Highlander's Heart (Clan Matheson #2)

“Nay, I need to be the one to speak to him.”


“That’s not happening.” He stroked around to her bottom, squeezed her rear through the mountainous folds of royal blue velvet and rubbed his body against hers. “I don’t want you anywhere near Donnan. My bear is clawing to keep you by our side, and right now I need to smother you in my scent, bite you, lick you, and anything else you’ll permit.”

“We cannae complete the bond until I’ve spoken to Donnan and I’m no longer betrothed to him. The guilt would consume me otherwise.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, raked her nails lightly down the length of his golden skinned back. “You’re my bear, my mate, my fierce steward.”

“Do that again, but harder, and that’s an order.” He swung her around, pressed her back against the door, his body a hot flare of heat that surrounded her. “My bear’s rumbling for more.”

“’Tis best I warn you then that I’m terrible at following orders.” She lightly swished her fingers down his chest and along his trim waist. “Always have been and always will be.”

“I can tell.” He trailed one finger along the upper swells of her breasts exposed by the scalloped neckline. Licking his lips, he leaned in then buried his nose in the valley of her breasts. “You smell so wildly sweet.”

“Kiss me.” She caught his face in her hands, lifted his gaze back to hers. “No more do I intend to withhold myself from you.”

“You’re certain?”

“Kiss me.”

“Thank you.” He dipped his head, covered her mouth with his and took her breath away with a scorching kiss, one that made her sway into him, his hard body pressed into hers and blazing with heat. He licked across her tongue and she melted into him, reveling in his fresh outdoor scent, that of the sun and the sea and the wilds of her homeland. His delicious scent swirled all around and embedded itself deeply within her. How could she have ever thought she might turn away from him and accept another? Not for a moment could she have done so.

“More,” she demanded.

“Aye, more.” His breath whispered across her tongue, a sensuous caress that had her urging his lips farther apart to deepen their kiss.

Naught had ever felt so right and she indulged in her need for him, plunged her tongue inside his mouth and drank in his wickedly hot taste. She craved this raw intimacy, desired him and only him. “Tor,” she panted, pulling back a touch. “I’m about to lose myself.”

“Perfect, because I want you to get lost in me.” He caressed her sides, roamed down and scooped her bottom up then lifted her and carried her to her bed. He kissed her again as he laid her down on the soft bedcovers and moved in over top of her, his kiss deep, wild and completely untamed, their breath mingling as one and scattering every one of her thoughts.

“Mark me, just as your shifter kind do.” A panting, needy request. “Please, Tor.”

“My bite will be visible to one and all. It can be no other way.” A deep purr rumbled from him as he nibbled along her jaw then followed the smooth line of her neck down to where her shoulder and neck met. He ran this thumb in a soothing swirl over her rapidly beating pulse point. “Right here is where I wish to mark you, although it’s not the only place.”

“Where else?”

“Right here.” He swept his thumb along the top rise of her breasts then smoothed down her body and gripped the hem of her gown. He flipped the velvet up, and looking into her eyes, caressed up her leg before gently easing her knees apart and stroking along the sensitive skin of her inner thighs, first one side and then the other. “Here as well.”

“You truly do have a territorial bear.”

“Aye, are you ready?”

“I’m—” He dipped his head, sucked on her neck and scraped his teeth over the sensitive skin. “Ready.”

“So am I, beyond ready.” He pressed his entire length of his body against hers, teased his tongue over her neck and slid one finger under the shoulder of her gown and eased the velvet down her arm. A low rumble vibrated in his chest and made her arch her back and press more fully into him, her only need that of experiencing even more of his exquisite touch.

“Bite me. I cannae wait any longer.” Her heartbeat thumped and raced so fast.

“I never want to forget this moment.” He curved his palm around her exposed breast, flicked her peaked nipple then bit down on her neck.

Arousal hit her hard and fast, swept her away on its rampaging wave. She clutched his bare shoulders, her nails digging into his flesh then she scraped down his back. No more denial. She’d give him what he wanted, just as she too would take what she now needed.

“Are you all right?” He licked her skin, soothing the spot he’d just bitten. “Your skin is so flushed.”