Pledged to a Highlander (Highland Promise Trilogy 1)

Royden sat on the ground, placing her on his lap, cradling her close and wishing he could take her pain away. He was at a loss as to why she cried. Was it for the years they had lost? For their forced marriage? Did she believe it was a mistake to wed him?

As much as he didn’t want to talk, didn’t want to spend time with her for fear of losing control, he had little choice if he wanted to know what caused her grief. For now, though, he let her weep, let her shed whatever pained her.

Oria cuddled against his warmth, his strength, his love. She could tell herself it was what she wanted to believe, that he still loved her, but she knew for certain. He had held her, cradled her, comforted her that way before and he had done so because he loved her just as he did now. There was no way Oria would believe that Royden had ever stopped loving her.

Her sobs subsided, mostly because his strong arms offered the comfort and love she needed. And she remained there contented, never wanting him to let her go—not ever again.

“Tell me why you cry?” Royden asked, needing to know for his own sanity as her sobs eased.

“Memories,” she managed to say. “They sneak up on one and stab at the heart.”

He knew all too well what she meant. “Far too often.”

She nodded against his shoulder.

“Tell me what hurts you?” he encouraged, wanting to know, wanting to ease her pain.

“How do I choose? There are so many,” she confessed.

“And there are no rhyme or reason to them.”

“Aye, you’re right. They come and stab at you at will and no matter how hard you fight, you can’t chase them away. They leave when they choose to leave and not before.”

Her words could have been his words. She described perfectly what it was like for the memories to intrude at will and remain until ready to take their leave. All the mental fighting in the world didn’t help. The memories did as they pleased and hurt with endless vigor.

She looked up at him. “It is good to be in the comfort of your arms once again. I have missed them around me.”

Her soft green eyes had turned bright from crying and her cheeks were damp from her tears, and her lips were far too close and far too tempting, and his resolve far too weak.

Oria watched the dilemma play out in his dark eyes, felt it as he tightened his hold on her, and how he struggled to keep control and instinct had her lifting her face just enough so her lips were closer to his as she whispered, “I have missed you so much.”

A whiff of mint tickled at his nose and God help him, that was enough—he couldn’t resist. It wasn’t a demanding kiss he settled on her lips but a light brush of his lips he whispered across hers, taunting and teasing them, torturing them both with delayed but delightful pleasure.

She mewed softly when he nibbled at her lower lip, then brushed his lips across it and felt her shiver. He placed a soft kiss on her lips, keeping it tender, then ran the tip of his tongue along the slight opening between her lips. That was it. Her mouth dropped open inviting him in and he entered with a flourish.

Oria’s hand went up around his neck to grip it tight, to hold him captive so that he couldn’t change his mind, couldn’t break the kiss. His lips grew demanding and she responded with a demand of her own. There was a hunger between them that had gone unsatisfied far too long. And she wondered if their quench would ever be satisfied. For now, however, she would take this moment with him—this kiss—and linger in it.

And she did. She didn’t remember him ever kissing her like this, a blend of tenderness and hunger, one feeding the other. It stirred her senses and when his hand moved to her backside to adjust it to nest on his bulging manhood, a tingle settled with a vengeance between her legs. She wiggled her bottom until she fit perfectly against him.

Royden’s lips left hers, a moaning growl erupting low in his chest and he turned his head away. He had to stop this or he’d have her on her back and be inside her in no time.

“Don’t stop,” Oria begged, seeing his hesitation.

He didn’t know where the words came from and he regretted them as soon as they left his mouth. “Is it a good poke you need since you’ve been without a husband these past six months?”

His words cut deep and she scrambled out of his arms and to her feet, her anger surging.

Royden barely got to his feet when he felt her hand slam against his cheek.