Chapter 26
Storm rapped lightly at his door, and for a moment she thought perhaps that he had already fallen asleep. Then the door opened.
They stared at each other while thunder rumbled overhead.
“Cross my doorstep and you seal your fate, Storm,” Burke warned and stepped back, opening the door wide.
Storm didn’t hesitate. She stepped across the threshold and right into Burke’s arms.
He lifted her up against him and she wrapped her arms around his neck while her mouth met his in a kiss that ignited their passion in a flash.
She wrapped her legs around his waist as he walked with her across the room, and they fell on the bed still locked together. Still, they refused to relinquish their kiss. They fed off each other with a hunger that apparently could not be satisfied.
Clothes were shed in haste and eagerness until they were spread out naked beside each other. Then hands began to wander.
Storm ached to touch him, all of him, just as he did her.
It was as if they had always known each other, familiar with every valley and mound.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he said, surfacing from feasting at her breast.
“You make me feel beautiful,” she admitted, running her small hands over his hard-muscled chest and loving the feel of him. His lean muscle stimulated her senses, as did the heat of his flesh.
He claimed her lips again, and she joined in the kiss until they finally nibbled along each other’s lips.
“I can’t get enough of you,” Burke said.
“I feel the same.”
“I intend to make love to you all night.”
“Promise?” she asked, fearing that this would be the only time they would have together and wanting to make the most of it.
Burke ran his hand down the length of her, settling faintly between her legs. “I promise.”
Storm moaned with pleasure when his fingers intimately explored her, and she was soon lost in a haze of passion that she wanted to linger in forever.
When his playfulness became too much she reached down and took hold of him. “I’ll have you now.”
Burke grazed his lips over hers. “Are you sure?”
“Do not tease,” she protested. “I know what I want and I want you.”
He nibbled at her bottom lip and then down along her neck to settle on her hard nipple. Then he rose over her like a majestic bird about to take flight and entered her with a tenderness that startled her more than if he had plunged into her.
“We fit,” he whispered in her ear before he settled into a steady rhythm that grew with each mounting thrust.
She grabbed hold of his shoulders and threw back her head, enjoying the cadence they set together. It flooded her body and soul, and she rode the rhythm until it peaked.
“Burke!” she breathed hard in his ear. “Oh God, Burke,” she exclaimed as she climaxed as she had never thought possible, the ripples of pleasure going on and on and on.
He collapsed on her almost simultaneously and she hugged him to her, wanting to keep him as close to her as possible.
She regretted when he rolled off her though he kept his body beside her. He took her hand in his to kiss it before laying their clasped hands on his chest.
Their encounter had been far from brief and yet she felt it was far too short. She wanted more, much more, and the thought concerned her, though for now she chose not to think about it.
“Damn, woman, but you’re a great lover,” he said with bated breath.
She smiled. “You’re not bad yourself.”
“We’re a match then.” He kissed her hand again.
A thunderclap startled her, and she jumped.
Burke turned and took her in his arms. “No need to worry. I’ll keep you safe and warm, since, of course, you’ll be staying the night.”
“I’m not going anywhere until dawn.”
He grinned. “That’s good because I planned on holding you hostage if you had thought otherwise.”
She laughed. “You think you could have held me prisoner?”
Burke shook his head, his grin wide. “Oh, sweetheart, I know exactly how to keep you prisoner.”
She giggled and snuggled against him. “You’ll have to show me how.”
“All night. I’ll show you all night.”
They laughed and kissed and teased until once again, their passion flared and they were lost in a haze of lovemaking. It continued all night, and when dawn finally peeked over the horizon, Storm fell soundly asleep in Burke’s loving arms.
Storm was the first to stir, then Burke, and they greeted each other with smiles.
“What a lovely night, with a lovely woman,” Burke said.
“Such romantic words,” Storm said, trying to keep reality away for just a while longer.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.”
She laughed softly and knew that she’d be wise to leave his bed right away, but she foolishly lingered.
He traced her breast with his finger and nuzzled her neck. “I love the feel and taste of you.
Thank God he kept his nibbles to her neck, or else she’d be lost. As it was she was on the verge of attacking him, and that she couldn’t do. She had surrendered to one night of passion; there could be no more, or else she would be in danger of losing her heart.
The thought jolted some sense into her and she bolted up in bed. “There’s things I must see to.”
Burke tried to coax her back into his arms. “Nothing is as important as us at this moment.”
Storm threw the covers off her and hopped out of bed, grabbing her nightgown from the floor and slipping it on hastily. It tangled around her, being she had it on backward, and the next thing she knew, Burke was helping to untangle her.
His hands were gentle, smoothing the gown down and lingering in just the right places that sparked her passion with each intentional touch.
Storm backed away. “I need to go.”
“Can’t you spare a few more minutes?”
Storm kept her eyes on his face, if not she probably would have surrendered to her passion and his obviously growing passion.
“Now,” she said with the shake of her head. “I must go now.”
His outstretched arm stopped her when she tried to pass, and he shook his head. “I don’t think so.” He hoisted her up and had her on the bed in a split second, and in another, he had her nightgown up and him inside her.
It was a fast and furious mating that she thoroughly enjoyed. There was no preamble, no fussing, no playfulness, just fast, hard lovemaking that felt wonderfully delicious.
