Chapter 19
Madison’s heart pounded recklessly against her chest. Her mind was a whirl with thoughts and emotions she couldn’t quite grasp. It was as if she were trying to catch smoke with nothing but a fishing net. Theodore’s eyes bore into her, searching for any hint of doubt.
“I trust ye,” she whispered. She did in fact trust him. After everything the man had done for her, of course she did. What she didn’t trust was her emotions. The slightest hitch of her breath would have him recoil. And in that recoil, she’d feel the sting of rejection.
“Are ye sure ye ken what ye’re askin’?” he dropped his voice and his gaze. It was then she realized he wasn’t searching her for a reason to stop, but himself. Madison pressed her palm to his chest. It was the frantic drumming of his heart pounding to the rhythm of anxiety that rattled her the most.
She swallowed hard as Theodore's nearness washed over her like a storm she both needed and feared. His hand curved around the nape of her neck, cradling her so tenderly her knees weakened.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt without conscious thought. She didn't know what she was doing, only that she didn't want him to stop.
"Madison," he breathed, his voice rough with warning. But his hand tightened on her neck, holding her closer instead of pushing her away.
Her breath hitched. "Aye?"
"Tell me to stop." His thumb traced the line of her jaw. "Tell me ye daenae want this."
"I cannae," she whispered. "Because I do want—"
Theodore’s hand yanked at the fabric of her skirt and pulled it to her hip. The chill of the night air swirled about her thigh and knee. But despite the icy prick of the night trying to ruin their moment, it couldn’t prevail.
She stared up at him as the world narrowed to the space between them. His calloused fingers tickled against her inner thigh. Every breath came in quick sharp gulps as Theodore’s tongue grazed the length of her neck.
“Ye’ll stop me if I do anythin’ ye daenae want.
” His breath was hot against her neck. Little bumps rose over her skin as Theodore’s lips moved down her collarbone.
With a sharp tug, the straps to her bodice fell slack.
Theodore’s hand was on her breast. Her mouth parted as he pinched her nipple between his finger and thumb before drawing it to his mouth.
Madison watched as the tip of his tongue flicked over the hardened bulb of tender flesh.
The air left Madison’s lungs as Theodore suckled harder. He pulled back until her nipple popped from his mouth.
“Do ye want me?” he asked as he pressed his hand to her crotch. The warmth that radiated off him teased and taunted her. She bobbed her head as he pressed a single finger to the slit between her legs. Madison pursed her lips into a tight line as Theodore’s finger pressed on her.
“Aye,” she answered breathlessly. Her body tensed as he shimmed to her stomach.
With his gaze locked on her, he moved and shifted to the space between her legs.
Madison’s body tensed. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen, all she knew was that she trusted him.
He’d saved her from the hunt and had done nothing but show her kindness, he wasn’t about to betray that now.
She closed her eyes and let the world fade into obscurity.
The waves that beat against the shore were but a soft steady drum of reassurance that she was safe.
Somewhere in the distance Madison heard the cry of the seagull.
It seemed to mimic the same feelings exploding within her as Theodore’s mouth explored the space between her legs.
Madison’s back arched as his tongue flicked over a sensitive spot. She’d never had anyone touch her like that before. Yet her body reacted in kind.
“Do ye like that?” Theodore asked, his lips brushing against her thigh as he spoke.
She bobbed her head as his tongue lapped over her once again.
The sensations rippling through Madison confused and astonished her.
It was as if her body had a mind of its own.
It wanted everything Theodore had to offer.
And even though she wasn’t entirely certain of what all that entailed, she knew she had to have it.
“More,” she pleaded as she reached for his head, trying to keep him where he was. There was a pleasure to be had there with him in that spot.
“Are ye sure ye ken what ye’re askin’ for?
” Theodore’s teeth brushed across the meatiest part of her leg as he stared at her.
As she mulled over what it was she wanted, she watched Theodore’s fingers disappear.
They filled the space between her legs awkwardly, yet still managed to satisfy the hunger that tormented and gnawed at her inner most being. She wanted him.
“Will that stop ye from takin’ what ye want?” she countered, her breath coming in gasps with the rhythm of Theodore’s fingers as the pumped in and out.
“If ye wanted me to stop,” Theodore said as he tried to pull his hand away. Madison’s hand was on his in a flash, pinning him right where he was. She shook her head. The thought of having him stop everything was too much.
“I daenae want that at all. If anythin’, ye’ve stirred a desire within me that begs for more.”
Theodore arched his eyebrow as filled the space between her legs. She found the air growing thinner as he nestled on top of her.
“Ye have nay idea how badly I want to claim ye right here as my very own. I want to explore every inch of ye, and fill the pieces of yer soul that are missin’.”
“Then what’s stoppin’ ye?” she asked, her words were barely a whisper over the lapping of the waves on the shore.
