“That feels wonderful.” She gripped the leather tie at the waist of his pants and pulled it free and passed it to him. “This is for you, afore I lose my mind.”
“What is—ahh.” He nodded and grinned. “A handfast binding. Perfect.” He slipped the tie from her fingers, clasped his right hand with her right and wrapped the thin strip of leather around both their wrists. “Arabel, with all my heart and all that I am, I wish to bind us together as husband and wife, and before a year and a day passes, I’ll ensure we’re wed proper before our clans.” He looked deep into her eyes. “I have fallen in love with you each and every time we’ve been together. That I know to the depths of my soul, and right now, I can’t live another day without you at my side.”
“You are my mate, my match in every way. I long to speak vows with you, vows you’ll now remember.”
“Then I’ll begin.” He lowered to his knees, caught her hands and brought them to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “I, Finlay Michael Matheson, of Ivanson Castle, pledge my troth to Arabel, 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 mate for all time.” He tightened his grip on her hand. “You’ll be mine, in every single way.”
She sank to the knees, her fingers twined with his. “I, Arabel, of the House of Clan Matheson, pledge my troth to Finlay Michael Matheson. With this handfast, I take him as my husband for the next year and a day, and as my mate for all time.” She stared at the leather bound around their wrists and smiled as she raised her gaze to his. “Now we seal the vows with a kiss. We did so the first time.”
“Are you sure?” A teasing glint lit his golden eyes.
“Aye, very sure.” She captured his mouth and kissed him, until his hard body wrapped around and stamped hers with a fierce heat she needed more of.
“Whatever you need from me, you’ll speak it.” He looked deep into her eyes. “I want to know what you like, or what you don’t like. What you’d prefer for me to do, or not do.”
“As you told me the first time. I want to experience everything you can offer, Finlay, to be with you in every way, our bodies joined as one.”
“Then first, I need to remove your shift.” He tugged the leather strip binding their wrists free then rose to his feet and drew her up. “Is that acceptable?”
“I’m no’ sure what’s taking you quite so long.”
“Because I’m as nervous as hell, woman. I’ve never lain with a lass before while you’re far more experienced in the act of lovemaking and have bedded me.” Grinning, he shook his head. “Which could only make sense between the two of us.”
“If I remember correctly, you removed your trews first and I got to fondle and take your shaft in my mouth.”
“That would never have happened first”—he tapped her nose—“not when your pleasure must come before all else.”
“Ah well, ’twas worth a try.” A sneaky giggle escaped her.
“I can see I’ll have to keep my eyes on you, which I can’t wait to do.” He crouched, grasped her hem and lifted the cotton. With the fabric at her knees, he slid his hands over her calves, along the curves of her outer thighs until he exposed the curls covering her mound. Leaning in, he nuzzled between her inner thighs, his nose bumping the entrance to her core and with a low growl, he breathed her scent in deep, his claws slicing free then retracting. “You smell like warm honey and something very, very nice. My bear is clawing for a taste.”
“Just remember, whatever you do to me, I intend to do in return.” Palms flattened to the slick rock wall behind her, she reveled in the spray of cool water washing over her. No steam. No fire.
Finlay continued to rise, just as he had the first time they’d joined, his hands stroking over her hips, her belly, his fingertips brushing the undersides of her breasts. Each of his touches sent a bolt of raw heat racing through her. Finlay would claim her, make her his in every way, and nothing could have brought her more joy than being here with him, right now.
Hands sliding up along the smooth, sheer rock wall, she gave herself completely to him as he peeled her shift higher. His lengthy cock, so hard and full, the head escaping his loosened waistband and poking out, made her body sing for closer contact. She lifted one leg, wrapped it around the back of his legs and tugged him closer. “This mated bond is so wonderful.”