Chapter 15
Ashur’s residence is not what I expected after staying with Boudicca.
It is a sprawling complex of buildings connected by breezeways and intricately carved archways.
Colorful mosaic tiled floors and walls that are a variety of rich, jewel tones.
It’s lovely and grand—and most definitely a palace.
Lachlan and I follow silently behind him.
I’m still bristling from the knowledge gleamed about his relationship with Neva and her behavior towards me. But I focus on my surroundings.
The night time air floats in through the open air breezeways, smelling of jasmine and citrus. Flames twirl in decorative wrought iron holders along the walls, and the leaves of potted palms flutter as we walk by. Ashur glides to a stop in front of a large burgundy painted door.
“I’m so sorry, but due to the limited notice, Kahtia, my other assistant, had time to make up only one guest room. I hope that will suffice?” His eyes slide between us in a daring way.
I will not become a royal tyrant and demand separate rooms. Even if I don’t want to share one with Lachlan right now. Images of him and Neva dance in my mind.
I stifle the urge to groan, and instead plaster on a smile. “That is just fine. Can you please bring a bedroll up for the captain?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Right away.” Ashur nods before vanishing.
I push open the door to a luxurious-sized room. An enormous, elaborately carved canopy bed engulfs part of the space. Gauzy golden curtains hang from the canopy, and a fluffy indigo comforter makes the bed look like a puffy purple cloud.
Haphazardly placed colorful rugs adorn the tiled floor, and an opening on the opposite wall reveals an en suite. But directly across from the door is an attached patio, and a water fountain bubbles from its center. A towering brick wall blocks it off, making it completely private.
Lachlan leans against the doorway, gazing at me before shifting his attention to the room. His enormous frame encompasses most of the doorway. The black ink of his tattoos gleam in the candlelight of the pillared candles littering every hard surface of the room.
“I take it ye dinna want to share the bed with me tonight?”
I shove past him and into the room. “You took it correctly,” I grumble, plopping onto the bed. “And don’t even think about taking a bath first.” I bend down to untie my laces. Grunting as I pull a boot off. Sweat, grime, and probably blood, still coat my skin.
Lachlan chuckles and shoves off the door frame. “As ye wish.”
I lay back on the bed, staring at the painted ceiling. Swirls of stars in blues and golds twinkle behind the golden canopy. The fountain babbles loudly. Lachlan’s boots make no sound on the tile, but I can feel every step he takes. My body is so attuned to his.
“It wasna ever serious between us,” he murmurs, leaning against the bedpost as he gazes down at me. “Just a physical joining.”
My heart threatens to beat out of my chest as I close my eyes, avoiding looking at him. “I know.”
“Did ye not take any lovers?”
Heat floods my cheeks but I croak out, “I did.”
“And I’m not allowed to be jealous of them?”
I lurch into a sitting position. “Do you have plans to go back to the human realm and watch them vie for my attention?”
Lachlan heaves a sigh. “I see your point.” His shoulders sag and my stomach clenches. I know I’m being ridiculous, but I can’t help it. “I told her that I was not available. That I was yours, whether ye’d ha’ me or not.”
Of course, I’d have him. What an absurd thing to say.
“No—you’re right,” I whisper, shaking my head.
Lachlan whips his head towards me. The green of his eyes which I love so much sparkle in the candlelight. “I ha’ never felt for anyone the way I feel for ye.”
My head feels light. So many declarations coming from him lately, but I need them all.
“And I the same.”
Tears threaten to fall as my eyes burn. Even amid all this uncertainty, I need him desperately. The moment we shared in Scota solidified everything I thought I had known.
I love him.
Deep down, I knew I’d always loved him. But I never admitted that to myself because if he had not felt the same—no one could come close to comparing to him.
Lachlan’s eyes dip to my lips and his eyes fill with an emotion I can’t quite place. His mouth parts as if he’s going to say the words that I’ve been thinking. He takes one step in my direction before a knock on the door halts him.
“I have an extra bedroll for the captain,” a masculine voice calls through the door.
Lachlan rakes his hands through his dark hair and grimaces before throwing open the door. “Thank you.”
He takes the bed roll from the man before turning back towards me and kicking the door closed behind him. Lachlan chucks the bed roll onto the floor while staring at me.
“I willna be needing that.”
His mouth silences the giggle that was building in my chest as his lips crash against mine.
His fingers snag in my wind-tangled hair.
The sharp tugs against my scalp are ignored as he grapples for a closer hold, angling my head just right to plunge his tongue into my mouth.
I moan against his lips. I have craved him all day.
My moans of delight spur him on, changing our kiss to something deeper as we devour each other.
My lungs start to burn and I reluctantly pull away. The sound of our heaving breaths overtakes the fountain as our eyes stay locked onto each other.
Something…more, is about to happen.
“I need to bathe,” I whisper between pants.
Lachlan cocks his head to the side, the motion predatory. “Alone?” he murmurs, raising an eyebrow.
I stand in one fluid motion from the edge of the bed and trail my finger from the bare expanse of his chest that peeks out from his leathers down to the waistline of his pants, tugging on the tie. He trembles under my touch, squeezing his eyes shut. But when my finger stops, his eyes pop open.
“No,” I answer, looking him straight in the eye.
Lachlan’s gaze darkens even further at my challenge, the twinkle of mischief sparking into embers as arousal spurs the flames. I take his hand and stride towards the open doorway that leads to the bathing chamber, dragging him behind me.
The tub in the bathing room is more like a small, deep pool.
