Page 15 of Love Me Forever (Highland Duo #2)

B rianna softly kissed his cool cheek until it warmed from her lips, and then she traced a trail of delicate kisses up and around the fading bruise that circled his injured eye.

She moved along his forehead, enthralled by the sweet yet salty taste of him, and without thought she ran the tip of her tongue down his temple to his cheek, where she returned to spread kisses.

She settled in the corner of his mouth and ever so gently let her tongue play with the taste of him.

She could not seem to get enough of him, and with warm wet lips she moved down to nibble at his neck.

She thrilled at the joy she felt nipping, tickling, and kissing, and she would have continued enjoying herself if he had not grabbed her by the shoulders and gently shoved her off him, holding her a safe distance away.

“Continue this and I will not be able to stop myself from making love to you.”

Her common sense returned like a splash of cold water to the face. She was startled more from her actions than his remark.

“I did not think.”

“Your actions were intended for pleasure not thought. There was no reason for you to think, only feel.”

She seemed even more startled. “You tell me that my intention was pleasure?”

“A kiss or two is pleasing; more than that ignites passion and pleasure.”

Her eyes rounded like full moons.

“Your reaction surprises you.” He wished to lift her and settle her on his lap, for she favored the side that gave her discomfort. But his arousal would be too evident to her and her bottom nestled on him would not help matters.

“I have never felt such an overwhelming urge to kiss a man.”

“You mean to seduce a man.”

“Seduce?” She stood straight, her eyes remaining wide.

“Aye. And a fine job you were doing of it.”

She shook her head in disbelief, then stopped and asked, “Was I?”

He took her hand and slowly, so that the choice was hers to follow, brought her hand to rest over the hard length of him.

“Oh,” she said and kept her hand on him, her own desire soaring at the thought that she could affect him so. She did not intend to stroke him, but it felt so natural and he felt so very good to the touch.

“You really are going to be in trouble if you keep that up.”

She hastily pulled her hand away and offered him an apology. “I am sorry. I do not?—”

He stopped her. “Do not apologize for desiring me. I love when you kiss me and when you touch me.”

‘Truly?” She sounded stunned.

“Aye, truly,” he assured her.

She leaned to her side, her face scrunching in discomfort.

“Your back troubles you?”

“Aye, it pains me.”

“Back to bed,” he said firmly and stood to scoop her up into his arms and place her in bed, pulling the blankets up around her and arranging the pillows comfortably beneath her head.

She reached for his hand before he could move away. “I do not understand my feelings.”

“You will in time.”

“But is there enough time?” She sounded anxious, concerned, and almost fearful that they would not have enough time together.

He leaned down close and rubbed his cheek to hers. ‘Trust me; I will make certain we have enough time.”

“My brother will find me soon enough.”

“Aye, he will, but by then this will be settled between you and me.” He rubbed his cheek to hers once again.

“Now rest, you have had a busy time.” He left her side, though he did not want to. He would have preferred to remain beside her, snuggled against her, holding her and loving her. But at the moment that would not be a wise choice.

He kept himself busy cleaning up the bowls and cloths and preparing the evening meal for them. She dozed as he knew she would; though she insisted she was fine, her body continued to heal and often sought rest.

His mind stayed busy along with his hands. There was much they needed to discuss, though he doubted words would settle anything at the moment. Their emotions seemed to have the upper hand, and that was unusual for him. Sound reason, diligent thought, and right action always made for wise choices.

Presently, he lacked sound reason, his thoughts were chaotic, and right action was the farthest thing from his mind. So then, would his choice be unwise? He had to smile to himself, recalling that a wide grin would not help his lip.

Everything he felt for Brianna was right, good, and wise.

She was meant for him and he was meant for her.

He thought not how others would react, for their feelings did not concern him.

He would deal with her brother when the time came, though he doubted he would meet resistance.

Her brother sounded as though he loved his sister very much and wished only for her happiness.

And by the time her brother found them or he returned her to him, it would be obvious how they felt for each other.

It would all work out given time. He was positive, therefore he ignored the nagging little voice that reminded him that he should tell her more about himself. The fact that she accepted him now as he was surely meant that she would accept all of who he was.

“Royce.”

He looked over at her. She pushed her dark hair away from her face and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She looked beautiful, innocent, and sensual as she roused herself from her slumber, and he felt an overwhelming urge to protect her and make love to her.

He contained his emotion, difficult as it was.

“I am so thirsty; could I trouble you for a drink?”

“You never trouble me, Brianna,” he said, moving about to fix a favorite herbal brew she had taught him to prepare.

“I know and that continues to surprise me. You are not like other men who think only of themselves. You have a deeply caring heart. I find it difficult to believe you are a warrior.”

“I fight when I must.”

“Aye, like many other men. They fight when they are told to fight and follow their leaders without thought or reason. All for more land and more power.”

He brought her the drink. “You do not respect warriors.”

“I respect those who fight for a solid cause or reason, but those who hunger to expand their purse or holdings I find greedy and selfish.”

“A clan’s land needs defending.”

“Aye, but one clan swallows another when they war, and the battles seem endless. And the land and people often suffer.”

“The land and people need protection.”

“Then why do the people suffer if they are protected?” she asked earnestly, searching for a reasonable answer.

“It is the way of war and cannot be helped.”

She disagreed. “It is the way of greedy men.”

“Your brother, does he not war?”

“Only when necessary.”

“Sometimes what may seem necessary to one is not to another.”

She nodded. “A reason to war, two factions that cannot agree, so brute force determines the winner.”

“It is the way of things.”