“I cannae take what doesnae belong to me, and ye daenae belong to me,” he answered. There was a sadness in his tone that Madison couldn’t ignore because it mirrored the same despair swelling within her every time she thought of leaving.
“But I could,” she said as her fingers raked through his dark hair. “Ye could claim me and nay one would be able to deny it.”
Theodore kissed her inner thigh as if that were enough to end their conversation.
For now, it would have to be for his kisses were enchanting and pulled Madison out of the world.
Each kiss felt like a promise, an oath that Theodore would never break.
And while she wanted him to be bold and take what he wanted, she understood all that was at stake.
Her reputation for one thing was teetering on the edge of a blade.
One slip from Theodore, just one nudge of encouragement to deflower her, and her future would be lost. But then again, if he wanted her the way she desired him, then perhaps there was a shot.
It was a long one, but one that she was willing to try.
“Theodore…” his name lingered on the air between them as his tongue slipped into her. She couldn’t get over the firmness of it and the way it moved about. With each lap of his tongue, Madison forgot pieces of their conversation until nothing but a frayed hint of a dispute drifted through her head.
“Shh, just enjoy what ye can. All we ever have is the moment. Best to seize it when ye can,” he said.
His breath crashed against her inner thigh as her body reacted to his tongue.
It was as if the world was breaking around her.
Every nerve in her body tingled as her muscles tightened.
Theodore’s mouth moved over her in such a fierce and sultry manner it made her feel as if she were his prize and his prey.
“Theodore?” she whimpered as her body tightened. The pleasure was overwhelming and radiated throughout her being. Everything tingled as she tried to hold onto whatever was around her to keep her from shooting off like a star through the darkness of space.
A single tear slipped down her cheek as she blinked until the tiny shimmering diamonds resembled the flecks of stars in the night sky.
She pulled in a long deep breath but it wasn’t enough to snap her back into reality.
Madison’s whole world had shifted. Theodore had picked it up and tossed it like a ball against the cobbled stone floor.
“Aye,” he said, his voice tender and calm beside her. She couldn’t recall when exactly he had shifted from between her legs to next to her. All she knew was she was glad to have him by her side as the world settled. “I’m here. Ye’re safe as always.”
She turned to face him. Theodore lifted a weary hand to brush back the loose strands of her hair from her face.
The smile plastered on his face made Madison’s heart swell.
It was clear she had given him some sort of gift, yet, at the same time, she felt as if she were the one to have received something of value.
“How do ye feel?” he asked as he pulled down her dress to stave off the bite of the frost night air.
“I daenae ken,” she answered. “Different… but, ye daenae…”
Madison glanced at him a moment as she tried to piece together what transpired. Theodore’s shirt was pulled from his belt, yet he remained completely clothed. Clearly, they hadn’t done what she had thought, but he had done something to her.
“I’ve nae taken yer virtue, if that’s what ye’re wonderin’ about. Ye’re still as intact as the day ye came here. I just wanted to give ye a taste… or I should say I wanted to taste ye before ye left me.”
“Enough talk about leavin’ or partin’ ways,” Madison said as she opened her arms for him. “Unless ye’ve changed yer mind and want me to leave— ”
“Nay,” Theodore answered without hesitation. “I daenae want ye to go anywhere. At least, nae at the moment. I rather like seein’ ye so relaxed. In fact, I daenae think ye’ve been so since ye came here.”
“What can I say?” Madison flashed him a sleepy smile as she stretched. Her body felt different. It was as if she’d exerted herself beyond her means, yet at the same time could swim for miles. “Other than me ye have been good to me so far . Thank ye, me laird.”
“Theo,” he corrected.
She cupped her hand to his face as if she could mold her hand to him. There was a kindness flickering in his gaze that made her heart skip.
“Laird Theo?” She tilted her head and studied his reaction. His eye twitched as if hearing her call him by a nickname thrilled him.
“Aye, there’s a nice sound. Ye callin’ me laird. Say it again,” he pleaded as he opened his arms for her. She nestled against his chest and pulled in a long deep breath.
Salt and sea mingled with the earthy notes of lavender and pine.
Madison’s eyelids grew heavy as her body felt as if she’d been dropped from a great height.
Nothing worked, no matter what she tried to do.
Even a mere rolling over to dislodge her hair was an effort.
Sleep was calling and there was no way she was going to be able to ward it off for long.
“Laird Theo,” she mumbled as she nuzzled next to him. The sigh that escaped from him was like a blanket covering her. It was welcoming and comfort. Her eyelids drooped as the world drifted away.
“Sleep.” Theodore’s voice was a low rumble somewhere in the dark.
But it didn’t matter where it came from.
Just the fact she heard it off in the distance was like a safety net for her.
The waves could beat against the shore, the wind could howl like a banshee, but she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, he would be there, protecting.