Page 22 of Forge of the Highlander’s Destiny

H e hadn’t realized it, not really, but in that moment as he carried Arya into his chamber and set her down, this was what he had been waiting for.

His heart was full, and he’d been waiting to find someone to share his life with, to find a woman with whom he wanted to lock himself in a chamber and not come out.

His previous encounters with women had all been about quick bedding, and then they were gone.

This was different. Arya was here to stay, and the thought thrilled him right down to his bones.

She was breathing hard as she stood in front of him, her lovely blue eyes locked to his.

His hands drifted to her face, and he rubbed his thumbs along the soft skin of her cheeks.

“Daenae be afraid, Lass,” he said, able to sense the nervousness in her body.

“I am nae nervous,” she said unconvincingly. “Well, nae too nervous that I daenae wish to do this.” She undid the tartan clasp at her shoulder and let it fall to the floor.

“Good,” he said with a smile before laying a kiss on her throat. “I will go as slowly as ye need. Even if it kills me.”

He felt the vibration of her chuckle against his mouth as he kissed down her neck and her bare chest. His mouth lingered at the swell of her breasts, kissing the tops before flicking his tongue in the crevice between, desperate to see her naked again.

She shivered. “Ye will have to show me everythin’ ye ken. And ye must promise, that ye will show me how to please ye.”

“This does please me,” he said with a groan as he felt her hand slide down his front, stopping at the bulge underneath his kilt.

In her innocence, she certainly knew where to begin.

Slowly, her hand moved across his length, and he grit his teeth.

He took her mouth, moving her arms up to clasp about his neck.

“Ye please me,” he said in a harsh breath as he lifted her hips a little and pressed her against his hardness, hearing a soft gasp of surprise.

He released her long enough to remove his tartan and waistcoat, sporran and sword.

She helped him with his waistcoat, deftly undoing the buttons, one by one, her eyes focused on her task.

He grinned. He might have dreamed of this moment the second he saw her, Arya trying to undress him, but he’d never thought it would be a reality.

When his waistcoat was off, she pulled at the hem of his shirt, taking it up in fistfuls to lift over his head. He helped it the rest of the way off, and then her palms moved to his chest. She planted a kiss there, and he felt a wave of love for her.

“I have never seen such a large man,” she said in a breath of awe.

“That mornin’ ye woke up next to me, and ye were completely naked underneath the blanket, I kenned that I wanted to see more.

” Her hands slid across his chest to his shoulders, and he closed his eyes, savoring the soft silken feel of her fingertips on him.

“Ye are wearin’ far too much clothing.” He reached for her, and she stepped back with a teasing smile.

“I think ye can bear it for a little while. I was the one twice now who was so open and bare before ye, and ye were the one perfectly safe and clothed. I think ye can wait.” Her eyes trailed down his stomach to his kilt. “Remove yer kilt. I want to see ye.”

He took another step toward her, but she stepped back again, and he gave a little growl. But a smile was on his lips. Fun. Arya was fun. That was the thing that drew him to her time and time again. He sighed, watching her one eyebrow lift in impatience.

“Well, Laird Sinclair? Am I to wait all evening to have me satisfaction?”

He shook his head, chuckling. “Nae if I have anythin’ to do with it, Lady Sinclair. To bring ye satisfaction is me utmost aim.”

He pulled off his boots and then undid his belt, unwrapped the kilt, and let it all fall to the floor with a clunk.

He was now perfectly naked to her view. There would be no hiding anymore, at least not his body.

The fact that he loved her was still safely tucked away in his heart. At least for now.

He swallowed and hardened even more as he watched her appreciative gaze trail from his stomach to his manhood which was ramrod straight, and then her eyes moved all the way down to his feet. He lifted his hands.

“Do I meet with yer approval?”

She nodded, her eyes wide. “One more thing.”

“What?”

“Turn around.” She made a twirling motion with her fingers.

He lifted his brows. “Really?”

“Aye, turn around. I had a theory that ye would be muscled everywhere, but I didnae think it could possibly be true. But it is true, thus far. But there’s one more part of ye that I havenae seen.

” She grinned, and Cohen was ready to throw her back on the bed and thrust into her like never before.

But he stalled. “So,” she said, “turn around. Please.”

