Taken By the Vicious Highlander (Taken by Highland Devils #5)

Chapter 15

15

L ilith’s eyes flashed with defiance at his revelation, and without thinking, she turned on her heel and strode toward his chambers, her skirts swishing angrily with every step. She could hear his soft laughter behind her, and it only fueled her irritation.

Ach, he’s really enjoyin’ this, that nay good… sorry… daft… brute!

Her thoughts punctuated each furious step she took.

When they reached his room, she pushed the door open and stepped inside, her movements sharp and deliberate. Damon followed, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.

He leaned casually against the bedpost, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched her pace the room. “Ye’re in quite the mood tonight,” he remarked, his tone light.

She spun around to face him, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “Do ye have any idea how infuriating ye can be?” she demanded.

He arched an eyebrow. “Infuriating? How so?”

“Ye embarrassed me back there,” she hissed, her voice rising slightly. “In front of Ryder.”

Damon’s expression darkened slightly at the mention of Ryder, and he pushed off the bedpost, his arms falling to his sides. “And why does it matter what Ryder thinks?”

“Because it does!” she snapped, her frustration boiling over.

He took a step closer, his gaze steady. “Is there somethin’ I need to ken about the two of ye?”

Her eyes widened in shock, and her indignation flared. “What? Nay! Of course nae!”

“Then why are ye so worked up?” he asked, his tone calm but probing.

“Ryder is like the braither I was never so lucky to have. He’s been through unimaginable things with me and Willow and… Magnus. Stop bein’ jealous of something that is of yer own imagination, Damon Aragain!”

“So, ye never kissed him like the way Willow kissed Tristan?” Damon fired back.

Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. She was too flustered, too caught off guard by his question and the implications behind it.

Damon’s expression shifted to nonchalance, though his eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her. “It doesnae matter to me either way,” he added, his voice low. “Ye are mine now.”

The statement hung in the air, heavy with meaning.

Lilith stared at him, her mind racing as she tried to process his words. She wanted to argue, to deny the claim he had just made, but the conviction in his voice left her momentarily speechless.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Damon closed the distance between them. His hand brushed against her arm, his touch light but enough to make her shiver.

“Ye could have gotten yerself killed,” he said, his tone softer now but still tinged with frustration.

His gaze dropped to the bandage on her arm, and he reached out to gently trace his fingers over it.

The tenderness of his touch sent a shiver down her spine, and she closed her eyes briefly, overwhelmed by the sensation.

“I’m sorry,” she offered, her voice barely above a whisper. “I was only tryin’ to protect ye.”

“That’s nay excuse,” he grunted. “Ye need to listen to me, Lilith. Ye cannae just throw yerself into danger like that. I dinnae need protection— ye do.”

Lilith’s eyes narrowed. “But I managed to protect ye, did I nae?” she argued.

He sighed, his frustration evident. “That’s nae the point.”

Their bickering escalated, their voices rising as they argued back and forth. But the tension between them wasn’t just born of anger—it was something deeper, something neither of them could deny.

Without warning, Damon’s hand slid to the back of her neck, and he tilted her head back so that her eyes landed on his, her focus on only him. His thumb traced the soft curve of her jaw, his touch rough but tantalizing.

Lilith tilted her lips up instinctively, her breath catching in her throat. The air between them grew heavy, their proximity intoxicating. Damon’s eyes burned with an intensity that left her feeling both vulnerable and emboldened at once.

“Ye drive me mad, woman,” he muttered, his voice low and husky.

His forehead dipped lower, brushing against hers, and she shivered at the contact.

“Do I?” she whispered shakily.

“Aye,” he replied, his lips curling into a faint, wicked grin. “From the moment I laid eyes on ye, it’s been impossible for me to think straight.”

Lilith’s heart hammered in her chest, his words sending a bolt of heat through her. She felt his fingers trail from her jaw to the back of her neck, pulling her closer until their breaths mingled.

“Never put yerself in harm’s way like that again. Nae for me, nae for anyone.” His rough voice stroked her smooth skin like a rake, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end.

“Damon…” she trailed off, her lips parting as her thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind.

“Damn it,” he groaned, before pulling her face to his to claim her lips in a slow, deliberate kiss.

It wasn’t the fiery, heated exchange they had before. It was softer, exploratory, and deeply sensual. His lips molded to hers, coaxing her to respond.

