Fraser 03 - Highland Homecoming (25 page)

Chapter 27

Caught in the heat of passion, they stood by the hearth entwined in each other’s arms, hearts pounding in unison, and their lips locked together. Bombarded by an array of emotions she’d never before experienced, Edina didn’t want the moment to end.

“I canna believe you came back for me, and that we are married.” She fisted her hands in his tunic, afraid if she let go, Alasdair would disappear, or that she might be dreaming. If the latter was true, she didn’t ever want to wake up.

“Believe, mo gaol.” Alasdair kissed her lips, her cheeks, and the tip of her nose as his large hands roamed her body, taking in every dip and curve. “I was a fool for ever leaving you.”

Alasdair nibbled on her earlobe, sending a shiver of excitement down her spine. Her legs grew weak and she clung to his arms when he trailed his lips along her jaw, down her neck, and came to rest in the hollow at the base of her throat. While she tried to stifle a moan, it escaped as she closed her eyes and dropped her head back. Surely anything that made her feel this amazing must be sinful, but she could not seem to get enough.

Edina trembled when his fingers fumbled with the laces of her gown. “Are you afraid?” he asked on a ragged breath, his hot, moist lips still pressed against her tingling flesh.

She raised her heavy eyelids and smiled. “I fear naught. Have I done something tae displease you?”

“You could never displease me, Edina.” He brushed her mouth with a brief, but passionate, kiss, and then swept a lock of hair from her forehead. “I thought you might be uncertain about our first joining.”

For a warrior of his size, Alasdair was surprisingly tender. Her heart soared at the thought of spending the rest of her life with a man she truly loved.

“We can go slowly and take as long as you like, Edina. There is no need tae do anything but hold each other until you are ready for more.”

“Nay. For a husband and wife tae become one in their marriage bed is what the Lord intended. I can only imagine how wonderful it will be,” she replied on a breathy sigh.

Alasdair held her at arm’s length and their eyes met. “I have bedded women in the past and have made no secret of that fact. However, you will be my first maiden. I am told there is a moment of discomfort for the lass, but it will pass quickly, replaced by pleasure the likes of which you have never known. I am larger than most men, but give you my word, I will be gentle.”

Edina found his concern and consideration touching. “I trust you, Alasdair, and believe you will do everything in your power to make our first time, every time, experiences we will never forget.” She pressed her palm to his chest and glanced at the floor. “But while I may be a woman grown, with a woman’s heart, and needs, I have no experience in such things. I hope I dinna disappoint you. Will you teach me how tae please you?”

Alasdair nuzzled his nose against the curve of her neck. “We will learn together, mo gaol,” he whispered in her ear. “But we are both wearing far too many clothes,” he said as he unlaced her gown, then lay it open, exposing the swell of her breasts.

He’d called her his love. Words Edina had longed to hear. She was truly blessed and at this moment, the happiest woman in the world, of that she was certain.

“You are exquisite, mo gaol, he said as he slid her gown over her shoulders and let it drop to the floor in a pool of fabric at her feet.

Her kirtle followed next and she stood in the glow of the firelight naked before her husband. She’d never considered her slight body and lack of womanly curves, full bosoms, and a plump round bottom to be one a man would desire. Yet, Alasdair gazed at her with such appreciation, as if he could devour her. He made her feel beautiful and desirable.

Dark eyes filled with passion moved over her body from top to bottom, causing her skin to tingle, her breasts to grow heavy, and her nipples to stand erect. Suddenly feeling ill at ease, Edina tried covering herself with her arms, but Alasdair insisted she drop them to her sides.

“Why do you hide yourself from me, Edina?”

“I fear I am not as shapely as the tavern wenches you are accustomed to bedding,” she said and lowered her eyes.

“Nonsense. You are by far the most beautiful, alluring woman I have ever seen.” He cupped her chin and raised it. “I’ve thought so since the day I found you on the beach and couldna purge your image from my mind. Do you have any idea how difficult it was to stay my lust and desire to bed you?”

She could never forget their time in the hunting croft, or that he’d seen her naked on more than one occasion while tending to her injuries.

