Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 98745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
He tugged at her nightdress. “We need to rid you of this. I want you as naked as I am.” That she hesitated and her brow creased had him asking. “What troubles you, Leora?”
“This probably isn’t the time—”
“That never stopped you from saying what you will,” he said, rubbing at the creases that deepened in the spot between her eyes.
“Never again are you to consider going to live in the Lowlands to keep me safe.” She tapped his lips before he could speak. “And do not tell me you did not consider it. I saw it in your eyes when Lady Elizabeth offered it again.”
“Briefly, but only briefly and just as briefly dismissed it,” he confessed. “The thought of knowing you would be safe was too appealing to ignore.”
“I forbid it. We will never leave the Highlands. It is our home and here is where we will live our lives.”
His brow went up and his tongue was sharp. “Is that an order?”
“Must I make it one?” she countered, drawing her shoulders back and tilting her chin stubbornly. Her bravado faded before he could respond, her shoulders drooping and her chin dropping. “I cannot believe that you love me that much that you would leave the Highlands to keep me safe. It fills my heart with joy and pain at the same time.”
He lifted her chin and met her eyes with his. “I briefly considered it, wife, but your words, your refusal yet again of her offer, reminded me that our hearts are here in the Highlands and neither of us would be happy anyplace else, and such a move could very well destroy the love we have for each other and that I will not allow.”
She smiled, relieved. “You are a wise man.”
“I know my wife well,” he said, with a devilish twinkle in his blue eyes.
“That you do,” she agreed unable to take her eyes off his.
“I know your needs as well,” he said, easing her nightdress up along her body.
A shiver of anticipation ran through her as her nightdress slipped slowly along her body, teasing her skin and rushing gooseflesh over it.
“I have gone too long without you,” she said and gasped when she felt his hard manhood brush against her.
“We have all night,” he reminded.
She gasped again, a realization hitting her, and hurried to step away from him, shoving her nightdress down. “We cannot do this tonight.”
Noble looked bewildered at her. “Why not?”
She shook her head. “I should have realized, but I am selfish and only thought of myself, my own needs. I will not see you depleted of your strength when battle awaits you tomorrow.”
“I have enough strength for both,” he said and stepped toward her and got annoyed when she stepped away from him again.
“If anything should happen to you because I was too selfish to forgo my needs for your safety,” —she shook her head— “I would never be able to live with myself.” She raised her hand, warning him off. “We will not couple tonight.”
Noble shoved her hand aside, grabbed the neck of her nightdress and ripped it down the middle, ridding her of what was left of it. His wife gasped, shocked, and before she could respond, he hooked his arm around her waist and yanked her hard against him.
“Need I remind you yet again that I am in command?” he asked, a fiery passion blazing in his deep blue eyes and in the strong timbre in his voice. “But you are right about one thing, wife. We will not couple tonight. We will make love and more than once on that you have my word. And tomorrow I will battle with the fierceness I am known for and end the danger to your life.”
He kissed her with an intense passion that left no doubt he was in command, and she surrendered to her own passion, her intense need for him, her overwhelming love for him.
He walked them to the bed, not breaking their kiss, and dropped down on it. He loved that her hands instantly began to explore him, lingering in spots before she settled on his manhood to caress with pleasure.
He wasted no time in doing the same, his hand brushing over her breasts to tease her nipple with his palm and playful squeezes. But his mouth was hungry for it as well and he tore his mouth off hers and, with his hands at her waist, lifted her, bringing her breast to his face and his mouth captured her nipple.
Leora gasped as her husband’s tongue worked its magic and she ran her fingers through his hair, holding tight to his head as he sent waves of pleasure racing through her.
“I am going to taste every part of you tonight,” he said, “leave my mark on you so that you know every part of you belongs to me.”