Highland Escape (28 page)

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The morning’s session went well, and Anna was happy to see Duncan joined them by watching rather than participating. The stiffness of his body and the hard expression on his face told her he struggled with pain. Hoping he would wait, she was disappointed to see him walk away not long before they halted their practice. However, her disappointment turned to joy when he returned, bringing their saddled horses.

Duncan handed her Orion’s reins. “Since we havenae seen each other much lately, I thought ye might enjoy an outing.”

“That sounds wonderful. Where do you have in mind?”

“’Tis a place at the loch I like to go to be alone. I will show ye.”

They mounted and rode at a leisurely pace, allowing Trean
to lope alongside. The days of his being content to ride in her saddle were ending.

“What did you think of this morning’s practice?” Anna asked. “The men have come a long way in a short time.”

He hesitated, glancing away. “Twas difficult to watch ye put your hands on the men and have them put their hands on ye.”

She gazed at him in disbelief. “Duncan, you are
jealous
?” An odd but warm feeling slid through her. Nobody had ever been jealous over her before.

“Aye, I admit I am. I should be the only one who touches ye.”

She heard the possessiveness in his voice, which tempted her to anger, but she knew his jealousy revealed the depth of his feelings for her. Though an uncomfortable way of being told how much he cared for her, she chose to see it as a declaration of love, nonetheless.

She kept her voice even. “I am not sure what to say. You know my interest lies only in you. Your men treat me with respect. If one were to act out of line, Malcolm or Iain would step in immediately. Besides, you know me well enough. I can handle myself.”

The hard look from this morning returned, and she realized his scowl had little to do with physical pain.

“Aye, but ye dinnae see how the men look at ye, the effect ye have on them.”

Anna sat speechless. Never had anyone suggested she’d be attractive to one man, much less a large group.

“The worst was when ye included yourself in this game ye created. Now I have to stand back and watch as any one of them has yer permission to attack.”

“But Duncan, they will be attacking, not stealing kisses. I need this exercise as much as they do to keep my skills sharp. You know they will not harm me.”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I want to spend a pleasant afternoon with ye, not quarrel. I cannae change how I feel, but I agree to not let it get the best of me, if ye promise to be careful.”

She didn’t want to argue either, but felt his concerns unwarranted and his expectations unfair. After considering his request, there was no harm in agreeing. “I promise to be careful around the men,” she replied with conviction. Such a general agreement didn’t seem limiting. However, her promise appeared to pacify him.

Arriving at the loch, Anna followed him through a stand of trees until they came upon a deep, narrow finger of water. Shielded by a large outcropping of rock on one side and dense woods on the other, the inlet made a perfect place to bathe uninterrupted.

Duncan took her hand and led her to a flat grassy area below the large rocks. He placed a plaide down, and together they unpacked the food. They laughed as Trean shoved his nose into the basket, eyes wide and pleading as they shared a meal of thick sliced ham, dark, grainy bread and wine. After finishing, Duncan repacked the basket and tossed him
a hambone. The pup settled against a large rock, gnawing the bone contentedly.

Duncan strolled to the water’s edge and peeled off his clothes. Anna sat and watched, entranced, as he stood bare, climbed onto a rock and dove into the loch.

Seeing his naked body kindled heat deep within her. Her betrothed was a powerfully built man, as well-formed as any of the images of Greek gods in the books in her father’s library. As he surfaced, she admired the rugged handsomeness of his face, the sunlight glistening on his wet hair.

“Come join me.”

She experienced a moment of modest hesitation, but he gave her a heart-melting smile and chased her uncertainty away.

I want this man as much as he wants me.

Anna swiftly stripped down to her short shift and braies. Grinning at his look of surprise, she took them off and waded knee deep into the lake. He stared at her, his mouth open wide, draining her fragile confidence. Doubt crept in, and she crossed one arm protectively over her chest and the other over her mons.

“What is it?” she asked, her voice small.