“I think I do know how you felt. I wanted you, too, Alasdair, but dinna think you found me appealing. I also couldna offer myself tae you, tae anyone, when I dinna know who I was or where I belonged. When I remembered my name, you were so angry. I—”

He silenced her with a kiss. “I was a fool and should have asked for your hand the day we returned to Sinclair Castle. I will never tire of looking at you, or touching you.” Alasdair tightened his embrace. “Nor will I tire of the way you smell, like a field of heather after a spring rain, or the way you taste.” He swept her hair aside and nipped at her shoulder.

Edina’s head began to swim, her pulse raced, and her uncertainty faded. He caressed her breasts and teased the sensitive tips with his fingers, rolled them and squeezed, the sinful mix of pain and pleasure causing her to grind her hips against his. He groaned aloud and she felt the proof of his arousal pressing against her belly.

“Keep doing that and I willna be able tae resist the need tae make you mine.” He lifted her, carried her to the pallet, and laid her onto the overstuffed mattress.

“I thought you said we were wearing too many clothes.” She smiled and reached for the ties of his trews. “I no longer have on a stitch. Mayhap you would care tae join me?”

Alasdair yanked the tunic over his head and tossed it into the corner. His boots and trews followed. He stood beside the bed, his finely honed, muscular body like that of a Norse god.

“Oh my.” She gasped when she beheld his manhood for the first time, marveling not only at the size, but at the combination of rigidity and smoothness.” How she would accommodate his length and girth was suddenly a concern. “Does it hurt?”

He nodded, took her hand, and laid it on his shaft, encouraging her to wrap her fingers around it. “It aches for you, m’lady.”

“Then join with me and make me your wife.” She reclined on the pallet, a combination of excitement and anticipation laced with fear washing over her.

He lay beside her. “There are many ways a man can pleasure a woman. Would you like me tae show you?”

“Aye.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him toward her. “Show me. I want tae learn.”

When he positioned her on her back, then knelt between her knees, Edina was uncertain what to expect. He nudged her thighs apart, her stomach flipped and her heart began to race.

“Dinna fash. I willna do anything you dinna want, Edina.”

Without saying another word, Alasdair slid his fingertips along her inner thigh, his thumb brushing her most intimate place.

Edina gasped and tried to sit up. “What are you doing?” she asked, unable to hide the apprehension in her voice. She was prepared to join with her husband in the traditional way, but this was something she had never considered.

“Relax, and enjoy, mo gaol.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and eased her back against the mattress. “I thought you trusted me.”

“Aye. I do trust you, husband,” Edina replied, even though she had no idea what he had planned.

He cupped her heel, lifted her leg, then proceeded to feather kisses along her calf. She trembled when he licked the back of her knee, surprised by a rush of hot moist heat released between her thighs.

As his sensual journey continued, she rolled her head from side-to-side. “Please . . . Alasdair,” Edina moaned.

“Please, what?” He raised his head and wiggled his brows. “Tell me what you like.”

She moaned again. “I dinna know. I have never done this afore.”

“That makes it all the sweeter, mo gaol. Do you not like what I am doing now?” He lowered his head and nibbled on the flesh where her leg and torso joined.

“Nay . . . I mean, Aye. It feels wonderful, but it must be sinful,” she moaned.

“For a husband and wife tae share intimate pleasures is not a sin, Edina. If you allow yourself to accept what is happening, I can take you places, you never knew existed.”

“You are the devil tae be sure, Alasdair Fraser.”

“Aye. And that makes you the devil’s woman.” He laughed and placed her heel on his shoulder, giving him better access and exposing her for his perusal. “Lovely.” A wolfish grin tugged at his lips as he dipped his head, then snaked his tongue around her bud of arousal. He fed hungrily, slow at first, then picked up the tempo.

Edina whimpered and squirmed, but couldn’t bring herself to ask him to stop. He lapped at her sensitive feminine folds, licking from front to back and then in reverse, igniting a wild fire of passion, the pressure building until she didn’t think she could take any more.