Sighing again, he turned around, slowly, and he heard the sound of approval from behind him. When he turned back, Arya was smiling. “Me theory was correct. I didnae think it could be possible for a man to be so…solidly built.”

“I would like to show ye solid things, Lass. If ye will let me come closer.” He took a tentative step forward.

“Aye,” she said. “Come.”

He took her up into his arms and crushed her mouth with his. His hands fumbled at the buttons of her bodice, and frustrated, he eventually turned her around so that he could look at them. “Blasted things.”

She chuckled. “What? Clothing?”

“Women’s clothing,” he grumbled. “It locks ye up tightly and away and is damned difficult to undo when the time comes.”

“It will make ye appreciate the sight all the more,” she teased, and he stopped, leaning down to kiss her neck and then flicking his tongue in the little hollow of her collarbone. She gasped.

“Aye, true enough,” he said in a low, husky tone. “But I feel as though I have waited a lifetime for this.”

“For what?” she asked in such a soft voice he could barely hear her.

He turned around, and her gown fell around her, so that only her shift and stays were showing. He looked into her eyes and said, “For ye.”

Arya was thrilled. This was her moment, and she didn’t want to waste another second of it.

She tried her best to let all her fears fall away as she watched Cohen’s gaze rove over her.

She was not yet naked, although she felt like she was, with the way he looked at her hungrily.

He untied her stays at the front, and she felt released when they were finally unclasped from her torso.

It was just the shift left, and even though she’d been naked in front of Cohen before, this time she felt a little tingle of nervousness as he worked to remove the straps from her shoulders.

She swallowed back her fears and let the shift fall to the floor with her other things.

Then it was just the two of them, skin on skin.

He looked at her for a few seconds before claiming her mouth again.

She let him, drawing him close with her arms about his neck, trailing her hands through his hair and then down his strong back, enjoying the feel of his hardness underneath her fingertips.

“Will ye show me solid things now?” she asked, breathless, when he pulled away. He laughed, leaning his forehead on hers. She could feel his solidness between her legs, but she did not look down yet.

“Aye. I would be most happy to oblige, Lady Sinclair.”

She smiled, loving the sound of her new name on his lips, and he pushed her gently back on the bed.

She sprawled out, enjoying the way his eyes watched her naked body on the bed, but she clasped onto him when he leaned over her.

Taking her mouth, he kissed her deep, his tongue exploring, tasting, loving.

She felt this intimate touch all the way in her center.

He was so big and heavy, but she loved the warmth, the weight, and the feeling of his skin on hers. He moved from her mouth down her neck and to her breasts. He took a nipple in his mouth, licking and then suckling gently, making her buck up against him.

Over the last weeks, her desire was growing to a peak, and he was only making it stronger and more unbearable. She silently thanked God when Cohen moved his hand down her stomach to rest upon her mound where his fingers made circles on her center.

“Aye,” she said, bucking up her hips a little more. He grinned against the skin of her breast. She gasped when he slid a finger inside her.

“But ye,” she said, grasping at him. “I want to feel ye.”

“Och, daenae worry, Arya. Ye will. But first, ye will come to yer pleasure once before I show ye more.” He stopped talking then, and he slid down her body until his mouth met her opening, and he kissed her there, licking along her seam as she cried out, clasping at her breasts.

He didn’t stop, flicking his tongue against her as his fingers plunged inside of her.

It was all too much, and she came quickly, her pleasure exploding inside of her until she could only think and feel ecstasy.

Slowly, he kissed along her stomach, between her breasts, until he reached her mouth, where he angled his head and kissed her deeply, his tongue not stopping until he tasted all of her.

“Are ye ready, Lass?” he asked when he pulled away, grinding his hips against her, where she could feel his length.

“Aye, Cohen. So ready.” She lifted her legs, and he pressed his hardness against her opening. “It will hurt a little, but then it will be good. I swear it.” She nodded, biting her lip, but he reached up and pulled her lip free. “If ye do that, I will be lost.”

He chuckled at her surprised face, and then she couldn’t think anymore, as his length pushed inside of her. She leaned back, blinking her eyes as she registered the fullness of it, stretching her.

“Are ye all right, Arya?” he asked, his beautiful brown eyes searching hers, waiting for an answer. She nodded, unable to speak. The feeling was all too…glorious.

