“He would never shout at me.” Visions of her father berating her mother came to mind.
“I’d never do that,” he said solemnly.
Mairi cleared her throat. “And then there’s the sex. My husband would make me orgasm at least ten times a day.”
“Easy,” he said.
That one word sent a flash of heat throughout her body. She blinked hard and willed herself to move on.
“Most importantly, he would never, ever tell me what to do.”
It had become difficult to focus on what she was saying. Her thoughts had strayed to other areas. Like how it would feel to run her hands up those thick, muscled thighs of his and feel his strength beneath her fingertips.
“Damn,” Keir said softly, but with definite amusement. “I was close. You’re right, there is no man out there who’d fit that list.”
Mairi forced a sigh. “And this is why I can never get married.”
“Now I understand. Thanks for clearing it up.” He took his hands from her hair. “Done. You are bug-free.”
She looked up at him. “Really?”
“Would I lie about something that important?” He rested his hands on his thighs, inches from hers.
“You didn’t find anything at all in there?” Her eyes wandered to his mouth as she waited for the answer. Keir had amazing lips. Soft and firm, with plenty of places to nibble.
“Nothing but hair,” he said.
“Okay then.” Mairi forced herself to drag her eyes, and her thoughts, away from his lips. Her head was light as she got onto her knees and shuffled around to face him, aware she was still hemmed in between his thighs. She put her hands back on his knees to steady herself—at least, that’s what she told herself she was doing. “Thanks.
”
“Anytime.” One low, husky word that went right through her.
His eyes had darkened, and she saw the same out-of-control desire that she felt swirling inside her. Slowly, oh so slowly, he slid his hands down to cover hers, leaning forward as he did so, bringing his mouth to within inches of hers. Mairi’s heart thundered in her chest and she bit her lip to stop herself from launching herself at him.
“I need to kiss you,” Keir whispered.
It was as though lightning had struck her. A powerful surge of electricity ran through her body, leaving everything in its wake alive and needy.
“Please, don’t tell me no.” He lowered his head toward hers.
Mairi’s fingers tightened on his legs as a little voice in the back of her head asked her what she was doing. “Keir?” she whispered.
The air between them seemed to crackle and dance.
“Say yes,” Keir said against her lips.
Mairi stared into his eyes as the well of hunger she’d trapped inside since he’d left, burst free. They’d been building to this place ever since he’d moved back to Arness. She just hadn’t seen it until that moment.
“Yes,” she whispered.
With a look of pure triumph, Keir closed the distance between them.
Chapter 15
Keir felt like he’d been lost in the middle of the Sahara and Mairi was water. He drank her in, letting her fill the dehydrated places inside him. The places that had shriveled without her.
Mairi didn’t hesitate; she wrapped her arms around his neck and poured herself into the kiss. It was a desperate, brutal kiss, filled with longing and regret. A kiss to make up for years wasted. A kiss to release all the frustration and need that had been building since everything had gone wrong for them.