Chapter 15
“Have ye nae fished before?” Donal asked as he plodded into the stream up to his knees.
“Not like this,” she answered. Tina wasn’t sure exactly how he intended to catch a fish, but one thing she was sure of was that she’d enjoy watching him try.
He stood with his legs set far apart and his hands perched just above the water. His patience was amazing as he stood completely still and waited. He explained that he planned to catch a fish as it swam through his legs.
This was better than anything else she could be doing right now.
Donal was so focused on the water that he was unaware of anything else.
Especially the fact that she was watching him so closely.
Several minutes passed with no success, but he still didn’t move.
Tina decided she really didn’t care if they had fish for dinner and so she rolled up the legs of her pants and silently crept into the water.
When she was close enough, she used both hands to splash water at Donal.
Much to her surprise, he must have known what she was up to because he lunged for her, grabbing her around the waist. Her feet went out from beneath her and they both tumbled into the water.
Tina shrieked, “It’s freezing!”
Donal picked her up, carried her out of the water and lay her on the plaid, he propped himself up over her. “Ye are a wee devil,” he chuckled.
“I didn’t want to share you with the fish,” she explained, “and I wasn’t sure how much longer you were willing to stand there.”
“Ah, so ye wished to have me attention.” He used the edge of the plaid to wipe away a rivulet of water that was trailing from her hair to her face.
Out of breath and incredibly turned on by this man, Tina nodded her head. “I did.” She held her breath as his finger traced her lips. She closed her eyes as her lips parted, begging for his kiss.
“Do ye wish me to kiss ye?” His seductive growl was almost her undoing.
“Yes,” was her breathless answer.
She waited, eyes closed, to feel his lips on hers, but instead he asked, “How much do ye wish it?” He’d lowered his head so that he whispered into her ear.
“Please, just kiss me,” she insisted.
Donal’s deep chuckle reverberated through her as his lips met hers, his tongue found an opening and plundered her mouth. Their tongues continued to tangle as Donal moved closer, helped by Tina pulling him down on top of her. She lifted her hips as one leg wrapped around his back.
The fact that they were both soaking wet from their romp in the stream didn’t make any difference to her.
She snaked a hand under his t-shirt and relished the feel of taut muscle beneath her fingers.
She began to undo the button on his jeans, feeling the hardness of him ready to burst forth.
She wanted him and she didn’t care about anything else.
She’d made her decision and now she wanted to seal their union here on the banks of this stream.
***
Rain began to plop on the ground around them. Tina wasn’t surprised that they hadn’t noticed the dark clouds rolling in. Why would they? They’d both been completely engrossed in the pleasure of this moment.
“We should get inside,” Donal said as he grabbed the plaid and basket.
They hurried inside just as a loud clap of thunder reverberated overhead followed by a bolt of lightning that lit the dark sky.
Tina was shivering partly from the chill of the rain on her skin and partly from the sensual thoughts running through her head.
Donal got a fire started in the hearth before turning back to Tina.
“You’re chilled,” he said, pulling her into his arms and rubbing her back, which sent waves of heat through her entire body.
She melted into him. He seemed to notice because his hands stopped rubbing and simply held her close, his chin resting on her head.
Tina could hear his ragged breathing matching her own.
They stood perfectly still, each afraid to move, afraid to break the spell that had been woven by the sudden rainstorm.
“Donal.” Tina’s soft voice implored him to look at her.
He moved ever so slightly back, still holding onto her.
He tipped his head, his eyes searching hers.
He slowly dipped his head so that his lips were near hers, not touching her, but asking her if she wanted more.
No words were spoken. This silent question passed between them and when Tina closed her eyes and nodded, Donal’s lips tenderly kissed hers.
One soft kiss, followed by another, followed by another.
Tina responded, still shivering, but this time the rain had nothing to do with it.
It was pure adrenaline running through her veins causing her to quiver at his touch.
Donal tried to speak, but Tina put a finger to his lips.
She didn’t need to hear his promises. She knew him for who he truly was.
He was so much more than she had ever imagined.
He didn’t need to tell her he cared. There was no need for apologies or for him to speak to her of love.
He had said those words, she just had to believe it.
She knew her own heart and despite all the time she’d spent trying to distance herself from him, she found she had fallen in love with him.
For the first time in her life, Tina was ready to let this moment be all that mattered.
There was no thinking of tomorrow, there was only right now, here in this little cabin during a thunderstorm that she would remember forever.
Tina moved away from Donal and began to remove her wet clothes.
He didn’t venture from the spot where she’d left him.
Instead, his eyes followed her every move and when she stood there completely naked, he was in front of her in one long stride, gathering her into his arms and kissing her again.
This time with more passion and purpose.
His hands caressed her back, sliding down each side of her spine to her buttocks.
Their calloused roughness on her skin gave her goosebumps.
“You’re so soft.” His voice was a rough whisper in her ear, just before he nibbled her earlobe and then kissed her neck. His kisses alone were better than any sex she’d ever had.
Tina gave in to them, relaxing her body and letting him hold her up with strong, sinewy arms. Small satisfied mewls escaped her throat inspiring him to continue down her chest to her breasts, where he stopped and lavished them with attention. She ached for his touch, her skin burning with desire.
“Come,” he said, taking her hand and drawing her close to the hearth. “I wish to see ye.”
The light from the flames cast a golden glow upon them as Donal removed his own clothes.
Wanting to slow things down and enjoy every moment to the fullest, Tina reached into the basket for a bottle of wine and a glass. She poured some for the both of them.
