Part 30 (1/2)

”Tell me what you want, Ewan,” she breathed.

You.

The word hung in his throat. He was unlike her; words were strangers to his tongue.

”I would rather show,” he breathed.

Dipping his head down, he claimed her lips, then slid himself deep inside her body.

He growled at her warm, sweet wetness that surrounded him. At the feeling of her body welcoming his intrusion. He made love to her slowly, delighting in the sensation of her holding him. Knowing it couldn't last. Knowing that he'd have to let her go.

But letting her go would be the hardest thing he'd ever done.

Ewan kissed her lips as he thrust against her. They had only a few more days together. Then fate and circ.u.mstance would separate them.

Fight for her.

Did he dare?

Do you dare not?

He tried to imagine going back to his cave without her. Tried to imagine making it through one day without her smile.

He couldn't.

The pain of the thought was too much. Nay, he would keep her with him no matter the consequences.

She was the only thing that was good in his life. The only thing that made him happy, and no one would take that away from him.

Not without a fight.

Nora saw the determined set of Ewan's jaw as he quickened his strokes.

”Are you all right?” she asked, wondering what caused the sudden change in him.

”Aye, love,” he said, punctuating his words with his thrusts. ”When I'm with you, I'm always all right.”

She melted at that. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she held him close and reveled in his hot, naked skin sliding against hers.

She teased his jaw with her lips and tongue and trailed her hands over the smooth plane of his back to his hips. She splayed her hands over his delectable rear and closed her eyes as she urged him on.

Her body quivered and tightened until she could stand no more.

Moaning deep, she let her o.r.g.a.s.m take her and held him close until the last tremor had shuddered through her.

He cupped her face with his hand and kissed her deep.

Then she felt it. He growled into her mouth as his own release took him.

He buried himself deep and froze.

”Oh la.s.s,” he breathed in her ear. ”There is truly nothing better than the feel of you in my bed.”

”There is nothing better than the feel of you in my body.” Heat exploded across her face as she realized what she'd said.

But her embarra.s.sment faded the instant she saw the warm, satisfied look on his face.

He gave her a light kiss, then withdrew. He rolled over onto his back and gathered her into his arms.

Nora draped herself over his chest and listened to his heart pounding under her cheek. The deep thud was so incredibly soothing. How she wished she could lie like this forever.

She traced circles around his chest and toyed idly with his nipples.

”You keep doing that, Nora,” he said huskily, ”and neither of us will sleep tonight.”

It was a threat he proved well before the dawn came.

It was close to daybreak when Ewan finally faded off to sleep while dreaming of something he hadn't thought of in a long, long time.

He saw himself at home with Nora. Saw her with his children, and for the first time since Isobail had ridden off with her lover, he dared to hope for a dream that had left him.

Even in his sleep, he could feel Nora beside him, feel her warm breath on his skin. He took comfort in her and in the knowledge that he was going to make her his.

No one would ever come between them.

Nora woke up first to the late morning light streaming across the room. She yawned and looked to see Ewan still fast asleep.

He was completely bare.

Her face flamed, but she couldn't take her eyes off his long, lean limbs bulging with hard muscles. His dark, tawny skin looked luscious against the white linens, and it made her mouth water for a sample.

Not that she should crave him after the night they had. For that matter, she shouldn't be able to move.

Ewan had shown her ways for a man to take a woman that she wouldn't have thought possible. But never once had he hurt her.

Nay, her bear was ever tender.

And as she stared at his naked body, she remembered all too well licking those hard pectorals. Feeling his raw strength surrounding her as she held him in her arms.

Glorious, that was the only way to describe him.

She slid out of bed and quickly dressed in the gown she'd borrowed from Catarina, trying her best not to wake him. No doubt he would be exhausted for the whole of the day.

Smiling, she bit her lip impishly at the thought.

Once she was dressed, she headed toward the room she was supposed to share with Catarina. She would need her own clothes before she went below to break her fast.

As she left Ewan's room, she met the inn's owner in the hallway. He glared at her as she excused herself and headed back to where Catarina had slept.