Page 29 of The Beast

“Beatrice, ye should go back inside,” he said, his face just a breath away.

“And if I do not?” she replied breathlessly.

When his mouth covered hers, every ounce of her body filled with joy. Beatrice clung to his shoulders, kissing him back.

His arms surrounded her as the kiss intensified. He tilted his head, to deepen the kiss, their tongues entwining. She’d never been so thoroughly kissed and never had her body responded in the way it did in that moment.

Tingles ran down her arms and legs and she wanted to wrap herself around him.

Not wishing him to move away, Beatrice threaded her arms around his neck, not letting go when he broke the kiss. Instead of releasing him, she nuzzled her face into his neck pressing her lips to the pulse there.

Duncan moaned softly and ran his hands up and down her sides. Then he took her mouth again, this time lifting her off her feet. It was as if she floated in the air, only the night air and stars witnesses to the first time she’d felt so utterly undone.

The feel of his mouth on hers, his strong arms around her body, and the scent of him were intoxicating. She never wished it to stop.

“We must stop,” he finally said in a ragged voice and lowered her to the ground. Her knees barely held her up, so Beatrice leaned on him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“That was wonderful,” she said smiling up at him. “We should do it again.”

For the first time since meeting him, his lips curved, and he shook his head. “Ye are unlike any woman I’ve ever met.”

“I will take it as a compliment.”

“Go back inside, ye will be missed.” He tried to dislodge her arms from around his waist. “Beatrice.”

She looked at him. “Ye wish to marry me. I know it.”

A frown marred his brow. “Go inside.”

“Kiss me again and I will.”

There was warmth in his gaze. “Ye are a vixen. Quite hard to resist.” Their mouths met with a sense of desperation, the knowledge that it was in all probability the last time they would be alone.

Beatrice couldn’t help the moan that escaped, and she raked her fingers through his hair pulling him closer. Their bodies pressed against each other’s; she could not fathom another man feeling so perfect. He was so very strong. Moving his lips along hers, Duncan traced kisses to her jaw and down the side of her neck while she clung to him lost in the wonderful sensations.

“This is certainly not what I expected to walk out to,” Lady Mariel exclaimed.

With a gasp, Beatrice pushed away from Duncan. She swayed and he steadied her.

“We were just…talking,” Beatrice said pushing Duncan’s hands away. “Is that not true?” She peered up at Duncan, who fought to keep his breathing controlled.

The door opened and Darach stepped through. His keen gaze locked first with Duncan and then moved to Beatrice, locking on her swollen lips.

“Ye will marry her,” he said then turned on his heel and went back inside.

Beatrice didn’t dare look at Duncan. Looking to Lady Mariel, she let out a breath. “May I have a word with Duncan. I promise to come inside promptly.”

Duncan’s mother looked to her son for a long moment. “I will be right inside. Hurry.”

When she left, Duncan remained still as a statue, looking in the direction of the door. “I am sorry.”

“Listen,” Beatrice said tugging at his sleeve. “When ye travel in two days. Take me back to North Uist. My family will not know anything about what happened.”

“My brother will insist we marry immediately. I know him.”

“Oh.” Beatrice scrambled to come up with another plan.

Duncan took her by the arms and waited for her to look at him. “I will marry ye and ye will remain here at the keep, with my family.”