Highlander's Heart (Clan Matheson Book 2) (12 page)

“How long will you be gone?” She lifted the circlet headband of silk flowers from her hair and set it on top of the crate next to his war coat, kicked off her slippers and unknotted the tasseled blue ties of her leather girdle then tossed the belt on top of her belongings. “Will you be back this eve, or sleeping elsewhere?”

“I’ll sleep here. You can take one side of the tent and I’ll take the other, if that’s what you desire.”

“I certainly do.” She fidgeted with the white lace edging her gown’s long sleeves, not wanting him to leave at all, or for him to sleep so far away from her. This bond was completely impossible, her need for him roaring to full force now he was so close to leaving her. She didn’t want him to shift, or go. Argh, so frustrating.

“Then that is what it shall be.” He hauled a couple of pelts off the pile and spread them on the other side of the tent then loosened the ties of his pants at his waist. “Last chance to turn around.”

Her throat clogged and she tried to push away the fear rising within her. Fighting with him felt so very wrong and instinct took over. She needed to keep him here with her, apologize in some way. Her temper had risen fast, but also fallen just as swiftly away. With no more thought, she shoved her sleeves down her arms and shimmied the royal blue velvet down over her hips until it fell in a soft swish to the floor. In her shift, she scooped up her gown and hung it on the hook protruding from the center pole then stepped in front of him. “Disrobe as you wish.”

Tor watched her, his gaze moving over her body then he nodded, pushed his pants down and kicked them off. In the flickering light from the lamp, every inch of his heavily muscled body gleamed, from his wide chest and trim hips to his manhood lengthening and rising from a thatch of dark curls at the apex of his groin.

“My turn.” No turning back. No more would they fight. Life was too short for arguments. She gripped her shift’s hem, lifted the cotton up and over her head then hooked it over top of her gown on the pole. Heat flushed her cheeks, but she wouldn’t allow any further embarrassment to take her. He was her mate and he held the other half of her soul. He’d also battled Donnan and made him repudiate their betrothal. She couldn’t deny she was now free to be with him. “I wish you an enjoyable romp in the woods,” she murmured, her body on full display for him alone.

“Thank you,” he whispered, his words ragged as he trailed a finger down her neck then gently, carefully, he scooped her breasts up and dipped his head. He licked one nipple and the hot rasp of his tongue across her sensitive flesh doubled the flurry of need pulsing through her.

She cupped the back of his head, scraped her nails lightly over his scalp. More need rushed through her and she guided his mouth to hers and kissed him, with all the longing she held deep within her heart. ’Twas time to set all her fears aside and trust only the man to whom she truly desired. Having his warm lips moving over hers and the hard length of his body pressed against her, fueled her need for even more.

With one thought from her mind, she lifted them both up and laid them down on the pelts, her underneath him and her mate on top, his hot shaft pressed firmly against her belly and every inch of him a delicious weight she wanted more of. “Grant me one more kiss afore you shift and leave,” she breathed against his lips. “And I wish to stipulate that it be a long one.”

“One long kiss coming up.” He captured her mouth with his and kissed her, the heat of his body wrapped around hers making her cling to him for more.

Breasts pressed against the wicked heat of his chest, she stroked her thumb over the mark she’d given him on his neck. Her mouth watered with the desire to bite him again, to have him bite her in return and lay claim to her in every single way. She leaned in, sucked his skin deep into her mouth then bit down, hard and fast.

He lifted his head and roared, his bear so close to the surface. Fur rippled across his chest and down his arms, a soft padding of silk there one moment and gone the next.

“Shh.” She giggled and clamped a hand over his mouth. “These canvas walls are thin.”

A tap sounded on the wooden pole out front. “Is everything all right in there?”

“Aye, all is fine,” she called back to one of her kinsmen. She giggled again then nipped along Tor’s jaw and sucked on his ear. “Do you still need to shift?”

“Not if you’re going to keep laving attention on me like this. I promise to keep my bear at bay.”

“May I touch you?”

