Chapter Twelve #3
Harcourt kissed her until his head swam from the heady taste of her.
Then he began to kiss his way down to her breasts.
The way she gasped and squirmed beneath his caresses strained his control over his own passion.
He needed to be buried deep in her heat but he was determined that she share in his pleasure, that she get the full measure of her own.
He slid his hand down over her belly and between her legs.
The fact she was already wet nearly snapped those last threads of control he clung to.
Annys thought she ought to be feeling pain as the fire inside her grew and grew.
She caressed every part of his strong body she could reach, loving the feel of his skin beneath her hands.
His every caress and kiss only made her hungrier for him.
She realized she needed him joined with her soon, if not sooner.
The tightness in her belly was growing so fast she knew she risked being done before he had even entered her.
She slid her hand down his body until she reached the erection she could feel pressing against her leg.
He certainly felt ready to her, she thought as she stroked him and lightly rubbed the dampness from the tip with her thumb.
The groan he gave sounded as if it welled up from some place deep inside of him.
Then he grabbed her hand and pulled it away.
A flicker of panic went through her as she feared she had overstepped.
“Och, lass, that broke me,” he said, his voice little more than a low growl. “I apologize now if it is too soon for you.”
Before she could tell him that it was not too soon, he was thrusting inside her.
Annys gasped and shook with the pleasure of him inside her.
She had the odd thought that it was where he belonged and then he began to thrust in and out of her, the tightness in her belly growing almost painful.
She clung to him and was returning his kiss when that tightness suddenly broke apart.
He growled when her cries of release fell into his mouth.
Annys was still shaking from the force of her pleasure when he found his.
The warmth of his seed as it spilled inside of her made her shiver with another small wave of pleasure.
She wrapped her arms around him when he slumped over her, careful to fall a little to the side so as not to put his full weight on her.
It was just as wonderful as she had remembered, she mused, as she held him close while she fought to catch her breath.
This was what had haunted her dreams for five long years.
At the time the memories had caused her to sink into a sadness it was difficult to shake free of.
Benet had helped. She would look at him and tell herself whatever heart pain she suffered over Harcourt was worth it for the blessing of her son.
It was several moments before she became aware of the less beautiful parts of lovemaking.
A little longer before the stickiness between her legs and sweat drying on her skin became a bit irritating.
Just as she was about to try to get out of bed with some semblance of dignity to wash off, Harcourt rose and went to get the bowl of washing water and a couple of rags.
She had to smile as they both hurriedly cleaned themselves off, both of them clearly eager to be done with the chore so they could be skin to skin again.
Harcourt put away the bowl and washrag and quickly slipped back into bed. He sprawled on his back and tugged Annys into his arms. A sigh of pure contentment escaped him as her soft skin pressed against his. He took her hand from where it rested on his chest and kissed her palm.
“I was a wee bit worried there that I was going to be as quick as an untried lad and leave ye wanting,” he said.
“Nay, ye werenae. Truth tell, I was beginning to think ye were moving too slowly.”
He laughed. “Then, as always, we were matched in our pace.”
“I often thought of those times we spent together,” she said quietly. “I confess, at times I could almost hate ye for showing me how much was missing from my marriage but then I would remember that I wouldnae have Benet if nay for all that.”
“I often thought of them, too,” he confessed in an equally soft voice. “As I became less of a reckless lad in heart and mind and became the mon I should have been even back then, I was always torn about it.”
“I dinnae think ye were so verra reckless and ken weel how skilled David was at getting people to do what he wanted them to.”
“He did convince me when everything I had e’er been taught by my family should have held firmly against him. But”—he kissed the top of her head—“I was lusting after ye and I think that pushed me to agree when I might have stood on my principles otherwise.”
“I am sorry that David made ye agree to all that but I will ne’er be sorry that ye did.”
“Because there is Benet.”
“Aye, there is Benet. And whate’er else was wrong or hurtful and may still be, without it all happening as it did, there would be no Benet.”
“And that is a gift I wouldnae wish to see lost.”
He stared up at the ceiling and thought on all that stood between them for a moment.
Then he decided he was wasting a moment that should be peaceful and quiet, and, just maybe, would work to soothe any of those hurts she spoke of.
He idly stroked her arm and wondered when he could make love to her again.