The Betrayal by Ruth Langan Page B

selfish of me to want…”
    “Nay.” She touched her hand to his mouth to still his words. “You didn’t hurt me. It was just so—” she searched for a way to make him understand “—incredible. Is it always like this?”
    His poor heart took one hard bounce, thenreturned to its natural rhythm. He’d feared it might never beat again.
    “It is if the two lovers truly care about each other.”
    Lovers. The word caused a flutter in the pit of her stomach.
    “And are we…?” She licked her lips. “Do you…?”
    Seeing her confusion, he pressed his mouth to her temple. “We are and I do.”
    “You…love me?”
    “Aye.” He whispered the word against her mouth. “If you’ll let me, I’ll show you how very much I love you, my beautiful Kylia, in a hundred different ways. Starting with this.” He ran kisses over her face, her throat, then lower, to her breast, and heard her rapid intake of breath.
    Aware that he was fully aroused once more, she pushed away and stared up at him in surprise. “Is this possible? Again?”
    He nibbled her neck, sending delicious tremors all through her body. “Not only possible, but extremely pleasurable, my lady.”
    “Aye.” She shivered and wrapped her armsaround his neck, giving herself up completely to his ministrations. “You have the most amazing powers, my lord.”
    “You see, my lady. You’re not the only one.” The warmth of his laughter trickled over her senses as he drew her close and began to show her, in the only way he could, just what she meant to him.
     
     
    As the night wore on, the two lovers were so wrapped up in each other, neither of them felt the way the wind picked up, chilling their heated flesh while sending the branches of the trees thrashing about wildly. Overhead, dark clouds billowed and boiled as thunder rumbled in the distance.
    From deep in the forest came the chilling howl of a wolf. Grant lifted his head and struggled to hear over the wild beating of his heart. Just then lightning flashed across the midnight sky, followed by a rumble of thunder that shook the earth beneath them.
    He dragged air into his lungs and waited for his head to clear. When he looked down at Kylia, he could see her struggling to calm her ragged breathing as well.
    His first inclination was to curse the elements. Instead he touched a hand to her cheek. “It would seem that nature is against us, my lovely Kylia. From the sound of that thunder, we’re directly in the path of the storm. It wouldn’t be wise to remain here.”
    “Where will we go?” Her words were little more than a whisper.
    “Since neither of us is in the mood to sleep now, I think we’d be wise to take up our journey until we find shelter.” He caught her chin and tipped her face to stare into her eyes. “Do you believe me when I say I wish it were otherwise?”
    Her breath came out in a long, slow sigh. “Aye. For I wish it, too. But I’ve no desire to be struck by lightning in a Highland forest.”
    “Especially when, by this time on the morrow, we’ll be warm and dry within my fortress. My first concern must be your safety and comfort, my lady. My love,” he added softly, sending her heart soaring.
    When they were dressed he caught her hand and twined his fingers with hers, aware that both of them were trembling.
    He took up his sword. “Come. We’ll saddle the horse and be on our way.”
    When they reached the campfire, they saw the wolf pup still sleeping in his wrap.
    Kylia looked down at the little mound of fur. “May I take him along?”
    Grant looked doubtful. “He’s a wild creature. He belongs in the forest with others like himself.”
    “But his wounds aren’t yet healed. If we leave him here, he’ll have no defense against his predators. Please, Grant. He’s so small and helpless.”
    Grant looked into those pleading blue eyes and knew he’d already lost the battle. He would give her anything she asked, no matter the cost. “Bring him along. Though I’ve no