When it was over and their breathing returned to normal, he helped her off the bed and walked her to the door. “Now you can leave, but be warned, I’ll be looking for you tonight.”
Storm scurried out the door and didn’t take a breath until she was safely in her quarters. It was to be one night, no more. If she continued to make love with him, she was bound to fall in love with him. Besides, she already had feelings for the American.
She couldn’t exactly define them, or perhaps she didn’t want to. She made haste to dress, trying without success to avoid thoughts of the American. However, did she expect not to think about him after having made love with him?
She smiled and sighed, thinking how wonderful it had been and feeling a little guilty that she had enjoyed it so very much. Her climaxes had gone on forever with a little help from Burke. It was something she had not experienced with her husband, but then they had been young and inexperienced.
She finished dressing and warned herself to keep her distance from the American. It would do no good to get deeply involved with him.
But wasn’t she already?
She wanted to free Burke’s brother just as badly as he did. Cullen needed to learn he had a brother, and Burke needed to finally meet his brother. It was necessary for both parties, necessary for family to be reunited.
That was her priority, not intimacy with Burke. She had to keep that in mind or else she would find herself lost with no chance of finding her way back again.
It was decided that William and Philip would go and gather the information on Lady Alaina since they were familiar with the man who had last supplied it.
In the meantime, Burke scribbled a note to Douglas, the ship’s captain, and Malcolm and Angus were sent to collect more clothes and coins in case needed.
That left Storm, Tanin, and Burke to wait for their return.
By afternoon the camp had turned quiet; clouds still claimed the sky, though the rain had stopped.
Storm liked times like this when there were no pressing matters that needed her attention. She could just drift through the remainder of the day without worry. Such days were far and few between, so she took advantage when she could.
She made her way to the old church ruins. She didn’t know why, but she felt drawn there, and so she went and sat on the crumbled stone wall.
Had guilt brought her here?
The night Daniel had died in her arms, she had sworn she would never love again, never be with another man again, and never forgive herself for not saving her husband.
Now here she was, fresh from making love with another man and wondering if she could possibly fall in love again or even dare give it thought.
“Where is he buried?”
Storm didn’t startle; she had heard someone follow her, and since Burke’s tracking skills were excellent, he had meant to let her know that he trailed her.
“I left his grave unmarked,” she said as he walked over to her. “I didn’t want anyone disturbing him. Sometimes graves are robbed for clothes or boots and I wanted Daniel to rest in peace.”
“Would you prefer to be alone?”
“No, I don’t feel the need to be alone,” she said, glad that he had joined her though she couldn’t say why. He looked handsome in his duster—it defined his character, wild and rugged and in command.
“What brought you here?” he asked.
She hesitated. She still hadn’t determined the answer to that question. She only knew it was the place she presently wanted to be.
“I’m not sure,” she answered honestly.
He reached out and took her hands in his. “No regrets, Storm?”
She smiled. “Not a one.”
“Good. I feel the same, and I wouldn’t want to think you came here to your husband’s final resting place out of guilt.”
“The thought had crossed my mind,” she admitted, retaining her smile. “But I can honestly say I don’t feel guilty.” She wondered why it didn’t disturb her but actually provided her with a sense of freedom.
“I’m glad for you; perhaps then you’ve finally let your husband rest in peace.”
Was that what she had done? Was that why she felt such a glowing sense of peace within her? Did she not only free herself, but Daniel of the burden she had placed on them both when she refused to let him go, let him rest in peace?
“Sometimes, Mr. Longton, you make sense.”
“I thought I did all the time,” he said on a laugh and squeezed her hands.
She returned the squeeze, his humor and thoughtfulness appreciated, as well as his touch. His hands were warm, and she felt safe. How long had it been since she felt safe?
He drifted closer to her, slow and easy, and she thought to stop him. If he came any closer, she would kiss him, and she couldn’t chance that. She’d certainly want more from him—he was simply addictive, and that was not good for her.
Last night was their first and last time together.
It had to be, or else she risked losing her heart to him.
He was standing directly in front her before she realized it. His hand reached out until his fingers slowly stroked her face.
“Your skin is so soft. I love to touch you,” he said on a whisper.
She near shivered but instead grabbed hold of her passion and attempted to divert it, ignore it, and do whatever she could not to respond.
Burke, however, obviously had a different plan in mind, and she silently cursed his persistence. He took hold of her neck with one hand while his lips found hers and teased them with nibbles and kisses.
That he attempted to seduce her was obvious; that it was working was just as obvious.
“I think we should return to my quarters,” he whispered near her ear as he nibbled at her lobe.
Storm could do no more than sigh.
“My sentiments exactly,” Burke said and grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her off the crumbled stone wall.
She thought to deny him, deny herself, but somehow she couldn’t find the words. Before she knew it, she was naked in his bed and he was touching her everywhere, exploring every nook and cranny with his fingers and his lips.
She bit her lower lip so as not to make a sound, yet she wanted to scream out her pleasure. He moved over her and in her with ease and agility. Before she knew it, she was holding on to him for dear life as they simultaneously rode wave after wave of pleasure together.
When finally spent, they lay beside each other, hands clasped, breathing heavily, their passion fulfilled. And that was how the remainder of the day continued since neither of them seemed to be able to get enough of each other.
Only when night finally claimed the sky and the camp peacefully slept did Storm and Burke surrender to much-needed rest.