Chapter 28 #2
The pulse of desire flared lower, turning into a demanding ache between her legs.
Perhaps Creighton felt it too, because at that moment he leaned forward, capturing her lips with his own.
Things were moving faster than before, and while Nora longed to undress properly, to feel his skin hot against hers, she was not willing to ask him to wait, to pull back, to help her unlace her gown.
Hands slid down her body, cupping the curves of her breasts, her sides, her hips, gently pushing her thighs further apart.
His knuckles brushed the inside of her thighs, and that was all the warning she had before his fingers slid against her core, hot and wet already.
Nora let out a ragged sigh, closing her eyes and tilting her head back.
“None of that,” Creighton growled, cupping her cheek. The pad of his thumb swiped roughly across her lower lip. “I want ye to keep yer eyes open. I want ye to look at me.”
She opened her eyes with an effort. Already, the world seemed to be shifting and wobbling around her. He caught her eye and grinned, wolfishly, tracing the line of her scar with one finger.
Had anybody ever touched her scar before? Deliberately? Nora thought not, and that idea sent a pulse of heat through her gut.
Between the kisses and touches and his fingers sliding expertly against her, Nora’s peak was not far off. She was ready for it, already twisting her fingers into the sheets and tensing her thighs, when he pulled away entirely, sitting back on his heels.
Nora gave a groan of disappointment. “What did ye stop for?”
“Lassie, didnae ye just say that ye wanted to share a peak today?” He laughed, hands dropping to his waistband. “There’s still time to change yer mind.”
Her mouth dried out. “Nay, I daenae want to change me mind. I daenae.”
He nodded slowly, undoing his belt with practiced fingers, pulling it free. Next, he undid the buttons below his waistband, pulling the gap open and down enough to let his member spring free.
Nora eyed it with curiosity. “And that’ll fit?”
“Aye.” He paused, tilting his head. “As I said, ye can change yer mind.”
“If I had wanted to change me mind, I would have done it by now.”
Leaning back against the single pillow, Nora smiled dreamily up at him. Her blood still thumped in her ears, and lingering pleasure from her almost-peak tickled through her limbs. Watching hungry desire flare in Creighton’s eyes made her shiver, and she reached out toward him.
He needed no further urging, leaning down to kiss her roughly, tongues sliding together. Fingertips danced over her thighs again, sliding between her legs, and then something larger than a finger or two nudged against her.
“Breathe,” he whispered, voice echoing in her ears.
Slowly, slowly, he moved into her, the stretch unfamiliar and not exactly comfortable. Frowning, Nora shifted herself, angling her hips. When she did so, he pressed against something, and heat flared in her gut once more.
“Oh,” she breathed.
Creighton chuckled, low in his throat, and pressed a quick kiss to her throat. “Remember what I said. Nay closin’ yer eyes. No hidin’.”
“As if I could hide from ye.”
He let out a shuddering breath at that and leaned back, putting a few inches between them.
When he moved his hips, slowly and carefully at first, Nora shifted on the bed, blankets wrinkling around her.
Winding her arms around his shoulders, she tangled her fingers into his hair, holding him closer to her.
His hands shifted everywhere, bracing himself on the mattress to prevent crushing her under his weight, cupping her hips, holding her waist, or even sliding down the outside of her thigh, a warm and reassuring touch.
“I wish ye could have seen it,” he breathed, thrusts speeding up enough to touch something inside her that made pleasure surge through her in time with his movements, “The eclipse, I mean.”
“Maybe I willnae see an eclipse,” she whispered, fighting against the urge to close her eyes once more. She’d promised him, and his gaze kept seeking out hers, her heart pounding when their eyes met. “But I’ve seen ye, and that is almost enough.”
Her peak rushed upon her, a molten fire running through her veins, more intense even than anything like it before.
Creighton gave a low growl, the sound rumbling through his chest and through hers, and his thrusts stuttered.
He closed his eyes at his peak, which Nora privately thought was cheating, but there was always next time.
Silence stretched out between them for a moment, hot and languid. At last, Creighton shifted, slipping gently out of her and leaning forward to prop himself up on his elbows over her.
“Are ye well, lassie?” he managed, voice gravelly. “Nae sore?”
“Sore? Nay,” she mumbled dizzily, reaching up to touch his face. Her fingertips danced over his features, rough stubble, and weather-beaten skin. His eyelashes, long and dark, fluttered under her fingers. “That was wonderful.”
He grinned lazily. “I thought ye enjoyed it.”
She tilted up her face, and he took the hint, leaning down to kiss her.
“We cannae stay here long,” she said when he pulled back. “I hate to ruin the moment, but Donal will be back soon, hoverin’ around the door and askin’ to be let in.”
Creighton groaned, rolling his eyes. “Bloody Donal.”
She touched his cheek, smiling up at him. “There’s always our rooms. Or indeed other places in the keep.”
“Other places, eh? Interestin’, interestin’. We’ll have to discuss that in a wee bit more depth later, daenae ye think?”
She chuckled. “Perhaps.”
Creighton’s gaze softened. He lifted a hand, pushing back her hair from her forehead.
“Marry me,” he whispered, voice cracking.
Nora paused, sure that she must have misheard. “What?”
“Marry me. Daenae leave at the end of the year. Daenae let the betrothal go away. I… I love ye, Nora. I cannae lose ye.”
“Ye want to marry once the treaty is signed?”
“Nay. I want to marry ye now. Well, soon,” he conceded. “If that’s what ye want, that is.”
A lump lodged itself in Nora’s throat. “Aye,” she breathed, nodding tightly. “It is what I want. I… I never imagined that I’d marry, ye ken.”
“Well, ye already ken that I didnae.”
“I willnae give up me work as a healer.”
“I’d never expect ye to. With Lady MacColl as a fine, famous healer, the MacColl standard of medicine should go up quite a bit, daenae ye think?”
She giggled at that, reaching up to card her fingers through his hair. “And can Margaret stay here? Nae that she’ll want to stay for long, I imagine.”
He bent down to kiss her once more.
“Ye can have whoever ye want here in this keep. I daenae care who ye bring, or what ye do with yer time, Nora, so long as I can have ye. I want it more than I’ve wanted anything before.”
“Ye are in luck,” she whispered, winding her arms around his neck and pulling him down for a deeper kiss. “Because ye are about to get yer wish, Laird MacColl. I am about to grant just about every wish of yers I can manage.”
He chuckled again, slipping his arms around her waist and pulling her against him.
“Right now, anythin’ I could ever wish for is right here in this room.”