Page 17 of To Wed a Witch (Reluctant Brides #3)

She felt emboldened and asked, "May I touch ye?"

"Aye," he rasped. "But be gentle, or I'll not last."

Gently her hand replaced his as she marveled at the size and feel of him as she firmly but gently stroked him. She could hear his breathing increase at a rapid rate. Suddenly she felt empowered. Without thinking, she leaned her head across and licked the tip of him.

Bhaltair cursed and pulled away.

Sìne seemed surprised. "I... I am so sorry. Did I hurt ye?"

"No," he growled. "'Tis just, yer sweet lips there would end our evening too soon."

"Oh," she mouthed, understanding what he meant.

She closed her eyes for a moment to soak in the intensity of the moment.

"Open yer eyes, sweeting." She felt the words whispered against her lips. When she opened her eyes, Bhaltair was standing at the foot of the bed, leaning over her this time. "'Tis my role to give ye pleasure first. Spread yer legs for me, love."

The candlelight flickered gently, casting a warm glow over their bed. Sìne blushed at first before she felt his large, strong hands clasp her knees and spread her thighs. He stared down at her womanly center fully exposed to his view, and she heard him say, "Ye're bonnie everywhere."

She lay awkwardly, wondering what he was doing when he bent his head and then lowered his mouth against her quim.

Sìne almost came off the bed, but he anchored her firmly in place as Bhaltair stroked his tongue against her heated pearl repeatedly, and Sìne was lost completely.

He kept up his onslaught with his mouth as his hands fondled her breasts, pulling and pinching her sensitive peaks until she was close to release.

Bhaltair worshipped her body with his hands and mouth, finding places that made her gasp and arch beneath him. He murmured endearments against her skin, words that made her feel cherished nonetheless.

He pulled away suddenly, and she cried out in frustration.

Bhaltair chuckled and said, "Patience, love. There's more to come."

Only then did he join her on the bed, crawling slowly upward until he lay on top of her, most of his weight supported by his arms as he placed a hand on either side of her shoulders. Her thighs spread wider to accommodate his hips as they lay skin to skin.

Bhaltair hovered above her, and he relished the softness of her flesh as she cradled his hips.

His hardened length pushed against her heated core.

She was beautiful. Her skin was flushed, and she was panting with need.

He thought her the bonniest woman he'd ever laid eyes upon.

He wanted nothing more than to give her the greatest pleasure and wipe any memory she may have of a past lover.

He had to admit he was insanely jealous to think of any other man touching her or sharing this intimacy with her.

Her body was exclusively for his pleasure, as his was for hers.

"I cannot wait any longer to be inside ye, love."

"Aye, please, Bhaltair, I need ye." She was already rubbing against him.

When their gazes clashed, he positioned his tip at the juncture between her thighs and slowly began to slide into her slick heat.

Both groaned at the sensation. Bhaltair gritted his teeth at the tightness that welcomed him.

He was a large man and did not want to hurt her, so he moved slowly at first, watching her face for any sign of discomfort, and when she urged him deeper with her hands on his shoulders, he complied with a groan of pure pleasure.

Sìne moaned as her husband slowly filled her. She could feel her inner walls stretching to accommodate his girth and contracting to hold him in place. It was the most incredible sensation.

"Are ye well, love? Can ye take more?" he asked.

"Aye, husband, please," she whimpered breathlessly in reply.

Only then did Bhaltair let go as he surged forward all the way to the hilt.

Once fully seated, he then began the slow dance as old as time as he pulled almost all the way out, then thrust back in.

Sìne caught the rhythm and surged upward to meet him.

He shouted her name as he felt her channel grip him with momentum.

Soon they were both lost in the heat of passion.

With fast and powerful thrusts Bhaltair pounded deep, and Sìne kept pace all the way as they built a crescendo, chased the peak they both sought fervently.

Bhaltair could not wait any longer, so he reached down and rubbed her heated pearl furiously with his thumb, then he leaned down and suckled hard on her breast as he claimed her with abandon.

That's when Sìne stiffened momentarily before coming apart in his arms. Bhaltair thought it was the most beautiful thing to witness, his wife reaching her climax, shuddering underneath him, moaning loudly in wanton pleasure.

When her inner walls contracted around him, he felt the pressure from root to tip, and finally exploded inside her, bathing her womb with his essence as a rough cry fell from his lips.

"Mo chridhe!" he rasped.

As they came down from their mutual climax, he kissed her deeply. It was gentle and loving and beautiful.

Afterward, as they lay entwined in the firelight, Bhaltair traced lazy patterns on her bare back.