“Enough,” she pleaded on a strangled breath, but he paid her no mind. Instead, he brought her to the precipice of release, time and time again.

Her breathing came in short sharp pants, her heart pounded, and every part of her body was alive with sensations she could never have imagined. Her legs began to quiver and her core clenched as a dizzying, bone-melting euphoria engulfed her. She thought she might perish from pure ecstasy.

He continued to suckle until the last waves of her release subsided, and she lay motionless on the mattress, gasping for air. Only then did he release her from the intimate torture.

She struggled to open her eyes and smiled. “That was like nothing I could have anticipated. I dinna know it could be like that.”

“This is only the beginning. We have an entire night of discovery ahead of us.” He stroked his engorged manhood. “I ache for you, Edina. Are you willing tae join with me?”

Alasdair positioned himself above Edina and nudged her legs apart with his knee. “Will you have me, wife.”

Edina nodded. “Aye, husband.”

His heart thundered in his chest, his blood heated, and he found it difficult to control his unbridled passion. But instead of taking her, he paused, hypnotized by her beauty. The sight of her lying before him stole his breath away. Edina had the face of an angel and a body that drove him mad with desire. Perfectly sculpted, creamy white breasts, tipped with delicate pink buds, rose and fell with each shallow breath. Her long shapely limbs were topped with a soft nest of curls, the color of summer wheat and the perfect match to her waist-length hair strewn across the mattress.

“Make love tae me, Alasdair,” Edina muttered softly.

He entered her slowly, giving her time to adjust to the stretch and fullness of their joining. He slid in a little, pulled out, then eased in further with each thrust. He wanted her to feel every inch of his arousal, he wanted to bury himself to the hilt, to pound into her with wild abandon, but he stopped when he reached the barrier of her innocence.

Her eyes opened wide. “Is something amiss?”

“Nay. But it can take time for your body to adjust to the union and I dinna want tae hurt you, lass. I want—”

He didn’t have a chance to finish. Edina thrust her hips forward until they connected with his, foiling his plan to take things slowly.

Her nails dug into his shoulders and he felt hot tears on his neck when he broke through her maidenhead, but she didn’t utter a sound.

“Are you all right?” he murmured softly against her ear.

She nodded and began to move her hips in a slow, rhythmic motion. His body responded and he followed her lead, his bold, brave lass, his woman, his wife.

Alasdair had bedded his share of women in the past, but this was the first time he’d ever made love. He could not believe the exhilaration, possessiveness, and pride he felt when he began to rock into her hard and fast.

He covered her mouth with his own, swallowing her whimpers of pleasure. When her feminine muscles clenched around his engorged shaft and she called out his name, his groin tightened. He increased the speed, coming close to release, then rolled to his back taking her with him.

Speechless, Edina straddled his hips, staring down at him, a shocked expression on her face. But when he began to move beneath her, she smiled and matched him stroke for stroke.

She arched and curled her spine, rose and lowered herself, riding him like a warhorse. A feral growl rose from deep within his chest.

Alasdair never dreamed Edina, his virgin bride, would teach him things about making love he didn’t already know. The room began to spin, the pressure building from deep within his core, until he could take no more. With one final thrust, he shouted out a war cry, and released his seed.

She joined him in his release, then collapsed, her head resting on his breast, her hair covering his chest.

Alasdair woke several hours later and glanced down at Edina, sleeping peacefully in his arms. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, the scent of their lovemaking still lingering on the air. While he never thought he was destined to marry, he could not remember ever being so happy, or feeling so much at peace. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her brow.

Edina stirred, opened her eyes, then brought her hand up to stifle a yawn. “Is it morning?”

“Aye, dawn has come, but it is still verra early. Go back tae sleep if you like. Last night was our wedding night and no one expects us tae rise afore noon,” Alasdair said, then brushed a strand of hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear.

“I hope you werena disappointed,” Edina said then lay her head on his chest.

“Last night was amazing. You are a very quick study.” Alasdair stroked his hand down her back.

“I had a verra good teacher.” Edina pressed her lips to his chest, then placed her hand over his heart, and sighed. “Are you happy, Alasdair?”