Duncan swam to her and she took a step back. He reached a hand out in invitation.

“Sweet Mother Mary, ye are breathtaking. Come swim with me, my
boidheach laoch
, and wash away the sweat of this morning’s training.”

His beautiful warrior
. The familiar endearment renewed her confidence. Anna took his hand and joined him in the depths. He settled her in his arms before she could catch her breath from the cold, rubbing her back as he pulled her tight. The slide of their water-slicked bodies stole her breath more than the chill of the water. The warmth of the sun, combined with the heat of his skin on hers, banished any thoughts of being cold.

He took her mouth in a gentle kiss. As his lips caressed hers, he loosened the leather strip holding her braid in place, winnowing his fingers through her hair until the tresses fell about her shoulders. She opened her mouth, her longing for him pushing away any sense of shyness. His tongue sought hers and softly suckled.

The feel of her nipples brushing against the hair on his chest, coupled with the magic of his tongue, blanked her mind. She sank into the water, but he held her tighter, his arousal bumping against her belly. Inexplicably weak, Anna offered no assistance as Duncan slowly swam them back to shore. He brought an arm under her knees and lifted her out of the water.

“Duncan, your wounds,” Anna protested.

“Hush, love. I will gladly take the pain to have you in my arms.”

She frowned, but he eased her concern by kissing the furrows in her brow. Gently settling her on the plaide, Duncan lay beside her. Propped on one elbow, he looked her up and down, his scorching gaze telling Anna how beautiful and desirable he found her. His gaze turned her brazen, dispelling all thoughts of modesty. She wanted nothing more than to see yearning in his eyes when he gazed upon her. Nothing more, except to feel his hands and body on hers.

Anna draped a leg over his, offering herself to him as she reached around his neck to pull him into a kiss. He did not hesitate, claiming her mouth possessively, demanding, challenging her to match him passion for passion. Moaning, Anna pushed her leg over, crawling on top, the most intimate part of her pressed against his arousal. She rubbed along his length, yearning to have him inside her.

Duncan growled and stopped her movement. “Nae, my love. We shall save the best for our wedding night. I have other plans for our pleasure this afternoon.” He rolled her onto her back.

Anna pushed her bottom lip out in a pout, feigning the sting of rejection. He chuckled, then sucked on her inadvertent offering.

Anna’s hands skimmed his back, landing on his buttocks, squeezing the taut muscle.

Duncan smiled against her lips. “Remember, I told ye ’twas my turn next.” He palmed her breasts, lightly tracing his fingertips over her skin. Her nipples grew erect as he lightly pulled at them. A soft moan escaped her lips.

As his hot, wet mouth claimed her breast, she arched upward, deepening this new kiss, this new sensation. She moaned louder as his tongue rasped against the sensitive nub and shivers of delight coursed through her body.

His mouth suckled and licked one breast while his hand gently tugged and twisted the nipple of her other.

“Duncan please, I cannot breathe,” she gasped. He nipped and pulled at her soft flesh, switching to the other with his mouth, his hand teasing its twin.

The pounding of her blood echoed in her head. A delicious, torturous sensation grew in her belly, centering in the hidden part of her. It pulsed through every nerve, building in intensity.

The sucking, licking and tugging all melded into one sensation. He caught one nipple in his teeth while his tongue rapidly flicked across it.

“Harder, harder,” she pleaded, her voice scarcely above a whisper.

She trembled, the sensations too much to take. Suddenly, her body tightened and waves of pleasure shook her entire being. Her hands buried in his hair as she keened his name. A feeling of floating overtook her, her breathing ragged. Duncan kissed her neck, nibbled her ear as his hand smoothed the flesh of her belly in small circular patterns.

New sensations drew her attention. Duncan’s fingers brushed along her stomach, lightly stopping at her hipbones and on to her upper thighs. Her legs involuntarily parted at his touch. He kissed and licked the sensitive pulse points along her neck, his fingers never resting as he continued his slow exploration of her thighs.

