Page 128 of Forbidden

Amber moved again, though a flush of color was once more climbing up her cheeks.

With swift, impatient movements, Duncan undid his shirt and dropped it onto the floor. The hungry, approving look he received from his bride did nothing to cool the hot race of blood through his body.

Nor did the sight of his bride lying half opened before him, her skin gleaming like a pearl against the fur.

But it wasn’t enough.

“Still more,” he coaxed.

“Duncan…”

The word was half protest and half demand that he cease teasing her.

She shifted slowly, legs pale and elegant, trembling as she felt herself becoming more and more vulnerable with each motion of her legs.

Just as Duncan bent down to caress Amber, he saw faint marks on the otherwise flawless skin of her inner thighs. When he realized how she had come by those marks, his mouth flattened into a bitter downward curve.

“Your keep is still too well defended,” Duncan said. “The gate must be open wide. Very wide.”

Amber’s cheeks were fiery now.

“Why?” she whispered.

“Last time I forced your legs apart,” Duncan said in a low voice.

“Nay,” she said.

“Aye!” he countered savagely. “I can see the marks left by my hands.”

“But—”

“If you would have me lie between your legs, you must make room for me willingly, knowing only your own desire.”

Passion raked over Amber at the idea of once more having Duncan lie between her legs, of feeling ecstasy ravish him as he spent himself inside her.

A pulse of pleasure leaped and burst within Amber at the thought. Heat radiated up through her whole body as a secret rain softened her. With an inarticulate sound she opened herself fully, knowing only her own desire.

The blaze of Duncan’s eyes was an intimate caress. She made an odd sound as the net of fire tightened throughout her whole body, changing it to receive him. Her legs moved again, as though Duncan were inside her, sharing his body with her.

“You are more beautiful than I have words to tell you,” Duncan whispered.

“Then touch me and I shall know.”

“Aye. And so shall I.”

As Duncan spoke, his hand moved and a long finger slid smoothly, deeply, inside Amber, testing the truth of her desire. She stiffened and whimpered as though he had taken a whip to her.

But it was pleasure rather than pain Duncan had called from Amber, and he knew it as surely as she did. A delicious heat welled up around his caressing finger and spilled into his palm.

Her desire, her response, her need.

Hers, not his.

Duncan made a hoarse sound of hunger and relief. Slowly he withdrew from Amber’s willing body.

“No,” she said. “Duncan, I—”

Her voice broke as he traced the soft petals that were no longer concealed by golden curls. She had opened for him like a flower, and like a flower she was beautiful to him. The scent and textures of her desire enthralled him. He probed again, and again knew the liquid fire of her response.