A Forbidden Night with a Scot (Sins in a Kilt #1)

Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

W ith his hands grabbing onto her buttocks, Samuel lifted Alicia out of the water, making her shiver when the cold air hit her wet skin. His own body was warmer, though, and when he laid down his plaid over the ground and lowered her on it, she was instantly warmed by the soft wool on her back and his body that draped over her like a blanket.

Samuel looked ethereal under the moonlight, all that skin on display, with every scar and mark writing a story on him. Alicia traced them gently with her fingers, delighting every time Samuel shivered above her, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his torso.

She had never thought she could want something as much as she wanted this proximity. Being close to him, being one with him was all that mattered, the only thing she craved, to the point where she didn’t know how she had spent all her life up to that moment so far away from him. She didn’t think she could bear another parting. No matter what, they had to stay together.

Alicia would beg and plead her father if she had to. She would do anything to prove to him that Samuel was the right man for her, that the difference in their ages didn’t matter. He would understand, she told herself again and again, in an attempt to convince herself it was the truth. And if he didn’t understand, she would help him see it was the right thing for her.

Samuel’s body slid against her own, wet from the lake, as they kissed. His hands explored every inch of her yet another time, caressing and grabbing at every part within his reach: her breasts, her hips, her thighs, until one of them, predictably, moved between her legs to find her already dripping opening.

She had been thinking about Samuel for the better part of the week, his meetings and her duty to care for her father keeping them apart the entire time. Now that they were together, Alicia’s need was too great. Her body burned with desire and her core was already drenched in her need, waiting for Samuel’s touch.

The first brush of his fingers against her sent a shock of pleasure through her, the anticipation finally over. She knew she wouldn’t last; she was far too pent up for that and she had no qualms being greedy in the search of her release, hips moving ceaselessly in an attempt to get more friction as Samuel teased her with soft touches around her folds. The more she struggled, though, the more he refused to give her what she truly wanted, instead driving her mad with need with his ghostly touches barely providing any relief.

It was only when she surrendered to his attentions that his fingers finally found her sensitive spot, rubbing teasing circles over it until she was gasping for breath, thighs shaking. Dragging his lips over her throat and chest, Samuel’s mouth found her nipple as he pleasured her, tongue flicking over it as he sucked hard enough to make Alicia arch her back, still seeking more. When two of his fingers entered her swiftly, she couldn’t help but moan his name, her hands holding onto his shoulders at the sudden pleasure that flooded through her, radiating outwards from her core, her legs trying to close at the overstimulation.

“Keep yer legs open,” Samuel told her, the hand that wasn’t pleasuring her resting on a thigh to push her leg back. “That’s it, lass. Hold on tae yer legs fer me.”

Alicia flushed a deep scarlet at the request, embarrassment getting the best of her even though she was used to being with Samuel by now. She tentatively reached for her thighs, holding her legs apart as Samuel quickens his pace, driving his fingers deep inside her with every powerful thrust of his hand.

There was nothing gentle or teasing about his movements now. He wanted to see her fall apart, Alicia knew, and he was relentless with the pleasure he was giving her, thrusting his fingers inside her again and again as his lips found hers in a searing kiss.

She finally felt like she belonged completely to him, and she could hardly believe her luck. Sometimes she still couldn’t help but wonder how she had managed to convince Samuel she was more than his friend’s daughter, that she was a woman in her own right. She had done it, though, and now she could reap the benefits.

Pressure built deep in her core, the waves of it coming faster and faster as she got closer to the edge. Her hands found Samuel’s arms, fingers curling around his biceps and nails digging into his skin until he hissed, half in pain and half in pleasure, he too losing himself in the moment.

It only took a few more thrusts of his fingers before Alicia had to clamp a hand over her mouth to muffle her scream as she climaxed, her entire body plunged in a comfortable, warm nothingness, black spreading over her eyelids. When she opened her eyes again, Samuel’s fingers were still inside her, slowly thrusting, carrying her through the aftershocks.

When he finally withdrew them, she felt too empty, hungry for more. As Samuel came closer to kiss her, she reached between their bodies and blindly found his manhood, twin sighs escaping the two of them as she wrapped her fingers around in a loose grip, giving him a few pumps.

With a chuckle, Samuel’s head fell to her shoulder, his forehead resting there. “Will ye only tease me, me love?”

“Ye teased me,” she pointed out, her body once again going warm at the affectionate term and the casual way in which Samuel spoke it. “Shouldnae I tease ye, too?”

“Ye’re a cruel lass,” Samuel said, though there was no bite behind the words. Alicia laughed and tightened her grip only for a moment, before resuming her previous torment of a touch that was barely there, only enough to increase his need and leave him frustrated.

It had the intended effect. Soon, Samuel had had enough and he grabbed her hips with a growl, flipping her onto her stomach. Alicia stretched out on the plaid, but Samuel pulled her hips up and she soon felt him line up against her entrance, the tip of his manhood rubbing over her.

Her heart thundered in her chest, the anticipation almost too much to bear. Even now, in his rough handling of her, Samuel was gentle, the hand that wasn’t holding his length stroking her hip tenderly as he pushed himself inside her, breaching her opening in one smooth thrust, all the way to the base. Alicia braced herself up on her forearms, her head falling between her shoulders as the pleasure became overwhelming, nothing but moans escaping her as Samuel began to thrust in earnest, his strong hands holding onto her hips hard enough to leave tiny, finger-shaped bruises behind. Alicia hoped she would be able to see them the following day—a physical mark that made her Samuel’s and Samuel hers.

