The Hawk (Highland Guard #2)(63)

This is what he did. Made women weak with pleasure. But she wasn’t like other women. She was too sensible to let herself get carried away.

He must have sensed her struggle. His hand settled around her breast, cupping her, squeezing gently as he pinched her nipple between his finger and thumb. “Let me show you, Ellie. Let yourself enjoy the pleasure I can give you. Just a little taste,” he said. “I’ll stop whenever you want me to.” His gaze held hers.

She didn’t know why but she trusted him. Or maybe it was that she wanted what he offered so badly, she would believe anything.

She made her decision. For once she didn’t want to think. It wasn’t as if she was in any danger of losing her heart. She knew better than to let her emotions get involved. But this was her chance to taste passion, something she knew she would not find in her marriage bed.

It was wrong perhaps. A sin in God’s eyes. But she swore to be virtuous for the rest of her life if she could just have this moment. This would all be over soon. These idyllic few days would be forgotten. She would return home to her father and marry Ralph, as was her duty. But right now, she wanted this.

She wanted him.

The waiting was torture. Those little gasps of hers were driving him wild. Erik could sense her passion straining under the surface, ready to break free. Christ, she was practically shattering under his fingertips.

His breath was hard and heavy as he cupped her breast in his hand, pinching her little nipple to a tight bud, wanting to feel it in his mouth, pressing against his tongue as he nibbled and sucked.

He was as hard as a rock. The past few days had been difficult enough. Being near her. Touching her. Smelling her. Seeing her blossom like a flower in the sun. But God’s blood, watching her in the sauna had taken his lust to new heights. He couldn’t think of anything more erotic than seeing her lounging on that bench. With her eyes closed, flush cheeks and damp tendrils of hair around her face, she looked like a woman who had just been very thoroughly ravished.

He couldn’t stop himself. His patience—admittedly never long—had reached the end of its tether. He wanted her, and she wanted him.

Why was she so hell-bent on resisting him?

He wasn’t used to being denied, but Ellie did so at every turn. The desire sparking between them was out of control. He could hardly think about anything else.

Even his mission seemed to have crept into the background, though the attack was only days away. Maybe it was that urgency driving him now—the knowledge that the time with her would soon be at an end.

If his desire seemed unusually intense, Erik knew that it was only because of the circumstances. He wasn’t used to spending so much time with a woman he was attracted to and not giving in to that attraction. He wasn’t used to not getting what he wanted. It surprised him how much fun he’d been having in spite of it.

He hadn’t gone this long without a woman since the training on Skye he’d done with the Highland Guard. But then it hadn’t been voluntary, merely a consequence of the lack of opportunity. He frowned, knowing that hadn’t been the cause of his abstinence this time. He’d had plenty of opportunities to relieve the tension. Why hadn’t he?

Because he wanted only her.

He pushed aside the uncomfortable realization before it formed. That couldn’t be it. He liked the lass—admired her, even—but she was no different than any other.

Bossier, maybe. Smarter, and less inclined to believe everything that came out of his mouth. And definitely more frustrating. But no more special than any other woman he’d ever wanted to bed. Once he relieved a little of the tension, everything would slip back into place.

He held her gaze for what seemed like an eternity but was only a few moments. When she nodded, he felt the rush of pure masculine satisfaction surge through him. He started to gather her into his arms, but she stopped him. “Wait.”

He stilled. Please no second thoughts.

“You won’t …”

She was too embarrassed to finish the question, but he guessed what she was asking.

He couldn’t help but be amused. She actually seemed worried that he wouldn’t be able to control himself. The idea that lust could get the better of him—particularly with an unskilled maid—was ludicrous enough to make him smile.

“You will still be a maid,” he promised. Her virtue intact for a husband.

His eyes narrowed. Did she have someone in mind? Was that the reason for her resistance?

He felt a spike of anger, realizing how little he knew about her. He was tempted to question her, but he knew it was none of his business. Yet that didn’t mean he didn’t have every intention of wiping any other man from her mind.

He couldn’t wait to make her scream. For him. Only him.

He leaned down and kissed her again, feeling a hard jarring in his chest when she slid her arms around his neck and gave herself over to him.

Finally.

Chapter Fourteen

When he gathered her in his arms and pressed his mouth to hers, Ellie felt as if something had exploded inside her. The feelings, the desire, the passion she’d held in check unleashed in a blast of heat and sensation.

Any uncertainty she might have felt was gone. She wanted this. She wanted him. More than she’d ever wanted anything in her life. Regret could come later. Right now it simply felt too good.

He felt too good. She would never forget the softness of his lips. The spicy warmth of his breath. The incredible hardness of his body. The heat of his skin. She wanted to sink into him and never let go. She wanted to pretend that this could be forever. That one kiss would not have to last her a lifetime.