His smile broadened, then he kissed her lips. “You have made me the happiest man on earth,” he whispered. “I’m never letting you go, Seona.”

“I don’t want you to.” She slid her hands ’round his neck and into his silky hair. “You are mine.”

***

Seona’s pleading expression told Keegan she needed him in the worst way. In the same way he needed her.

He lowered his head and kissed her lips, her sweet taste and warm breath seducing him instantly. “I could devour every inch of you,” he said, then deepened the kiss.

Her arms clasped him tight around his neck. His hands at her hips, he lifted her, relishing the feel of her slight body and feminine curves plastered to him.

He loved her and wanted her intensely, yet he’d restrained himself during each sensual encounter. But not this time.

She ground herself against his erect shaft, sending jolts of pleasure and yearning through him. When she spread her legs and wrapped them around his waist, he near lost his mind. Next thing he knew, he was laying atop her on the bed, his shaft against her crotch. Layers of clothing separated them.

He dug through her skirts. Finally, he reached the silken skin of her thigh above her stocking. His fingertips traced upward.

Slow… take it slow.

He made a fist, restraining himself. Hell, he’d touched her in more carnal ways before, but this time he knew he couldn’t stop. He didn’t want to hurt her or frighten her.

“Keegan, please,” she gasped, tugging at his belt buckle. He caught her hand, halting her. “Make love to me,” she whispered.

He growled, wishing he had more control. Wishing he did not crave her so powerfully.

“I want to feel your hot, naked skin against mine,” she whispered. “’Tis what I dream of.”

Saints! What an image she put into his head. “’Tis what I dream of, too, lass.”

When she pulled at his kilt, drawing the plaid upward, something in him refused to stop her. Arousal blazed a trail through him, burning away his restraint. And when her soft fingertips brushed up his bare thigh to his shaft, he groaned.

Launching into action, he unclasped his belt and in seconds threw off his plaid, shirt, and weapons, then kicked off his boots. Next, he removed her belt and arisaid. The linen of her smock ripped.

“Damn,” he muttered, struggling to unwrap her from all her clothing. Finally, she was nude, the firelight dancing off her pale curves. His chest constricted, seizing his breath. But then he noticed, on her forearm, she still wore the leather sheath and knife he’d given her. The sight of it only aroused him more, told him she was his.

Lying beside her, he traced his fingers along her warm silken skin. “You are delectable,” he said.

“Nay, you are,” she breathed, her gaze trailing down his chest and abdomen to his erection. Her eyes wide, she bit her lip.

“You are not afraid, are you?” he asked, knowing some women did fear men’s bodies… and their first time.

Her sincere gaze met his. “Nay. Of course not. I love you and trust you more than anyone.”

His heart near burst from his chest with love for this woman. And when she grazed her fingertips lightly along his rock-hard shaft, showing him how much she wanted him, lust stormed through him.

Moving over her, one of his knees between hers, he brushed his lips over her beaded nipple, then drew the sweet morsel into his mouth. “Mmm.” He couldn’t resist tasting the other one, too, swirling his tongue around it, sucking it into his mouth.

“Keegan,” she whispered. Her hands tangled in his hair, pulling it, holding his head near, her hips lifting toward him. Seeing how much she wanted him, despite her innocence, fired his blood. But he had to take it slow.

“You must relax, Seona.”

“I am. I want you. Please,” she said against his mouth, then licked his lips. Arousal jolted through his shaft.

Between her thighs, he sat back on his knees and skimmed his hands from her ankles, upward along her inner thighs, spreading them more. When he reached the top, he stroked his thumbs gently along her nether lips, incredibly wet and swollen. “So good.”

She gasped and thrust her hips toward him.

With one thumb, he circled that sweet feminine nub that was so inflamed and drenched, it near drove him mad. She cried out his name and words he couldn’t understand. Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes.

Leaning over her, he pressed a kiss to her mouth. “I don’t want to hurt you but I fear I will.”

“Nay. Take me, Keegan… my husband.”

A strange primal urge overcame him. Aye, she was his wife. His woman. He must make her his in every way, even though it would hurt. He would try to ease her pain and make it better.

He had to have her now. No more waiting.

He stroked the tip of his shaft up and down along the moist folds of her sex. Saints, he loved the slick feel of her. The more he stroked, the wilder she became, wriggling, thrashing this way and that.

“Oh, Keegan,” she breathed, arching her back. “Aye, I beg of you…”

He positioned his shaft at her entrance, teasing her with just the tip. When she lifted her hips, offering herself to him, some instinct overpowered him and he thrust his hips. He found himself lodged a couple inches into her slippery, snug heat. Her inner muscles clamped onto him.

“Ow!” Her nails dug into his arm and more tears glistened on her lashes.

“Shhh, lass,” he hissed against her mouth. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she said, her voice intense. “But it hurts.”

“I know. Relax your muscles a wee bit right here.” He stroked his hand over her flat lower belly. How incredible she felt, gripping him so firmly. Pain was the opposite of what he was feeling at the moment, but he had to help ease her first time, while maintaining some control over his own body. Hell, all he wanted to do was thrust. Hard. And bury himself deeper in her tight body. But he didn’t. He kissed her, flicking his tongue against her lips. She opened and sucked at his tongue.

Her inner muscles relaxed a bit, thank the saints. He couldn’t take much more of that squeezing.

While distracting her with kisses, he withdrew an inch and pushed deeper.

She cried out, tears dripping from the edges of her eyes.

“I’m sorry, sweet Seona,” he rasped, leashing the impulse to drive deeper. “Only a couple more minutes and there will be no more pain. I promise.”

“Truly?”

“Aye.” He trembled under the onslaught of need. “Just relax, please.”

She nodded. “I’m ready.”

“Take a deep breath,” he said. “And let it out.”

When she did, the pressure on his shaft eased.

He listened to her calming breaths. “How does that feel?”

“Not so bad.”

He withdrew slightly and thrust again. Aye, that was easier. Very slowly and gently, he moved inside her. She felt so astonishing he feared his primitive side might take over. He did not want to get too rough and hurt her. He’d already caused her enough pain. Controlling his actions, he gradually moved faster, pushing his way deeper.

He groaned with the need to release his seed inside her. But he knew he shouldn’t. Besides, he wanted to give her pleasure first. He paused deep inside her, trying to get himself under control. But when he did, her inner muscles caressed him in a most bewitching way, welcoming his invasion now.

“Keegan. More.”

He growled, withdrawing and driving in again. She wrapped her legs around his hips, and he made his decision. She was his. No giving her up now. No turning back. She was his wife and if he got her with child, he would be glad.

He gradually increased his pace, until he was pounding into her. She drew in a deep breath and held it just before her body clamped down on him, squeezing, shoving her hips upward to meet his. He covered her mouth with his to muffle her cries. The more she rode, the deeper he thrust.