Page 44 of Highland Spirit

“It’s nothin’,” she said as he perused the key in the palm of his hand.

“It looks auld. What does it open? And is that our weddin’ ring? Did ye steal it, Lanny? How could ye?”

“I didna steal it. I . . . found it, down at the boat the day I left. I am no’ sure how it got there.”

“I was told Slink stole the ring, so mayhap that is the answer. What about the key?”

“It’s just a momento from my late mathair,” she said, taking it from him and slipping the string over her neck, placing the key down next to her on the bed along with the ring. “I dinna even ken what that key opens. It’s no’ important.”

As he exposed one of her breasts, she gasped at the feel of his hand cupping her and his thumb flicking over her nipple, making it instantly taut. And when he lowered his head to her, she closed her eyes and arched her back, pulling him closer as he took her into his mouth.

He closed his lips over her nipple, suckling at her like a babe to its mother, making her moan in delight. Then he released her and flicked his tongue over her hard peak, about driving her out of her mind.

“Ye like that, lass?” he whispered in a sultry voice.

“Mmmm,” she answered, breathing heavily, barely able to speak.

But as good as that felt, it was nothing compared to what he did next. He pushed up her skirt and pulled down her braies slowly, letting his hot hands run the length of her thighs, making her quiver. Tossing her undergarments to the floor, he focused his gaze on her nether regions, already triggering a wetness between her thighs.

“Lookin’ at yer beauty in the firelight, it makes me feel like it’s the first time again that we’ve ever made love.”

“Let’s pretend it is,” she whispered back, reaching out and running her hands over his hard chest, letting her fingers slip underneath his leine.

“Och, these clothes are just gettin’ in the way,” he said impatiently, standing up and removing every stitch of clothing and kicking off his boots as well. Her mouth went dry when she took in the view of his hard chest and thick, corded muscles in his upper arms. Her gaze slid down his toned body, past his flat stomach and down past his waist to his dark, curly hair. His erection was bigger than she’d remembered and she wondered if he was as desperate for a good bedding as she was right now.

Her attention was diverted when Trapper whined from the corner, curling up near the fire. She’d almost forgotten that the dog was even there, nor did she care. All she could think about was being alone again with Ethan – the man she admired, adored, and loved.

“Ethan,” she said, pushing up to her elbows, drinking in the enticing sight of his naked body. Her breathing labored as her eyes scanned down his body and settled below his waist once more. He was hard and ready and she’d never seen him this engorged. “Ye really do want me,” she said, the thought of making love with him exciting her even more.

“We’ll never do this unless ye remove some clothin’ as well.”

Kneeling down next to the bed, he kissed her, taking hold of her skirt in both hands. “I like how ye look wearin’ the MacKeefe plaid,” he told her. “It’s what ye should be wearin’, lass.”

“Aye. I like it, too,” she admitted as he slipped her tunic over her head and removed the plaid, leaving her naked.

“God, I missed ye, Lanny.” He ran his hands up her torso, making her shiver with delicious anticipation of what was yet to come. Then he leaned forward and licked her stomach, making her squirm.

“Ye are drivin’ me mad, Ethan MacKeefe,” she said in a breathy whisper, feeling like she was going to lose control.

“Well, then ye ken how I have felt for the last five years.” One hand cupped her breast while his mouth closed over the other nipple. In his sensuous way, he drew her in, as his nimble fingers played with her other peak. His thumb teased her tip again until she arched up off the bed.

“I want ye, Ethan,” she whispered against his neck, kissing him and running her hands around the back of him, playfully squeezing his tight buttocks.

“Och,” he mumbled, pushing his hardened form up against her womanhood. “Lanny, ye ken I like foreplay more than anyone. But in this case, it has been so long that I feel as if I am goin’ to burst. If I dinna enter ye now, it’s goin’ to be over before it goes any further.”

“There’s no need to wait, Ethan. I am ready and more than willing.”

That was all he needed to hear. He used his hands to spread her legs, settling himself between them, running his fingers over her womanly mound, testing her readiness by playing with her folds and slipping a finger inside her.

She gasped as she climbed higher, almost ready to shatter just under his touch. With her eyes closed and her body awakened, she could no longer wait.

“I told ye I am ready, Ethan. Please, do no’ tease me any longer.”

“I’d like this to last forever since it’s been so long, but I willna tempt either of us further.”

A moan of ecstasy left her lips as her lover slid his hardened form into her. He felt so hot, so big. She wet her lips with her tongue, breathing heavily, waiting in anticipation for what was to come next.

And when he slid his shaft in and out, guided by her liquid passion, she could no longer hold back, and cried out as she found her release.