Free Highland Vow by Hannah Howell Page B

thought, shifting her body so that he could finish removing her chemise.
    “Ye are so beautiful,” she whispered, reaching out to trail her fingers down his chest and over his stomach.
    “Strange lass,” he said, the wonder in his voice making the words an endearment. “’Tis ye who are beautiful.”
    As he stared down at the slim beauty exposed to his view, Cormac wondered why he had not yet flung himself on top of her as every muscle in his body demanded. Her waist was so tiny he was not surprised to see that he could nearly span it with his hands. Her hips had a womanly flare to them despite her slender build. Her legs looked surprisingly long with a space at the top of her thighs that begged for a man. Her beautiful skin continued right on down to her adorable little toes. Cormac was not surprised to see his hand shake slightly as he reached out to gently caress the tidy vee of ebony curls that decorated her womanly secrets.
    Slowly, he eased his body down on top of hers, echoing the faint shudder that rippled through her as their flesh met. Delight swept through him with such force he rested his forehead against hers as he battled the urge to immediately spill his seed.
    “Oh, oh, my,” Elspeth gasped. “That feels so good.”
    “Ah, lass, somehow the words are just inadequate. There simply are none to describe this pleasure.”
    He slid his hand between her thighs and after just a few strokes of his long fingers, Elspeth doubted she could have found any words at all, even to describe the simplest of things. Cormac kissed her, thrusting his tongue into her mouth even as he slid his finger inside of her body. Elspeth shivered and arched greedily into his hand.
    “Cormac,” she said, her voice so thick and husky she was not sure her words were clear. “I ache.”
    “Aye, angel, I ken the feeling weel,” he muttered against the hollow at the base of her throat.
    “Then why are ye waiting?” She could feel her insides tighten as he continued to stroke her so intimately.
    “Ye need to be ready. ’Tis your first time.”
    “Jesu,” she gasped as she felt the hint of some intense feeling ripple through her. “How ready need I be?”
    Then, suddenly, that hint was followed by wave after wave of a rich, blinding pleasure. Elspeth clutched frantically at Cormac, alternately trying to twist away from his hand and arching into it, trying to flee the ferocity of her own passion and to add to it. She was still dazed and panting from the force of it all when she felt him lift her trembling legs and wrap them around his waist. Grabbing hold of his arms, she tried to regain her scattered wits and concentrate on what was about to happen. She met his gaze and read the passion there, as well as an intensity, a need, she did not fully understand.
    “Now, lass. Now ye are ready,” he said, and gritting his teeth, he plunged into her body, ruthlessly battering his way past her maidenhead before he stopped.
    Something tickled at the back of his mind, but Cormac had no time for it. He had heard her gasp of pain, felt her slight body briefly recoil from him. It took every ounce of will he possessed to hold still. Cormac looked at her, frowning when he saw that she was a little pale and tears glittered in her eyes. That proof of the pain he had caused her helped him hold on to his control.
    “I have hurt ye,” he said, gently stroking her breasts and praying he could restir at least some of the passion he had killed with his rough possession of her.
    “Nay too badly,” she said, taking slow deep breaths and forcing herself to relax.
    It had hurt rather more than she had expected it to, but she would not admit that. His possession had been swift and fierce, her maidenhead rather abruptly destroyed.Elspeth was not sure slower would have been any better, and since complaint of any kind could easily be mistaken for criticism, she decided to say nothing. What she found curious was the look of astonishment, then confusion,