Chapter Eight #3
He cupped her generous curves, brushing his thumbs over the erect nipples as his mouth devoured her.
Instinct claimed him, and he lowered her shift to her waist, baring her skin.
His body was rigid with need, but he was determined not to waste this gift of her innocence.
And that meant exploring her, learning more about what she liked or didn’t like.
Balor traced her bare skin, noting the way it pebbled with the chilly night air. Her breathing grew unsteady, and he found himself wanting to explore that silken skin with his mouth once again.
And he told her so.
‘I want to kiss you everywhere.’ He bent to slide his mouth over the column of her throat, noting the way her hands gripped his nape. He inhaled sharply when she pressed too close to him. His body responded with a ferocity that was nearly visceral.
‘Are you all right?’ she asked.
He gripped her waist and nodded. ‘Just on edge.’
She rested her forehead against his. ‘You were the man I wanted to choose for my betrothal. Not Lord Lowell. Not anyone else. Only you.’
The words washed over him like a benediction. ‘And I would have fought to claim you as my bride.’ He lifted her up and brought her down to the pallet of furs, gently laying her beneath him. The fallen léine hung at her waist, exposing her breasts and the swell of her hips.
She reached out to stroke his bristled face. ‘If we cannot stay together, then will you give me a memory to keep for the rest of my life?’
His heartbeat thundered even more. And when she lifted her léine away, the sight of her naked body silenced every word he wanted to speak.
* * *
It was everything she could do not to tremble.
This was the greatest risk Mairead had ever taken, for she was so afraid that Balor would turn her away, despite how badly she wanted him.
His gaze was piercing as he studied her.
Her heart was pounding so hard, she wondered if she dared reach for the man she craved so desperately.
She wanted him to know how much she cared, how much she needed him.
And so she was reaching for the last weapon she had. The only question was whether he would fight for a life together.
Slowly, he sat up and rested his hands on her bare hips. ‘I know I should tell you to cover yourself. Your body belongs to your future husband, not me.’
A flush came over her, and she wondered if he was truly going to turn her away.
‘But right now, a mhuirnín, the sight of you destroys my honour.’ He cupped her breasts, gently caressing her until warmth bloomed between her legs. ‘I haven’t forgotten what it was to watch you come apart. And now I want to be inside you when that happens again.’
The wetness between her legs surged at his words, for she hadn’t forgotten, either. His talented tongue had stroked her over the edge when they were on the boat. She bit her lip, trying to calm her racing heart at the memory.
Mairead began to pull at the laces of his tunic, lifting it away until she revealed the hardened muscles beneath.
She touched his warm skin, sliding her hands over his shoulders.
His strength fascinated her, and she lowered her mouth to his shoulder before her hands drifted over the scar on his chest, down to the ridges of his stomach.
She was about to explore his body with her own mouth, but then he kissed her throat, his warm breath causing gooseflesh to rise over her skin.
‘I’ve never taken a woman before,’ Balor murmured. ‘But I swear I’m going to spend every moment of this night learning what pleases you.’
His words only deepened her blush, and Mairead drew her arms around his neck.
It startled her to learn that he was a virgin, especially after the way he’d touched her before. If she were still innocent, she would be terrified of these feelings coursing within her. She would be so afraid of what was to come—when instead, she was eager.
A flush of guilt passed over her, for Balor didn’t know she wasn’t a virgin. He was afraid of ruining her—but that wasn’t possible, for she was already ruined.
She had given herself to Diarmud, only a year ago. They had fumbled in the darkness, and she hadn’t minded the awkwardness of their lovemaking, fully believing that they would be married after he proved himself to her father. Diarmud had promised to love her forever and make her his bride.
The loss of him had been more than the loss of her innocence. It was the loss of the man she’d loved and the future she’d dreamed of. Maybe it had been her fault for daring to seize what she wanted instead of remaining obedient.
Now, in Balor’s arms, she wanted to reclaim that missing part of herself. She wanted to experience hope and dreams of a different kind of future. It was a risk, yes.
