why is it important that I not do the killing, Mairin? ’Tis my right as laird and as your husband.”

“Because I feel at fault for provokrougm so. If he hadn’t struck me, you wouldn’t have ordered his death for striking Christina. Not that you wouldn’t have punished him,” she rushed to say.

“So you’d rather he be ravaged by a pack of wolves.”

She nodded.

He chuckled. “So be it, lass. I’ll have Gannon escort him off our lands with the order never to return.”

She threw her arms around him and squeezed as hard as she could. “I love you.”

He pulled her away and then leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose. “Say it again.”

She twisted her lips and scowled up at him. “You’re a demanding man, Laird.”

His lips found hers and he drank deeply, rubbing his tongue over her mouth until she opened to let him in.

“Say it,” he whispered.

“I love you.”

With a low groan, he gathered her in his arms and walked her back until her legs hit the edge of the bed. He swept her down and then rolled until she was sprawled indelicately atop him. He pushed at her clothing, baring first her shoulders and then her arms. He gripped her upper arms and pulled her down so that he nuzzled her neck. Ah, but his lips were magic.

Determined that he wouldn’t be the only one doing the torturing, she bent and ran her tongue over the thick cords in his neck. Smiling when he flinched and went rigid underneath her, she sank her teeth into his flesh, inhaling his male scent. She savored his taste, rolling her tongue over every line and dip.

“Mairin?”

She leaned up so she could look down into Ewan’s eyes. “Aye, husband?”

“Do you have a particular fondness for this dress?”

She frowned. “Well nay, ’tis a work gown after all.”

“Good.”

Before she could think on his meaning, he ripped the material from her bodice all the way past her waist. It fell away, baring her breasts to his eager touch.

“ ’Tis not fair,” she grumbled. “I can’t rip your clothing.”

He grinned. “Would you like to, lass?”

“Aye, I would.”

Chuckling, he rolled until he was on top and he began shrugging out of his clothing. As soon as he was naked, he pulled the remaining tatters of her dress from her body and then rolled her back on top of him.

“ ’Tis an odd position, husband. I’m sure you don’t have the way of it.”

He traced a line from her temple over her cheek and to her lips. “Aye, lass, I have the right of it. Today the women are in charge and the men are doing the work. It only seems right that you should be on top. I am your humble servant.”

Her eyes widened. She thought on what he’d said, pursed her lips, and then finally shook her head. “I’m not at all sure such a thing is possible.”

“Oh aye, ’tis possible, lass. Not only is it possible, but ’tis a marvelous experience.”

He gripped her hips, lifting to position her over his groin.

“Put your hand down, lass. Guide me in.”

She trembled with excitement and anticipation. Her legs quivered and jumped against his sides as she reached down and grasped his hardness.

“Oh, aye, lass, just like that. Hold me just right there. Let me fit you to me.”

He moved her, holding her still as the tip of his cock brushed through her damp heat. Then he found the entrance and slid in the tiniest bit. Her eyes flew open and she tensed as he began to breach her opening.

“Relax,” he soothed.

He guided her down and she removed her hand and placed both palms on his chest. She leaned forward as his fingers slid from her hips over her buttocks. He gripped her flesh and spread her wider as he slid deeper.

With one final push, her bottom met the tops of his thighs. It was an unsettling sensation, being speared, so full with no relief. Her body hummed with pleasure. Her nipples tightened into hard points, pouting and begging for his touch.

He obliged her, leaving her hips and feathering his fingers over her belly up until he cupped both breasts in his palms. Little sparks of fire sizzled through her body when he thumbed the taut buds. He teased and coaxed until they were painfully rigid.

“Ride me,” he said huskily.

The image of doing such a thing exploded in her mind. A hot flush worked through her core until she squirmed and gripped him even tighter in her sheath.

Eager to do his bidding, she began to move, tentatively at first. She felt awkward and shy but the look in Ewan’s eyes gave her all the confidence she needed to continue.

Back and forth she rocked, rising up and then easing down. They both made contented sounds that became more desperate and urgent as she picked up her pace.

Delighting in her newfound freedom, she proceeded to drive them both beyond the bounds of reason. She smiled seductively down at her husband when he pleaded with her to stop tormenting him.

With her lips fused to his as tightly as their bodies were joined, they found their release. She swallowed his cry of triumph as he swallowed her cry of ecstasy. His fingers dug into her hips and he pulled her down, holding her there ase emptied himself into her body.

With a sigh, she collapsed on top of him and burrowed into his warmth. His heart pounded frantically against hers until she wasn’t sure whose beat harder. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

“I love you, Mairin.”

For a moment she didn’t think she’d heard correctly. Aye, she loved him. More than she’d imagined loving a man. But she hadn’t dreamed that he’d return her feelings. He was affectionate with her. Loving, even. But she hadn’t ever expected that he’d offer her his heart.

Tears filled her eyes as she rose up, her hair falling over his chest while she stared down at him in wonder.

“Say it again,” she said huskily.

He smiled at hearing his own words tossed back at him.

“I love you.”

“Oh, Ewan,” she whispered.

“Don’t cry, lass. I’d do just about anything to keep you from crying.”

“ ’Tis happy tears.” She sniffed. “You’ve made me so happy, Ewan. You’ve given me a home and family. A clan to call my own. And you stood behind me today when I feared you’d denounce me in front of everyone.”

He frowned and shook his head. “I always stand behind you, wife. I may not always agree with you, and there will be times that I may not make a decision you agree with, but I always stand behind you.”

She hugged him again and pressed her face into his neck. “Oh, I do love you so, Ewan.”

He rolled until they were on their sides facing each other. He touched her face, stroking the wispy tendrils of hair from her cheek. “I’ve waited a long time for you to say those words, lass. And now that I have, I’m never going to grow tired of them.”

She smiled. “ ’Tis a good thing, Laird, for I have this problem with saying the least thing that runs through my mind, and ’tis a fact I’ll be thinking of how much I love you often.”

“Perhaps you should show me,” he said in a husky, aroused voice.

Her mouth dropped open. “Again?”

He smiled and kissed her. “Aye, lass, again.”

CHAPTER 31

Mairin slowly dragged herself out of bed and headed straight for the chamber pot where she vomited what little remained in her belly from the night before.

Ias a miserable occurrence and had happened like clockwork every morning for the last fortnight. Only it didn’t end there. She vomited promptly after the morning meal, then again after the noon meal, and usually at least once before bed.