Lilith melted into him, her hands instinctively finding their way to his chest. Her fingers splayed over the hard, warm expanse of his muscles, the feel of him beneath her touch making her lightheaded. She hadn’t realized just how much she’d wanted this until it was happening.

The world around them faded away, their argument forgotten as they lost themselves in each other. Damon’s hands roamed over her body, his touch igniting a fire within her that she couldn’t control.

His hand slid down her back, the warmth of his palm seeping through the thin fabric of her dress. His lips left hers, moving to her jaw, then lower, grazing the sensitive skin of her neck.

He nipped the spot where her pulse raced wildly, his teeth and tongue sending jolts of pleasure straight to her core.

Nay, ye have to resist him. Ye cannae allow him to ? —

“There are other ways we can be intimate,” he murmured, his voice low and filled with promise.

Her heart raced at his words, and curiosity rested low between her hips. She swallowed hard.

Damn it.

Her voice was barely audible as she replied, “Show me.”

Damon’s eyes darkened with desire. He moved them back toward the bed, his movements slow and deliberate as he peeled her dress off her. As her final layer slid over her head and landed on the floor, he pulled his tunic over his head before he guided her down onto his bed.

He gently lay on top of her, pressing his lips to hers in a slow, sensual kiss. Lilith responded eagerly, her arms wrapping around his neck as their tongues danced together.

As they broke apart, Damon brushed his nose against hers, inhaling her sweet scent. He couldn’t resist nibbling on her lower lip, causing her to let out a soft moan. He trailed kisses down her jawline, the sensitive spots on her neck, and down her torso. Lilith arched her back, urging him on as her fingers tangled in his hair.

With a gentle nudge, Damon guided her legs apart with his knee and settled between them. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, and she wanted more. As if sensing her desire, he began to trail kisses down her stomach, eliciting shivers and gasps from her with each one.

Lilith squirmed beneath him, her body begging for him to take her. But she knew he wouldn’t.

“I trust ye,” she managed to say and felt him smile against her mound.

“I ken ye do, lass,” he murmured and then continued his exploration, trailing kisses down her thighs, pausing to tease and taste her skin.

Lilith’s breaths came in short gasps as she writhed beneath him with reckless abandon. Damon’s lips finally met her sex, and his tongue explored the sensual taste of her with painfully slow precision.

Lilith tensed up, her moans growing louder as he continued to pleasure her. Her fingers dug into the sheets as he teased her body closer and closer to the edge.

At almost the exact moment she felt like she was either about to fall off a cliff or take flight into the stars, Damon stopped, causing her to let out an uncontrollable, frustrated groan. He chuckled against her skin, clearly enjoying the way she squirmed beneath him.

“Please. Damon, please?—”

“Patience,” he warned.

Without delay, he replaced his tongue with his hand. The heel of his hand teased her nerves as one of his large fingers filled her almost completely, before another slid inside her, stretching her. He pumped his fingers into her rhythmically as his mouth found hers again. She tasted herself and only wanted more—whatever more was.

Their bodies moved together in perfect harmony as she lost herself. Lilith’s nails dug into his back, and he hissed loudly before he thrust his fingers deeper into her, setting off sparks throughout her entire body.

She wrapped one leg around his waist and used the other to grind her hips against him, egging him on with desperate kisses and moans of pleasure. She wanted more— needed more.

She catapulted over the edge and exploded with screams of pleasure, his name on her lips. They both collapsed back onto the bed in a tangle of limbs, breathing heavily as they came down from their high.

But as the reality set in around her, so did her uncertainty.

Why do I want more? What is more? Lettin’ him claim me?

She couldn’t ignore it, and it was entirely too much, too overwhelming for her. As she lay beside him, her thoughts swirled in a storm of emotions.

I cannae let him.

I cannae be here anymore.

I have to get out.

They knew the stakes in their marriage were too high, and she couldn’t risk losing herself in the process. She couldn’t risk, in any way, losing herself only for a moment and making a mistake that she’d end up regretting for the rest of her life.

“I need to go,” she said softly, rising from the bed and gathering her clothes.

Damon didn’t stop her, his expression unreadable as he watched her leave. But as she opened the door, a scream tore from her throat.

A hooded figure stood just outside the room, their shadowy form menacing in the dim light. The figure turned and fled, disappearing down the corridor as Damon leaped to his feet, his instincts kicking in immediately.

“Stay here,” he barked as he ran after the intruder.

Lilith stood frozen in the doorway, her heart pounding in her chest as she stared at the words painted on the wall opposite the door —Leave or die.