Page 39 of Tempted by a Highland Beast (Tales of Love and Lust in the Murray Castle #9)
Constantine pulled his shirt off and stood in nothing but his breeches. Rowena bit her lips as her eyes roamed over him, and he couldn’t help the smugness that consumed him at her gasp when she saw the tent in his pants.
She resumed her exploration of his body carefully, as if she wanted to commit every line, every hard muscle to her memory. Constantine stood and watched her.
When she traced his growing length with a light touch, like a man possessed, his fingers found the ties of her gown behind her and he loosened them with a snap of his fingers. The dress fell with a flourish, and he groaned as her bare body was exposed to him.
Her skin was flushed, a pale coloring that was framed exquisitely by the red of her hair. Tight curls rested just below her stomach, and Constantine was eager to part those thighs to have a look at her properly.
But then suddenly, Rowena backed away from him and covered her breasts and front with her hands. Constantine looked up to find her face full of apprehension, and he felt like a fool. It was her first time, and he was sure she was agonizing about it.
With a slow walk, he approached Rowena and pulled her hand away from her mound.
“I am struggling tae nae fall upon ye and ravish ye, have nay doubts that I am hungry fer ye. Ye’re so beautiful, and yer body is perfect. Like it was made fer me,” he kissed her lightly on her lips and smiled. “Take yer hands away and let me cherish ye.”
Rowena blushed, but she did as he asked and he groaned.
“Can I touch ye again, Rowena?”
“Only if ye undress too. ‘Tis hardly fair that I’m standing here naked, and ye’re still dressed. I want tae see ye tae.”
With a wicked grin, Constantine pulled his breeches off and in the blink of an eye, he was as bare as Rowena. His lips traced lines from her ears to necklace around her collarbones, and he fell to his knees before her. Constantine sucked in a sharp breath at the sight.
Dear Heavens, this woman will be the death of me.
Her sex was swollen and red, and her folds wrapped around her center delicately. He ran a finger down it, and Rowena startled and closed her legs.
“What’s wrong? Dae ye want me tae stop?”
“Nay… it is just all so new and overwhelming.”
A primal satisfaction rushed through Constantine. Rowena was his, in every way possible. He would wed her, care for her, and claim her. He crowded her and used his hand to raise her head up.
“Ye’re perfect, Rowena. Let me keep showing ye how good it can be. Let me worship yer body. Will ye let me?”
She smiled and pecked his lips. The words came out of her mouth softly. “Please be gentle.”
“I will,” Constantine said and left a kiss on her neck before going back on his knees. He parted her folds with his fingers and ran his tongue through the slickness on her thighs.
“Oh god, Constantine.”
He gave no answer but continued his exploration of her most intimate part.
Constantine pushed a finger inside her gently, and Rowena gasped as she bucked against him.
“Is it too much?”
“Nay, please dinnae stop.” Rowena cried as she pushed his head closer to her body.
Constantine eased a second finger into her, feeling how tight and hot she was.
Desire clawed at him, urging him to take her, but he forced himself to move slowly.
This was her first time, and he would see to it that the memory was not one of pain but of pleasure.
He wanted her to know her body could be cherished and worshipped.
By the time he had gotten the third finger in, Rowena had gotten impatient, as she detonated around his fingers and screamed.
A gush of hot liquid flowed around Constantine’s hands, and he watched in fascination as she came for him.
He kept pumping inside her languidly, until she pushed him away and said with conviction: “Constantine, I want ye inside me. Please.”
“As the lady wishes.”
With a grin, he rose up bent over her body as it was splayed on the table and kissed her. He tweaked her nipple with a hand and wrapped a hand around his shaft with the other as he guided it to the entrance to her center.
“Spread yer legs fer me.” She obliged quickly, as eager for him as he was to feel her. She pulled her knees to her chest, and Constantine sucked in a breath at how lewd she looked all spread out for him.
How beautiful.
They came together slowly, carefully, Constantine watching her face for any sign of discomfort. The initial moment of joining drew a soft gasp from Rowena’s lips, and Constantine stilled immediately.
“Are ye ok? I ken it hurts initially the first time.”
“Aye,” she breathed, her hands sliding up his back to anchor herself against him. “Dinnae stop. Please.”
Constantine groaned as he finally allowed himself to sink into her, and he swallowed her tortured moan with a kiss.
He began to pump in earnest, and his manhood swelled harder at the sinful moans Rowena let out.
He needed her to be there with him, so he snuck a finger between their wet, sweaty bodies and started to roll his finger on her clit.
It was impossible, but Constantine could have sworn she got even tighter.
When release finally claimed them both, it was with an intensity that left them clinging to each other, hearts racing and breath mingled.
Constantine gathered Rowena against his chest, and walked them by the fireplace, pulling a blanket over them both as they lay in the firelight’s glow.
“That was…” Rowena began, then trailed off, apparently lacking words.
“Aye,” Constantine agreed, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. “It was.”
They lay in comfortable silence, watching the flames dance in the hearth. Rowena traced idle patterns on Constantine’s chest, marveling at how natural it all felt. The physical intimacy, but also the emotional openness that had come with it.
Outside the library windows, the first light of dawn was beginning to paint the sky, but neither of them was ready to return to the world beyond those walls.
They stayed like that, the warmth of the flames mingling with the heat of their bodies as they finally reached for the wine they had forgotten.
Each sip was traded between kisses and languid caresses, as though they could stretch the night a little longer.