After placing the cup on the chest, she tugged at his hand so that he would sit beside her. “Do you like to war?”

He gave her question serious thought, for he had asked himself the very same question many times over. It was the very reason that brought him to the solitude of this cottage. He wanted answers, but feared he would find no definitive one; or did he fear he would find an answer not to his liking?

“You give my question thought.” She hugged his hand with hers. “It is not new to you.”

“Nay, I sought solitude in search of answers.”

“I interrupted your search, I am sorry.”

“I am not.” He was adamant. “Your interruption gave me more to think about.”

She laughed. “Is that a polite way of saying I confuse you?”

He squeezed her hand lightly. “You gave me new places to search.”

“Places you have not thought of?”

“Places I hid from.”

Her curiosity had her asking, “Why?”

He shrugged. “It is easier to hide than to face our doubts and fears.”

She understood perfectly. “I hid from the truth of my marriage out of doubt and fear.”

“What finally made you face the truth?”

“My sister-in-law and her friend Anne. They are both very strong women and were very kind to me. They helped me to see the truth of my marriage, and they helped me to discover my own strength. Had you any time alone before my unexpected arrival?”

“A brief time.”

“Not enough for you to make any discoveries that would lead you to answers?”

“Answers elude me.”

“Perhaps you are not ready for them,” she said. “I have thought that myself.”

“Then talk with me of what troubles you, and perhaps we can discover the answers together.” She seemed excited that she might be able to help him.

“I cannot talk of it with you.”

“Why?” She sounded disappointed.

“I will not talk of battle with you.”

“I talked with you of my battle.”

“It is not the same,” he insisted.

Her voice grew quiet. “My scars are as deep as yours; they are just not visible.”

He admired her courage and tenacity.

“I heal as you do; why not let us heal together?” She threaded her fingers with his as if showing him that they could be one in this battle.

“Give me time.”

She remembered how difficult it had been for her to face her own battle. She understood that it was not easy for him, and only when he was willing to face his doubts and fears truthfully could he emerge from the darkness to which he had retreated.

“When you are ready.”

The thought that she did not insist but would wait until he was ready and be there for him filled him with a sense of peace.

“I appreciate your concern.” He more than appreciated it, but those simple words would do for now.

“I care,” she said with a hasty smile as though she surprised herself.

“Do you now?” he teased, leaning in closer as if he was about to capture a kiss.

She raised a quick hand to his chest. “You must not.

Your lip.”

“I have the urge to kiss you and cannot resist. What am I to do?”

She grinned and giggled softly. “Let me kiss you?”

She did not wait for an answer. She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew his face slowly down to her lips. She started with his cheek and made certain to cover every area of his face. She had never known the joy of kissing a man when and how she chose, and it simply thrilled her.

She stopped to tell him. “I love kissing you.”

“I love you kissing me.”

‘Truly you do?”

He had to laugh. ‘Truly, and I will tell you it often so that you will not need to question it again.”

‘Tell me as often as you like.”

“That I will. Now are you hungry?”

“Starving, but I would like to help with the meal.”

“Nay, you will rest.”

She protested. “I have rested. I am tired of resting.”

“Your back continues to pain you.”

“Because I spend too much time in this bed, I need to move around more.”

Since he looked to digest her remark, she continued to attempt to convince him. “I could sit on the chair by the table if I tire.”

“Your word on that?” he asked.

A warrior’s word was his honor. He looked to her for the same. She had no trouble giving it to him. “Aye, you have my word.”

He reached for her leather slippers that sat beside the chest at the end of the bed.

She hastily slipped from beneath the covers to the edge of the bed. She swung her feet in eager anticipation.

She reminded him of a young innocent girl.

Her skin was smooth and touched with a faint blush.

Her eyes were rounded in excitement, her lips softly puffed from kissing him.

She adjusted the comb in her hair, capturing the strands that refused confinement, though one or two managed to escape.

Her defined beauty grabbed at his heart and twisted until he thought he had not a breath left in him.

He quickly kneeled on the floor to place her soft leather slippers on her feet and restrain his pounding heart.

His position only worsened his condition.

He had to take hold of each of her ankles when slipping on the leather slippers.

They were trim and so soft that his fingers itched to explore farther up her leg.

He had touched her often when caring for her, but his thoughts had always been for her well-being. Now, however, his thoughts were those of passion.

“Are you finished?” she asked with a hand to his shoulder.

The innocent gesture completely unnerved him. It sent a rush of heat racing through his body and settling in places that had him thinking that she was right where he wanted her.

She had a different thought and urged him along.

“Help me to stand.”

‘Take my arm,” he said, knowing that in a moment she would be flying off the bed of her own accord if he did not oblige her.

She was about to slip her arm with his when he stopped her.

“Nay, place your hands on my arm and let my strength help you stand. Then, if you require my assistance to walk, I will help you.”

She was overjoyed at the thought of being independent once again and determined to remain so.

She did as he directed, her hands grabbing hold of his hard, muscled arms. The strength of him startled her.

She was not certain why since she had felt his strong arms many times before, yet somehow this time was different.

Very different. Her body reacted like a woman who desired a man.

“Ready?”

She nodded, trying hard to ignore the tingle in her fingers from the heat of his skin. She focused her attention on the task at hand while the tingle crawled up her arm.

He stood close by her side, his body nearly touching hers.

She stood with deliberate slowness, wanting to make certain not to harm her back and not wanting to let go of his arm. When she was certain she could stand on her own, she removed her hands from him and looked up with pride into his face.

What she saw excited and frightened her. Passion brewed in his eyes.

He wanted her.