Page 44 of The Highland Heir

“Ella, this isn’t about proving anything tome or anyone else. If you don’t want to do this. If you’rescared—”

“I’m not scared,” she argued. “I said I was abit worried, not scared.”

“Of course, I didn’t mean to say you werescared. I know well enough you see it as a challenge when you’reaccused of being frightened of something, but this is different.And I am scared. I’m not afraid to tell you the truth.”

“Do you want to stop?” she asked, not surehow she wanted him to answer.

He let out a breath and then shook hishead.

“I want this with you more than I’ve wantedanything, so no, I don’t want to stop. But I’m not the one who willbe hurt, and I’ll not push you if you don’t want to do this.”

She let out a breath and kissed him again.Once more, heat flamed between them, and soon she was as needy asbefore. Mayhap even worse. She couldn’t imagine having to stop withthis empty feeling gnawing at her forever.

“I don’t wish to stop, but let’s get on withit so we can get past that part. I have heard it is much betterafterward.”

“Very well.” He backed away and knelt beforeher so he could remove the belt holding his kilt. When the fabricdropped away, she stared at the beast pointing out at her.

She’d seen Kieran naked before. Once whenthey were younger and he was swimming in the loch, she’d come uponhim when he was getting out of the water. She thought it would havegrown over the years, and having felt it pressed against herrecently, she knew it was large.

But she hadn’t been prepared for this.

She lay back and closed her eyes.

“Hurry, Kieran.”

He chuckled, and when she opened her eyes, hewas shaking his head.

“I don’t wish to hurry,” he said as his smilefaded and he looked at her with warmth and passion in his gaze. “Iwant us to remember this moment forever and how wonderful itwas.”

She nodded but wasn’t sure how wonderful itmight be.

He lowered himself over her, keeping hisweight from her body with his arms, while she allowed her legs toopen, inviting him closer.

He kissed her again, and she welcomed thecomforting haze that had her clutching his shoulders and pullinghim closer. Her body wanted this despite her distress. She decidedto listen to her body.

“Please, Kieran,” she begged. He moaned whenshe felt the heat of him in the place his fingers had been. Hemoved around a bit, and for a moment she thought she might bedifferent from other women because it felt so glorious with himinside her—there was no pain at all.

But then he pushed farther and farther still,and there was a bit of stretching and burning, but it was not somuch to pull her completely from her fog of pleasure, and then witha quick jolt the worst was over, and he waited, watching her.

“Are you all right, Ella?”

“I am now. It was not so bad, really.”

He breathed out a sigh of what she knew wasrelief before he kissed her again. He moved, out and back in, andeach time he did so, the pain eased even more until it wascompletely gone.

In its place came a different feeling.Something she hadn’t felt before. Pleasure building upon itself,growing bigger and more vehement with each thrust.

She called his name as she went over, notsure if she wanted him to save her or thank him.

She’d heard it was much better after thepain, but she hadn’t known it would be the most amazing thing she’dever experienced.

Would ever experience.

Chapter Sixteen

Kieran had kissed a few lasses in his time,had touched a few as well, but nothing lit his heart on fire likeholding on to Ella and kissing her, loving her.

He could feel his body pushing to thrust intoher harder and take his release, but only when he felt her bodypulsing around his did he give in.