Page 22 of Bride Takes a Laird

Magnus leaned forward. “Just my back, sweetheart.”

She gently swiped the cloth over the hardness of his back and glided her fingers over the texture of his musculature. Her face was soclose to his that she felt his breath on her cheek. Kendra had never seen such a well-bodied man and that she was married to him pleased her. He definitely wasn’t akin to Heatherington in any sense. She quickly gave a prayer of thanks to God for that.

Magnus set his hand on her arm and forced her to stop. “That’s enough.”

“Let me get you a drying cloth.” She hastened to the trunk where she had put her belongings and retrieved a large cloth she used for bathing. It was still slightly damp, but it would do to dry him. She hurried back to him and held it open for him to step into. She averted her gaze and blushed madly when he rose and had no qualms about standing before her in the nude.

He took the drying cloth from her, stepped out of the tub, and patted himself. Kendra retreated to the bed, sat upon the bed covers and kept her gaze averted. She had no notion of what to do. Should she instigate their relations? What was expected? She had no knowledge from which to draw upon, so she decided it was best to let him initiate any passion between them.

Magnus didn’t bother putting on a garment but sat on the side of the bed. He appeared just as daunted as she was. Kendra wondered what he was thinking, but assumed it was probably the same as she was—about their marriageable consummation. Only he probably had experience from which to draw upon. Most men did, didn’t they?

“Did you—?” she said.

“Are ye—?” he said at the same time.

Kendra chuckled and lay back. “This is rather silly, is it not? I should warn you, Magnus, that I have no experience with matters betwixt men and women in the bedchamber.”

“I should hope the hell not,” he said and shimmied next to her. He leaned his back against the bedframe, a large poster bed that took up most of the space on one side of the room.

“I am not afraid,” she whispered.

Magnus set his hand on her face and turned her to look at him. His eyes bore into hers. “Ye could’ve fooled me, lass. Just looking at ye pleases me. The rest will come easy. Trust in that.”

“I do trust you, Magnus, it’s just…you will have to tell me what to do. I wish not to disappoint you or be inept at it.”

He grinned and then set a light kiss on the side of her face. “There might be pain for ye when I join with ye the first time. I will try to be gentle.” He continued to place light kisses on her face and then slid his lips to her neck. The sensation of it gave her a shiver.

Kendra enjoyed his closeness and his attention. “I can bear it.”

Magnus smiled. “Ye are a brave lass.” His hand pressed down the length of her nightrail. “Let us get ye out of this.” He helped her remove her garment and shifted it over her body until he pulled it over her head. His hands grazed her skin and sent rivulets of pleasure through her body.

Kendra had never allowed anyone to see her unclothed. Her skin flushed and she couldn’t look him in the eyes. A chill shook her and a smattering of goosebumps flushed her skin. She wanted to hide beneath the covers.

“There is no need to be coy with me, sweetheart. In time, ye will not hide from me.”

She set her arms at her side because it was as if he’d read her thoughts. “I don’t mean to hide. It’s just…in this instance, I find I’m being cowardly. I am sorry…”

He chuckled and kissed her lips. “Do not be. This is a new experience for ye and I want ye to enjoy yourself.”

She gritted her teeth as his hand pressed her shoulder and slid down the length of her arm. “I do not know if that is possible. The unknown makes me uncomfortable.” Kendra shivered and she noticed his sigh. It wasn’t that she was cold, but just a strange sense that chilled her from within. Perhaps fear gripped her but Kendra was rarely afraid of anything and she didn’t know why she showed such distress now.

Magnus settled next to her. “We’ll go slow and I vow to ye, sweetheart, by the end of it, ye will enjoy it.” He wrapped his arms around her and set his chin on the top of her head.

Kendra almost gasped aloud when his muscular body touched hers. It was as if his entire body pressed against her as he embraced her. His skin was hard, hot, and warmed her. With his hands splayed over her back, he pressed her against him, thoroughly hiding the front of her from his view. She felt his need jabbing her leg, and even though she promised herself that she wouldn’t fall apart, she was coming close to doing so. But she wasn’t an emotional woman and instead of becoming undone, she decided to take control of her situation.

She pressed her hands over the muscles of his chest. Kendra decided she wanted to know every part of him and in learning that, she would take her mind off the inevitable. As her hands perused him, she used her legs and feet to likewise feel the thickness of his calves.

Magnus groaned. “Ye are making it hard not to take ye without preparing ye.”

“Will you just kiss me so I don’t think about it—?”

He set his mouth on hers and didn’t let her finish her words. That was enough to turn her mind to mush. The man surely could kiss. His mouth turned over hers, and at first, his tongue gently twirled with hers. The longer they kissed, the more fervent she became. Kendra didn’t know what came over her, but she couldn’t get enough of the kiss, his touch, or the feeling of his body against hers. She held him in a tight embrace and let herself go.

Magnus dislodged their mouths and pressed her back against the mattress before sliding down her body to take her breast in his mouth and Kendra gasped. White-hot fire shot to where his tongue caressed. She nearly screeched as pleasure simmered between her legs. He continued to tease her and used his hands to caress every part of her. She enjoyed their love play until he reached to press his fingers withinher. Then she shrieked because it was unexpected.

“Let me make ye ready, sweetheart. It will help to ease ye when the time comes.” Magnus returned his mouth to hers and as he busied her with his mouth, he pressed his fingers inside her.

Kendra spent all of two seconds focused on his touch there until the desire for his kisses reverted her attention. Their kisses grew hotter and deeper, and swarmed her with a need she had never known existed. Magnus spread her legs and before she knew what he was about, he shifted his body and entered her.