"I never knew," he murmured against her hair. "I never knew it could be like that." And he meant it. No one had ever made him feel that way.

"Nor I," she whispered back.

Sìne lifted her head to look at him, seeing her own wonder reflected in his stormy eyes. "We're truly wed now," she said softly.

"Aye," he replied, pressing a kiss to her temple.

Outside their chamber, challenges awaited, but here, in the safety of their marriage bed, there was only love and the deep satisfaction of two souls finding their perfect match.

"Sleep now, wife," Bhaltair murmured, pulling the furs up around them. "Tomorrow we begin our life together in truth."

"Aye," Sìne whispered, settling against his chest with a sigh of contentment. "Together."

As sleep claimed them both, wrapped in each other's arms, the future seemed full of promise. Whatever trials lay ahead, they would face them as one. United in purpose, bound by vows, and sealed by a love.

They were home. They were whole. They were truly wed at last.

***

B HALTAIR WAS RAVENOUS and took her twice more during the night, both times filled with passion.

Sìne blushed several times when she thought of how brazen and wanton she had become, but her husband's body was a feast to be devoured, and she did.

In turn, Bhaltair could not get enough of his new wife.

They'd spent the night exploring and learning one another's desires.

Sìne took it all in her stride when Bhaltair took her roughly on all fours, and later when he bade her to ride astride him.

The memory of her luscious breasts bouncing above him, her head thrown back in ecstasy and her nails digging into his chest as she rode his length with abandon almost unmanned him. How had he gotten so lucky?

Now, moments from dawn, as they whispered to one another in quiet solitude, he realized she was perfect for him in the bedchamber as well as out of it.

In the quiet aftermath of their lovemaking, they had washed, checked on Aidyn, then slept a little before waking up together to exchange an intimacy of another kind.

As they lay in bed just caressing and sharing soft words, Sìne asked, "Why did ye accept Aidyn? Ye could have just insisted on marriage to me and abandoned my child. Many men would have done the same."

"Well, I am not like them—besides, ye remind me of my own family situation."

"How do ye mean?"

"My mother had me out of wedlock."

"She did?"

"Aye, I was a bastard. My father was laird before my uncle took over, but he did not acknowledge the connection with my mother.

They were courting for a time, and he promised marriage, then she heard he was wed to another.

A woman who was well bred, from a strong clan.

.. apparently my mother was not high born enough for his ambition. .. it broke her heart."

"And what happened to yer mother? Did she marry another?"

He snorted. "Men will offer many things to a woman with a babe out of wedlock. But it was rarely any respectable offer. I watched her slowly wither and lose that spark."

"I am so sorry she had to deal with the heartache so young."

"There was a man she was sweet on, he offered marriage but only if she got rid of me."

"Got rid of ye? But how?"

"I was two summers old, and he wanted her to abandon me in the orphanage run by nuns. He had coin and would have provided well for her."

"What happened?"

"Ada told me, my ma refused him because of me. If he would not accept me, then he was not worthy of her."

Sìne kissed him then.

He continued, "She raised me alone, faced all manner of slurs and did not care. Once I was grown enough to care for myself, she met a good man who asked for her hand. Only then did she agree to seek her own happiness."

"Where is she now?"

"She married him. His name is Lionel Grant, and they live with his clan. The last time I visited, they were happy as clams."

"Does she visit ye at all?"

"Nae, she refuses to step foot on Ferguson land, after what my father did. I dinnae blame her. The place holds bitter memories for her. But someday ye’ll meet the woman who raised me."

"I'd be honored to meet her. If only to thank her for raising a good son."

Bhaltair's eyes warmed at her comment.

"And yer father? What happened to him? How come the lairdship went to yer uncle?"

Bhaltair frowned. "My da and his new fancy wife died of fever a few years into their marriage and left no legitimate heir, so my uncle stepped in and made an even bigger mess of things."

"I am sorry ye lost yer father."

"I was too young to remember him, so I dinnae feel the loss as acutely as one should."

"How did ye become laird then?"

"I trained with the king's men for some time. Worked my way as a warrior and hired sword. When my uncle passed, the clansfolk decided I was the rightful chieftain even if I was born on the wrong side of the blanket."

"And just like that, ye became laird? No one opposed it?"

"Truth be told, I dinnae think anyone wanted the position."

"Well, I think ye make a fine laird for this clan." She smiled at him.

Bhaltair returned it, then kissed her lips. "Why, thank ye. I think ye make a fine mistress for this clan."

Sìne thought about all he said and realized why he was the way he was and why he had been so kind to her. He had been raised by a strong woman who taught him how to care for others. Someday she hoped she would meet his mother and thank her personally for raising a good man.

***