Page 22 of Healing the Highland Sinner (Tales of the Maxwell Lasses #7)

CHAPTER 22

E llair knocked softly on Rosalind’s door and waited, not knowing if she was still asleep or not. She had practically passed out at the warehouse and he had carried her back to the compound and put her to bed. And she had slept the rest of the day away. He thought he’d heard her stirring, but wasn’t sure.

“Come,” she called.

Her voice was still weary and when he opened the door, she was still lying in bed. Her face was paler than normal and dark shadows ringed her eyes. She looked entirely wrung out. Ellair stepped in and closed the door behind him quietly. A pair of oil lanterns filled the room with a dim light and the air was thick with the not unpleasant scent of the incense that burned.

“Come,” she said again and patted the edge of her bed.

Ellair walked over and perched on the edge, turning so he could see her as she lay propped up against the pillows.

“I just wanted tae check on ye,” he said softly. “Wanted tae make sure ye were all right.”

She gnawed on her bottom lip. “I’m better than I was when ye found me.”

“But nae great.”

A wan smile touched her lips. “Nae great.”

They sat together quietly for a moment, the weight of unspoken feelings hanging as heavy in the air as the scent of her incense. She finally raised her gaze, managing to pierce him to his very core.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I was a bit of a wreck out there taeday.”

“Ye’ve got naethin’ tae apologize fer.”

“’Tis nae me normal way—fallin’ apart like that.”

“Ye’ve got a lot on yer plate, what with… well… everythin’ goin’ on,” he said. “I’d be more worried about ye if ye dinnae fall tae pieces now and then. Shows ye’re human.”

She laughed softly. “If fallin’ apart makes ye human, I’m more human than most.”

“But unlike most, ye ken how tae pull yerself taegether when ye need tae. ‘Tis why ye’re a strong leader. Why yer men follow ye without question.”

“I dinnae ken about that.”

“I dae,” he replied.

“And how have ye come about such wisdom then, eh?”

He flashed her a grin. “I was blessed with a natural wisdom well beyond me years.”

Rosalind laughed, the sound like crystals chiming in a gentle breeze. It was a sound that filled Ellair’s heart with joy. A sound he would give anything to hear more often.

“May I get ye anythin’?” he asked.

“Nay, I’m fine,” she said, then hesitated.

It seemed as if she had more to say, so Ellair cocked his head and waited for her to finish. She looked at him though, biting on her bottom lip, her face painted with uncertainty and doubt. He reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“What is it?” he asked softly.

“I just… would ye stay with me? Fer a little while longer?”

“Of course.”

They sat together in silence, their fingers intertwined, the air around them growing thick and heavy with a sense of anticipation. Ellair stared into her eyes, feeling his heart lurch and his belly churn. His gaze drifted down and as he remembered the way her mouth had felt upon his, he felt the desire rising in him like a tide. He heard Rosalind’s breath catch in her throat and when she licked her lips nervously, the sight of the tip of her velvety pink tongue fanned the flames burning within him even higher.

Slowly, inexorably, they were drawn together. He felt no more able to stop it than he could have stopped the sun from rising. And when their mouths found each other, his body lit up with a fire that burned so hot, it threatened to consume him whole—and he was more than happy to let it.

“Bleedin’ hell,” she gasped, breathless.

“Should we stop?” he whispered.

“We should,” she replied, then offered him a flirtatious grin. “But I dinnae want tae.”

Ellair pulled her to him, their tongues swirling around each other languidly in her mouth as his hands roamed her body. The kiss was passionate, but more than anything, they sought comfort in each other. Their movements were slow. Deliberate. Tender. And his skin tingled from head to toe as she leaned into him.

He slid his hands up her back, tangling his fingers in her hair. He gently pulled her head to the side and planted a line of soft, gentle kisses on her neck. Rosalind sighed and seemed to melt as her skin warmed beneath his touch. Ellair ran his hands down her body lightly and felt her tremble as he caressed her full, round breasts through her nightshirt. Rosalind raised her arms and let him slide it up her body, taking it off, and he tossed it aside.

Ellair gasped as he took in the sight of her firm, toned body. He marveled at her generous curves and trailed the tips of his fingers along the swell of her hips, gliding them back up to her breasts. He leaned down and swirled his tongue around her puffy, pink nipples, the sound of her gasp ringing in his ears, fueling his desire. Cupping and gently kneading one breast, he licked and sucked on the other, making her tremble and moan softly.

Desire flooding his body like a river swollen in the rain, Ellair gently pushed her back against her pillows and kissed his way down her body. Her skin was warm to the touch, and she flinched, then giggled as he playfully nipped the skin of her belly with his teeth. Ellair gently parted her thighs and looked up at her from between her legs. Her eyes were filled with the same want and need that coursed through him and she bit her bottom lip, the anticipation on her face more than clear.

He grazed her button with his teeth and she flinched like she’d been scalded. But when he slid his tongue along her already dripping wet slit, she moaned. Ellair buried his tongue inside of her, relishing her sweet nectar. Rosalind reached down and grabbed a handful of his hair, yanking it hard as he licked and sucked on her sex.

“Oh, me God,” she gasped.

Smiling up at her, Ellair slipped a pair of fingers into her opening, pumping them in and out as he swirled his tongue around her most sensitive part, making her tremble and shake. Short, stuttering breaths burst from her mouth followed by a long, sultry moan as Ellair worked her with his fingers and mouth at the same time. Her grip on his hair tightened to the point it was painful but he felt her body tighten around him and kept it up.

Rosalind’s juices slicked his face and fingers, the taste and scent of her driving him mad with lust. He couldn’t get enough of her, using his fingers to circle her flower as he plunged his tongue deep inside of her. She writhed and wriggled beneath him, gasping and moaning his name as he devoured her. And when he heard a choked gasp burst from her mouth, he spread her open and drove his tongue even further into her sex.

