Can't Tie Me Down! (Sinclair Sisters 1)

Keir closed his eyes slowly, as though savoring her demand, and then he pulled his t-shirt over his head and tossed it away. A second later, he’d fished a condom out of his jeans, kicked off his shoes and stripped everything else off. He was magnificent as he slowly crawled up the bed to lie on his side next to her.

In his eyes, she could see words he wanted to say, but felt he couldn’t. Words she wasn’t ready to hear, might never be ready to hear. All Mairi could do was cup his nape and pull him down to her. His kiss was slow, sweet, almost reverential, and it was exactly what she needed. As their tongues met in a lazy dance, Keir’s hand trailed over her body, caressing her breasts and tracing circles on her stomach until he reached the ache between her legs. An ache only Keir could assuage.

With a leg over hers, he widened her thighs and traced her sensitive lips with featherlight touches. Mairi clasped his shoulders, pulling him closer, needing to feel his strength against her. With a gasp for air, he broke their kiss and moved his lips to her throat, all the while tracing her clit with a teasing touch that drove her wild. She needed. There was no other word for it, only stark, desperate need.

“Keir,” she gasped. “Please.”

She expected him to joke about her lack of patience, but instead he leaned over her and stared into her eyes as his teasing fingers stilled. She watched as he started to say something, something he could never take back, and she pressed a finger to his lips.

“Later,” she whispered, begging him to let her have this moment without the pressure of the past, or worry for the future, crushing her.

He let out a curse and slammed his mouth on hers, the kiss turning ferocious as his fingers plunged inside her. And just like that, Mairi shot up into the stratosphere and exploded. Panting and clinging to him, she felt him spread her legs to make room for his hips. She opened her eyes and leaned forward to trace the red swirls over his heart with the tip of her tongue. She wanted to memorize every line, in case it was the last time she saw them.

With a grunt, Keir plunged into her, and Mairi’s head fell back. Her neck arched, and her legs wrapped around his thighs.

“Yes!” She dug her fingers into his shoulders and held on tight.

“You make me crazy,” he growled against her throat, giving her his weight as he slid in and out of her blissfully happy girl parts.

Mairi bit his shoulder and ran her tongue over the sting. He tasted musky and clean and smelled like warm sheets straight from the dryer. She wanted to wrap herself in him and never come out. A safe haven from the world. And that thought, that need, scared the life out of her. He was inside her, under her skin, burrowed deep, as she suspected he had been all along. She would never be done with Keir, and part of her never wanted to be.

As he took her away from herself, Mairi let her mind float on the sea of sensation he created. Aware only of Keir and what he made her feel. Aware of the desperate explosion building inside of her that he alone controlled. As they fell over the edge of sanity together, Mairi realized just how much she’d missed Keir’s touch and wondered if she’d ever be able to give it up again..

For long minutes, she clung to him as they gasped for air. His weight was a comforting blanket and his heat seeped into her through her pores. She almost sobbed when he kissed her and headed for the bathroom, leaving the bed cold and empty without him. A minute later, he returned, turned off the lights and climbed in behind her. With an arm over her stomach and a leg thrown over her legs, he pinned her tight against him, his front to her back.

“Go to sleep, Rusty. Things will be better in the morning.” He kissed her temple and curled a hand around her breast, as though he possessed it.

Mairi didn’t sleep. She lay there, watching the shadows play over the walls and listening to Keir breathe behind her. The rhythm of his chest rising and falling was soothing to her. The heat from his body wrapped around her, keeping out the cold of life. A while later, he turned over and away from her, allowing her the chance to slip out of bed.

Stealing a blanket, she tiptoed down the stairs and curled up on the couch to think.

And that was where Keir found her hours later.

“Rusty, wake up.” His gentle voice roused her, and she blinked up at him.

The light from the unadorned windows was stark, illuminating everything she had to deal with that day. Keir was dressed and crouched beside her. He gently brushed her hair from her face.

“What are you doing down here?” he asked.

“Was thinking.”

His smile was gentle. “You come to any conclusions?”

“Aye.” She tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry. “I’m going to take you up on your offer. I’m going to marry you, and I plan to tell everyone about it at a press conference tonight.”

Keir’s hand stilled on her hair. “You sure?”

“It’s my only choice. You’re right—my back is against the wall and I need you.”

The light in his eyes dimmed somewhat. “Good decision.” He stood and walked toward the door. “I’m making coffee. I’ve put a t-shirt on the bed for you, and your shorts are still good. Once you’ve had some breakfast, I’ll take you home.”

And then he was gone. Leaving Mairi alone to wonder what she’d just done.

Chapter 22

The minute Mairi told Keir she planned to take him up on his offer of marriage, he knew it was a mistake. He’d honestly thought he would take Mairi on any terms he could get her, but he’d discovered he was wrong.

Once he’d dropped her off at her apartment, which was still surrounded by news crews, onlookers, and fake boyfriends, Keir told Hamish he was on his own for the day and then rode to his brother’s place in the middle of Campbeltown.