There was pain, yes, but there was so much more. He slid in a little further, and she made a groaning sound, lifting her hips up to meet him. It hurt, but it was good, and she could tell something big was happening. She wanted to leave the past behind for good and turn into a new woman.

Finally, he was fully nested inside her, all the way to the root, and she could feel the sheen of sweat on his skin as he hovered above her. He was waiting. In a low voice, he asked, “How do ye feel, Lass?”

“Perfect,” she said, leaning up to kiss him.

Grinning, he started to move, and she closed her eyes, surprised at the pleasure she found there. “Good. I will make ye cry out again.”

After a few seconds, there was no room to talk, for Arya’s focus was completely taken by the moment.

Cohen was thrusting deep inside her again and again, and now that the pain was gone, it was only pure pleasure.

Tightness, wetness, and heat, and she leaned back, grasping at him, grasping at the bedclothes, anything to give her purchase as she felt herself riding a wave, leading somewhere.

As he moved, his thrusts growing ever quicker, he leaned down to nuzzle her neck, and she held onto him. “Yes, Cohen, yes!” for she could think of nothing else to say or do, and the pleasure broke over her.

After another few thrusts, he was groaning out her name as well, and then he moved out of her and to the side, breathing hard. She recovered before him, and she snuggled against him with a smile on her face. “I didnae expect that,” she teased.

Chuckling, he drew her close, and he moved a hand over her breast, squeezing it before turning her face to meet his. He laid a soft kiss on her lips and said, “Nay? I did. I kenned from the very first moment that ye were full of passion.”

“Did ye?” she giggled. “How did ye ken that?”

“Well,” he replied, sticking out his chin as if deep in thought.

“I saw ye in the light of the dungeon and kenned that ye were beautiful, that ye hid all kinds of womanly curves beneath yer clothing.” His hand roamed from her breast down to her backside which he squeezed tightly, making her gasp. “But it was yer fighting spirit.”

His tone grew serious. “Ye didnae want to give up. And even when we were stuck in the darkness, ye still had a laugh and a smile to give. It was intoxicating. Ye are intoxicating, Arya.” He kissed her again, and she let herself go, giving herself up to it.

Cohen was her husband now. Should she not let herself completely go, giving herself to him with all she had? She wanted to, even if it scared her to death. But he seemed like he cared for her. He told her he did, even if he didn’t say ‘love’.

She brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes, reveling in the sweat on his brow.

She had put it there. “I kenned that ye were different somehow. Different than all the other men I had met with. Ye had a good heart, and it was clear from the first, even though ye refused me so many times.” She smiled, making him kiss her again.

“Arya, I,” he began, but he stopped when her hand trailed down his chest and reached his length. She took it in hand, sliding her fingers down over it. The skin was silky smooth and moist, and it made her desire prickle again.

“Are ye ready again?” she asked, hopeful. He nodded and lifted a brow.

“It seems I am, with yer hand upon me.”

“Ye will tell me how to please ye then?” she asked, and he took her shoulders and reminded her.

“Ye please me, Arya. All of ye does. But what ye are doing now is good,” he added in a strangled tone, as she began to move her hand a little faster. “Sometimes, a woman may put her mouth upon it.”

“Och?” she asked, thrilled to her core. “So I shall.” She moved down below him, settling herself between his legs and leaned down over his length. She gripped him with one hand, and even though her heart fluttered nervously, she wanted to be bold.

She licked around the tip, and she smiled when she saw Cohen lean back, his eyes closed. Moving her mouth to the top, she parted her lips and took him inside, making Cohen groan aloud.

“That’s it, Lass. Ye are learnin’ fast.”

She slid down further until she had taken almost all of him in her mouth before moving up again.

The exploration thrilled her, and as she quickened her pace, she could feel the power in it.

Cohen was completely under her control, and it gave her confidence and strength as she continued to slide her mouth on him up and down.

She moved until he made a loud cry, and she felt his warm, hot seed in her mouth, spilling forth.

She took it down, greedy for it, swallowing it away before lifting to face him with a smile.

“Come here,” he said in a raspy voice, pulling her close. “Sleep now, Arya, but when ye wake, I will give ye even more pleasure.”

Nuzzling against him, she sighed. This was her life now. Happiness and warmth. Belonging. She closed her eyes with a shiver of anticipation at what tomorrow would bring.