Page 42 of To Charm a Highlander

Not sure what that meant, but despite how anxious he was to continue what they’d started, he pulled his lust back in and smiled.“Aye?”

She rested her head on her propped up hand.“Before we married I asked her for advice that most lasses get from their mams before marriage.”

‘Twas not funny for Donella, so he kept his smile to himself, but could imagine how Ainslee felt about dealing with that question when her own lass was a mere five summers, and many years away from needing that information.

“Did she give ye good advice?”

She shook her head.“Nay.She said in my case I should just let ye lead me.”

He pulled her closer and right before he covered her lips with his he said, “’Twas good advice.I can give ye all the instruction ye need.”

Still restricted by clothing, Callum was still able to feel Donella’s soft curves and plump breasts pressing against him.Using his experience over the years, he kept Donella busy with kisses as he drew her chemise down to reveal her perfect breasts.

“Ach, sweetheart, ye are perfect.He lowered his head and licked one nipple.She stiffened again.“Relax,mo chridhe.I willna hurt yet in any way.I will stop anytime ye say.”

Dear Lord please doona have her ask me to stop.

“I’m not exactly uncomfortable, Callum, but the feelings in my body are strange.Things I’ve never felt before.”

“Good things, my love?”

“I think so.”

He took her breast into his mouth and suckled like a babe.

“Ach, that feels good, husband.”Her whispered words slid over him like soft air before a storm.

“It only gets better from here.I promise.”

It took some maneuvering, but he managed to get all their clothes off while he distracted her with touches, kisses, and soft words in her ear.

His hand wandered down her body, feeling the woman curves, the softness of her skin, the silkiness of the hair between her legs.When he slid a finger into her wetness, she broke off and moved away.

She covered her breasts with her hands, then drew her legs up in an attempt to protect herself from what she’d experienced before.

“Are ye well, lass?”

She took a deep breath and he never in his life had more respect for someone facing horrors than he did then, watching his wife fighting her fears, trying to have a normal life.

He held his hand out.“Come here, Donella.Let me hold ye.I promise that is all I will do.”

Tears leaked from her eyes.“I donna want to stop, Callum.I want to be normal.To give my husband what he wants and desires.”

“Ach, wife.What I want more than anything is to have a happy wife.One who is no’ afraid of her husband, or his attentions.”

She swiped at her cheeks.“Do ye think that will ever happen?”

He kenned nothing more would happen this night and as much as he wished things to be different, he kenned he had to earn her trust in this, so ‘twas time to stop.Mayhap once she was asleep, he would take a dive in the cold loch behind the castle.

“Do ye wish to stop?”

She waited for a long moment, then said, “Aye.If ye doona mind.”

Mind?His body was about to explode.But some things were more important.‘Twas important for him to make a list of those things while he smiled at his frightened wife.

“Nay.I suggest we just lay together for a while, talk a little bit, and then go to sleep.”

The fierce nodding of her head convinced him nothing further would happen that night.He stood, extinguished the candles around the room, then joined her in bed.

By that time Donella had noticeably relaxed and had slid down in the bed, the bedcovers up to her neck.

He had to remind himself that grown men, warriors especially, did not cry.

Laying down, he reached for Donella and she moved over to him.He pulled her close and they snuggled.Holding her naked body next to his was one of the worst things he’d ever had to deal with.

But deal with it he would.The stakes were too high.