Page 34 of A Fearless Rebel

When she blinked, he wasn’t sure if it was tears or just the breeze causing it. “We have. I do not remember any travelers ever asking for our hospitality.”

Of course not. The Mackenzie wasn’t known for being kind. Keithen refrained from saying what he was thinking. “It happens about every fortnight or so. Not as much during the winter when it is a bother because we have to host them indoors, and it can get quite crowded.”

There was a soft expression on her face when she looked at him. When she looked back to the people, there was a soft lift to the corners of her lips. “It is nice.”

“It is.” Keithen came up to her and pulled her into an embrace. “I wish ye would have had a better life.”

At first, she stiffened. But then she relaxed against him. For a long moment, they stood with her back against his chest, listening to the playful melodies from below.

The woman was his to take and, yet, Keithen wouldn’t do so without her being willing. He pressed a kiss to the side of her neck and wrapped his arms tighter around her waist.

When she sighed and slid a hand down his arm, permission was granted, and his body instantly reacted. Blood surged through him, sending tendrils of awareness to every part of his being.

For the first time in his life, Keithen wasn’t entirely sure how to proceed. This woman was to be his for the rest of their existence.

This night could be the first of many making love.

Ava turned in his arms and peered up at him. “We’ve never kissed.”

“Aye, we did,” Keithen replied. “Once.” Although the marriage kiss had been more of a peck.

He took her mouth then, testing and savoring the plump pillowy offerings. Her breaths intermingled with his as she began to respond.

Emboldened, he cupped her face and slid his tongue along the crease of her mouth and then nibbled at each corner. She tasted sweet, her usual late evening cider lingering. When he repeated the gesture, Keithen whispered, “Open yer lips for me.”

She did as he instructed, her lips parting, and he slid his tongue into her mouth. The beauty trembled in his arms and pushed her own tongue against his.

Through the thin fabric of her night rail, he could feel the warmth of Ava’s skin as his palms roved down the mounds of her bottom.

Once again, she shook, and he wondered how it had been possible to keep away from her for so long.

Needing to see her, he pushed away and tugged at the string tied at her neck. The flimsy fabric gave way as he pushed it off her shoulders. It slid down every tantalizing inch of her body and finally pooled around her feet.

She didn’t shy away, nor did she try to cover up. Instead, she studied him intently in return. Ava was exquisite, her plush body made to drive a man mad with passion.

“Ye are beautiful,” he finally said, feeling like a tongue-tied lad. “Perfect.”

Ava seemed at a loss for what to do, so he closed the distance between them and lifted her up and then placed her on the bed.

She lay awkwardly without moving, her gaze up at the ceiling.

Keithen undressed and climbed onto the bed. “Tis not a duty that ye allow me to take ye. I wish it to be pleasurable for the both of us.”

“I do not understand.”

“Did ye not enjoy our kissing?”

“Aye, I did.” A soft pink appeared on her cheeks. “Very much.”

“How about when I touched ye?” He placed a hand on her hip and caressed the soft skin.

This time, she nodded as a reply.

“I have been bedded before by my late husband. And yet, it wasn’t very enjoyable,” Ava admitted. “What I felt when we kiss, it was never like with ye, just now.”

“Because he was only interested in his own pleasure. Allow me will show ye what it is to make love, so that we both derive pleasure from it.”

He took her hand. “Come. Slide up here.”