Page 26 of Marry the Highland Villain (Breaking the Highland Rules #1)

CHAPTER 26

Conall was in his room, enjoying a rare moment of solitude before supper, when the door burst open. He was halfway to his feet, angry words on the tip of his tongue, when he realized the intruder was the very woman who’d been occupying much of his thoughts over the past seven days.

He blinked. “Brigid.”

“Conall.”

Her eyes were bright with unshed tears, but her smile was warm enough to rival the fire in his hearth. She was clutching a book to her chest—not the one he’d given her, he noticed. It was older and worn in a manner that suggested it had been read several times.

Brigid stared at him, then looked down and opened the book and began to read in a clear, though slightly wavering voice.

“The sun will rise and shine its light, a bright and golden gleam,

The warmth it rivals nae yer smile, bright as a happy dream.

And though I marvel at the moon and stars, that shine so bright above,

Still I ken they’re nae so pure as the light and warmth of love.”

For a moment, he wasn’t sure what the words were supposed to mean. Then, he did. And he knew what it was that she read.

It was a poem. One of hers. And it was a declaration of love.

Brigid closed the book and looked at him. “I love ye, Conall Barr. I’ve kenned it for days, but I didnae ken how to reconcile that with… well, everything. And now I ken I dinnae need to reconcile it, for Mama only wanted my happiness. And my happiness is ye.”

The words wrapped him in warmth, in light, and thawed the cold weight that had settled in his gut the day he’d turned away from Brigid and had refused to disappear since then.

Heat surged through him, and his response was instinctive and immediate. He stepped past Brigid in several quick strides, slammed the door shut, and bolted it. Then, he turned, caught Brigid in his arms, and pulled her to him, his mouth claiming hers in a passionate kiss.

Brigid met both his embrace and his kiss with a passion that matched his own, the book falling to the floor as her hands clutched at his arms. The scent of paper and ink and leather filled his senses, and the taste of wine lingered on his lips, along with a honey-sweetness and the subtle flavor of milk that was Brigid’s alone.

Hands caressed, then slid down his arms to the belt of his kilt. Conall broke the kiss with a groan as heat surged to his groin and thickened his manhood.

“Are ye sure?” he said, his voice husky with desire.

He wanted her. But only if she was certain she wanted him, too.

Brigid moaned and pressed herself against him. “Aye. I’ve missed ye, Conall.”

That was all the encouragement he needed.

Conall captured her mouth in another kiss, then moved to undo the bodice of her dress.

Brigid’s slippers soon joined his boots, and Conall swept her into his arms and carried her back into his room to set her on the bed. Brigid slipped out of his arms before they reached it, smiling teasingly at him as she slid the dress up her body and over her head, leaving herself bare to his gaze.

Conall hurried to remove the rest of his clothing, then stalked toward the bed, offering her a roguish smile before he pounced on her. He had a split second of uncertainty, wondering if she was going to flinch away from him, but she just laughed and scooted backward.

The two of them tangled together on the bed, her soft warmth welcoming him and thawing any residual coldness from the loneliness that had surrounded him for the past several days.

Finally, they subsided, panting softly. Conall took the chance to roll Brigid beneath him, straddling her as his hands roved over her body. His thumbs teased her taut nipples, then moved down her chest and over her soft stomach to comb through her damp, glistening curls.

Brigid moaned again and opened her thighs, welcoming his touch.

Blood surged to Conall’s manhood, making him gasp. “Och, ye…”

“Conall…” Brigid pulled him closer to her, her nipples dragging across the sensitive skin of his chest and setting his body afire with need.

He wanted to take his time, but Brigid was kissing him, her mouth on his and her hands exploring his body. Her body moved against his, and Conall had no strength to resist the desire that seemed to have wrapped both of them in a wildfire of need and passion.

He slid a hand between Brigid’s thighs to stroke the lips of her sex, his breath hitching as she arched into his touch. Conall slid a finger between the wet folds, caressing the inner walls of her entrance, before pressing deeper. Brigid gasped and shuddered, writhing as his finger slid into her, then out.

His erection was straining, heavy and hot, desire singing through him like battle fever. Beneath him, Brigid was pleading, almost incoherent with passion. Her face was flushed, her eyes glowing with desire as she gripped his shoulders.

Conall bent his head to kiss her, then moved to settle in the cradle of her thighs, shifting until he felt the head of his member press against her sex. Brigid opened to him and let him slide inside her, and his breathing stuttered as he pushed into her tight, hot channel.

The velvety walls gripped him tight, setting his body afire, heat spreading from his shaft to his belly and winding through his body. Brigid welcomed him, arching to meet his thrust until he was fully sheathed within her.

Conall breathed deeply, letting them both adjust to his heat and hardness.

“Conall…” Brigid arched into him, practically whimpering his name.

Conall rolled his hips, shifted his weight, and thrust hard, carrying them both to their mutual pleasure.

Brigid’s body was singing, burning waves of pleasure and heat dancing through her with each thrust of Conall’s hips. Everything was warm and wonderful, from the desire that danced like sparks in Conall’s eyes to the feel of her body against his, every inch of her alight and reveling in the heat and strength of him.

Conall thrust into her, and she rocked her hips to meet him, drawing him in as deep as she could, wanting to be as close to him as possible. She’d missed him for so long—now she needed him so much.

Heat and pleasure built, and her thoughts slipped away as she lost herself in the feel of him inside her, around her, holding her and loving her. Every movement sent waves of warmth through her, from her core to her skin and back again.

The sensations grew stronger, pleasure building with every thrust. She could feel her need growing, pulling her closer, pulling her higher.

When Conall bent and kissed her, his mouth claiming hers, their chests pressed together, Brigid came apart, pleasure crashing over her like a wave. White light filled her vision as her release took her, her back arching up as her core clenched around him.

Conall grunted, stiffened, and his movements hitched. Brigid felt his climax wash over him, his seed pouring into her body, filling her and sending a second wave of pleasure through her.

Her body shuddered through yet another wave, then relaxed into boneless lassitude as a warm glow filled her and carried her away, wrapped in Conall’s arms and happier than she could remember being.

She felt Conall relax, then come to rest beside her, his arms around her shoulders and her waist as he held her close, his warmth surrounding her. Brigid sank into his embrace.

Then, Conall leaned over her, his voice soft as the wind in her ear. “I love ye as well, Brigid Blackwood, more than ye can imagine, an’ more than any words could ever convey to ye.”

The words filled her with joy and followed her into her dreams as she slipped into slumber. Her last words before sleep overtook her were a softly murmured “My Conall… my love…”