But she believed it was worth it. He was worth it.
Balor seemed to know exactly what she craved, and the thought of joining with him sent a rush of desire racing through her veins.
She didn’t care if it was wrong. She was tired of obeying the rules, tired of being the woman everyone else told her to be. For one night, she wanted to be disobedient and reach for what she wanted.
And what she wanted was Balor.
‘Lie down,’ he ordered.
She knew he wanted to be in command while he touched her. But she intended to be his equal in every way—and that meant pleasuring him as well.
‘Not until you’ve removed your clothes,’ she countered.
Balor moved his hands to the ties of his trews and swiftly removed them. The sight of his body and hardened muscles made her breathless at the thought of what would happen between them. Between her legs, she grew wet with anticipation, her body trembling with need.
Mairead lay down, and Balor stretched out to face her. For a moment, she traced her hand along the edge of his cheek.
He closed his eyes, as if drinking in her touch.
Then he pulled her body against his, the heat of his skin warming her.
He kissed her, and the hard length of him pressed against her stomach.
She reached down between them, feeling the smooth tip of his erection.
When his tongue slid into her mouth, she moved her thumb over the ridge.
He caught her hand and raised it, along with the other one, pinning them above her head. ‘Not yet.’ He bent down to take her nipple in his mouth. ‘I could taste you all day, Mairead. The sweetness of you.’
She couldn’t move, but she opened her legs slightly, letting him rest against her intimately. The hunger and need rose up within her, and she tried to hold herself back as he suckled her, teasing her breasts with his fingers and mouth.
She savoured his touch, moving her legs until her knees were bent, and it would take nothing at all for him to be inside her. He was being so careful with her, exploring her body with his mouth when she wanted so much more.
‘Balor, please,’ she begged.
But he only slowed his pace, releasing one of her hands while he brought his fingers to her aching womanhood.
‘Softly,’ she urged. She showed him how she wanted to be touched, and he was quick to explore.
When he dipped his finger into her wetness, he cursed softly. ‘I don’t want to hurt you.’
You won’t, she thought, but didn’t say it. Instead, she said, ‘Touch me the way you did before.’
But instead, he moved lower, kissing her navel. She began to tremble when his mouth drifted between her legs.
‘I’ve been wanting to do this again,’ he murmured, lifting her to his mouth.
A sudden surge of raw pleasure erupted within her as he explored her with his tongue.
He kissed her intimately, and she arched against him, suddenly realizing that everything was different with this man.
He treated her as if she meant everything to him.
His mouth drove her higher, the rising storm pulling her under until she was drowning in him.
She had never felt like this in all her life, and Mairead gave herself up, surrendering as he pushed her over the edge again. Her hands dug into his hair, and she guided him up, reaching down to caress his hard length. More than anything, she wanted his body inside her.
He groaned as she explored him in the same way, stroking every part of him with her palm. Then he guided himself to her entrance and slid inside, joining them together. He hesitated a moment, but she kissed him, welcoming his thrust and squeezing him within her depths.
He shuddered, his own breath mirroring her own with heavy panting. She took him in deep, lifting her knees and then wrapping her legs around his waist.
He was slow and careful at first, and though it frustrated her, slowly the penetrations began to reawaken her.
She was dying a slow death, and just when she trembled, he sheathed himself fully, and she cried out as the ecstasy washed over her.
She was shaking as he quickened his thrusts, covering her body with his own as he invaded again and again.
I want a life with him.
Tears spilled from her eyes at the fear of losing this man. Balor had fought alongside her, protecting her own life with his. She couldn’t live with herself if anything happened to him.
His thrusting continued, and when his mouth covered her nipple again, she took his hips and ground herself against him. He lost control then and continued driving himself in hard until he gave a sharp exhale and pulled out as he released himself against her hip.
It startled her, though she realized the risk of pregnancy. Balor collapsed on top of her, and she caressed his back, pressing a kiss against his shoulder.
But a part of her was terrified that this night would be their last.