Rosalind bit the side of her hand, trying to stifle her cries as she began to shake and thrash beneath him. She pressed her head back against the pillows, her eyes squeezed shut tightly as her climax, powerful and raw, came crashing down over her. She arched her back and gripped his hair even tighter, pulling him closer to her as she ground herself against his face.

Ellair was dizzy with desire and kept licking and sucking on her furiously as she climaxed. It was only when her body went limp and she let go of his hair, falling back against the bed, that he stopped. He looked up at her and saw her bottom lip caught between her teeth, her face flushed, and breathing hard.

“Me God,” she gasped.

She sat up on the bed and swung her legs over the side. Before he could say anything, Rosalind had taken him by the hand and pulled him up as well. She leaned forward and kissed him tenderly yet passionately as she reached down and grabbed hold of his manhood through his breeches. Ellair gasped and moaned as she stroked him through the fabric, the blood growing hot in his veins. She quickly untied the laces and pulled his breeches down, sinking to her knees along with them.

She looked up at him with a flirty smile on her lips. She leaned forward and grazed the tip of his staff with her teeth, making him shudder. Rosalind’s lips parted and she took him into her mouth. Ellair groaned as his body grew taut. She wrapped her long fingers around his shaft and began to stroke him as her warm, wet mouth slid up and down. He gripped her hair, his body trembling, his breath quickening.

Her gaze was locked onto his as she pumped him with her hand and mouth at the same time. Ellair’s mind spun and his knees seemed to be growing weaker as the rush of pleasure consumed him. She tightened her lips around him, sucking and stroking him with a frenzied intent to bring him to the pinnacle of pleasure. She pulled him out of her mouth, catching her breath as she gazed up at him. Her grip on him tightened and she stroked him, her lips curling in a mischievous smile.

He opened his mouth but had no words. He simply shook his head, a quavering smile stretching his lips as she licked down one side of his shaft then up the other, her hand pumping him in a strong, steady rhythm. Rosalind took the tip back into her mouth, swirling her tongue around it, teasing the sensitive underside, the rhythm of her hand picking up speed.

“Me God,” he gasped.

He felt his body tighten and a hard lurch in the pit of his belly as she sucked and stroked him. His flesh tingled with a pleasure unlike anything he’d ever known before. And the way she held his gaze as she worked his staff made the sensations all the more intense. As she tightened her warm, wet mouth around him and squeezed him even tighter, Ellair felt the pressure building up within him. He felt himself hurtling toward the brink and knew he wasn’t going to last much longer.

He tried to step back, wanting to savor and prolong the moment, but Rosalind gripped him harder, stroking and sucking on him with a renewed fervor. And when she took him as deep into her mouth as she could, Ellair felt himself let go. He felt weightless for a moment as a long, low moan issued from his throat. His staff twitched and he erupted. Gripping her hair and holding her in place, Ellair felt himself pumping her mouth full of his seed.

Her eyes traveled up to his, sparkling mischievously, draining him of every last drop. He finally stepped back and felt his legs giving out beneath him. He barely made it to the bed, dropping heavily onto the edge of it as Rosalind got to her feet, a contented smile on her face.

“That was amazin’,” he said.

She grinned at him. “I ken.”

He laughed and laid down beside her on the bed. She rested her head on his chest as he slipped his arm around her, pulling him to her tightly. She drew small circles on his chest with the tip of her finger and they allowed themselves to relish the moment of warmth between them. He turned to the window and watched the moon climbing higher. He had somewhere he needed to be but was loath to leave his spot beside her.

“Stay with me?” she asked as if reading his mind. “Until I fall asleep?”

“Of course,” he replied and kissed her gently on the forehead.

It wasn’t long before Rosalind’s breath grew steady and then fell into a deep slumber. Ellair smiled, silently wishing he could stay the night with her. But he had things he needed to do. Moving slowly and quietly, Ellair slipped out of bed and got himself dressed. After pulling his boots on, he pulled the blanket over Rosalind, who stirred but did not wake.

At the door, he took a long, lingering look at her, memories of what they’d just done scrolling through his mind and filling his body with heat once more. Before he could talk himself out of what he was doing in favor of sleeping beside her for the rest of the night, Ellair forced himself to turn and walk out of the room and quietly closed the door behind him.

He made his way downstairs and was surprised to find Ciar sitting at the table, cleaning and sharpening his blades. The man looked up and Ellair felt a stab of guilt and fear that Ciar knew what he and Rosalind had been getting up to. If he knew though, his face did not betray it, and Ellair let out a quiet breath of relief. He knew exactly how protective of her the big man was.

“Ye look tae be movin’ yer hand a bit better, eh?”

The big man clenched and unclenched his fist, a slight wince the only reminder of his injury.

“Aye,” he said. “’Tis on the mend. Finally.”

“’Tis good.”

“Stay,” Ciar said. “Have a cup with me.”

“Would that I could, lad,” Ellair replied. “I’ve got… somebody waitin’ fer me.”

He’d said it just suggestively enough to give Ciar the wrong idea. And judging by the way the big man’s face clouded over as he frowned, he’d succeeded. He looked at Ellair with something akin to disappointment, which sent another unexpected lance of guilt through his heart. He cleared his throat and moved to the door.

“I’ll… see ye later,” Ellair said.

“Aye. I suppose ye will,” Ciar replied and turned back to his blades.

Ellair slipped out into the night. Even though he wasn’t going to meet a woman, as he’d implied, he still felt guilty for leading Ciar on, fearing it might get back to Rosalind. That was a thought that made his stomach and heart clench tightly. Painfully.

But he had a job to do. And so, he was going to do it.