“There’s just the one glass,” she said as she held it out for him to take.
“Aye, and there’s just one bed.” He lifted her into his arms and placed her in the center of it.
He took the glass from her then put it to her lips.
She took a sip and as he pulled the glass away, some ran down her chin and onto her chest. His tongue followed the trail of the wine and continued on a path further and further down until he came to the vee between her thighs.
She quivered as he thoroughly explored her body with both his hands and his mouth.
Her hands tingled as she caught the strands of his hair between her fingers and then let them slip through.
She was surprised by the silky, softness of it.
He glanced up at her as her tongue darted out to moisten her lips and in an instant his mouth was on hers, strong hands holding her head motionless.
Firm lips played across hers, leaving her breathless, but she was elated to drown in his kiss.
Pushing her hair out of the way, his lips found the sensitive spot on her neck and she shivered, encouraging him to search for more of those tender places where a mere touch led to involuntary moans of pleasure.
Stopping for a moment, Donal refilled the wine glass. He sipped, his eyes never leaving her face as he watched, teasing her and leaving her wanting more.
“Don’t stop, please.” Her throaty whisper implored him.
“I’m nae done with ye yet, love.” he replied, a wicked smile crossing his lips.
He took the wine that was left in his glass and poured it with deliberateness between her breasts, then ran a finger up between them to catch the rivulets before placing it in her mouth.
She sucked the fruity liquid from his finger.
He withdrew it to trace her lips once again before assailing her with even more passionate kisses.
The hardness of his cock rested between her thighs, filling her with anticipation.
She opened her legs for him, but he only teased her opening.
Tina reached for him and stroked. His sharp intake of breath filled her with satisfaction, egging her onward.
A sensual smile appeared on her lips just before she wrapped them around his shaft, wanting to pleasure him as much as he had her.
It was his turn to tangle his hands in her hair, pulling slightly.
His breathing quickened as she rose above him, placing herself over his manhood and rocking back and forth.
His hands reached for her breasts, pinching and pulling her nipples.
As her pace quickened, his hands moved to her hips where he guided her movements.
The heat of their love making built inside of her, stoking the fire into all consuming flames of desire.
Tina rode him harder and faster, all the while wanting to reach her climax and yet wanting the experience to last forever.
It seemed she had no choice. Her walls pulsed and spasmed around him as they both reached the destination they sought.
***
For the first time ever in his life, Donal was at peace.
This moment after they’d made love was somehow even more important to him than the act itself.
He cradled Tina’s head on his chest and wondered how this had happened.
How had he fallen so quickly and so deeply in love with this woman?
And for the first time, he wasn’t thinking about leaving.
He didn’t want to walk away and move on to his next conquest. He was exactly where he wished to be now and forever.
Tina had fallen asleep, resting atop him and he hadn’t moved.
He didn’t want to disturb her, perhaps afraid that if he moved she might disappear and he’d find that this had all been a wonderful dream.
So he stayed where he was until she stirred and looked up at him with love filled eyes.
That look made him hard again with wanting her.
“Hi,” Tina said before she moved to kiss him.
Soft, sweet kisses and the gentle touch of her hand on his face filled him with a happiness he never knew existed before this night.
“It’s still raining,” she observed.
The rumble of thunder in the distance and the soft patter of rain on the roof grounded him. This was real. It had happened.
“Are ye cold?” he asked
“A little.”
He drew her close and covered her with his body. “Better?”
A small, sweet laugh left her lips. “Mmhmmm.”
He lifted her chin with his finger, gazing at her face, searching her eyes.
“Yes,” she said to his unasked question.
It was his turn to laugh, a deep chuckle erupting from his throat. His lips met hers, igniting them both with a pure passion to have one another again.
Donal raised himself up over her, driving into her.
An immediate sense of being exactly where he belonged overcame him and he never wanted to leave.
Tina’s hands reached for him, drawing him close so that their bodies touched from head to toe.
The friction of their bodies gliding over each other only added to the ecstasy he was feeling.
He carefully watched Tina’s face, felt her body tense and relax waiting for release and when she was near, he quickened his pace, calling out her name as he collapsed atop her, both satisfied.
Tina smiled up at him. His world was complete.
Love seemed to be the key he’d been searching for all these years.
It unlocked the man he wanted to be, the man he was with Tina.
***
“I don’t want to leave,” Tina said, her lips pouting and her nose wrinkling.
“Nor I,” Donal answered.
They had gathered their things and it was all Tina could do to keep from throwing herself on top of him and tearing off the clothes he’d just put on.
This was all new to her. She’d never felt this way about anyone.
She’d be overjoyed to spend the rest of her life in this bed with him, but they had to get back.
Elena was waiting for them. Hopefully she’d be well enough to travel and then they could make their plans to go home.
She was so excited to have Donal meet her family.
He already knew Elle and he’d have a Highlander reunion with Hamish.
Her little happily-ever-after fantasy ran through her head like a movie.
Donal must have noticed, “Why do ye smile so?”
“Because I’m happy. Happier than I’ve ever been.”
He beamed back at her, seeming quite proud of himself.
“Yes. It’s all your fault. You’re the one that has me grinning like a fool.”
“Must we go?” he asked, looking back at the bed and then at her wearing a very sexy grin.
“Yes. Come on before I change my mind.” Tina grabbed his hand and pulled him through the door behind her.
They got about two steps when she stopped, gazing back at the door he’d just closed. “One more time?” she asked.
She didn’t have to ask twice, as Donal swept her up into his arms and carried her back inside.