“Any part of me you wish. My body is yours, as is my heart and soul if you choose to accept me.”

“I accept you, every single infuriating inch of you. I hope you can handle a fiercely strong woman.” She caressed his shoulders and arms, so thick and strong then fluttered her fingers over the firm planes of his wide chest. His abs rippled, layer upon firm layer and she swished down the rigid center, along the delicious tease of dark hair narrowing down his belly and along his waist. With her skill, she lifted him up a touch until he floated an inch or two above her. Sweet heaven. The head of his shaft had thickened further and now flushed a bright and delectable cherry color.

She needed all the kisses he could give her, every mark of claim and anything else he was willing to offer. She ran her thumb across his warm lips and a whole lot breathless, murmured, “’Tis time.”

“Show me it’s time.” He caught her hands, pressed them high over her head and against the pelts she lay on. As her fingertips brushed the canvas wall behind her, she arched into his touch, spread her legs and lowered him back down on top of her.

She closed her eyes as a sizzle of sensation rippled through her then opened them again. Having his flesh against her flesh and naught else separating them made every inch of her crave him all the more. “Touch me wherever and however you please, Tor. I need to feel your hands on me.”

“I hold the same need but if you want me to stop at any time, then tell me.” He licked her lower lip. “I’ll understand.”

“There’s no stopping the completion of our bond.”

“Then we’ll take it slow. You’ll tell me what you like, what you don’t like, what you want more of, or what you don’t want more of. I’ve no wish to hurt you, to take from you what you’re not yet ready to give.”

“I want to be with you, in every possible way.”
Time is of the essence.
Nessa’s prophetic warning rang in her ears. “Be mine.”

“In order to complete the bond, we’ll need to be skin on skin. Which means there’ll be a chance you could conceive.” He released her hands and shuffled down, his warm breath feathering across the flatness of her belly. He pressed his palm there, then dropped a gentle kiss on her skin. “Is that acceptable?”

“I dinnae fear having a babe, no’ when I long for children.” She sank her fingers into his shoulders and gasped as he licked around her belly button.

“I’d love nothing more than to give you a child, my child.” He brushed his nose along the underside of her breasts, nipped in a circle around each mound then cupped them both and smoothed his thumbs over the peaking tips. “In the future, very few women die in childbirth since medically speaking, we’re far more advanced. I’ll never lose you as your father lost your mother.”

“Promise?”

“I give you my word. I’ve waited so long to find you, and there isn’t a chance I’ll ever lose you, not now. I’ll make certain of it.” He sucked her nipple deep into his mouth then moved to the other and drew it between his lips. He played the tip to perfection and heat rippled through her. Her body undulated under his, all on its own accord and she couldn’t halt her need or contain it.

“Layla, there’s one more thing we need to speak of before we go any further.” Gently, he caught her hand, brought it to his mouth and kissed her palm. His gaze heated, burning an even richer golden hue. “Marry me this night. Be my wife.”

“You wish to wed me, now?” Her heartbeat raced.

“I do.” He suctioned his mouth over her nipple again and she moaned as he devoured her, sucking and licking her.

“Aye,” she gasped. Tears filled her eyes and slid down her cheeks as sheer happiness overflowed her. “I want you as my husband.”

“We’ll speak handfast vows since I’ve no intention of finding a clergyman at this time of the night, or leaving this tent for that matter. Bind yourself to me now, for the next year and a day and the moment I can get you before a priest, I will.” He reached out, nabbed his pants from the floor, pulled her hair ribbon out and grinning, clasped her right hand with his right hand and wrapped the red silk around both their wrists.

“You are a very clever mate.”

“And determined. I’ll go first.” He breathed deep, his gaze locked tight with hers. “Layla, I offer you my full protection, that of my body, my clan, my family, and all that I am. I give myself to you freely. Give yourself to me freely in return.”

“I will.”

“Thank you.” He brought their joined hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “I, Tor David Matheson, of Ivanson Castle, pledge my troth to Layla, of the House of Clan Matheson. With this handfast, I take her as my wife for the next year and a day, and as my soul bound mate for all time.” He tightened his grip on her hand. “Be mine, in every single way.”

