Adrienne Basso by How to Be a Scottish Mistress Page B

burning on each cheek. “I am here, my lord. As we agreed.”
    “Gavin. Call me Gavin.” He sighed, then touched a finger to her mouth. “We’ll go slowly. Though I cannae promise fer how long.”
    Wrapping one arm around her back, he tipped her off balance. Her eyes widened as she gazed up into his face. Gavin leaned down and kissed her. He tasted her shock and wondered if she had underestimated her own sexual allure. He molded his mouth to her soft, yielding lips and pressed harder.
    She let out a quiet moan, then opened her lips to let him inside, the erotic sensation of her tongue dueling with his igniting a flame deep within him. She tasted faintly of wine—and mint—a lustful, heady combination.
    He kissed her again, unprepared for the torment that spread rapidly through him. More. I want more.
    He nibbled at the tender spot behind her ear, savoring the sweetness. Everything about her tasted delicious.
    Returning to her plump, ruby lips, Gavin ravished her mouth as his hunger grew. For an instant the world seemed to spin away. The taste of her mouth was more intoxicating than the finest French wine. Moving down, he lowered her nightclothes and pressed his mouth to the valley between her breasts, nuzzling that tender spot.
    It was torture, but Gavin waited until he felt her body relax and slacken before taking one of the nipples fully into his mouth and twirling it around his tongue.
    Fiona moaned, louder this time, and plunged her fingers into his hair. Encouraged, Gavin peeled away the rest of her nightclothes and eased her back on the small, narrow bed. ’Twas impossible to believe the fire coursing through his veins could have flared any hotter, yet when Gavin positioned himself over her and looked down, his control nearly snapped.
    She gazed back up at him with hooded eyes, darkened with passion and curiosity. His eyes had adjusted well to the moonlit chamber and he could see the outline of her ample breasts, small waist, and slim hips. He took a moment to study her exquisite form, the sight hardening his already pulsing erection.
    “Shall we go a wee bit faster now?” he whispered.
    Her hands fisted in his hair, giving him the answer he desired. Gavin dragged in a shaky breath and slipped his hand between her long, shapely legs, gliding down her inner thighs and back up. Her eyes blazed like glowing emeralds, her face flushed a delicate shade of pink, deepening her beauty. Gavin’s erotic imagination took flight, making him wonder what she’d look like after spending a carnal night in his bed.
    “Ye’re so beautiful,” he murmured.
    Fiona snorted. “There’s no need for false flattery. We made a bargain, you and I. I shall freely give you what you seek.”
    He pulled back. “Ye doubt my words, lass?”
    “I . . .” She lowered her chin, averting her eyes. “I am unused to hearing such tender expressions. Henry was the only man who ever called me beautiful.”
    “Does it pain ye, remembering him?”
    “At times. But my memories are mainly joyful and for that I am grateful. And lucky.” She tilted her head. “Do you think often of your wife?”
    “Wives,” he corrected, shrugging sheepishly at her widened eyes. Christ, he sounded like an old lecher, having survived two young wives. “They were both fine lasses. Alas, my marriages were too brief to have many memories at all, joyful or otherwise.”
    She wrinkled her brow, her expression wry. “How calmly we speak of our past lovers. Is that not cold?”
    “Life goes on,” he said simply, brushing a long strand of her golden hair away from her eyes.
    “As best it can,” she said in a sad voice.
    Deciding that melancholy had no place in their bed, Gavin brushed his thumb beneath Fiona’s chin, tilting her head so he could reach her mouth and kiss her. She murmured something as their lips met and he pressed deeper.
    Tentatively she reached out, extending her fingers to touch his chest. Slowly she worked her way across the wide expanse,