The slide of his manhood against her inner walls was a relentless pleasure, striking through her repeatedly, even though she had only just reached her first climax. She was always desperate for him, for his touch, craving everything she could have, and this time was no different. Behind her, Samuel grunted, half in exertion and half in pleasure, angling his hips to hit that spot inside her that had Alicia seeing stars behind her closed lids. He was tireless, hips moving hard and fast as he claimed her, nothing around them but the sounds of their coupling and the chill of the night.

Suddenly, Samuel’s rhythm slowed into leisurely thrusts, pulling Alicia back from the edge just as she had begun to reach it. His hands caressed her buttocks, kneading the soft flesh, and then moved lower and lower until his thumbs could rub around her opening where they were joined, adding to the sensations.

Who is teasin’ now?

It was as pleasurable as it was infuriating, Samuel keeping Alicia just at the edge of her climax. Slowly, the urgent need subsided and she took a deep, steadying breath, only for Samuel to grab her hips again and quicken his rhythm once more.

The slap of skin against skin and her wetness between them made for an obscene sound, one which only served to heighten Alicia’s need as Samuel took her roughly. Her breasts swung with every thrust; her fingers dug into the soil through the plaid as she searched for purchase. She could feel Samuel twitch inside her, too, a sign that she was not the only one so affected by their coupling.

Once again, her pleasure grew and grew steadily, warmth pooling deep inside her. When Samuel reached around her and began to stroke her sensitive spot in time with his thrusts, it was only a matter of time before the first wave of her second climax washed over her, this time so intense that for a few moments, she could hear nothing but a ringing in her ears, her walls pulsing desperately around Samuel as she came.

Behind her, Samuel groaned in pleasure, hips stuttering as he gave a few last thrusts, pulling out of her to spill over her thighs. Afterwards, he still held onto her for a few moments, panting as he tried to catch his breath before finally collapsing on the plaid next to her, still breathing heavily.

Slowly, Alicia lowered herself to the plaid next to him and Samuel pulled her into his arms, holding her flush against his body. Alicia curled into him, seeking out his warmth, and Samuel stroked her hair as he pressed kisses on her crown.

“Was I too rough with ye?” he asked, voice tinged with concern.

Alicia laughed softly, shaking her head. “Nay,” she assured him. “I liked it very much.”

With a hand cupping her cheek, Samuel tilted Alicia’s head so that she was looking at him. Whatever confirmation that she was telling the truth he was looking for in her expression, Alicia thought, he must have found it as he nodded and gave her a sweet kiss on the lips, seemingly satisfied with her answer.

Alicia let her eyes fall shut with a sigh, content and safe in Samuel’s arms. She wished they could stay like that forever next to that lake, without any other worries, without any duties hanging over their heads. For a little while, they could keep reality at bay here, pretend that nothing was wrong—that there was no imminent threat of a battle, that their relationship was not as complicated as it was, that Alicia was not betrothed to another.

It didn’t last long. Only a few moments later, Samuel stiffened against her and then he quickly sat up, his eyes searching for something in the dark. Alicia, alarmed, sat up as well, arms coming up to cover her body as best as she could.

“What is it?” she asked. At first, Samuel said nothing, eyes still scanning the horizon in a way that made Alicia wonder if he could see that well in the dark. There was the light of a half-moon above them, but for her, it was not enough to see that far into the distance.

“I dinnae ken,” Samuel said as he stood and offered Alicia his hand to help her up, as well. Alicia shivered as the wind hit her skin once more, now entirely unprotected, even as Samuel rushed to gather her clothes from the ground and help her put them back on a little haphazardly, seemingly uncaring about his own state of undress. He only dressed when he was certain Alicia wasn’t so cold anymore, putting on his clothes just as quickly and carelessly.

“Did ye see somethin’?” she probed.

“I heard somethin’,” Samuel said. “Or at least I think I did.”

As far as Alicia could tell, there was no one else there with them. Perhaps it had been nothing more than a little critter of the forest, a small animal neither of them could see. Alicia couldn’t hear any signs of another human’s presence, or any sign of animals. There was nothing but the rustling of the grass in her ears, the blades swaying in the wind.

“We should head back tae the castle,” Samuel said, just as Alicia knew he would. He was always cautious, though she could hardly blame him. After everything that had happened, first with his family and now with this attack, it was only natural that he would be cautious. She would even understand if he was paranoid. Still, she wished she could have stayed a little longer there with him, just the two of them, with no other worries in the world.

Even so, she didn’t complain when Samuel took her hand and led her back to the castle. There would be many nights like this, she told herself. Once Samuel had spoken to her father and once the two of them had negotiated with the king and Laird MacTavish, she and Samuel would be free to do as they pleased.

The walk to the castle seemed even shorter than that to the lake, and before Alicia knew it, they were back behind the walls and Samuel was immediately off to give out orders to his men to search the surrounding area. For a while, Alicia lingered there, waiting for Samuel to come back to her, but eventually, she realized he was already too busy and probably would be for the foreseeable future. Instead of waiting, she headed back to her chambers to rest, resigning herself to the fact that the clan would always come first.

She understood why it had to. As much as Samuel loved her, he had a sacred duty to perform. All the people of the clan depended on him. If he didn’t give this threat his full attention, then that could mean their ruin.

Alicia undressed and changed into her night garments, preparing herself for bed. Just as she was about to get under the covers, though, there was a knock on the door, and she opened it to find Samuel at the other side. Before she could ask what he was doing there, he grabbed her and kissed her, one long, playful peck on the lips, before he was gone once more, calling goodnight at her over his shoulder.

Alicia watched him walk down the corridor until he disappeared around the corner. Then, she closed the door and fell onto her back on the bed, the mattress bouncing a little with the movement.

The smile on her lips didn’t fade for the rest of the night.