With her fingers twined with his, she nodded. There could be no other way. He had stolen her heart and would hold it for the rest of their lives. “I, Layla, of the House of Clan Matheson, pledge my troth to Tor David Matheson. With this handfast, I take him as my husband for the next year and a day, and as my soul bound mate for all time.” She touched the silk bound around their wrists and smiled. “Glad I am that you are mine.”

“Now we seal the vows with a kiss, or I should say, many kisses.” He kissed the tips of her breasts, making them all wet and shiny before he fondled the hard nubs and kissed his way up and along her neck.

She couldn’t halt her hips from pushing against his. He’d awakened her body, opened her heart and soul and taken full and complete possession of every single inch of her. She craved his touch. Her warrior shifter was beyond beautiful, and this bond which tied them together, was one she would never relinquish. Every hard and defined inch of him was now hers for the taking.

Needing to touch him, she released the ribbon and it fluttered to the fur. She tickled her fingers down his sides and swept one hand around his thick shaft. It throbbed hot and heavy in her hand.

“Layla.” He groaned into her neck, brushed his hand over her entrance, his intimate touch a sweet caress she wanted more of. Then he drove one finger inside her and stroked deep, curling his finger into a spot that had her straining for more. “Does this feel all right?”

“There is naught you cannae do that I willnae love. I’m certain of it. Keep touching me.”

“I will…my wife.” Looking into her eyes, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her, so deeply and so poignantly. Her heart tripped over itself as she worked him in long pulls below and he moved his finger inside her to the same instinctual rhythm. Then he lifted his head with a low moan. “I’m going to come if you keep touching me like that. I have very little willpower right now.”

“There is no need for willpower around me.” She swiped her thumb over the essence leaking from the tip of his shaft then brought her thumb to her mouth and tentatively licked it. Mmm, he tasted divine, salty and strong, and she wanted to taste more of him. “Tor, I have a wee confession to make. Once, a few months past when I was unable to sleep, I snuck outside and as I passed the stables, I caught the sounds of grunting and other strange noises coming from within. My curiosity got the better of me and I crept inside and halted within the shadows. A warrior stood with his back pressed to the planked wall, his eyes closed in rapture as a serving lass knelt in the soft hay afore him. His trews lay in a puddle at his feet and the lass dipped her head and the man groaned and grasped her face as she took his shaft into her mouth. I should have backed away and left them to their loving, but in all honesty, I couldnae move. I was struck by the raw beauty of the moment. The warrior seemed helpless, as if the lass on her knees commanded him and soon after, he let out a boisterous shout and toppled the lass onto the hay. I would like to pleasure you as the lass pleasured her warrior, with my mouth on you below.”

“So, it seems I’ve wed a sneaky lass?”

“Aye, you have.” Gently, she swirled her thumb over the head of his cock and another drop beaded on the tip.

“If you do that again and taste me like you just did, I’ll likely lose it.” He stretched out over her and rumbled as fur shimmered over his chest then retracted. “My bear is in heaven right now and so am I. I need a taste of you first, and it can’t wait another moment.” He raised up, knelt between her legs, his balls drawing firmer and higher, his shaft thickening and lengthening even further. Licking his lips, he spread her legs wider and gazed at her below. “So beautiful.”

“You mean to taste me there?” She hadn’t seen the warrior do that to the lass. The man had plunged his cock between her nether lips and taken her hard and fast once the lass no longer had her mouth around him.

“Absolutely. Tasting each other goes both ways, and honestly, I wanted to do this earlier when I had you in your chamber. You came so quickly though, that you didn’t give me a chance to do so.”

“Will I like it?” A myriad of emotions tumbled through her at his words, from fierce desire to complete and utter need. She’d never wished for a soul bound mate, but now she couldn’t imagine living her life without the man who held her to him in every way. She opened her heart wider, wanted only to draw him ever deeper inside and meld their lives together, in all ways.