I lean over the copper edge, my fingers grazing the seating ledge that runs the perimeter of it, feeling the warmth of the lilac-scented water before turning the faucet on.
It needs a bit more heat for my liking. Lachlan spins me around to face him.
He places slow, reverent kisses on my face while pulling the weaved leather top over my head.
The cool air kisses my breasts, but luckily it’s not as chilly as our first time.
His gaze darkens. Dipping his head, he sucks a nipple into his mouth.
“I love these,” he moans, palming my heavy breasts.
A moan slips from my lips as my body shudders under his ministrations. Tipping my head back, I savor the feel of his mouth on me. My mind is foggy with need as my hands find their way to his pant ties and tug once more.
Closer, I need him closer.
Sensing my urgency, he pulls away, kicking off his boots.
They clatter against the mosaic tile as they land across the room.
His abs flex with the movement as he pulls his shirt up and over his head.
And I bite my lip. I’ll never be numb to the sight of him.
The beauty and power of his body. Like a statue of a long-forgotten god.
I trail a fingertip over the ridges of muscles and dip my fingers beneath his waistband.
He grabs my hand and grins. “Are ye sure we ha’ time now?”
I bite my lip, nodding.
“I’m going to need a lot of it.” He grabs the back of my head, burying his face into the side of my neck. “I ha’ in-depth plans for what I want to do to ye.”
My mouth curls into a smile, and I wrap my arms around his naked waist, standing on my tiptoes to plant kisses up his chest.
“Did you really tell her that you were mine?”
He chuckles darkly and sinks to his knees. The size difference between us is a hindrance I’m willing to work with. His head comes up to my breasts and his eyes flick to the laces of my pants before reaching to untie them.
“All yours,” he murmurs.
With deft fingers he unties the laces and shimmies the tight leather over my hips and down my legs. His lips graze the bare flesh he exposes and sends shivers down my spine. With firm hands, he grabs my leg and lifts it over his shoulder, licking my center.
My body trembles and I grip his hair to keep me upright. He stares up at me from lowered lashes, desire and hunger gleaming in his eyes.
“So ready…” he murmurs. I groan, gripping his hair tighter as my eyes slide shut. He slips from between my legs and lifts me into the tub. I sink into the depths of the water, the smell of lilac and lavender soothing my racing heart from just one stroke of his tongue.
Staring at me with a predator’s focus, he tugs his pants down. The ample size of him springs free. I’ll never get tired of this.
My mouth dries up.
But my core throbs at the promise of delight I know only he can provide.
He’s rippling, corded muscles, and delectable tanned skin.
I look up at him through arousal leaden eyes, my naked body easily visible through the clear water.
Lachlan steps into the tub, sinking down and pulling me onto him. His hands tighten on my ass as he guides my legs around him. His cocks rub against my most sensitive flesh and the urge to sink onto him burns through me. It’s just like before, but slower. Intentional.
I lick my lips, and his gaze narrows onto my tongue that darts across. Need rages like a wildfire in the evergreen of his eyes. I lean towards him, brushing kisses up his neck before tugging his earlobe into my mouth. He moans, and the sound is like gasoline to the fire burning through me.
Slow.
We need to take it slower or this fire will destroy us both and leave nothing but ashes in its wake.
As if he reads my mind, his palms the back of my head, pulling my face to his. We kiss slowly, our tongues grazing against each other, and the feeling consumes me. We’re learning each other’s bodies, the wants, the needs.
My palms brush against the broad expanse of his chest before they drop lower. I wrap a hand around his cock, stroking him from the base of his shaft to the tip.
He trembles again, squeezing his eyes shut. “Yes,” he hisses.
I stroke him again, guiding him to me, and lower myself onto his length.
Lachlan freezes, his mouth tightening as he closes his eyes again.
“Look at me,” I whisper.
My voice doesn’t sound like my own. The raspy words laced with desire.
His eyes pop open, the black of his pupil nearly eclipsing the green.
With forced slowness, I lower myself further. My flesh widens to accommodate his girth. I feel each inch as it enters me, the water of the bath acting as a natural lubricant.
Lachlan pants, his shoulders tensing as he holds on to my body. The friction is unbearable. The moment feels indescribable, my heart and mind are close to bursting.
It’s different from our first time. That was lust, this is…more.
I grimace at the pain, the burning as I stretch to fit all of him.
“Aye, that’s a good girl,” he murmurs.
His words involuntarily clench the muscles of my stomach, and I tighten around him.
When the bottom of my thighs rests on the top of his, I still. Allowing myself time to adjust to the fullness of him. He leans towards me, brushing a tender kiss on my lips.
“Ye feel like heaven,” he whispers. I smile, kiss him back, and raise myself up his length.
A hollowness is left behind.
His head drops back against the rim of the copper tub, his fingers digging into the flesh of my thighs.
“Gods…” he hisses.
I slam myself back down, and he lurches off the side of the tub, his eyes flaring.
Water sloshes over the edge, splashing on the surrounding tiled floor.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he growls into my ear.
Rising and falling, I gain momentum, working into a delicious rhythm. Drawing curses and moans from his lips before he is arrests control and pounds into me. Water splashes all around us, muting the sounds of pleasure that slip from us.
I can’t get enough of him.
The feel of him plunging into me over and over, brushing against my clit, builds like a wave racing toward the shore again.
He groans low and deep in the back of his throat, licking up the side of my neck, tipping me over the edge. Passion winds under my skin, locking my muscles into place as it seizes control.
The wave inside me crashes loudly against the shore.