Her mouth opened but no words came out. She closed it again. Will gave her the tiniest nudge in the back. “I do,” she said, her lip trembling.
“Then I declare ye man and wife.” The captain gestured to Blair to take her hand.
One of the crew gave a small clap but no one else said a word as Blair took her hand and silently led her from the deck.
“Where are we going?” She asked as she looked back at the men behind her.
“To consummate the marriage,” Blair answered as they reached the hatch.
She stopped then. “What? Now? It’s the morning.”
He swung her into his arms and started down the ladder. “At least I won’t burn my shirt this time.”
A giggle bubbled from her chest at that. “Ye’ve a point there.” Then she looked down at her stomach. “But ye’ll see…everything.”
He gave a curt nod. “Aye, I will. But ye’ll get used to that part.” He paused and then his grip tightened. “If yer not ready, we don’t have to do this. But eventually it will happen. We’re married now.”
She gave a stiff nod. “I understand.” It wasn’t that she objected to Blair touching her, obviously. It was this entire day. It was all wrong. “We may as well get it over with.”
Blair coughed. “Lass, those are not the words a man wants to hear.”
She buried her face into his chest. “I’m sorry.” Then the tears she’d been fighting began to fall. It was crazy and mad, crying about marrying Blair. He was every woman’s dream. She, however, was a laird’s nightmare.
He held her closer. “I told ye last night I’ll be a good husband. Don’t cry lass, yer breaking my heart.”
She choked on her tears. “I’m breaking yer heart?” She snapped her head back. “I didn’t mean to hurt ye. Blair, I swear, I’ll do whatever I can to make ye happy.”
“That means a lot.” Then he leaned down and captured her lips.
His soft mouth moving over hers was exactly what she needed. To forget this morning, to lose herself in the warmth of his touch, the strength of his embrace. She kissed him with all that she had.
He groaned into her mouth as he kicked open the door to his room. In a moment she heard it slam shut again. Then the softness of the mattress was under her and his weight pressed down on top of her. It was like a port in a storm. So warm and strong she clung to his broad shoulders as the kiss deepened and lengthened.
He began working the buttons of her dress and she fumbled with the ones on his shirt. Somehow, their clothes fell away and his skin pressed against her own was so delicious she forgot to be afraid.
“Bloody hell woman, yer even more comely than I thought ye’d be.” He leaned up then, his eyes roving her skin. Part of her was tempted to cover herself up but then she focused on him. The muscles in his chest and abdomen, the sprinkling of hair across his chest, the narrow hips…her gaze followed his hands as he undid his kilt and dropped to the ground.
Oh dear…that couldn’t possibly be his…
Blair looked down at Elle and tried to breathe. He’d seen his fair share of women without their clothes. Likely more than his share, but never had one looked like her. Her blonde hair spilled out behind her, accentuating the creaminess of her skin.
Her breasts sat full and high on her chest while her flat stomach flared into ample hips. Hips that could fill a man’s hands. He growled deep in his throat, throbbing with need.
He could see worry crease her brow. He’d have to gaze at her another time. Right now, he needed to help her forget that she was afraid.
Leaning down, he kissed her again and again until she softened in his arms. “That’s it lass, don’t ye worry now,” he murmured as he began trailing kisses down her neck.
He let his hands wander further, tracing the curves of her body until he reached the apex of her legs. He lightly brushed his fingers against her thighs and he heard her moan, “Blair.”
He continued caressing her delectable curves, moving his fingers closer and closer to the apex as his lips slid down her chest and explored her breasts. When he sucked a nipple into his mouth, he finally parted her seam. She shivered under his touch and pressed against him.
“That’s it, lass,” he whispered between kisses. Beginning a rhythmic movement, her body matched it and soon he could feel her tightening.
His own body was ready to burst from the tension but he kept touching her until she was panting and calling his name. “Blair, Blair.” As her head moved back and forth and then she tumbled over the edge.
He knew he should wait but his body screamed in need. Moving his hand, he pushed inside her, slowly entering her. He felt her tense again, but her hands wrapped about his back holding her to him.
“Lass, I couldn’t wait…I needed to—” he couldn’t say more as he broke through her maidenhead and slid all the way into her.