maiden deserves such respect.”
Emotion threatened to strangle her. It was too thick, and she failed to smother a sob that rose from deep inside her in the only place she was free to admit what she truly felt. But she rebelled at the idea of sharing it with him. Between them was only the merest shred of trust, not nearly enough for her to allow him to see her heart.
“Yet it is common enough. I am hardly the first daughter to be bartered for the betterment of the family name. Release me now, Broen.” She pushed at him and arched to dislodge his grip on her neck. “I do not want you touching me.”
He grunted. “Liar,” he accused softly.
She jerked her attention back to his face, stilling for the moment. “I do not lie.”
His lips lifted in response, but the grin wasn’t mocking; it was arrogant. “No’ intentionally, I’ll grant ye that.”
“But… there is no middle ground when it comes to dishonesty,” she muttered, too breathless to suit her demand he release her. Deep and husky, her voice betrayed just how much she was enjoying his embrace.
“There is when ye have no concept of what it is ye’re feeling, Clarrisa.”
He moved his hand, gently stroking her nape. Delight raced down her body, raising a trail of gooseflesh as it went. Even her nipples contracted into hard points.
“Ye do nae understand why ye’re trembling or why a simple stroke makes yer insides twist…” He smoothed his hand over her nape again, and sensation spiked through her instantly. “Or why ye keep having to look away from me to avoid staring at me lips…”
Oh God, she was…
He turned her face toward him with a sure grip once again. His gaze lowered to her lips, focusing on them as the delicate surface tingled with anticipation.
“You’re toying with me,” she forced out.
He chuckled, low and deep. With the light fading, the moment took on a more intimate feel, because the night had ever been the sanctuary of lovers.
“I am guilty of that charge.” His grip was still solid on her nape. She was held immobile and at his mercy. “And a few other things too, lass, like wanting to tempt ye until ye kiss me back.”
She wanted to protest, but he didn’t give her the chance. Broen kissed her with all the force of the passion burning in his eyes. His mouth claimed hers, possessing it without mercy. She twisted, unable to decide how to bear all the sensation erupting from the kiss.
A reckless urge rose for her to press closer to him. It encouraged her to be bold and touch what she wanted while arching back to offer her breasts to him. She wanted to feel every bit of his hardness against her, pressing closer until there wasn’t any space between them. She slid her hand into the opening of his shirt, marveling at the enjoyment she gained from being skin to skin with him.
He pressed her lips open, and she lost the will to consider what she was doing. She gripped his shirt, pulling him toward her. She captured a soft growl with her lips and felt the vibration with her hands as it shook his chest.
“Sweet Christ, woman—”
Clarrisa cut him off this time, reaching up to cup the side of his jaw and turn his face back toward her kiss. Satisfaction blossomed inside her—that boldness that had needled her since the last kiss cheering her on as she tried to mimic his motions. She tilted her head so their lips might fuse more completely, pressing her mouth against his while teasing his lower lip with the tip of her tongue. Another growl surfaced from him, but his grip on her nape moved up until he’d captured one of her braids. He gripped it and took command of the kiss again. Her thoughts spun out of control, but she felt more than she’d ever imagined she might. Pleasure and delight swirled through her with such brilliant intensity she broke away before it drowned her.
“I shouldn’t have kissed you.” Shouldn’t have, because now she wanted more, and her discipline was long gone.
Surprise registered on
Emotion threatened to strangle her. It was too thick, and she failed to smother a sob that rose from deep inside her in the only place she was free to admit what she truly felt. But she rebelled at the idea of sharing it with him. Between them was only the merest shred of trust, not nearly enough for her to allow him to see her heart.
“Yet it is common enough. I am hardly the first daughter to be bartered for the betterment of the family name. Release me now, Broen.” She pushed at him and arched to dislodge his grip on her neck. “I do not want you touching me.”
He grunted. “Liar,” he accused softly.
She jerked her attention back to his face, stilling for the moment. “I do not lie.”
His lips lifted in response, but the grin wasn’t mocking; it was arrogant. “No’ intentionally, I’ll grant ye that.”
“But… there is no middle ground when it comes to dishonesty,” she muttered, too breathless to suit her demand he release her. Deep and husky, her voice betrayed just how much she was enjoying his embrace.
“There is when ye have no concept of what it is ye’re feeling, Clarrisa.”
He moved his hand, gently stroking her nape. Delight raced down her body, raising a trail of gooseflesh as it went. Even her nipples contracted into hard points.
“Ye do nae understand why ye’re trembling or why a simple stroke makes yer insides twist…” He smoothed his hand over her nape again, and sensation spiked through her instantly. “Or why ye keep having to look away from me to avoid staring at me lips…”
Oh God, she was…
He turned her face toward him with a sure grip once again. His gaze lowered to her lips, focusing on them as the delicate surface tingled with anticipation.
“You’re toying with me,” she forced out.
He chuckled, low and deep. With the light fading, the moment took on a more intimate feel, because the night had ever been the sanctuary of lovers.
“I am guilty of that charge.” His grip was still solid on her nape. She was held immobile and at his mercy. “And a few other things too, lass, like wanting to tempt ye until ye kiss me back.”
She wanted to protest, but he didn’t give her the chance. Broen kissed her with all the force of the passion burning in his eyes. His mouth claimed hers, possessing it without mercy. She twisted, unable to decide how to bear all the sensation erupting from the kiss.
A reckless urge rose for her to press closer to him. It encouraged her to be bold and touch what she wanted while arching back to offer her breasts to him. She wanted to feel every bit of his hardness against her, pressing closer until there wasn’t any space between them. She slid her hand into the opening of his shirt, marveling at the enjoyment she gained from being skin to skin with him.
He pressed her lips open, and she lost the will to consider what she was doing. She gripped his shirt, pulling him toward her. She captured a soft growl with her lips and felt the vibration with her hands as it shook his chest.
“Sweet Christ, woman—”
Clarrisa cut him off this time, reaching up to cup the side of his jaw and turn his face back toward her kiss. Satisfaction blossomed inside her—that boldness that had needled her since the last kiss cheering her on as she tried to mimic his motions. She tilted her head so their lips might fuse more completely, pressing her mouth against his while teasing his lower lip with the tip of her tongue. Another growl surfaced from him, but his grip on her nape moved up until he’d captured one of her braids. He gripped it and took command of the kiss again. Her thoughts spun out of control, but she felt more than she’d ever imagined she might. Pleasure and delight swirled through her with such brilliant intensity she broke away before it drowned her.
“I shouldn’t have kissed you.” Shouldn’t have, because now she wanted more, and her discipline was long gone.
Surprise registered on
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