Pledged to a Highlander (Highland Promise Trilogy 1)

And truly what difference did it make? He was her husband and would remain her husband. Did she want to waste time getting to know this man or would it take being intimate with him to better understand him?

She shook her head, tired of the constant questioning. All that truly mattered was that she loved Royden and that hadn’t changed. If anything, her love had grown stronger through the years. There was never a time she doubted that he wouldn’t return to her.

“He needs to know that,” she said and rushed out of the room and down to Royden’s bedchamber, not stopping to don her robe over her white nightdress.

She barely knocked before throwing the door open. “Royden—”

He stood completely naked in front of the fireplace. The flickering flames bathing his body in a glowing light. She had always thought him a fine looking man and felt herself lucky that his body had yet to go soft. But now staring at him, seeing the scope of his defined muscles that were everywhere, his chest full and broad, the ripples of muscle along his flat stomach, the curve of his waist, the strength in his firm legs, and the size of his manhood that sprang to life before her eyes, she was speechless, and she grew aroused.

“You come barging in here without permission, yet you have nothing to say?” Royden said snappishly, annoyed that his shaft responded like a young lad unable to control his desires.

She brought her legs closer together, hoping to stop the throb that had settled there. “I thought to tell you something. It can wait until you cover yourself.”

“You’re my wife. There’s no need for me to cover myself in front of you,” he said and knew it unwise to remain naked in front of her, but ignored the thought, since he couldn’t help but see how she tightened her legs against the arousal that no doubt had snuck up on her.

She turned and closed the door and swallowed hard, thinking wisely on her words. While her body demanded that she didn’t, that she do what she wanted to do, what she ached to do—make love with her husband.

Oria turned and tried to keep her eyes on his face and no place else. “You believe you failed me, but I knew you didn’t, you wouldn’t. The whole time you were gone, I never doubted you would return home. I was sure of your return and there was nothing that could change that. I knew you would come back to me. I know our love is that strong.”

Royden wanted to go to her, scoop her up and lose himself inside her, but he stopped himself. “But that man is no more.”

“You told me that you still love me.”

“I do love you, more than ever,” he admitted.

“Then you are the same man I love and I welcome you to my bed,” she said, her quick decision a surprise, but one she didn’t regret.

“You tempt me, Oria, my shaft already thick and hard, ready to plunge into you. But why do you really welcome me to your bed? Is it that you’ve grown aroused at the sight of me naked and aching for you? Is it that you got a taste of pleasure and want more? Or could it be that your wide eyes show surprise at your own words? When you welcome me to your bed, it will because you wish to be a wife to the man who has returned to you, the man you say you love, but don’t truly know. So make sure the next time those words spill from your lips, you mean them.”

“Don’t you think there has been enough wasted time between us?” she asked, wondering what truly kept them from not consummating their vows, not finally bringing their love to fruition?

Royden took a step forward. “You think I want to waste time between us? I want to plant myself inside you every day, just as I planted myself in woman after woman after woman until I lost count of how many.” His body stiffened seeing that she couldn’t hide the shock in her eyes. “They meant nothing to me, I felt nothing for them. It was a need I had to satisfy just like the one that grows me hard now and just like the one that has you throbbing between your legs.”

It hit her then and she spoke without thinking. “You fear making love with me.”

Royden was at her side in three strides, planting his face close to hers. “I fear nothing. It’s you who should fear the stranger in your bed.”

She felt a chill run through her, but she kept herself from shivering. “You tell me not to wait long to welcome you to my bed and when I do you deny me and tell me I should fear you—a stranger. You are not a stranger to me. You are the man I have loved for as long as I can remember and it seems you need reminding of that. And while you might be afraid, I’m not,” she challenged. She walked boldly to the bed and climbed beneath the blankets.