Page 45 of Fearless Heart

Heath sat next to her. “Are you not curious?”

She spooned in the thick stew, hoping to avoid his questions.

When she didn’t answer, he asked again, “Do you not want to ken?”

“About what?”

“I told ye I wanted to speak with you when I returned.”

“Oh, that. Did you? I had forgotten about that.” She stuffed her mouth with a large piece of boar meat and took her time chewing it. Thankfully it was a fatty piece that would require a few minutes of keeping her mouth closed.

Heath shuffled his chair closer. She almost drew away, but he appeared too handsome with the candle light shining on his hair. A warm glow lit the manly confines of his face. Lillia’s heart ached because at that moment all she wanted to do was touch him. A sorrowful mien struck her and she wanted to weep. She’d adored him for so long and now she might gain her heart’s desire. Yet, it was wrong. Lillia didn’t want a husband who wed her out of pity. She wanted him to love her as she loved him—with his whole heart.

“Lillia, I gather you’re saddened by your brothers’ return home. Is that what’s bothering you? You seem troubled.”

She shook her head, but wouldn’t voice her worry. He wouldn’t understand.

“On the morrow, we will travel to the abbey and wed.”

His announcement took her by surprise. Not the words, but the heartless way he’d spoken them. He didn’t ask, but commanded.

She had no choice but to reject him, especially after the callous way he’d presented her with the idea. Had he any chivalry? Apparently at the moment, none whatsoever. “I shan’t wed you, Heath.”

“You must.”

“I won’t.”

“It’s the only way I can protect you. Think you the Comyns will give up in their pursuit? Think the king will rejoice when he learns there is someone who has more rights to the kingdom than he? Think you your father will renounce the betrothal he set?”

She shook her head. “Those reasons are well and good, but not enough cause to sacrifice yourself on the matrimonial altar. Nay, I will not wed you.” Lillia pushed away the trencher, no long able to stomach the foodstuffs she’d been keen on eating. “Good night.” She left him sitting at the table and hastened to his pallet behind the tall screens.

Lillia undressed and hurriedly slid beneath the covers. She closed her eyes and prayed Heath would stay away. The likelihood of her resisting him was nil for she loved him. His touch would cause her will to flee and she’d give into the craving of being with him.

She heard the others speak their good nights and the cave’s silence abounded. Brodin announced he would take watch and stay outside the night.

She felt the pallet shift and Heath’s hand on her face.

“Sweetness, we must finish out discussion.”

“I don’t want to talk, Heath. I’m too weary to discuss the matter.”

He stripped his garments and slid beneath the covers. Lillia rejoiced at the feeling of his skin touching hers. Resistance was futile, she couldn’t refuse him. Her conscious might scold her, but her heart would suppress that will.

His warm lips nuzzled her neck. “You’re bonny and … soft. Aye, perfection.” He perused his hand along her torso until he cupped the underside of her bosom. “Soft and pleasing.”

She might say the same about him, except that he was hard and pleasing. His magical hands drove her to madness. Lillia wouldn’t fight the longing swarming within her. She stroked him in return and pressed her hand on his upper body. His heated skin warmed her palm as she caressed the muscles of his chest. The fervent beat of his heart told her that he was as maddened as she was.

Heath continued to kiss her. The lure of his lips was too much to bear. He always made her want him. Lillia pressed his shoulders back and straddled his body. She enjoyed looking down at his body. The sculpted hardness of his chest lured her fingers. Most of his chest was smooth and hairless, the hardness and heat of his body felt splendid. Helpless and unable to control her desire, she leaned forward and kissed his mouth.

He held her waist, but his hands meandered to her breasts. The sensation of his strong hands against her soft breasts drew a mindless gasp. A sense of urgency came and her breath quickened. Their kiss ignited the insistence of raw passion.

Heath broke free, but didn’t move his mouth away from hers. “Lillia, sweetness, if I don’t join with you this minute, I’ll perish. Aye, I need you.”

“I need you, too.” She pressed her bottom back.

Lillia couldn’t control her body as she met his thrusts. They clashed in a mindless aura of pleasure. She panted at the delightful purges of passion riveting through her. His body was pleasing to touch, and she kept her hands busy, shifting them from his taut arms to his stone-like stomach. The firmness of his thighs met with the soft flesh of hers and clapped. She squeezed her eyes shut as culmination took over every part of her. With her legs squeezing him, she cried out at the bliss converging her.

Heath rolled her onto her side and lifted her leg to give him better access and position. Lilla moaned when the length of his manhood thoroughly entered her. She lay back lethargic and moaned when he jerked his body forcibly against hers.