My heart jumped in my chest. “You’ll never have to know what that’s like again, because you’re mine, and I’m yours.”
“Forever.”
I nodded at the fierce words that came from him, and whispered, “Forever.”
“Ye’ll never be without me. Never.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine, his mouth firm but soft.
I could tell the kiss was to seal that promise and not to start something more heated. That was clear by the tightness in his body as he attempted to control himself and pull away.
But didn’t he know I needed him right now?
I let my eyes close and slid my hand up his bare chest, feeling the ripples of muscles, his unrestrained strength. I tipped my head to the side and parted my lips to allow his tongue to slip inside.
He groaned once but ripped away from me, resting his head on the wall once more and closing his eyes. His breathing was a little faster, his chest muscles hard and clenching, the tightness in his body an aphrodisiac that made me want him even more.
I found it insanely attractive that he tried so hard to be gentle with me, that he tried to control himself.
Didn’t he know I wanted that feral part?
I looked at the hand that wasn’t curled around my hip, his fingers clenched tightly around the duvet on the bed, his knuckles white.
“We’ll stay here until ye’re healed enough tae travel, but then I’ll take ye back tae my home where ye’ll be protected.” He sounded like he was speaking through clenched teeth, and when he opened his eyes, I saw how blown his pupils were. “Tae Scotland, where my clan can protect ye.”
He tried to deny this moment, but I knew if I looked down, I’d see a massive erection.
“Cian,” I whispered, not hiding the arousal-laced note in my voice.
“Evie, lass—” I silenced him by dipping my tongue farther into his mouth. “Ye’re healing.” His words were vibrations against my lips, but I didn’t allow him to stop this. I didn’t want him to.
“You’re not going to deny me, are you?” I knew it was wrong to ask him that, putting him in the situation if he didn’t want to. But I know he wants this, wants me. He was trying to be gentle with me, because he thought I was too hurt.
And although my body ached fiercely, all I could think about was being with Cian and solidifying that we were actually here together. That we were alive. And I couldn’t think of a better way to make that a reality than being with him in the most intimate, physical way that people who cared about each other shared.
“I’d never deny ye anything, lass, but I donna want tae hurt ye.”
I pulled back so I could look into his eyes when I heard the concern in his voice. I couldn’t help but give him a soft smile. He was always looking out for me, protecting me, and I knew it was this inherent, ingrained strength inside him.
It didn’t matter if we’d only known each other for an hour. I knew this man would have my back and my best interest always at heart. It would always be his priority. And I knew now as I looked into his blue eyes, as I felt his warmth surrounding me, seeping into me, that I would be there for him as well.
I’d never had a family, not a true one. It had always just been Darragh and me, but now she had started her life, found her other half, and would be creating a future with him. They’d create their own family, and that's what I wanted too. With Cian.
I sat back a little bit more and went for the tie of my robe, never breaking eye contact as I undid it and let the two halves of the plush material slip off my shoulders to pool around my waist. My pulse picked up, and my breathing came a little bit faster.
And all the while, Cian was still as stone in front of me, his face showing all his desire until it was like a physical touch. I didn’t miss how he lowered his gaze along my exposed breasts, or how he looked down across my waist, over my tucked-in hips, and settled between my thighs.
I was currently sitting on my legs, my bottom resting on the heels of my feet, my thighs closed, so I knew all he could see was the trimmed dark curls that covered the most intimate part of me. I felt bold in this moment as I braced my hands on my legs and slowly started to part my thighs, showing him that I was already dripping wet, my arousal a glossy sheen on my inner thighs.
His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed and stared at the obscene way I now sat. His eyes latched onto my pussy. His nostrils flared as he inhaled, and I knew he could smell me, could smell the sweet yet slightly musky scent of my desire for him.