Page 91 of Deception of a Highlander

They recovered quickly. Lesson two learned.

Her face was smooth with concentration, her gaze intense, focused. How was it she wasn’t even breathing hard yet? Kieran’s body remained taut in preparation for her strike. But she didn’t strike. She dropped unexpectedly and rolled between his legs.

Before he could see where she went, her arm wrapped around his neck from behind, and the warmth of her soft breasts pressed against his back. She tightened her grip and pushed his throat into the crook of her elbow. The wisp of a lass was trying to choke him into unconsciousness.

Kieran bent at the waist and pulled her arm over his back, rolling her to the ground once more. He waited for her to leap to her feet, and he caught her in an aggressive hug. Her arms were locked against her sides and her back pressed into his chest.

The curve of her bottom pushed against his throbbing erection. Fighting had always left him lusty, but nothing like this. He wanted to cover her with his body and explore the softness of her skin with his lips, his tongue.

A small foot flew toward his face and slammed into his forehead. The impact caught him off guard, and his hold eased for only a split second. That was all the time she needed to wriggle free once more.

They were flexible. Lesson three learned.

The tease of her lush backside squirming against his groin had been worth the pain of a kick to his face. Although now he understood why his men enjoyed training with Mariel as much as they did. The thought of them touching her the way he had made his stomach twist in jealous anger.

Her foot flew at him again and caught his jaw before he had time to dodge the blow.

Mariel’s brow furrowed. “Focus, Kieran.”

Taking the offensive once more, he flew forward and knocked her to the floor so that she was trapped beneath him. Her hand balled into a fist beneath his chest, and something sharp dug below his ribs. What the hell was she doing?

The pressure turned uncomfortable and exploded in a pain that dazed him for one brief second. He vaguely felt the curves of her body grind against him, and then she was beneath him no more. Without the pressure of her hand, the sharp pain faded almost immediately.

They knew how to cause instant pain. But only for a moment. Lesson four learned.

However, she did not run. Instead, she crawled on top of him. The heat of her inner thighs cradled his hips, and his cock strained to where she hovered over him, teasing him. Her warmth seeped against the plaid to where his desire pulsed.

Mariel braced her arms on either side of his head and leaned over him. Her hips arched back, and the temptation between her legs brushed the aching torture of his cock where it rose hard between them.

Her sweet breath whispered against his lips. “Captured.”

His hands slid over her firm bottom. The fabric beneath his fingers was thin. One quick tug, and they would shred away…

But no, the battle was not over. He still had yet to win. He grabbed her slender waist, but she did not fight back. Not this time.

Her eyes were stormy; her cheeks flushed in a way that did not stem from exertion.

He knew that look well.

Kieran rolled her beneath him and locked her arms to the ground with his large hands. Her nipples tightened beneath her shirt. His gaze fixed on her face, and he shifted his hips forward, pressing his cock between her legs. A moan escaped her parted lips. She wanted this as badly as he.

His resolve crumbled. No matter how hard he tried to distance himself, she always seemed to draw him back.

Mariel rolled her body against his, digging the ache of his cock against the center of her heat. He could take no more of her torture. With a groan, his mouth crushed down on top of hers, his tongue possessive as it swept into her honeyed depths. Her lips were softer than he’d remembered.

His fingers brushed against the damp fabric between her legs. She cried out, and her hips arched forward. Yes, she wanted this. Very much so.

He peeled the trews off her shapely legs with one satisfying yank and ran his palms over her creamy flesh. Fueled by a mindless hunger, he gripped the hem of her shirt and pulled it off over her head. She was fully naked beneath him, writhing with need, her hands burning a restless path over his body, her tongue tasting, teasing.

The soft moan in the back of her throat was all the encouragement he needed. He skimmed her naked sex with the pad of his thumb and eased a finger inside her sensual heat. God, she was so damn wet.

Mariel arched against Kieran’s hand, squeezing her thighs around the delicious pressure of his fingers. Desperation wound tighter and tighter. She needed this release. No, she needed more than release. She needed the feel of his powerful arms around her and the unmistakable strength he lent her.

The dark hair of his legs prickled her skin when she slid her hand up his legs and wrapped her hand around the silky heat of his erection. With a tight groan, he spanned his hands across her inner thighs and firmly spread her legs. Everything within her pounded with anticipation.

His eyes focused on her, watching her. He positioned himself and shoved inside her with one hungry thrust. Shivers of bliss prickled her skin.

Having him within her once more, touching her, loving her…it was the first burning draw of air when she thought she would otherwise drown.