Stealing the Bride by Mary Wine Page A

the idea of being free of her skirts quite appealing.
    Be honest, ye want to be bare so that Hayden can kiss ye …
    Her inner voice was correct and it sent another wave of heat over her. This time it settled in her passage, making her aware of how empty she was. She had never noticed such a thing before and her eyes lowered to the front of his kilt, wondering just what he had hidden behind the folds.
    A soft growl drew her gaze back up to his face.
    “Are ye ready to see me, lass? Most husbands don’t allow their brides to look at their cocks until they’ve taken it for the first time.”
    “If I were timid, I’d have insisted the maids sleep in here.”
    Her words drew a harsh look from him, one that hinted at his control being tested.
    “Nor would I be brave enough to take me own clothing off knowing that these shoes do push my bottom up.”
    He sucked in a harsh breath and threw his doublet onto the chair behind him. Elspeth held the sides of her skirt closed, making him wait.
    “I’ll not be a timid wife, Hayden. Best ye understand that or take yerself away from me.”
    She wasn’t sure why she voiced such a thing. There was no way to enforce her will on him. But flames flickered in his eyes, making them glow with approval.
    “Exactly why I will nae be taken from this room by any force save God striking me dead.” He pulled on his belt, releasing it, and his kilt began sliding down his thighs. He gathered up the fabric and sent it to lie on top of his doublet. With one more tug he tore his shirt up and over his head to completely bare himself. Her gaze traveled down his powerful chest to where his waist narrowed and his belly lay trim and flat. She swallowed hard at the sight of his cock, standing out, swollen and hard. The head was ruby-colored with a small slit and a thick ridge of flesh running around the head. A sac hung from the base.
    “Now drop the skirt.”
    Hard command filled each word. Her hip roll was already on the floor and opening her fingers allowed her skirts to slump into a heap around her ankles. Lifting one foot and then the other, she stepped out of the garment to face him such as he was doing to her.
    The candles flickered, sending orange and yellow flames of light to lick over them.
    “I owe Pherson more than I believed.”
    His gaze roamed over her, touching every inch of her. She suddenly began moving, walking in a large circle so that he could see the effect of the heels on her bottom. Elspeth peeked at him over her shoulder.
    “It was his sisters who dressed me.”
    “I both pity and laugh at the men they will marry someday.”
    “But you don’t envy them?”
    She turned to face him again. Hayden returned his attention to her eyes and the hunger blazing there stunned her with how hot it burned.
    “Nae, lass, I’m looking at the woman I want to be with.” His lips turned up in a cocky grin. “So tonight I’m going to seduce ye and make sure ye marry me tomorrow because of how much ye’re looking forward to nights in my bed.”
    Hayden closed the distance as he spoke, his hands boldly pulling the lace free from the eyelets of the corset. Her breasts hung in their natural shape once he removed the stays. He molded her breasts through the sheer chemise, sending shafts of pleasure through her. He cupped each tender mound, leaning down to suck one hard nipple deep into his mouth. Her skin became acutely aware of every touch, every sharp tug on the sensitive tips, the contact drawing a gasp from her. Never once had she thought her own body might be able to feel such pleasure. It engulfed her while his hands stroked her belly and thighs.
    “As much as I adore this silk, I am more interested in the satin of yer skin.”
    He lifted one of her hands from where it rested on his shoulder and kissed the sensitive skin of her inner wrist before releasing the small hook that held the cuff of her chemise closed.
    “I never thought that having someone disrobe me might be so