Chapter 11
Willa peered out from the darkness of the bedroom where she had gone to put away her shawl and boots.
She watched as Drust shifted in his chair and adjusted the front of his breeches, wincing as he did so.
Poor man must be bloody uncomfortable, especially since he’d been in that condition so often lately.
His honor was certainly not bringing him any relief.
But I could…couldn’t I?
Yes. I could.
With her heart beating in her throat, she walked into the room and stopped directly in front of Drust. He looked up at her and shifted again in his chair uncomfortably.
She tilted her head to the side, watching him, gathering her courage before she lost her nerve. “You look as if you’re in pain. I can take care of that for you.” She took a step closer, her lips quirking into a little smile. “I don’t like to see anyone suffer…”
Drust made a startled sound, his lips parting in shock. He shook his head, running his hand lightly over the sight of his wound, as if deciding that’s what she must have meant.
“No, I’m fine. I hardly feel it anymore now, ye did a fine job, lass. There’s only pain when I move too fast, and even then it’s less every day.”
She gave him a bemused smile. “I’m glad, but that’s not what I meant.”
He looked up at her, bewildered. “What did ye mean then?”
She let her gaze fall meaningfully to his lap, and the obvious bulge there. His eyes flew open wide and he sucked in a breath.
“No. Absolutely no’! I’ll no’ touch ye.”
She knelt on the floor beside him and looked up at his beautiful face, his long tangled locks falling around his shoulders, making him look more than a bit untamed. Then she rose up on her knees so that her lips were only inches from his. “You don’t want me? Tell me you don’t.”
Drust narrowed his eyes. Damn her!
He licked his lips as if they’d suddenly gone dry. “I think it’s obvious to both of us that I do, lass. I am a man and ye are an attractive woman, and ‘tis a natural thing. But I am no’ some beast that I canna control my baser urges.”
“Ah, of course.” His eyes were dark with hunger, sparking with need. His whole body was tense, taught as a bow string, and he was holding himself carefully back from her, denying her what she wanted most. Oh, what would it take to make him break?
She ran her hands up his muscular thighs, feeling him jolt as if he’d been shot with a crossbow. He grasped her shoulders, holding her away from him at arm’s length.
“Lass… Willa. Please stop…” Ah hell, what was he saying? Damn honor!
“Hush.” She put a finger to his lips for a moment to silence him, then moved it away and replaced it with her lips.
Raw heat exploded between them and after a moment his arms rose and wrapped around her, pulling her closer.
He kissed her back, pure instinct taking over, blocking out all other thought except that he couldn’t get enough of the taste of her mouth.
It was warm and sweet and made him crave her all the more.
For the life of him, he couldn’t remember why he shouldn’t be kissing this woman.
Willa reached down to touch him through the fabric of his breeches, rubbing gently up and down the rock hard length.
His arms fell down her back and a tortured groan escaped him, though he never broke contact with her lips.
If she kept that up, he was damn well going to come in his breeches, but hell if he wanted her to stop…
To have her hand on him… it was such blissful relief and such bittersweet torture all at the same time.
He bucked his hips against her palm, and this time he broke their kiss when his head fell back against the chair.
His body was swiftly taking over, his free will receding farther and farther into the back of his mind.
Aye, he was lost in overwhelming need, and nothing could have made him stop her now.
He heard another groan escape his throat.
She was driving him crazy, her touch felt so good, but it was not enough.
“I need… more…” he ground out on a husky breath.
She nodded, a triumphant little smile playing at her lips, and her hands moved to loose the ties of his breeches. Oh aye, she had won this time.
Willa pulled the ties open and slipped the fabric down to free him.
Although she had seen this part of him many times already, it was so very different now that he was awake and fully aroused.
Large and engorged and throbbing. He was a young, virile warrior and his body needed release.
And she knew how to give him what he needed.
She took a breath to ease her nerves, letting instinct take over.