Chapter 15 #2
Alone in their cocoon, the driving rain overpowering all other sounds, Darragh stopped listening for Terrence’s return and adjusted himself so that he held her securely in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, before drifting off himself.
His dreams were of their first time. The sound of her sighs.
Her fingertips pressing into his back, urging him on in her passion.
The overwhelming sense that he was where he belonged.
He awoke with a start, his breathing labored. The sun had gone down and the fire was nearly out, leaving even their small space chilled. Brighit rested peacefully beside him, her skin now cool to his touch. Whatever had made the others ill had left her as well.
As quietly as he could, he eased himself away from her to feed the small fire and then doffed his brait to use as a blanket to cover them. She appeared very peaceful. And desirable.
“Brighit?”
“Hmm?”
Her eyes still closed, he lowered his mouth to hers. Her lips pressed against his with a surprising urgency.
“Are ye awake?” he whispered the words against her parted lips, but she moved closer, deepening the kiss when he would have withdrawn.
“How are ye feeling?”
Her responding moan cut right to his own desire. She reached an arm around his shoulders, holding him closer. “Ah, much better now.”
He didn’t dare move, but she found his hand and placed it against her breast before she started kissing him again. Her breath quickened and Darragh had to resist the overpowering yearning to explore her body more fully, to satisfy the fire she was igniting in him.
“Yer fever may be gone, but ye should probably rest,” he forced himself to say.
When he withdrew from her, she yanked him back. “Do not leave me. I am cold alone.”
She held his upper body tight and nuzzled against his ear, sending a rush of blood to his cock. Her nipples teased him, pressing into him through the thin material of her chemise.
When he started to pull away, she whimpered in protest.
“Ye need to rest.”
She shook her head. “I need ye.”
The words hung between them. She was acknowledging she needed him—he could not deny her.
Dragging an open palm along her lush curves, he cupped her firm bottom to shift her closer. The passion rushing through him required release, and he kissed her with abandon. His hands slipped beneath her chemise to cup her bare bottom.
“Ye’ve a fine arse.”
In response, she leaned up and over him, giving him better access to her curves.
Darragh groaned, her weight heavy on him and her thigh rubbing his manhood. This could definitely be his undoing.
“I’m not… I don’t know…” Why was he still fighting something he wanted more than his next breath? He groaned right before he pulled her the rest of the way on top of him. Her light weight was a blessing against his heated stiffness.
“I would like to take ye again.”
“Aye.” Her eyes were open now, a smile on her face as she looked down on him. She stretched to kiss him again, grinding her hips into him at the same time.
Her answer surprised him, but his hand was already slipping betwixt her thighs and he was beyond talking.
He tucked his head into the curve of her neck.
That alluring curve he’d been in too much of a hurry to truly appreciate their first time.
Was that the problem? Had he moved too quickly?
He slipped his finger along her wetness as he nipped at the sensitive flesh beneath her ear.
No, she had been just this ready. He had not taken her unprepared.
Brighit’s strangled groan, barely heard above the winds overhead in the trees, urged him on, but then her hands were pushing against him, trying to break his hold.
“Someone’s coming,” she whispered.
As if waking from a deep sleep, Darragh struggled to get his bearings and make sense of the sounds around him. The rustling of disturbed leaves.
“Darragh?” Terrence’s quiet call cut through his lust. Darragh cursed, hitting his head in his haste to move away from his wife, and cover her with his mantle.
“Will they accommodate us?” He was happy his voice didn’t betray his frustration, but he rolled his eyes at Brighit. She giggled, pulling her chemise down and over her hips before scooting deeper beneath the covering.
Terrence’s face appeared in the doorway. “How is she?”
Brighit’s eyes widened more. “Better. I am… better.”
“Well?” Darragh sounded about as irritated as he felt.
His friend hesitated only a moment. “They are expecting ye. They’ve pulled the carriage from the mud and laid down some branches to ease it over the worst of the trail.”
“Good. We will be out anon.”
Terrence flashed a smile and was gone.
Darragh roughed up his hair. “Not the best timing, that one.”
“Wait.” She pulled on his arm when he would have left her. “Thank ye for caring for me.”
He nodded and helped her pull on her nearly dry gown.
When he cradled her in his arms to carry her out, he was humbled by the rightness of her being in his arms. A sense of pride filled him—his wife had a fierce passion, and now that they were getting beyond whatever issues had stood between them, he felt certain their relationship would only grow stronger.
Darragh carried her to the carriage and settled her inside. “I’d prefer to ride with ye, but ye’ll stay drier in here.”
“My thanks.”
He gave a dubious look to the men around him, and said, “Are ye certain the carriage will get there?”
After the way things were moving along in the lean to, Darragh was in no hurry to be separated from her. Especially not if they were doomed to get stuck in the mud.
Duncan laughed. “I’ve checked the trail myself. We’ve seen to the worst ruts. Ye’ll be fine.” He moved in closer, glancing around to be sure he was not overheard. “One thing about that tea. It makes ’em very… needy, if ye know what I mean. Best to keep her with ye.”
Darragh sent him a withering glance. “I would prefer not to have known that.”
The older man nodded in understanding then shrugged. “A tea can only do so much, Darragh. If she didn’t desire ye at all, no herbs would make her direct her affection toward ye.”
Darragh glanced toward the wooden conveyance, considering a stop along the way. Not the most comfortable spot for him to take her. The men circled around him with expectant expressions, and he knew his needs would have to wait.
“Take yer time, lad.” Duncan moved in closer. “If ye handle this right, she’ll not know when the herbs wear off and when yer own prowess takes over.”
Nodding his head, a smirk on his face, Darragh asked, “Did ye do this apurpose?”
“The lass had a fever. I’d never put her in harm’s way.” Duncan crossed his arms about his chest and planted his legs into a warrior stance. “I help where I’m able.”
Darragh hopped up onto the seat, quirking a brow at him. “Do not feel ye need to hurry.”