Highlanders Collection. Ann Lethbridge

Dougal.’

      ‘Don’t tempt me.’ He flicked his thumb over her hooded flesh, entering her with two fingers.

      In response, she squeezed the length of his erection, sliding her palm up to the head. Her hand dragged over the length of him, caressing him in an erotic rhythm.

      ‘I won’t allow you to endanger yourself.’ He gritted his teeth against the fierce sensation of desire that pulled at him. ‘It isn’t safe.’

      ‘And what about you?’ Nairna demanded. She rubbed the moist tip of him and her wet palm encircled him again. ‘Do you think I want to watch you risk your life again?’

      Bram pushed her hand away. ‘I’m prepared for it, Nairna. You aren’t.’

      She gasped when he moved down on her, spreading her legs apart. He cupped her hips, tasting her intimate opening. With his tongue, he worked her swollen flesh, watching her responses to see where he should move.

      She seemed the most sensitive at the hooded place above her entrance, and he teased it, watching her shiver. But despite his efforts to send her into a release, she wasn’t responding in the way he’d hoped.

      He moved to rest on his side while she laid upon her back. ‘Touch yourself,’ he commanded, bringing her fingers downwards. ‘Show me where it brings you the most pleasure.’

      She started to refuse, but Bram wouldn’t let her deny him. He gripped her hand, bringing it down to her secret flesh. ‘I want to know.’

      Nairna’s fingers spread out, but she didn’t move them. She didn’t know what to do, he realised. She’d never explored herself; he would have to take the lead.

      He brought her fingers to her wet centre, circling the opening. He showed her how to move, how to stroke.

      She looked embarrassed, but he refused to let her shyness overcome her. At last, she closed her eyes, her hand moving. He watched as she raised her fingers above the opening to the swollen nub. She let out a gasp when she touched herself, increasing the pressure in a slow circle.

      ‘Keep going,’ he encouraged her, staring in fascination as she arched her hips. He was getting more aroused, watching her bring about her own pleasure.

      Her swollen nipples tempted him and he reached out to take one into his mouth. Nairna cried out as he kept a wet pressure upon the tip, caressing the other with his hand.

      Her breath came in shuddering gasps as she pressed harder in a rhythm that mimicked his own thrusting. ‘Don’t stop,’ she pleaded when he released one of her breasts.

      In response, Bram took the nipple between his fingertips, rolling it as he suckled the other. He felt the change in her body as she arched against him, releasing a moan as her body shivered with pleasure.

      He nearly lost control, watching her shatter. When her hand fell away, he moved down, using his tongue to work the place she’d just touched.

      Nairna came apart again, her body shaking violently. ‘Bram, I can’t. It’s too much.’

      ‘Again,’ he demanded, sucking hard against her folds until she convulsed in his arms. She guided him up, taking his shaft in her palm and guiding him into her.

      He slid inside with no barriers, only the tight, wet warmth that surrounded his erection.

      Her breasts were pebbled in response, and when he withdrew and slid back inside, she let out a gasp, squeezing her walls against him.

      It was like nothing he’d ever felt before. Even as he possessed her, plunging inside, it was as if she were pulling him deeper. She arched, wrapping her legs around his waist to take him even further.

      ‘Go faster,’ she urged, gripping his backside. ‘Don’t stop.’

      He obeyed her urging, increasing the pace of his thrusts. She was taking him so deep, he didn’t know how much more he could last. But then, when her head fell back, he grasped her hips hard, pumping with such speed that she came apart again, her body melting with wetness between them.

      She met his rhythm with her own desire, bucking against him until he released his seed, burying himself deep. Nairna’s legs held him around his waist, as if she wouldn’t let him leave her.

      He held her tightly, not speaking. There were no words, no attempts to touch her again. Simply silence.

      Nairna held still, her body trembling with aftershocks. She’d always suspected that it would be this way between them and wished she could hold him like this for ever. Or at least a piece of his spirit, if her womb were to be blessed with a child.

      A sound bumped against the doorway and she saw her dog Caen returning inside. He eyed Nairna as if to scold her for leaving him behind. Then he circled around twice before settling down in front of the door.

      Bram propped up his head on one arm. ‘He’s not much of a protector, is he?’

      ‘I don’t know about that,’ Nairna mused. ‘If someone were to invade, they’d likely stumble over him.’

      Bram caressed the skin of her hip for a moment before he withdrew from her body. The morning sun filtered through the crevices of their house and Bram stood up to get dressed. Already she saw the determination on his face.

      ‘We’re going together, Bram,’ she reminded him. If he left her behind again, he would withdraw even more. Worse, if he didn’t find his brother alive, he would never forgive himself.

      Bram’s face didn’t falter. ‘I’m not putting you in danger, Nairna.’

      ‘I know that,’ she amended. ‘And I promise, I won’t follow you to Harkirk’s stronghold. As I said, I would stay with my father.’

      ‘We’re not going as far as Ballaloch,’ was his answer.

      Dismay pooled inside her, for she could sense the cold, vengeance-minded husband returning. She couldn’t yet abandon her desire to intervene in another way. Her father had a tentative alliance with Harkirk—why couldn’t he negotiate the safe return of Callum?

      The sound of horses approaching made her reach for an older gown from among her belongings. She dressed quickly and opened the door, only to find the chief and a dozen men arriving, heavily armed.

      Alex regarded Bram with a suspicious look. ‘I thought you would be ready to leave at dawn.’

      Bram glanced at her and Nairna flushed, not wanting to admit the reason her husband was late. Instead, she interjected, ‘I’m going to travel with you. You’ll stay at my father’s house at Ballaloch and you can learn what you need to know about Lord Harkirk, before entering the fortress.’

      Alex’s expression was neutral as he thought about her offer.

      ‘She’s not leaving Glen Arrin,’ Bram insisted. ‘I won’t allow it.’

      ‘But she isn’t asking to go with us to fight Harkirk,’ Alex said. ‘She’s asking to visit her family and give us a place to make our plans.’ He exchanged a look with Bram. ‘It wouldn’t be a bad thing to have the protection of Hamish MacPherson.’

      ‘I am not bringing Nairna into this,’ Bram argued.

      ‘But my father may have a way of getting more information about Callum. It would give you an advantage.’

      Alex studied her, as if trying to determine whether or not she spoke the truth.

      Please believe me, she prayed silently.

      Finally, the chief gave a nod. ‘She comes with us, Bram. It makes more sense to stay with Hamish than to camp on our own. That would only draw Harkirk’s men upon us sooner.’

      Nairna sent him a grateful look, but the chief seemed uninterested in her personal feelings. Instead, he sent one of the men to bring back a horse for her while Bram prepared his mount.

      Within another half-hour, Dougal