Anna raised her hips. She wanted him to touch her there, she
needed
him to touch her
there
. He finally brushed her soft curls. Anna sucked in a sharp breath, opening her eyes to see Duncan watching her expression.

“I love ye, my sweet Anna,” he whispered on her lips as he kissed her again. “I love the way yer body responds to my touch.”

She whimpered and gasped as his fingers lightly grazed her folds. She thrust her hips upward, seeking greater contact with his hand.

As he parted her tender flesh with a finger, she shuddered, twisting the blanket with both hands. He slowly drew his finger up and down her wetness, lightly teasing the center of her pleasure. With each stroke, Anna’s body shook in response. She matched the rhythm of his hand with her hips, lost in the pleasure of his clever fingers on her most feminine parts.

Duncan increased his speed and pressure. Again, a warm tension in her core built, escalating faster.

“Duncan, oh Duncan… I don’t…”

Waves of pleasure crested and she clenched around his fingers, holding onto them, her body shuddering, blinding her to all else.

Duncan rained light kisses on her mouth, and her tongue swirled lazily with his. He shifted his body and suckled her breasts, taking first one and then the other nipple into his mouth, pulling lightly with his lips, tonguing each sensitive nub of flesh. Then he lightly traced the blue woad lines on her shoulders.

Anna sighed. “I never knew such a thing was possible. I understand now why women chase men if this is what they can expect.”

“Aye, ’tis why men chase women, also.”

Propping up on an elbow, she asked, “Is it like this for everyone?”

He gazed into her eyes. “Nae. ’Tis so powerful for us because of the love we share. ’Tis why love is considered so precious, and rare. I promise ’twill always be like this for us. What we shared today is only part of the pleasure ye and I have yet to explore.”

His answer made the now-familiar warmth bloom again low in her stomach.

“If this is only part, I fear I may never let you leave our bed,” she said only half teasingly.

“Aye, ’twill be a problem,” he replied with a laugh, clutching her to him once again.

“Ach!” Duncan bounded to all fours, rolling her off with his abrupt movement. “Yer charmed beast stuck his cold nose in a place it should nae go.”

Anna chuckled as Trean wagged his tail and cocked his head from side to side.

“He is a wee menace,” Duncan muttered, his voice half-teasing. He sprawled against her, one leg across hers.

“You do not feel so menaced to me,” Anna replied, swaying her hips gently against his arousal. Duncan buried his face in her neck with a mock growl that ended in a yelp as Trean bounded on top, thrusting his muzzle between them. Duncan rolled away, hands flying to protect himself as the puppy leapt about excitedly.

“Ye wee devil!” Duncan shouted as he rolled to a sitting position, hands in his lap. “She dinnae need your protection from me.” He gave Anna an aggrieved look. She quickly bit back her laughter. “Square on my manhood. Has he no compassion?”

Anna cocked her head at him, considering. “Well, ’tis the most prominent part of you at the moment, my love—and most impressive.”

Duncan bent over, peering directly in the pup’s face. “Arrgh! Be a wee bit more careful, lad, or I shall banish ye to the kennel.”

Trean drew to a startled halt. With a hesitant glance at Duncan, he backed two steps onto his rumpled plaide. Anna dissolved into laughter as the pup loosed a healthy stream in the middle of the fabric and the scent of warm, wet wool drifted in the air.

Chapter 22

By the time they returned to the keep, Anna had rebraided her hair and recovered most of her wits. Her gaze kept locking with Duncan’s, re-sharing the passion he’d created with her. She had no comparison for the way he made her feel, and embarrassment edged her thoughts as she anxiously awaited their next encounter.

Heading to the stables, Anna resumed her work with Trean. She’d begun playing games of tug with him, teaching him to bite on command. At his gawky young age, he was more inclined to be silly than serious, and his attention was easily distracted.
Sit, stay
, and
come
were all quickly learned, though he seemed disinterested in repeating the command once perfected.